tikka compact vs winchester compact
 

Any thoughts/reviews on the Tikka compact vs the Winchester XPR compact in 7mm-08.
Thanks for your time.

Tikkas are great! I have no experience with the Winchester. My wife rocks a Remington 700sps 7mm-08 compact and I think my favourite is the browning x bolt micro.

I just found a take off compact stock for a tikka on town post. I plan on throwing it on a 25-06 or 270 tikka until my boy is big enough for a full length stock.

The plus of the tikka is you can buy a used stock for 100 ish off the buy sells and have it back as a regular tikka with a 20” pipe and flip in between.

Thanks bugler its for my sister and seems the shorter stock fit her better, I thought about the regular T3 and looking for a compact stock.

Another vote for Tikka
 

I am a TIkka fan boy. They are inherently very accurate and the actions are exceptionally smooth and well made. I have 4 or 5 that I have done custom builds. All of them have been amazing. Even the factory barrels can easily be sub moa. Felt recoil from the factory stock can be a bit of a negative, but there are lots of aftermark options to deal with that.

I much prefer the Tikka trigger, I am not impressed with any recent Winchester or Browning trigger.

Thanks for the info so far guys

It really depends your budget...

Tikka is great in that $1000 category

Winchester is great in the $650-750 category.

If you can afford the Tikka buy it. If not the Winchester. Great reviews on the Winchester. Only "budget" gun I would buy...

delete. DP.

The Vanguard Compact is another option to consider. Bashaw Sports has a good deal on them.

She was looking at the Tikka so in the budget, she was off today hoping to try the feel of different models so not limited to just the 2 mentioned.
I had a look at the vanguard and in searching it found a Remington model seven synthetic, as well as the 783 and model 700 sps so a few more to think about. The model seven sounds interesting as well.
All input is great thanks guys.

Remington sps with the detachable magazines dont work. Save yourself before you purchase.

Need a hinged floorplate for them to be reliable. If your considering a remington, look at Bergara!

Weatherby vangaurds are nice rifles as well.

Of the two I would have to vote for the Tikka. I’m not a fan of the magazine protruding on the Winchester. I also dislike that it only holds 3 rounds. It’s not that one needs more to get the job done, but why protrude if you only hold 3 rounds?? I don’t like it.

If adding another option to the list I would throw the x bolt micro midas in there. I must agree with elk hunter 11 though, the x bolt factory trigger is not the best. I changed the spring in both of mine and couldn’t be happier, both are bang on accurate. I also much prefer the safety placement (tang) on the x bolt, and the fact that when the safety is on the bolt is locked closed. Personal preference.

I suggest she handle as many compact models as are accessible and see which she prefers, they will all fit / handle differently.

Thanks guys a few more to add into the mix to check out like the browning micro.
She was at some stores to try some yesterday, but bass pro wouldn't let her hold any for she didn't have her pal.

I have a few of the rifles mentioned in this post (tikka, vanguard s2, Winchester now gone) and I would strongly consider the Ruger American compact. It’s my most accurate rifle, has a great bolt design, extra shell due to mag design) for the price/performance ratio I would rate it above the others.

This is worth checking out. I bought one in 7-08 for my daughter. Great ergonomics, good trigger, smart magazine design ($45 spare), amazingly accurate. Plus it weighs under 7 lbs scoped and loaded...at half the price of the Tikka, if that matters.

thanks gusto and Brewster that is one she asked me about as well, the only concern I had was the shorter barrel (18 inch) I will do some more research on it as well.

Mr gusto why did you sell the Winchester.
Thanks

Browning Xbolt
 

I owned a browning Xbolt. It was a nice rifle had a nice feel and seem well made. I liked the safety. The tacky feel on the polymer stock was great for hunting.

The trigger was horrible. That for me was a deal breaker.

I also like the size and handling of the Ruger American compact, love it actually. I like that it also has a tang safety. What I dislike is that the safety doesn’t lock the bolt closed. I prefer safeties that lock the bolt closed for new shooters, just one less thing for them to worry about / learn about the hard way.

Who did your custom builds?

thanks for all the input guys looks like she is deciding on
a Tikka TX3 lite SS in 7mm-08.

Good Luck
 

Good Luck and I hope she is very happy with her choice

Great choice of caliber, and nice rifle.

x2 Hope it works well for her!

Thanks for letting us know, it’s always nice to know how it all ended.

Happy hunting!

Well was a slight change when we got to the store today she tried a few for fit and feel again and decided on the tikka compact, will try to get a few shells loaded up tonight and hopefully she can try it in the morning.
Thanks again

Well got out to try it i have never shot a Tikka before so was quit impressed she let me try a 3 shot group and was just under 1 inch with the same load i use in my remington 7-08 so was nice to see dont have to mess around to much with loads.

It’s always nice when two rifles shoot the same load well! Both of my x bolts shoot the same load very well. I developed the load for one, then bought the other and thought, “what are the chances they’ll like the same load?” Answer: likely!