Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Ruger American vs Tikka T3X

I'm not seeing what Ruger copied. Ruger bolt is 3 lug full diameter, Tikka is 2 lug traditional style. Ruger has a savage style barrel nut to set head space, Tikka is spaced off the shoulder with no nut. Ruger uses two V-Blocks for bedding, Tikka uses a recoil lug in the stock that engages a groove in the action. Ruger has a 2 position tang safety, Tikka has a 3 position rocker up by the rear of the action. Ruger has a blade in trigger style trigger, Tikka does not. Ruger uses a rotary magazine, Tikka uses a single stack.

Frankly the only thing that is the same is that they are both modern push feeds with synthetic stocks. Other than that they are completely different.

That said, the Tikka is unbeatable for $700 in my opinion, and the Ruger American is the best for its $350 street price. They are both great rifles. If you are not sure you are going to stick with hunting or are on a budget get the Ruger. If you want the best no compromises light hunting rifle on the market, pay the extra money for the Tikka.

You’re comparing apples to truck rims

I cannot warm up to bladed triggers... and the RAR stocks feel cheap to me.

I cannot warm up to bladed triggers... and the RAR stocks feel cheap to me.

You can say that again.

Good post. I agree..

Haha, this damn site keeps glitching out.

I don’t think Tikka invented the bedding block either. I have an old RIFLE magazine (179 Sept. 1998) where Ken Waters describes the way his smith built a lightweight .22/250 on a 700 action. He omitted the washer-style lug and used a separate lug bedded into the stock that fit in a cut into the bottom of the barrel just in front of the receiver. This was done for looks, and Waters wrote he didn’t think it would work well on a rifle with more recoil.

Don’t know if any earlier Tikka or other rifles used that method. Really new ideas are scarce as chicken lips.

Look at some of the bizarre front lug setups Sako has used in the past and presently for an answer.

To answer the OP both rifles have bolts so there is that commonality.

Both rifles do fine. But both are compromises to a fine rifle.

Tikka I’d buy at a higher price point. RAR I won’t.

If your budget only allows for a Ruger American go for it. I’ll work a little harder for the Tikka.

When they first came out, I bought a RAR, and it was every bit as nice as a mint-condition pre-64 FW Model 70 in 264 Win Mag that I owned. So I sold the Wincheter.

I had two RAR's, a 243 and an *06. Worst feeding detachable mags I've ever seen on any rifle at any price. Ruger replaced both of them, and they still sucked. Couldn't get rid of them fast enough even though they shot pretty well, they weren't worth the constant hassle.

I've got the Predator from Ruger, in 6.5 Grendal....

its solid, well put together, is accurate as hell, and takes 223 mags, which feed just fine...

I love the older Tikkas from the 80s, with the wood stocks...

what has kept me from picking up one tho, has been is I don't like the limited access if you have to clear a jam....

if you ever handled a Tikka from the 80s, the actions were smoother than an old well used Krag....

Any love for one of the new Mausers? They have me very interested.

Same here but mine was a 308. I think Ruger has come up with an improved magazine since then but I don't see me getting another one.
I'd rather wait for a used Marlin X7 for the same price as the RAR.

Both rifles have their place. I have several RAR’s. All perform well. Just not the form and finish of the tikka.

I think the Mausers are hard to beat at their price. Called my local Bob Wards and they have them for $520. Great trigger, well made stock, 60 deg bolt, bolt locks on safe, and a reputation for phenomenal accuracy. I also think that the storage compartment in the stock is a great idea (keep your hunting tags, folding scalpel and a couple extra rounds so you never have to think about where they are during hunting season). You can also get a 6.5 PRC on Eurooptic for $500.

I think it is a great rifle design; only thing that might be nice is a lighter all weather version to go head to head with Tikka.

There is a lot of very good rifles out these days at many price points

IMHO
Hank