Upgrading rifle questions

[Texastrouthunter]

So I am looking at my next rifle purchase and think I have it narrowed down to 3-4. These are what I am thinking. It will be chambered in a 7PRC and will be my "all purpose rife" for everything from deer, Nilgai, elk, etc.. Has anyone tried these setups or close to and have any info?? I am mostly an archery guy but am trying to also get into some longer range stuff so am pretty new. I have gotten my hands on the Tikka, Bergara, and Weatherby and all have felt great except the stock of the tikka which I really didn't like (hence the MDT field stock).

Added a little extra for tax and shipping but was really trying to stay below $3500 all in.

Tikka T3x Stainless $910 (Scheels)

• MDT Field Stock $350
• AICS Magazine $50
• MDT bolted ARCA Rail 6” $52
• MDT Bipod $250
• Sling ??? $50
• Scope Athlon Helos BTR Gen 2 4-20x50 $600 (Tube size 30mm)
• Rail and Rings $120
• Timney trigger $250

Total = $2632 + 10% tax = $2895

Bergara Sierra Wilderness $1000 (BPS)

• MDT bolted ARCA Rail 6” or bipod mount $52
• MDT Bipod $250
• Sling ??? $50
• Scope Athlon Helos BTR Gen 2 4-20x50 $600 (Tube size 30mm)
• Rail and Rings $120
• Timney trigger $250

Total = $2322 + 10% tax = $2554

Weatherby Alpine ST $1900 (Scheels)

• MDT bolted ARCA Rail 6” or bipod mount $52
• MDT Bipod $250
• Sling ??? $50
• Scope Athlon Helos BTR Gen 2 4-20x50 $600 (Tube size 30mm)
• Rail and Rings $120

Total = 2972 + 10% tax = $3269

Seekins Precision Havok $1850 (Scheels)

• MDT bolted ARCA Rail 6” or bipod mount $52
• MDT Bipod $250
• Sling ??? $50
• Scope Athlon Helos BTR Gen 2 4-20x50 $600 (Tube size 30mm)
• Rail and Rings $120

Total = $2922 + 10% Tax = $3215

 

[1990DSM]

I really don’t think you need a Timney trigger for the Tikka, the factory triggers are great out of the box. If you want it lighter put a $10 spring in it super simple.

 

[JMundy84]

I would go with the tikka but get a KRG echo instead of the mdt, replace the rail and rings with UM tikka rings, no need to replace the trigger on a tikka unless you really want a 2 stage. Also the echo uses factory mags so don't need to buy aics mags

 

[Jdeck09]

I am a Bergara guy but from this list, I'd go with the Seekins. They shoot great and come pretty much set from the factory.

If you really wanted to nerd out, you could build a 7prc of the Bergara Premier action/barrels. Thats what I'll be doing eventually.

 

[sodaksooner]

Ive got a PH2 Havak and it's a tack driver. Mine is a bit older so still has the Timney versus Triggertech, but no complaints at all. Once I got a load worked up it'll do 1/2 MOA if I do my job. 300WM for me.

 

[Texastrouthunter]

Perfect!!! That’s exactly the kind of info I was looking for. Hadn’t seen the UM rings or echo chassis. I was leaning towards the tikka just because of all the good reviews and without a doubt the smoothest action of the 3 I had my hands on.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I'd be looking at a different scope.

 

[DangerRanger]

Tikka in a rokstok

 

[JGood]

Between those options, I would buy the tikka, true the action and rebarrel it before i spent $1900 on a Weatherby.

In my experiance its always better to spend the bare minimum and upgrade with exactly what you want, or go fully custom from the start.

You could buy a custom action (Bighorn) and get it barreled (bartlein) by a killer gun smith for less than $1900 and you would have a much more accurate rifle than the Weatherby or Seekins.


IF you went tikka I would nix the rail and get the UM rings.

I would spend the extra money on geting the maven scope instead of the Athlon.

The only problem with the Tikka action is the lack of aftermarket stocks. if you have a stock you like that is inletted for the tikka, its a great option.

You could get an MPA https://masterpiecearms.com/shop/mpa-pmr-ultra-lite-hunter-rifle/ and be better off than any of these "factory" rifles.

 

[wind gypsy]

I'd go weatherby or tikka. That weatherby comes with a good stock from go. I'd only consider a tikka over it if you took the $ allocated for a trigger and put it towards a rokstok or peak 44 stock. Seekins makes nice rifles, its just going to be a lb heavier than the weatherby and that could get portly depending on the hunting you plan to do.

Easy pass on bergara compared to the others.

You could get an MPA https://masterpiecearms.com/shop/mpa-pmr-ultra-lite-hunter-rifle/ and be better off than any of these "factory" rifles.

8.6# naked rifle is awful heavy for an all around hunting gun.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I would get a Tikka and try out the vertical grip on the stock before I changed the stock out. If that $20 change doesn’t help you, then consider a RokStok or other aftermarket option. I think the Tikka magazines are just fine. I did upgrade the bottom plastic to bottom metal.

I prefer the SWFA 6x scope over all competitors except for Trijicon.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[Texastrouthunter]

Thanks for all the quick replies. Sounds like the consensus is Tikka with a few different aftermarket items. I’ll check out the Rokstock and the peak 44 options. I had a Timney before but sounds like the stock trigger with an upgraded spring is great. Yall just made this a lot easier than I was thinking

 

[SloppyJ]

Tikka - Better rings than what you have - Better scope than what you have - and a better stock than what you have - be done.

No need for all of the extra add on parts and leave the trigger alone after you adjust it. Don't mess with the spring.

 

[jzeblaz]

Tikka - Better rings than what you have - Better scope than what you have - and a better stock than what you have - be done.

No need for all of the extra add on parts and leave the trigger alone after you adjust it. Don't mess with the spring.

This

 

[ResearchinStuff]

my notes:

7 PRC is the favorite chambering of guys who don't know enough about rifles to pick one out on their own.

that scope is probably garbage. get a swfa, maven rs1.2, or a nightforce.

you have underestimated the cost of good rings and a good rail. some of these rifles have integral rails, which are always the best thing to use.

where's your suppressor?


for a rifle that actually does what you want to do: get a tikka t3x lite, 6.5 creed, tikka vertical grip, 3d printed titanium can, UM rings, and a swfa 3-9.

 

[JMundy84]

my notes:

7 PRC is the favorite chambering of guys who don't know enough about rifles to pick one out on their own.

that scope is probably garbage. get a swfa, maven rs1.2, or a nightforce.

you have underestimated the cost of good rings and a good rail. some of these rifles have integral rails, which are always the best thing to use.

where's your suppressor?


for a rifle that actually does what you want to do: get a tikka t3x lite, 6.5 creed, tikka vertical grip, 3d printed titanium can, UM rings, and a swfa 3-9.

This but add trijicon to that list of potential scopes

 

[JMundy84]

Rifle Scope Field Evaluations

rokslide.com

I would also take a long look through here before deciding on a scope

 

[JGood]

8.6# naked rifle is awful heavy for an all around hunting gun.

YMMV. I personally like my long range guns to sit around 9-10# all in. I quite enjoy the drivability and recoil feel of a rifle in that weight class. When you get to ultralight rifles (sub 6#), I personally find them harder to shoot. People love to talk about sheep rifles and most of them dont sheep hunt.

Further, MPA will sell you a barreled action without the chassis....I would do this and drop it in Rokstock or the 44 before buying a $1800 factory rifle from Weatherby. I like Weatherby, but its just spending extra money.

Ultimately, spending more money on a factory rifle is a diminishing return. Tikka holds the bar right now on quality/cost ratio until you hit the $2300 semi/custom route.

 

[wind gypsy]

YMMV. I personally like my long range guns to sit around 9-10# all in. I quite enjoy the drivability and recoil feel of a rifle in that weight class. When you get to ultralight rifles (sub 6#), I personally find them harder to shoot. People love to talk about sheep rifles and most of them dont sheep hunt.

I like the same weight range, only it usually takes a sub 7# rifle to get there if a guy wants to use a durable scope and suppressor (without attached bipod). A 25 ounce scope with decent rings, scope caps, level = 2#. So you just that you're at 10.6#. No magazine, bipod, ammo, suppressor. its' a heavy bitch.

Further, MPA will sell you a barreled action without the chassis....I would do this and drop it in Rokstock or the 44 before buying a $1800 factory rifle from Weatherby. I like Weatherby, but its just spending extra money.

Far as I can tell a barreled action starts at $1600 and is polished stainless. Add $200 trigger, $200 bottom metal, $800 for a bastion, $200 to bed it. One could rattle can it themself i guess.. And you've got a rifle that costs $1200 more (not including magazines or cerakote), probably takes significantly more time to piece together, has a multiple month lead time, probably weighs more, and have fun with the finger pointing if it doesn't function reliably. It is far from an equal in this comparison.

Ultimately, spending more money on a factory rifle is a diminishing return. Tikka holds the bar right now on quality/cost ratio until you hit the $2300 semi/custom route.

And homebrew customs sure as heck dont bat 1000 and end up without disappointment all the time either. I ended up with multiple disappointing $4k+ customs before I built something i really liked.

 

[Texastrouthunter]

Thanks again guys for all the help, a lot of info here I can check out!!! I’ll post setup and pics when I get it all together