Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 7MM-08 choice

Trying to decide between Howa Alpine w floorplate no scope or Tikka T3 superlite. Both at Sportsmans. Howa is about 200-300 more. Have a T3 lite Tikka in 30-06 that I love, so no stranger to Tikka performance.

Travis would say Howa...

Mac would say Tikka...

By which ever handles best for you!!!!!!!

I would personally take the Tikka. You already have experience with the quality of that one. I'm just not seeing what you're getting for the extra money with the Howa. You can get your Superlite cerakoted for less than the difference. I also like the full length barrel on the Tikka for the same weight.

something from Finland..........

With that handle I would have expected nothing less-LOL
Thinking out loud, Howa weights a bit less, 3 stage trigger, stock seems a bit nicer. 20 in vs 22 in barrel. Would like a Howa Alpine owner to weight in as I know the Tikka is going to shoot. Overall weight is a big factor as this is going to be my mountain rifle. The Forbes/Kimber route seems to hit/miss to me.
MIke

If the Howa is lighter you gotta ask where was the weight lost. Howa actions are the heaviest made. No doubt, Tikka.

Heavier than a Wby Mk V Magnum action?

I love tikkas and have never saw one that would not shoot, I personally have owned 10 or 11 and presently have 2....I also have owned 8 howas and presently own 2, and howas have been as good a shooter as the tikkas. I personally prefer the tikka because of weight, however the alpine weighs less and is ready to go without doing anything to it, ie cerakoted etc. Go with what YOU like best, they are both going to out shoot the shooter and last a lifetime.

Tikka

Here's a vote for howa. I've never loved the feel of a tikka. I love my howa 22 - 250. However I have never handled this particular howa model.

Does it?

I thought I read here that they were not as light as advertised.

Jerry

This would never be a debate for me. A howa will be hard to sell if you decide to part with it. Tikka, no problem. Howa review I read of the alpine was good but not great. I think hands down tikka wins.

Thanks for the response. Leaning towards the Tikka at this point. I think the Howa is about as light as its going to be vs over time on Tikka, change stock and flute bolt can get me to lower weight.

for the Howa and Tikka :
?? What is
a) the magazine capacity
and
b) max overall cartridge length ?

I know that it might be a few bucks more, but I would be looking for a Kimber 84M Montana in the 7mm-08.

It would certainly win the light weight race as-is.

338 have a look at post # 5. If Kimbers came out of the box shooting like Tikkas I would not have started this thread. Don't get me wrong sub 5 lbs in this caliber would be great but to the expense to get there... Have just seen to many posts on multiple sites about "Kimber roulette"

Go for a Tikka Superlight found at Sportsmans Warehouse and Cabelas. They are not on the SW web site ,you have to call them. The SL has a fluted barrel.

R H thanks for the heads up, I forgot in my start to this thread that I said both rifles were at Sportsmans. I have handled both rifles and you are correct the SL has a fluted barrel vs my T3 SS in 30-06 that does not.
I swear some of these responses are just for post count!!

Looking for anyone who has shot the Howa or has something beyond "get the Tikka" I have a Tikka kicks butt, looking for substance in a response. Not go do this but why go do this.

Tikka T3.

Tikka, fo sho.

I know this isn't one of the options you listed, but I just bought a stainless Marlin XS7 in 7-08 from Whittaker Guns. It's more of a polished stainless, not that matte finish that is so prevalent on cheaper rifles these days. Shortactionsmoker on here is the contact. They have them on closeout for $270. I love my Tikkas, but the Marlin X guns are relatively light, very accurate, and a hell of a lot of gun for the price.