INPUT NEEDED! TIKKA T3 or Savage 111

[northcountry]

Tell me what you think/!
 

I am looking buying a rifle for my kid for next deer season.  I am looking at either Tikka T3 youth model or the Savage 111 youth model.  They both seem like great, any input or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ChrisWallace]

My thing with youth models is this, they are shorter and lighter than a regular gun, thats their selling point, however, with a lighter gun comes more recoil. Not to mention the gun will last him a few years than your either buying him something or hes buying his own to grow with him.

My first year hunting my dad got me a 20 gauge youth model. Ducks, pheasants, deer, it did it all. And it kicked like a motherf***er! To the point that I didnt like shooting it. Call me a wimp or whatever, Ill take it. I shot that for 2 years, than my grandpa gave me his 30-06 remington "jam a matic" with a brake on it. I could shoot that gun all day and I loved it. Much easier than my shotgun.

I now have a Tikka T3 Lite chambered in .300wsm. I bought it for a few reasons, the first one being Im not a huge rifle guy, rather kill em with the bow, but deer season is like Christmas for our family. So after my dads done hunting and if I dont have son or daughter that wants to do it, Ill be done. The other reason I bought it was I wanted one gun to last the rest of my life that will dispatch any animal in North America cleany. Its a big gun for deer and antelope yes, but adequate for elk, moose, all sorts of bear and anything a ranch down south has to offer. I wanted a load that will probably be made forever, which the short mags have been out for 10 years and the 300wsm is one of the most popular, and I have cases of em in the basement. I also bought the lite to be well a little lighter for if I go on a hunt where I have to walk a lot and ounces matter. The downside is it kicks like my youth model 20, so I had it ported, brakes, and 16 oz of mercury tubes put in, that can be removed for when i do need to go lighter, now it kicks like an 30.06, very comfortable shooting gun.

The downside with Tikka, its a beretta, i love berettas but if you need a part from the company good luck, but that goes with any european gun company.

So my question to you is, why have you decided to buy a youth gun that he/she will outgrow in a few years? Pretty much anywhere in MN deer hunting most hunters dont walk 1 mile in, hell Id bet a majority of people only walk 200 yards. If your stand hunting, your kid will have a solid rest on the stand, or a $30 set of shooting stix will pay off big time!

[Grute Man]

I bought a Savage .243 for one of my boys and it's a great rifle.  We plan to get him an adult stock on it for next season.  I think it was around $500 for the gun.  Im not sure but would guess the Tikka is a bit more.  I'd say save the $ on the firearm and get him other fixins that go with it.  Later in life, if he becomes a great shooter, maybe then look into the high end guns.

[RavenDog]

I own a Tikka T3 Hunter, and love it!  I own a 7mm mag. and they claim they shoot 1inch groups right out of the box at 100yds. And they do!  Well mine did.  I love it they are a little bit pricey but worth it.  I put a Nikkon Buckmaster scope on mine and love it! Just my imput, from my experience with my Tikka, but never shot a savage 111.