22-250 Truck gun...Tikka or Howa??

Anton Chigurh

Anton Chigurh

Member
I'm thinking of picking up a 22-250 to beat around with. I have a Tikka lite in 223 that I love, so another like it would work nicely I'm sure. But I also have been wanting to try a Howa 1500.

Howa
Pros: cheaper, action could be used for later build, 12 twist
Cons: Not sure if I'll like the Hogue, seems like the only other affordable stock option I'd like is a laminate (I don't think I'd like the B&C Tactical style replacement)

Tikka
Pros: should be a very nice barrel for the money, obviously light, I like the B&C sporter replacement stocks for them.
Cons: 14 twist barrel


Are the triggers decent on the Howa? Other thoughts?
 
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Howa triggers are decent. I have mine worked down to about
2 lbs, with just an ever so slight travel. My Tikka(M695&T3)
triggers are adjusted down to about that force, too. But they
have less to no travel.

I own rifles of both brands, and my take on them is the
Tikkas feel more refined, both in the feel of the bolt in the
action, and at the trigger. Accuracy has been good to
exceptional in all of my Tikkas and Howas.

Me personally, I would buy a Howa for a truck gun...My Tikkas
are too pretty to get beat up in a truck.
lol.gif
Actually
if I were looking at a truck gun, I would probably go with
an AR-15, in 6.8 SPC. A 90 gr Sierra HP is powerful medicine
for varmints and predators, and no medium sized game will
stand after a good hit from a 95 gr Barnes TTSX. And an
AR-15 is born to bounce around vehicles.

Squeeze
 
It would be shame to scratch up a Tikka injection molded stock, wouldn't it?

An ar in 6.8 is interesting though, will have to try one at some point.
 
I know it wasn't one of the rifles that you mentioned but I would give the Ruger American a look also. I have one in .17hmr and it is a fine rifle, from what I have been able to read it sounds like that rifle in 22-250 is also getting good reviews.
 
I bought a Tikka T3 SS Lite in .243 last December. Supposed to be out of the box accurate. You wouldn't know it by me. What a complete POS. I couldn't do better than 4" groups with an $800 scope on it. I finally turned it over to my gunsmith. It's giving him a hard time too. Don't just assume because it's a Tikka that it's gonna shoot lights out. That said, the best gun I've ever owned is a factory gun - a Rem 700 LVSF in .22-250. Any factory gun is really just a crapshoot. Some tend to do better than others but nothing is guaranteed. Well, I guess the Tikka's are but I hear dealing with Beretta customer service is so unpleasant, there might as well not be one- hence why mine is at the gunsmith.
 
Right now I'm leaning Tikka if I get anything, but I wish they came with a 10 or 12 twist. The 10 twist and cheap price tag make the Ruger American interesting, I might have to locate one and handle it.

I ordered a B&C stock for my Tikka 223 the other day from Midway, free shipping and on sale, received it today. I put it on after work today, just took a little sandpaper work to clean up the barrel channel. It looks and feels nice, if it shoots well in it I think the B&C stock option is a pretty good reason to swing Tikka. I may not want to put one on a truck gun, but having the option of an affordable drop in replacement stock on a particular rifle is nice.
 
Check out savage. they have tons of aftermarket parts for them and they are easy to work on. just a thought. I have a savage 11 in 204 ruger and my first time out with it I shot a 32gr. hornady v-max 3 shot group right at .33". cant beat savage accuracy either.
 
I've had both and much prefer the Tikka. The Howa/Weatherby was very tough for me to sight in, rough operator and poor trigger. Couldn't sell it either. Ended up giving it away.
Guess I am the only lucky one with Beretta service. I have sent them several guns that I purchased new. They fixed them promptly and returned them right away. One time they contacted me by phone and reimbursed me for shipping plus insurance in the form of a Berreta check.
 
B&C does make a weatherby style replacement for Howa1500/Vanguard sporters. So I could easily/cheaply upgrade a Howa stock should I want to. Manners does too for more money.

Based on what I've read I think the Howa would be good from the standpoint of using it for a build in the future more so than the Tikka, but I don't know for sure. I believe they have metric threaded barrels.
 
I like the howa/vanguard actions and triggers after having 2 of the new ones hand have a 223 donor sitting here for a build. Ruger american predator has also caught my eye with the 1:10 twist.
 
I have a Tikka t3 with a 1 in 8 twist and an 18" or 20" barrel. I have used it as a truck gun and quite satisfied with it. The first 100 yard 5 shot group I shot with this rifle could be covered with a dime. It shoots several different loads well.
 
Originally Posted By: Anton ChigurhOrdered the T3 Lite SS. Hopefully it'll be a good one.

If you don't mind me asking how much are they running out your way.
 
Good choice. When you get it sighted in let us know how it shoots. My Tika 22-250 is my most accurate rifle. How a cheap sporter weight can shoot as good and better than the heavy barreled varmint guns is still beyond me, but is does.

I recenty bought a Vanguard S2 and I have already sent it down the road. 1" at 100 yards was about as good as it would do. Ejection of shells was a bit weak, trigger would only go to about 3 1/4 lbs, the new stock is an improvement over the old style but it wasn't anything special. I didn't like the caliber (257 WBY), I like he 25-06 and have always wanted to try the 257, too much powder and muzzle flip with the 24" barrell. Life is to short to have to work up handloads for a rifle you really don't care that much for.

Looks like another Tikka in my future.
 


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