Originally Posted By: The Famous GrouseGetting back to the original post, there's really very little comparison, because the two rifles are in completely different leagues and price points. As another member pointed out with the car analogy, they are completely different rifles and the higher price point of the Sako means better build, fit, and finish, and quality control.
Just leaving the question as asked: New Sako vs a new Remington 700, it's Sako every time. The Sako is refined, elegant, durable, and among those with actual experience, Sako's reputation for tack-driving out of box performance and long-term durability cannot be matched. You only have to look at the prices that used Sakos fetch to confirm that they are built to last.
Now the RemmyHeads are going to say, I've got grandpa's Remington from 1968 that shoots great, blah, blah, blah, I say good for you. That's your grandpappy's Remington and nothing to do with what you get off the rack today. Which does not in any way stack up to what a new Sako offers.
I know the subject of the Tikka stirs some up. I've long suspected this is mostly envy because the Tikka is what Remington fans would LIKE Remington to be. Nitpick the design of the Tikka all you want with armchair theories and amateur engineering. The bottom line is that Tikka's produce the results time after time.
I got a Tikka .22-250 the first year they were available in the USA after seeing and hearing them raved about in Europe for a couple of years. I had mine about 5 years before they became commonly known and talked about over here when some big chain stores finally picked up the line.
I'm well over 2000 rounds out of a Tikka .22-250 and it's still a varmint's worst nightmare. I can detect no change in the excellent accuracy from the day it was new, despite the fact that this summer I will most likely pass 3000 rounds fired.
How would that compare to a Remington? Who cares. Bottom line is the Tikka did it, so why would I want to mess with success?
Grouse
I'm pretty much in the same boat. I bought my Tikka years ago before me or anyone that I knew had even heard about them. I had initially set out to buy a 700 or a browning. The shop owner (I'd boughten several guns from already) highly recommended I check out the Tikka. They had just started importing them, he'd played with them, and he said he was very impressed. I really liked the Tikka and have been happy with it ever since. I could care less if it has a couple little pieces of plastic, a bolt stop, and one size action. I think every major pistol manufacturer is now making polymer frames and selling a ton of them with very happy customers. As I already said...the trigger is great, the bolt is smoothest I have, and it flat out shoots. They are a heck of a buy for the money. Like I said in an earlier post....It's not a Sako. I'm glad it's not a Sako because then it wouldn't have "shortcuts" to keep cost down and it would cost 4 times what they do. I'm pretty positive that the "shortcuts" aren't affecting the function or the accuracy. The bullets coming out of the barrel surely don't care about the plastic pieces....and the groups on the paper are all the proof I'll ever need
I'm not brand loyal at all and I absolutely don't care what anyone else shoots. Off the top of my head I'm counting 8 different brands that I own...happy with all of them for different reasons and purposes. That being said.....(prepare for butthurt) I don't think Remington is what it used to be. If Remington was still as good as they used to be...Savage, Tikka, Howa, etc wouldn't be talked about like they are now. There are a lot of non remington owners very happy with their non 700 purchase. The vast majority of the 700's I see around here are probably 20+ years old and severely beaten up. But the owners are very happy with them and will never part with them. The 700's also rule the aftermarket. I personally prefer Savages but only because I can change the barrel in 10 minutes myself.
I think every major manufacturer can be made to shoot. I'm actually yet to purchase a rifle or barrel that I couldn't get to shoot less than inch (usually hover right around half an inch)...maybe I'm just lucky.
Different brands make different people happy for different reasons and our opinions are meaningless.