Hey guys,

I'm going to pick one of these two guns for hunting Eastern whitetails this fall. I'd like to get a .308 and i'm trying to figure out if it's worth it to get the Sako A7. I believe the A7 is a true short action and has a more secure magazine system. Not sure which has the better mounting system. I've seen that article online which compares the Sako 85/Sako A7/Tikka. Just looking to get opinions from guys on here who are a lot more knowledgeable about guns than I am. Which one would you pick and for what reasons? Thanks for any info.

Tikka is my pick.

The A7 is nice but you really don't get much more rifle over the Tikka. I like the Tikka magazines better and you have a lot more options for aftermarket stuff with the Tikka should you choose to upgrade in the future.

Tikka unless you just have an extra $500 burning a hole in your pocket.


Okie Uohn

I agree with the above. You can mount a rail on the Tikka if you want and it's not like the Tikka mags are dropping out,so no more secure system needed. If I really wanted an upgrade,I would spend the extra I would have spent on a Sako ,on a Mcmillan.

Having owned both, go with the Tikka. Best value for your dollar even if
the A7 shot as well.

Agreed, go with the Tikka, to their credit they both have drilled and tapped receivers unlike the cheesy clamp-on Sako 85/75 mounting system....Good luck.....Hb

Tikka and forget about it.

Sako A7 is drilled and tapped . Browning Abolt bases fit it

I like the magazine,action opening much better on the A7 , the synthetic stock is flimsier then the TIkka . There is not a 500 dollar difference between both in stainless, I suggest someone shop around a little better.

Why Tikka went to that drop magazine instead of the 595/695 is beyone me. It is the biggest detractor for me even more so then the plastic bottom "metal"

You can't go wrong with either rifle.... if the cost is the same I'm going for the A7. If not then ,Tikka all the way.... this is coming from a guy who owns 14 T3's and one A7

Another vote for the Tikka. I put EGW scope rails on mine because I like the ring spacing options it provides.If you handload take advantage of the Tikka being a long action and buy a 30-06 length magazine 10 minutes worth of work with a dremel and a file on the bolt stop and your in COAL heaven.

I'll be the dingbat that says Kimber Montana though. Always wanted one in 308..

Once you get a tikka t3x and put it in even a b&c and add the mountain hardward bottom metal you are treading in Montana water.

If you're going with a .308, I'd get an A7. Might as well have a short action rifle if you're getting a short action cartridge. That said, the T3 in .270 is an excellent deer rifle. Similar recoil to the .308, but flatter shooting. I love mine.

I am with Okie John, above - Tikka, unless you have an extra $500 burning a hole in your pocket. I have owned 5 Tikkas, including a T-3 Hunter in 308. My favorite for big game is the T-3 Hunter in 6.5x55 Swede, but I like them all.

I have owned about as many Sakos, too. I had a few stinkers in the bunch of Sakos, but none of my Tikkas were. Buy your favorite caliber and be happy.

Is the .308 in a long action Tikka that big of a deal? I hear the bolt throw is a short action throw. I'm guessing you'd only be saving a few ounces if it was a true short action, obviously a slightly shorter gun.

I actually just checked the A7 and the weights are listed as the same for 270/30-06/308

those weight numbers cannot be correct.

link to sako a7

I have the Stainless A7 in 308. Took it out shooting pigs a couple of weeks ago. A mate had a Tikka in 308 along as well.

The ability to top up the mag from the top without taking the magazine out is a great feature when multiple targets are in the offing. It's also nice on the range for the same reason. The A7 seems nicer in the hands as well, a true short action.

The A7 magazine allows an OAL of 2.907 which I love. I can load any VLD bullet to kiss the lands and still fit in the magazine.

The only downside for me is it's only a 3 shot mag, but I carry it with one up the spout which gives me 4.

I decided all those things were worth the extra few hundred bucks. Both nice rifles.

I should add that even though the A7 stock is plastic, it's kind of a soft touch feel thing and carries and shoots real nice. No slipperiness even when sweaty. Really stiff for plastic, which may be contribute to the excellent accuracy. Great recoil pad too.

I was going to put it in a Macmillan but given I like the factory stock so much I saved myself a lot of money over the Mac.

I agree on the A7 stock, the soft touch finish does feel great......Hb

I think you may have misread My post, I said they were both drilled and tapped, a feature I like in both rifles......Hb

I did indeed, sorry about that.

Thats OK, I have been known to do the same....lol....Hb

NO.

you can get 2 tikkas for what the Sako cost if you order from Whitkers.....................ordered one the other day for $569 plus shipping...............

Maybe an 85 but a A7 is not double the price or 500 more like some have said here

No they're not double or even 500 dollars more even down here where price gouging is the National pastime...

Yeah, they really bang shooters down there in a major fashion. I run across very few straight up A7's with the synthetic stock here, Most are the tecomate or other model with B&C stocks mounted on them.

A7 Is a true short action and the mags lock in and the ejection port is way nicer.

I would take the Tikka .308 and drop it into a McMillan Edge.

for those of you saying the A7s arent twice the price..........
http://www.cabelas.com/product/BERETTA-A-BIG-GAME-BOLT-ACTION-RIFLES/1872711.uts
1149.00.............seems like that is easily $500 more and pretty close to twice what a tikka costs.........
Couldn't find any other online sources in the USA.

Same gun similiary equipped ? I have owned that particular rifle and a Tikka and know the differences , do you?

Pull up a plain Sako A7 and a Tikka T3x synthetic and tell us

Yep, less than $250 difference.......Hb

I had that big game A7 , I did not think it was worth the money , not to mention that the Big game comes with a fluted barrel and is stainless. Last I checked the t3x stainless was more in the 700 dollar range and the superlight 749 from SW.

Yeah the last Superlite I bought from SW was $749........I see regular (not Big Gsme) Sako A7 Stainless models on GB for $899-$998......My money would just buy another Tikka Superlite for $749, and if your not in a hurry SW will run them on special for $699 from time to time.......Hb

Looking for a Tikka T3x in 7mag. The Roanoke store has one in stock....................unfortunately

Ha! I know the feeling, I too have been considering a run to Roanoke for a Superlite in 30-06.........Hb

All I know is that I have a Tikka T3X stainless steel lite sitting at my FFL waiting for me to pick up that I paid $569 plus shipping for, and the fee my FFL will charge to do the paper work, so say $600..
you have to request the price to be emailed to you, but the price I got was 569.........so if the regular A7s are running 1k, then that seems like about like a $500 difference by the time tax is thrown in there..........and not but about $100 difference from being double the price.........

Not to beat this dead horse anymore but 569 for a T3x stainless steel lite sounds awfully low and of course your pricing of the regular A7 seems to be way high. Lets discuss real world vs fairy tale pricing . I bought a Weatherby Mark V a few months back for 599 doesn't mean they all sell for that little.

IMO the A7's are nicer rifles but I don't think they shoot any better on average than the T3's. Yes, the A7 is available in a true short action but, the difference in weight between them and the T3 Lite isn't really worth discussing. The original weight difference between my A7S SS .308 with Talley LW and Kahles AH 3-9x42 and my T3 Lite SS in 6.5x55 with Millett rings (I know) and Zeiss Diavari C 3-9x36 was about 0.2 lbs. I have since dropped the A7 into a B&C Medalist and it lost another 0.2 lbs. I don't think either is a bad choice just depends on what you prefer about each rifle. I personally own the T3 Lite SS, a Sako A7S Tecomate, a Sako A7S Big Game and a standard A7S SS. I would not hesitate to buy another T3(x) Lite SS if there was a good deal or one in a caliber I was interested in. I have contemplated getting a T3(x) Lite SS in .243 for my daughter to see if I could get my Model 70 PF Featherweight in 6mm Rem. back.

All I can tell you is go to Whitakers guns website and request a price for the T3X stainless lite and they will email you the price.......I attached the email quote I received last week..........and I was using what you and VAhillbilly were saying the price for the A7 was........honestly I havent seen any Sakos in the local shops around here, except for the occasional used one, so I have no idea what they would be priced new around here..

Wow! A new Tikka T3X lite stainless for $569? You got a smokin deal on that, I looked on GB just for chits and giggles and the cheapest T3x lite stainless i could find was $650 + shipping not to mention FFL fee, I did find a T3x blue synthetic for $529 + shipping.....not many A7 stainless were listed but the cheapest I could find was $898 with free shipping.....A price difference of around $250.......Enjoy your new Tikka, I bet she will shoot.......Hb

Lol try $1080 plus tax and shipping for a tikka T3x stainless synthetic here....I wish we had ur prices

No question - lighter and cheaper are you fine points to win the debate.

I went with the Sako A7 RoughTec in 308. Some things that made a difference to me:

Short action
Magazine can be top loaded and the retention system is good
Standard style scope tapping vs proprietary system on Tikka
Much nicer stock IMO
Shorter bolt throw since it is a three lug design as on the Sako 85
Bolt is locked closed on loaded chamber and includes a button to release without disengaging the safety
5 shot MOA guaranty vs 3 on Tikka, same barrels though so.......

Here's another place you can get a T3x for $550-ish: http://www.keithssporting.com/


Okie John