I was pitched the idea of changing the stock to better fit him. I have to admit I'm overly sentimental about guns. I'd like to keep it in original shape so that he can pass it on to his kids one day. There's just something about saying,"I killed my first whitetail with this very gun".

So today I get pitched hard on a Tikka. I'm looking at a 308 for him. I've always been a Browning guy, but several guys said go with the Tikka.

I've read reviews online but wondering if any of y'all own one.

Thanks for the help

Look at a Howa. I have two, great gun for a fair price.

http://www.howarifles.eu/index.html 

wheel,,

oops missed that,,, my bad

get him another Howa..

wheel,

But I have shot tikkas and like them

The ones I have handled and fired were accurate with smooth bolts

I told him honestly I don't know. He would probably be on good morning America as a hero and I would go to jail.

I still don't know the answer to his question.

Anyway....

The Tikka I looked at was only $599. Howa is close to that price.

The Howa 1500 is a Weatherby Vanguard...

wheel,,

Honetly, I like your son's idea. The 7mm-08 is a great cartridge, there isn't much it cannot do that the .308 does except for throw very heavy bullets. Changing out the stock would not prevent going back to the old stock either.

I Shoot a Browning BAR 30-06. My dad has a BAR 308.

For whatever reason he likes a bolt action. I know they are more accurate but they do hit harder. But, it's what he likes. It's all he's hunted with.

And the stock swap was not his idea. It was my dealer buddy.

The Hornady rep was there and said the 7mm-08 is a great round but very hard to find out west. And if he ever went on a big game hunt a lot of outfitters demand a .30 cal.

He had a client who traveled to Montana and the airline lost his 7mm-08 ammo. He couldn't find any anywhere. It's just not popular outside the southeast.

So that's why I'm liking a 308.

Sounds like a a good reason for a .308 bolt gun.

The FNAR is the essentially the Browning gas action with a 16" or 18" barrel, some are fluted, with an all black synthetic pistol grip stock. The stock is adjustable for length of pull, cast on/off and angle. The FNAR also uses a detachable box magazine. I have one and it is a please to shoot and very accurate. They have a new laminate stocked Competition version without the pistol grip.

http://www.fnhusa.com/l/products/autoloading-rifles/fnar-standard/ 

http://www.fnhusa.com/l/products/competition/competition-rifles/fnar-competition/ 

My Dad had one as well, in fact the nine point shoulder mount I have here was taken with that rifle. When he passes my brother inherited it and during hunting season in MI it was stolen from his cabin. It was one sweet rifle for sure.

So I dig a bit more and learn the slang version of what that is.

Dude, how do you know crap like that??? I swear you make it more and more difficult to say we are buddies.

You'll love it...

With leather?

Most accurate gun I've ever shot period.