Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Decisions, Decisions....

I have a spare scope without a rifle and that's bad - but good. Its a 3.5-10x40 gloss Leupold and l'm looking for something to put it on. I hunt whitetail and have several rifles for that - but you can always use another, right? I'm looking for something not too small and not too big. I've got an encore 454 pistol, black powder and a nice little .22 I've got a .243 (daughter hunts it) and a 300 Wby Mag, so maybe a light carry rifle in the mid twenty-something calibers would be nice to have.

A couple of nice finds at the local store which fit that bill:

Tikka T3 Blued/Synthetic in .270 $399
Ruger Ultralite Blued/Wood in .257 Roberts. $460

Both guns are like new, show little evidence of wear and are pretty in their own right. I know the T3's have a great reputation with regards to accuracy and there's not much bad you can say about the M77.

Which would you choose and why?

Thanks, Q

My vote is for the Tikka.

It will be accurate out of the box. It has an easily adjustable trigger. I like the caliber, considering your needs and what you have. It has a sweet, slick action. It has a quality Sako barrel. It is nice and light weight and will be a pleasure to carry and shoot. You have found a good deal on it. It comes with good quality scope rings and is ready to go with no modifications. Just my $.02, but everyone seems to love these guns and I sure like mine.

DJ

Tikka.

That's a no-brainer from square one, and given that it fits what you want perfectly AND you can get it cheaper (that's just amazing, BTW), it shouldn't give you another second's hesitation.

Get it before it's gone.

Quadzilla,

My choice in this pair is the Ruger Ultralight .257 Roberts: this is about the optimum whitetail whacker in a "Walk around" package. The Ruger Ultralights also seem to hold their value well.

jim

since your scope has a gloss finish, which rifle would it look best upon?
if it's a tie, and you don't reload, then definitely the .270. if you handload, then consider the bob. much better factory ammo selection for the .270.

My heart says buy the .257 Roberts but my head says get the .270.

And I have no willpower, So.... buy them both and get a couple of sets of quick-detach rings and swap the scope back and forth.

See there problem solved <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Good Shooting,
HBB

hillbillybear hit the nail on the head, at those prices buy both.......blake

Never could get used to the plastic trigger guard housing on the TikKa, or the synthetic insert (pre Beretta) at rear of the action for the bolt.

I've seen new TikKa Blue/Synthetic in these parts for $429.

GB

BUy one, put the other on layaway! But if you can have only one, go with the TIKKA!

Good question. The wood stocked ruger would look best, but the blueing on the T3 is also a higher gloss than most composite guns I've seen and would also look good.

Which fits you best, i.e. handling, pointing, steadiness, LOP?

No brainer......Tikka

tikas are froien to me rugers arent. ive made it to the point where i can stone them ruger triggers in my sleep.

althouth you couldnt get me to hang on to a 20" barreld ruger for long. id get 22" long barrel and no shorter.

if it were me id pas them both up or just spend the 66 bucks to order a new ruger in whatever caliber you want.

holy rechecked the price on the ultrlight. 15 addition bucks will get you into brand new 22" barreld walnut ruger. id pass up that ultra light in less than half a heartbeat.

id have to say the caliber would be a 6mm

I'm not sure if you are asking for other suggestions, but you might check WalMart for the Syn. Weatherby Vanguard in .257 Weatherby @ $389. If they don't have it, they can order. Good luck.

George

I have an identical Tikka to the one you describe. The first three shots, 130 gr Hornady spire point over 59 gr H4831SC went into 3/4". The next 4 shots, which were 140 gr Nosler BT over a lee dipper full of RL22, went into 7/8". Yeah, they are shooters...... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Get the Tikka.

The Rugers are a terrible gamble. The barrels are usually junk.

Good Luck

Reloader7RM

The Tikka is now in the stable.

I made my final decision when I walked in the door, as the rifle looked like it had been sold. My heart sank. When I saw it again, I knew that was the right one for me.

Had the box and all accessories included. Even the T3 sticker which I'll put to good use somewhere.

Quadzilla.....you won't be sorry.