Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Tikka T3x vs. Savage 16/116 FCSS

no experience with savage however I did just buy an 8 twist 22 250 tikka and it shot the first 8 rounds into .68 and .75 inch groups with 60 grain v max.

Was that 2 4 shot groups or 1 5hot and 1 3 shot group. An 8 twist 22-250 would be bad azzed.

Did a little group therapy today with my Tikka, every time I shoot it I know why I have 5 .

Wouldnt trade one of my Tikkas for 2 Salvages

Never had a Tikka but every savage I have had has been a shooter and easy to change barrels on.

ill say “montana” ... or a $400 savage lwh at buds

I have experience with one of each. So far, the Tikka beats the Savage in every category except accuracy. No joke. Both rifles, unaltered, with factory ammo, and the Savage was clearly more accurate. I hopefully have some dies for the Tikka on the way for Christmas. Maybe I can get the Tikka to catch up.

Was that 2 4 shot groups or 1 5hot and 1 3 shot group. An 8 twist 22-250 would be bad azzed.[/quote

that was two 4 shot groups and they were with reloads. 35 grains of h380 in a Hornady case with a ww primer. I had them seated within 30 thousands of the rifling.

you are correct about them being pretty badass. They are quite loud though at least to someone that is used to hearing a 222 go off.

We have a tikka t3x 243 and a savage ww 116 in 30 06. Both have SS 3x9 scopes. Hand loads for both. Both are very accurate, the tikka's more so, but a 6mm is easier to shoot and control. The tikka's shot anything good from the get go. The savage was picky, and does not like boat tail bullets. The tikka shoots 5 shots at about .7" The savage shoots just under an inch. Th accu stock bedding system in the savage is very good, but you have to torq it to specs. The tikka's barrels are very smooth and can be shot 100 rounds or so before cleaning. The savage barrel is very rough, and begins to foul, and affect accuracy between 25 and 30 rounds, and has to be cleaned for copper. Both have been reliable, with no cold bore issues. If I buy again, it will be a tikka, but my savage has been a very consistent shooter.

Thanks buddy. Ive been messing with a 22-250 lately. I happen to have some h380 powder on hand as well.

My vote is Tikka. I have owned 6, two older models (558 and 695) as well as 4 T-3s, both Hunter and Lite. All shot not good, but great. Calibers are 243, 6.5 CM, 6.5 Swede, 7mm-08, 308, and 30-06. Trigger adjustment is all they need. No bedding, barrel floating, etc.

I currently own two Savage Axis rifles. One was a 243, now it is a 250 Savage. The second was a 308, now it is a 257 Roberts. Both now wear E.R. Shaw barrels, and both shoot great. With the original barrels they shot good, not great. My nephew has an accurate Axis in 270 Winchester. You get what you pay for. For the money, Savage rifles are a good deal. However, I prefer to spend a bit more and get a Tikka.

I have owned six, I think, 7mm-08s. The most accurate one was a T-3 Lite. And yes, like a fool I sold it. Don't ask why!

The Axis is a cheap pos and not what the OP had listed. Why you guys would compare the the bottom of the barrel Savage (Axis model) to a Tikka, is beyond me. I saw a post from someone that actually had a stainless 16/116 model and did a fair comparison. However, As far as comparing the Axis to the Tikka, yes I'd pick the Tikka as well.

That bullet needs a 12 twist

Thanks buddy. That's what I'm running, I figured it would be borderline.

I have owned several Savage rifles and no Tikka rifles. This because the stock design of the Tikka rifles just plain suggs. I have no problems with the triggers on Savage rifles and some of the barrels are a bit rough but I have never owned a Savage that wasn't accurate enough for the purpose I wanted it for. This and Savage rifles are made here.

Seriously asking, what sucks about the tikka stocks?

Unless you’re opposed to plastic altogether, I think they’re about as rigid and functional as any plastic out there. For sure better than Ruger American or Remington Tupperware. And I think better than the “accustocks” I’ve had.

That’s not to say I haven’t replaced a few with quality aftermarket stocks. But I still think with a little krylon properly applied for looks and some texture they’re pretty decent

Don't care for the plastic on the Ruger American either but the Remington plastic fits me well enough. The Weatherby Vanguard synthetic stock fits pretty good too.

I've owned at least 8 different Tikkas, from the Whitetail (695) through the CTR, including T3 and T3X. Worst mistake I've made was trying to find a rifle for dad (left handed bolt gun), and choosing a savage 110, twice. They both sucked in build quality, feeding (non feeding is more like it), and ho-hum accuracy.......1" being the best they would do. Helen Keller could shoot sub 1" with any Tikka I've ever had or shot. Ain't even close in my dictionary.


bsa, we know how much you like punching paper, especially with your continual whining as to the lack of interest in your MOA shooting thread. Some people are more interested in this, however, including me.......

Tikka Superlite in whatever flavor you like. Don't make this hard. Buy a 6x SWFA, Bushnell LHRS, or a Nightforce and be done. You just saved 4 years and 3 different custom rifle builds looking for that one rifle along with 1,000 hours of wasted time on forums. Just trust me.

I'll greedily take the mechanics of RPM/Throat geometry/COAL aligning...pass on the Milk Jugs and resist the "urge" to hop a fhuqking fence. Hint. Congratulations?!?

If only for starters.

Hint.......................