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

As a knock around gun at the 280$ mark grab a gun was selling ruger 243’s at it was a deal. Fast enough twist to run 105’s.. okay enough that if you had to use one on a real hunt no big deal. A usable cheap gun.

Same with the stainless $480 tikka 6.5 creedmoor s from Locked and loaded.

Nowadays I view stainless tikkas as good building blocks..

Great trigger

Built In rail

Straight action

Prefit barrels

Tons of aftermarket stocks

Factory stocks and barrels command decent price.

And the real gem has been the ctr bottom metal takes aics mags..

And now that LRI makes bolts it’s ez to make a do all switch barrel rig.

Significantly different designs but both have that ugly modern look. The newer Americans are less rough than the earlier ones. They stiffened the stock a while back and improved it dramatically in my opinion. Magazine issues with the Americans can be avoided with the AICS mag compatible models. I too dislike bladed triggers, but that can be fixed with a bit of tinkering.

If you dissect each rifle, I do not know which design is more robust and which one uses higher quality materials - although I suspect it'd be Tikka. But if I were buying one now, I'd go with the Ruger and save some cash.

I like the tikkas way more but the rugers do shoot great.
I wouldn’t pass on either if the price was right.

I have both. T3x’s in .270 and .308 and RAR Predator in 6.5 BoyGeorge.

If you can afford the Tikka, get the Tikka. If $ is tight get the RAR and apologize to no one.

I just can’t see what the hype is about RAR is. And tikka is in a different class.
Everything about RAR feels like Sh*t.
There are other rifles out there that I would consider first,
Sauer 100 or mauser m18 that were on sale. TC venture or compass.
To each his own I guess.

And the extra bucks that it cost you for the Tikka won't mean shyt 2 weeks later. You will already have forgot and won't care that the Tikka cost you more. But if you bought the RAR, you may very likely be regretting that you didn't cough up a few more bucks for the Tikka. Been there, done that. RJ

Considering splitting the difference and find yourself a used Marlin XL7. I have a Marlin and a Tikka, and no doubt, the Tikka is a more refined rifle. The Marlin shoots just a good, or perhaps just a bit better.

Never have had a Tikka so can't compare, but just picked up a RAR in 308 Win here off the fire's classifieds to go with a pile of 308 Win ammo I have. I'll get to the range eventually with it and hoping it lives up to what I've been hearing about them. The price point is what I was looking for and was the only determining factor for it.

Agree


Jerry

Lot of very opinionated snobs on here! Lol!

I have 1 of each. For me, accuracy is a wash. The real difference is overall quality. I view the RAR as a disposable rifle, shoot it up and discard. The Tikka on the other hand I fully expect to last the rest of my life and still be able to pass it on. If I ever get off my azz and end up in Africa or Alaska, I'd pack the Tikka and never think twice. I'd worry about the RAR.

I’ve had both. Sold the Ruger, kept the Tikka.

Money, pffft.

I have 2 (two) Tikkas and no RAR. T3 Lite 270, T3X Lite 7 RM

I don’t have to pee on the electric fence. LOL


Jerry