Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Ruger American vs Tikka T3

20 minutes with a rounded soldering iron will make that "checkering" a ton more grippy..

Tikkas are terrible in the accuracy department. I almost shot into the .2s while shooting off the porch of my cabin and making adjustments for the elevation change...

I haven't had the chance to shoot a Ruger American, but the Tikka seems like such a better rifle. The couple T3s I've shot were pretty accurate too.

POS...

Clearly a POS...





As these two muley bucks each fell over dead in disgust at 598 yards... they couldn't handle the shame...

Musta died laughing.

Anyone ever heard of the 11 second scrambled egg? At 500 yds?

I see a Ruger american compact 223 1-8 on Bud's for $342.00, I don't think Tikka makes the 223 in 1-8 any longer, 10 ounces heavier than the Kimber montana in 223 but twisted faster.

Just because this is common of tikka rifles doesn't prove anything.

How is there customer service? Seems nobodys ever had to use it? How can you prove a rifles worth if it has never seen customer service?

Shod

Its a good think the Tikkas are dependable as Beretta's customer service sucks!!!

Its most certainly been stated a lot more often than not and I believe it.

Honda also has terrible customer service and it is well known by the very few who have had to use it.

I suspect that companies that build an incredible product really suck at customer service as they are rather inept at using the feature.

Shod

So nobody here has ever heard of the plastic bolt shroud breaking or recoil lug issues on the larger chamberings?

I notice 16 has replaced his shroud. Why?

Odd, as they are pretty common problems and I have read of them MANY times.

Tikkas are the perfect rifle for those who know not of rifles. If you simply go out and hunt/shoot, they are fine until something possibly breaks. If you are a lifelong rifle junkie and HAVE to know what's under the hood, they are very disappointing.

If you actually KNEW what you were getting for your money, it just may bother you a bit. If it doesn't, it should IMO.

For the record, I know Tikkas shoot well. Never said they didn't. But please don't try to turn them into something they are not. They have excellent triggers/barrels. EVERY other part of the rifle is an OBVIOUS attempt to shave cost.

They shoot no better than 700s, Savages, Marlins, Americans, Vanguards....other rifles that offer more for less.

I say this because I actually HAVE shot multiples of all except for the American(1). Guess what? Every last one of them is capable of stellar accuracy. Not just Tikkas like the Tikka owners like to claim, or just Savages like the Savage guys claim, etc. ALL of them.

I'm glad you all like your Tikkas. I find them to offer nothing better than said others, and in some cases markedly less at a higher price. JMO.

And I truly hope none of you do have to use Beretta CS to pay ridiculous prices to replace your plastic parts or recoil lug. Horrible CS.....

'Cause rizzy be the color, sucka....




'cept when it be blue..



I believe Tommy Boy said it best:

"I can take a dump in a box and put a warranty on it and its still a pile of schit"

Aftermarket steel lug is $29.99. That shroud was about 80 boomerangs from down under and you won't be finding another.

Aluminum lugs get a small crease in them that could possibly cause the groups to open up from 1/4" to 3/8" under the right conditions.


What I'd love to see is a NIB RAR and NIB T3 shot side by side with 4 or 5 types of factory ammo and let the numbers work themselves out.

The rest is Coke and Pepsi....

Nice. I like the blue one.

Never owned one but have seen pics of bent lugs on 300wsm and such. I personally can't get over the sight of one. The price tag doesn't help. You shouldn't have to pay for aftermarket parts replacements given their price IMO.

Both rifles are capable of fine accuracy and more than good enough for hunting. One just happens to cost a lot less.....

"Never owned one... I've seen pics... Perfect for someone who knows nothing about rifles... One cost a lot less..."

I seem to have heard this chit on the internet before. You've voiced your opinion. It's nothing more, and getting old.

I own or have owned more rifles, makes and models than most, including several customs. FTR I have not owned a 'Merican, but would not discount one like you have the Tikka when there are several times more positive reviews by people who own them (including me), and experienced, mostly, very positive results. In FACT it's tough to find a rifle that shoots better out of the box than a Tikka. Entry level? Maybe. But I have customs with Krieger, Shilen, Douglas and even built a couple of Mausers with WWII surplus Browning 30 machine gun barrels cut, chambered, crowned, threaded to fit. Few shoot as well as my Tikka in 260. Is a Ruger American a better value? I don't know. I've SEEN some 'Mericans on the WWW that do very well and others that can't hit a bull in the azz at 50 yards. Is a Montana or a McMillan or a Kimber a better value? I can show proof of what a Tikka can do. I have few rifles that will even duplicate it's accuracy. For the price, I, and many here would call it a value. No factory rifle is perfect and few customs are. Most are a series of compromises. Some are acceptable to Some. I know ALOT about rifles. I happen to like a Tikka just fine, and at it's price point. That's MY opinion.

I know a few things about metal and a few things about 'plastic'. Sometimes plastic is better. Glock is one of the most respected manufacturers of pistols that professionals at high risk place their confidence in every day. I still like my all-metal 1911s, but will not be so stupid to argue a Glock (or any of their many copy-cats from S&W, CZ, and many more) a POS based on the fact it has a few detractors on the WWW, most of whom never touched one. I would only be declaring my ignorance on Glocks. By the way, I own a BUNCH of handguns too.

Like 16 said, shoot 'em both and see where the numbers fall. My money is on the Tikka until I get a 'Merican that proves otherwise. I own several Rugers already. Might as well try one for myself. Also FTR, I think both are God awful ugly from the manufacturer.

"...the rest is Coke and Pepsi." Well said.

I don't believe the members here and on other sites FAKED the problems/pictures of said bent recoil lugs. Nor did a guy I know who sent me cell phone pics asking me wtf was the deal.

AGAIN, you are making accuracy claims. And AGAIN, I never typed a word about poor accuracy. Apparently, that is ALL a Tikka owner has to go on. Accuracy claims that anyone can make. Simply because discussing the actual parts of the rifle, categorically, will surely prove futile, if not downright embarrassing.

I don't feel it is "tough to find a rifle that shoots as well as a Tikka out of the box". It seems only Tikka owners feel this way. Have done it many times. It also seems that MOST (maybe not you) haven't many examples to compare. That goes back to the "entry level rifle" thing.

I fully understand what you are conveying about plastic parts. But you are missing the point. Plastic costs NADA to produce, while others sell you STEEL for LESS.

Please answer this question:

Why does a Tikka with hammer forged barrel, plastic magazine, plastic trigger guard, plastic bolt shroud, aluminum recoil lug, hollow tupperware stock, and a one action length receiver machined so thin that it HAS to be enclosed to be sufficiently rigid, cost MORE money than other rifles that shoot comparably well and offer you steel over plastic?

Answer that, without getting your panties in a wad, or calling me names, and maybe, just maybe, an intelligent conversation can ensue.

As far as you knowing "A LOT" about rifles, that remains to be seen.......

Well I have two Tikka's, Mount scope go out and shoot just about anything into under an inch at 100 yards. Have Winchesters, Remingtons, etc, THEY DO NOT DO THAT, without work. Can they, yes. Triggers, yep with work and money. Have found loads they like, but.. Never have had anything break, fall off, miss a animal, or any problem with a Tikka. Are they plastic, made to a price, yes. But DAMN they do work. Perhaps The Ruger American is a good one, but I do not have one yet. I really doubt that it can be better however.. At it's price point perhaps, again plastic made to a price point. As a betting man I would take my Tikka against just about any hunting rifle at 100 yards. I bought mine when they were just around what the Ruger American costs now. YMMV

When you say your Tikka shoots great, kills well, and you are very happy with it, I have ZERO problems with that. NONE.

What I have a problem with is when I'm told other rifles cannot/do not do same. And many for less money. I KNOW otherwise.

It is very hard for me to justify their price point, given their accomodations......

I will answer any question you have but only after you show evidence that I called you names, or even suggested your 'panties in a wad'. Intelligent conversation is something you need to prove capable of, not me, given everything I've seen you post recently. Up to you.

And I think I have a clue about a few things. Won't claim to know it all, or even a fraction of some, but my 'neighbor' gunsmith calls me often when something has him stumped and I have built, modified and repaired a few rifles in my time. I would like to think my firearms knowledge is above average. I have a feeling you won't think so given your propensity for defending your 'opinions' so rabidly, but maybe I just misunderstand your posts here...

Said comments WERE NOT pointed at you. Not suggesting you did any such thing......