What do you know especially if you have shot both.

In general I've found the Tikka SLs group tighter, but the Kimbers can also do well. Essentially there's an overlap.

I also tend to prefer the triggers and balance of the Tikkas, but the wood-stocked Kimbers are prettier....

Thanks Mule Deer

I have both and both are nice and shoot great. Now, I can only speak for the two I have.
Kimbe Classic 308 Winchester.
Tikka T3X something like that. This rifle is a 7-08 I'm amazed how well this gun shoots.

I like them both greatly. I would buy another without question.

Tikkas feed like they have eyes. The Kimber does not.

Had both in 308. Sold the Kimber, still have the Tikka. IMO the Kimber is the nicer rifle as far as aesthetics go and if you really need to shave every possible ounce of weight are the way to go. But I found the Kimber too light and the Tikka just right. I think the mechanical accuracy is pretty close, but I shoot the Tikka better.

Tikka...hands down. Kimber ain't even close.

+1 for the Tikka.

Right on Tom.

Same As the above comments. 7 tikkas and 2 kimbers. Kimber are my choice for a blued/wood rifle, tikka for synthetic/stainless. When hunting colorado I grab the tikka 95% of the time as they just shoot better for me.

Tikka ,if you want a rifle that shoots good out of the box . Kimber ,if you want to take a crap shoot and hope it is a shooter.

I never once picked up a Tikka rifle and thought to myself, "wow this is a rifle I could like." They feel cheap and plasticky to me. YMMV but I'm Kimber every day and 2X Sundays.

I've owned five Tikkas, one was a Super Lite that you mentioned, and three Kimbers. Out of those eight, I am down to just one Kimber Hunter but have not fired it yet.

Both have pluses and minuses to me. Much preferred the Kimber Montana over the Super Lite for hunting the coastal rainforest here where you go through a lot of brush. Lot of crawling over and under stuff where you can't have the rifle slung all the time. Just a sweet little rifle for that. The Tikka magazine stuck out at the balance point, and safety moved on me.

As much as I liked the Montana stock, I really prefer a detachable magazine. Preferably flush!

ETA - not a gunwriter but you can ask specific questions about either if you want

+1

Tikka

This is like Ford vs Chevy where it's personal preference more than anything else.

Consider adding the Howa Carbon Stalker to your list. I’ve had maybe a half-dozen 1500 variants and nary an issue with any of them.

I could be happy with any of the three, but would have to replace the plastic guard on a Tikka or I wouldn’t be able to sleep nights….

Since they are both plastic I'd go with the tikka. Never owned a superlite though, just some of their others. Have shot the kimber hunters, was not too impressed. Don't know if you are a suppressor person or maybe down the road but the superlite barrels are too thin to thread, that's why I passed on one recently. You hear about folks doing it but my research says its iffy. Don't think you'd have that problem with the Hunter.

^^^THIS^^^


I agree that some may like the look and feel of the Kimber. The Kimber is a very nice rifle. But the Tikka wins where it counts, in the accuracy dept. I have never shot one that was not extremely accurate. I own five of them. I have set up and zeroed many more for family and friends. Imo they are the most consistently accurate (Out of the box hunting rifle) on the market.

Just handled a Tikka at Scheels. I was impressed by it. Now I want one.

Tikka. Lite, superlite. Doesn't matter. Either one vs. the others.

I have a T3x super lite 7mm08. Changed the stock to a B &C and switched out the trigger spring. Absolute tack driver hard to beat for the money, at any price if I think about it! I have looked at Kimber many times and never felt the fit and finish was where it needed to be, plus lots of talk about not shooting all that great…….made my decision simple! I have 4 Tikkas and they all shoot.

Has anyone else had the Tikka safety come off when walking through woods?

Never. I’ve busted through brush for hours and never had a safety come off on a Tikka

I have but only on one a couple times I have five but only remember it happening on the one.It seems to move just a little easier than the other ones.

I have a T3 lite in 7-08 and a Hunter in 243. Had to change my bench technique to see the Hunters accuracy. Honestly it’s a joy to carry, but the Tika is a better balanced rifle for field shooting for me

There is a saying called "Playing the Kimber Roulette". It stems from guys having so many issues with Kimbers, and others having none. You just never know.

Tikka T3 series on the other hand, have been extremely consistent for a great many owners. There is always a rare exception to the rule, but they are very few and far between.

Without question, I would opt for, and recommend the Tikka.

I'll sacrifice and take all those nasty Kimber Montana's with those issues.

Pm for the address to send them to.

You're welcome.

Had a Kimber Hunter in 6.5CM. Shot some good groups with it but was never consistently 1" or less. Bought a Bergara Woodsman in 6.5CM. This rifle was a big step up in accuracy and consistency over the Kimber. Last spring picked up a Tikka T3X Lite in 6.5CM. Even better than the Bergara but the step up in accuracy and consistency over the Bergara is smaller. Of the 3 the Kimber was lightest and had maybe the best trigger but just did not shoot as well as the others. The Bergara has a beautiful wood stock and is a consistent sub 1" rifle. The Tikka shoots clover leafs more often the others. 1/2" or smaller 3 shot groups common/expected. My only complaints with the Tikka is all the plastic and the mag only holds 3 rounds. Easy to get over when it shoots like a custom rifle.

I’m a Win Model 70 fan through and through.
I’m also a lefty.
I own 3 LH Model 70s. All are fine rifles and as accurate as anything I’ve ever owned. But, all have required tweaking(extra $)to get them to where I was satisfied with them.

For years I waited, hoping Kimber would come out with a LH Montana. They actually even put out a brochure showing a LH Kimber 8400 (in Walnut) a few years ago but then dropped the idea.😳🥴

First time I picked up a Tikka I thought it was junk(because I hate all plastic parts/stocks on rifles). But after seeing them shoot I began looking more closely at them and the wheels began turning in my head….especially because stainless options are so difficult to find in left hand bolt actions, and Tikka has stainless in several calibers.

I now own 2 Superlites and am building a custom on a stainless Tikka action.

I still hate the plastic…so, I tweak the Tikkas. It’s just a fact of life as a lefty. To get what you want you’re gonna have to spend a little extra.

The majority of my rifles(Win 70, Rem 700, Tikka T3X) are stocked in fiberglass from McMillan(Did I mention tweaking?).😁

Now back to the OP’s question….

For me it’s Tikka, hands down!

Here’s why:

-Even with the plastic(which I still can’t warm up to) they are predictably accurate!
-Short bolt throw is nice.
-Tikka trigger is excellent straight out of the box, but it’s also fully adjustable if you want to tweak it more.
-Safety locks the bolt closed when engaged(love this).
-Tikka is the new Rem 700(many aftermarket parts and options now available for tweaking, customizing etc.)

Just my 2 cents.

Leftybolt

I recently set up a Tikka 7-08 superlite for my 12 year old. Easiest gun I have ever done load development for… Which is to say- No load development! I simply took loads that worked in our other 7mm-08s (120 NBT and 140 NAB) and shot them into sub MOA groups. I am a fan.

So is he…

I think you're spot on.

[b][/b]

Nice looking speed goat.

Great smile on the kid!




P

Having over a dozen Kimbers and the same with Tikka, save money and time - buy the Tikka. Never had an issue with hand loading for the Tikka - no incense, candles, two part epoxy, adjusting the firing pin length - just add ammo and sight it in. However, if you are a "tinkerer" and insist on CRF and 3 position safety, the Kimber will likely treat you quite well. An accurate Kimber is a wonderful rifle.

Out of the box, Tikka without exception!