WHICH WOULD BE THE BETTER OF THE TWO,AS FAR AS ACCURACE#1
DURABIALITY#2
DEPENDABLE AND RELIABLE#3
I HAVE A TIKKA 7MM-08 IN LAYAWAY,BUT I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT A BROWNING A BOLT ALSO,HARD CHOICE,NEED SOME OPINIONS,CAUSE I AM GETTING READY TO GET THIS GUN OUT,AND MIGHT CHANGE.....THANKS FOR ANY INFO.

Personally I would go with the browning. I have been unimpressed with berettaUSA in customer service. I'm also not really impressed with the tikka recoil lug setup but that shouldn't be a problem in the 7mm08. I also like the browning magazines much more than the plastic tikka mags. I've been very impressed with both my brownings accuracy.

what type groups are you getting with you browning?

I imagine the Tikka fanatics will soon overwhelm this post but I am another fan of the A-bolt. The magazine clips into the bottom plate so it is never exposed. I mentioned this before but since you asked.....I dislike the plastic mag and the way the plastic mag clips in place on the Tikka- it sort of clicks to a halt, making me think it is secured but it is only half way. You need to make sure you seat them all the way with a second click. I am sure Tikka owners will say it is no big deal and I am sure one would get accustomed to it but on an initial impression I disliked it. The balance and weight of both rifles is attractive and both triggers are easily adjustable. If you adjust the A-bolt trigger down as low as it will go and still want it lighter, a $15 spring replacement from Timney (available at Midwayusa) can make it as frighteningly light as you might want. The spring replacement took me, a non tinkerer, about one minute. These are both light guns and even in 7-08 they will kick a bit and probably surprise you. My A-bolt is a similar 260 and the kick got my notice. Replacement (prefit) recoil pads by Pachmyer or Limbsaver will help there but be prepared for some muzzle jump. I like the Abolt bolt handle - it is angled to match the contour of your hand as you cycle and the bolt throw is only 60 degrees so it i fast and won't trap you hand, or more importantly, gloved hand against the bolt. I like the fact that browning doesn't use a one size for all action length. The Tikka checkering feels peculiar in my hands too - an odd complaint but one that bothers me every time I pick one up. Still - I wouldn't mind one but might just prefer the previous model. As for accuracy the Tikka's are reknown, but the A-bolts ain't no slouch.

My browning .243 w/boss regularly turns in groups you wouldn't believe with 100gr sierra gameking loaded to 2850fps, which duplicates the federal premium load. It just plain shoots. I've never bothered to shoot anything else out of it. 17 michigan whitetails have fallen to this combination.
Here is a pic of my zero check target this year, 3 shots @ 100 yards, and this years buck.

To thier credit my tikka would regularly shoot around 1"-1 1/2" at 100 yards with a few different loads. Occasionally it would shoot a little tighter. I actually really liked how light my tikka was and was pretty happy with it until the stock cracked. They have a very week recoil lug system that just couldn't handle a steady diet of hard recoil. They were also uninterested in doing any repair work due to my having installed a muzzle break. I was not very pleased with thier customer service.

My browning RUM is still fairly new and I"m working up loads for it but so far it will shoot fed premium 210gr Partitions into 1 1/4 consistantly with some down to 3/4". My 225gr accubond load is shooting a little better with most down around 1". I'm only good for a few groups an hour with the RUM, it takes quite a bit of concentration to shoot good groups with that big a rifle.

WELL FELLAS,
I CALLED MY DEALER AND CHANGE TO THE BROWNING.
I LIKE THE BOLT THROW BETTER AND THE BOLT SEEMED TO BE STRONGER,AND THE THE MAGAZINE WAS ALOT MORE BETTER THAN THE TIKKA, IN MY OPINION.AND THE ONE MAIN THING IT FELT ALOT BETTER TO ME,FIT LIKE A GLOVE.NOT NOCKING THE TIKKAS, I LIKE EM,BUT I THINK IM GOING TO GIVE THIS BROWNING A TRY..THANKS FOR THE COMMENTS ,AND WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOME MORE ABOUT THE TWO....THANKS...

I am enjoying seeing this thread go pro Browning. Since you wanted to hear more I will tell you about the trigger adjustment. All you do is remove the trigger guard (2 screws) and you will see the adjustment screw staring at you. The spring simply slides over it. If you buy the spring kit from Timney you will get two springs. A 3lb and a 2lb. Pick one, slip it on, and adjust. When I got my rifle I removed the stock and checked it out. You will see that the recoil lug is actually bedded. It isn't a full blown bedding job a pro would do but it seems to work well and is a nice touch. My rifle seems to be particualr about where you rest the stock so for consistency's sake I always rest rather far back, nearer to the chamber. I sanded some points in the barrel channel I felt might be contacting the barrel and put the stock back on. I tightened the front action screw about as tight as I could with one hand then did the back screw to nearly as much. I notice that each of my rifles have certain traits when loading single shot rounds at the range. The remington is picky and needs to be seated way back, the CZ will let you just drop rounds into it and will feed them, the Browning will load anything as long as you push it into the magazine first. It isn't picky about where, it just has to feed from within the magazine so the round must be "clicked" down by your thumb. It is very fast, feels good and secure, and I actually like it best for this. Congrats on yours, I hope it groups like Josh's. I know you will enjoy it and hope this is the kind of stuff you were wanting to hear about.

thanks for the info,and i appreciate it buddy...thanks again <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have 3 tack driving Brownings - 223, 243, 300 Win Mag. All have the BOSS and shoot one hole to dime size groups if I do my job. The 223 will shoot cheap factory ammo really well.

I also have a SS T3 270 Win which is a great shooter. Have shot under 1" with everything I have thrown at it, but I have only had it a short time while I have had the Browings for around 10 years, so I don't know it as well. For a hunting rifle, I really like the Tikka. It is a pleasure to carry, shoot, trigger is great, nothing not to like for my use in Texas. The action on the Tikka is about as slick as they come, and aside from the plastic, it seems to have Sako quality fit and finish to go with the Sako barrel.

Neither rifle is perfect, but I give the Tikka the nod for bang for the buck in a hunting rifle.

Many hate Browning's design, but I like the feel of mine and they have performed flawlessly for me. Like the bolt throw angle, trigger, accuracy, etc. I have other guns I really like as well for other features I appreciate, but I don't think you will go wrong with either.

For severe duty, very cold, tough hunting conditions like Alaska, Canada, Northwest - Some have said Tikkas might freeze up and criticized Browning for too complicated bolt design with too many moving parts.

Hope you enjoy the Browning as much as I have enjoyed mine!

DJ

Sorry, but I like the tikka much better, not that the abolt is a bad gun, the features on the tikka are just a lot more to my liking.

just to throw my thoughts in the ring, i vote a-bolt. i had one in 270 win. that got traded for a project and i regret it everytime i go to the gun cabinet. shot 3/4'' groups with factory ammo all day long. wood finish was beautiful and trigger was excellent. my only complaint was the boss. loved it except for the muzzle blast. at the time, the CR wasn't readily available. i think this was mainly why i got rid of it.

I had a Browning A-Bolt I in 375 H&H bind up once on Kodiak in the middle of a bear hunt.

The bolt was stuck in the open position, and no amount of jiggling would fix it. Got it fixed back in camp, but that soured me on Browning in a way that I've never gotten over.

No Brownings for me, thank you!

I do like Tikkas, and have two.

I know nada about browning's! what do yall mean Boss?

I have had quite a few of both of these and have settled on the Tikka as being superior. However, you can find an A Bolt that is outstanding and a Tikka that needs to go back. But overall from what I hear from two gunsmiths, they see many more A Bolts than Tikkas come in for a fix. Also you must remember that the Tikka ($600) is a product of the same tooling and work crew that builds the Sako ($1200). I don't think there would be much debate comparing a Sako with a Browning. I consider the Tikka a "blue collar" Sako. But...... to each his own.

Its funny that you see more abolts in than tikkas. My gunsmith up here said that in all his years he has only had 1 browing come in and it was because of user error, and had several tikkas.

I have a pre t-3 Tikka in 243 and this year I bought a Browning Stainless Stalker in 7m08. I think, in a short action, I would take the Browning over the T-3. Mine is a great shooter, have shot under 1/4" groups, has very light recoil and now has a great trigger after I put in the Timney 3# spring in it. I don't mind the polymer clip and trigger guard of the Tikka, and I think the action is much much smoother. But I don't care for the way that Tikka makes one action a one size fits all deal. Might be a fantastic concept, but I just don't care for it.

You would have been happy with either, but I know you will love your Browning.

Long

dgc - the BOSS stands for ballistic optimization stablization system .....or something of that nature. It comes in two flavors, with muzzle breaking capbilities or without (boss-cr). It looks like a muzzle break that is built onto the end of a barrel. It is adjustable in that you twist it more open or shut. The idea is that it tunes the rifle barrel to the load\ammo you are shooting. It comes with a general reference guide that will tell you where to set it for particular loads for a best guess scenario. What it does in effect is alter barrel harmonics. It basically tries to accomplish the same thing reloaders do by changing bullets, seating depth, powders etc.... It is nice for non reloaders and has one advantage in that it if you pick a particular bullet, lets say a Federal trophy bonded bearl claw that you are just dying to shoot, you can make good progress in getting the gun to shoot them by buying a single box of ammo and playing with the settings at he range. You ought to be able to improve groups for anything you shoot through the gun and get the ammo you want to use shoot acceptably. The boss-cr, stands for conventinal recoil ,so it doesn't offer the recoil reduction of the muzzle break feature of the standard boss. The boss -cr should be quieter than the standard. Does that help? Go to the Browning website and have a look. Here is a link to the Browning Eclipse with the Boss installed.
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog...amp;type_id=005

Thank you! I was waiting for someone to answer.

does the boos system reduce muzle velocity...??

The boss system has no effect on velosity, but the fact that some boss equiped rifle have 2" less barrel length to keep the overall length the same, that might have a slight effect on velosity, possibly 100fps. The increase in accuracy is well worth the loss in thos instances.

how do you get the screw out to put the new spring in,can anyone help?????

I have an A-Bolt in 30-06 in it will shoot 165grn gamekings into three shot groups of 3/4" consistently. I like it a lot and have never had a bit of mechanical trouble with it.

But, at a hunting camp this past fall I met a guide who works in Alaska quite a bit. He told me he's seen more actions freeze up on Brownings than any other rife, so it sounds like your experience isn't too unusual David.

And isn't anyone going to say they wouldn't own a gun made in Japan?

I would rather fight a drunken Sailor with a broken beer bottle than to pick up a browning for any reason. I detest them with every fiber of my body.

lol.....i love mine,and its a tack driver.

I had a win Mod 70 in 300 WM when the BOSS first came out. That gun was the tack drivingest gun I have ever shot to this day-as well as some of my friends-we all still talk about the shots we'd had with that rifle. But, one day my friend and I were out and about when we ran into a stray songdog. I had a small window of opportunity and hurriedly chambered a round to take the coyote out. Well, to this day my hearing was damaged beyond repair from that incident as I didnt have a chance to put in the the ol ear plugs -traded the rifle in on a standard M70 classic sporter in 338WM. I will NEVER have a gun with the BOSS again!!! Plus if I did nobody would hunt with me either. They are obnoxiously loud and I cringe (or leave) every time I see one at the range. Oh, the system works extremely well for both recoil reduction and dial-in. But its at a price I'm not willing to pay - physically. Terrible idea. I can still feel the pain in my ear from the extremely sharp CRACK of that thing. Swear if you shot that dang thing in the ELK woods and missed-you and everyone else might as well go home. If they don't tar and feather you first

I own both and recommend both! My A-Bolt and Tikka are honest 1/2" MOA rifles with handloads; I like the balance and feel of both and I like and prefer detachable magazines. Unlike most, I don't mind the plastic Tikka magazine. The Tikka trigger is fantastic and the Browning is going to need professional help...not just a spring...to be anything like the Tikka.

For the record, I also own Remchesters and like them for what they are and recommend them also! :^)

Nice shooting and a handsome "butterball" Forkhorn. I live in the U.P. of Michigan and that picture is very typical of our young bucks.
I also agree with your opinion. I had a Tikka WH in .243 that frequently shot "one holers", and have a Browning SS Stalker in .280 that is just as sweet.
I like the finish, and solid feel of the Browning better for less than 150$ more.

I have a good load worked up for my 338 RUM abolt. 225gr Accubond with retumbo for 3140fps. 3 shot groups consistently in the 7/8-1" range. I haven't seen a browning yet that won't shoot well.

Josh at one time there was a recall on the stainless 338 RUM got any idea what that was all about. All of my browning shoot like a house on fire as long as I do my part. Here is a group from my .338 A-bolt at a hundred yards. 3 shots 215 gr game kings. Sorry about the pic quality.............blake

My microhunter is right slick, accurate, and handy in the thick stuff.

Have the Browning in 7-08. Hav the Tikka in sporter weight .22-250. I like them both.....Essex

DJTex, You mentioned that one of your Brownings is in .223 caliber. What BOSS setting did you finally settle on?
I have had one for several years and the company didn't provide a "sweet spot" setting for it. It took I don't know how many rounds before I finally settled on a setting of 1.55.
Now when I want to try a different bullet or powder I work up my loads without adjusting the BOSS i.e. the same way as I work up loads in all my non-BOSS equipped guns,that is, by using different powder charges, different bullets, etc.
IMO the BOSS system is good for the person who shoots only factory ammo. This person is likely to set up the system then continue to use the same ammunition all the time. Used in this way the system probably works well.

Wouldnt buy either personally. Hate the detachable plastic clip on the Tikka. Never have liked A Bolts either. I'd go Kimber, or win M70 featherweight if I was looking for a light weight gun. Maybe a Sako finnlight too. And I'd go with 30-06. Having shot everything else in std & mag cartridges the 06 just makes sense. Lotsa cheap ammo. Fun to load too. But, I like anything 30 cal to be a bit heavier than the light weights. My lightweight is 7mm08 and the recoil is light -which is what I want in a light weight and what youre not likely to get in anything above 7mm-08. 243-7mm-08 is ideal for lightweights.

Sorry not to have replied sooner, I have been out of town for two weeks and just saw your question.

You are on the money in my view regarding the convenience for one using factory ammo of the BOSS - plus on a 223 it's not much cheaper to reload anyway.

My factory loads are usually Blackhills 40 g Ballistic Tips or 52 Grain match hollow points, and my gun shoots the 52 grain hp's best at 6.5 and the 40 grainers at 3.8. It will also shoot Ultramax 55 grain soft points in dime size groups set on 6.5, which is convenient if I want a soft point for a kid to use on a whitetail. On my gun, point of impact changes very little at 100 yards with these loads.

In a caliber like 223, it is nice to be able to make factory ammo shoot like reloads. I just record settings for my Brownings' BOSS systems in my Ammo & Ballistics II manual beside the appropriate load, and I can change it in a minute any time I want. It takes a little time and effort to dial it in, but this process is fun to me, and once done it is easy to switch ammo if needed.

Just don't forget your range muffs!!!!

DJ