This .270...or that .270...

[Alhamander]

Dear all,

I recently renewed my firearms certificates and put in for a .270 at the same time, all fine & received now. I have also provisionally ordered a new Tikka T3x Lite in .270. I'll be shooting deer, mostly Sika, Red and Roe. I also have a Tikka M595 in .243, synthetic stock, for e.g. foxes (or deer...it's had plenty).

As these things go, a friend's father, an old gunsmith, then offered to sell me his .270, which he loves. He's made a couple of modifications like adding pieces of buffalo horn (done perfectly, it looks great) and therefore it has a bit of history too.

It is a Sako L61R (Finnbear), unmoderated (I would want a moderator eventually so if I bought it I'd need to sort that out). I took it out to shoot yesterday and it was lovely, much "easier" than I'd feared. It is in superb condition; I could not find a mark on it, it shot well, was light to carry, lovely wood - and so on.

He's asking £750 (it has a scope but I'd want to change it) --> which for the rifle in question sounds reasonable-ish...??

If the L61R is as good as it seems, would I be daft to ignore it and buy a new Tikka T3x at nearly £1000 extra (the model I've selected and which I like)?

I also have permission for a 6.5 Creedmoor on the new ticket...so I could buy the old Sako and a new Tikka T3x 6.5CM (and maybe sell the .243).

It doesn't make *any* sense to have both the old Sako and the brand new Tikka both in .270...does it?! Two .270s...one would just never get used, I think...also I'd need a new variation (but no rush to buy the Sako so that could be bought down the line).

I guess my question really is (and please excuse my ignorance here) --> is an old rifle just as good as a brand new one? Obviously being wood it isn't going to be as weather-resistant but that goes without saying. I don't think deer have evolved much since the 1970s so if it worked then...

Any advice appreciated! A happy situation to be in, however, I do believe.

 

[VSS]

Get the one that you'll enjoy the most.
In real deer terms, an old rifle is going to perform just as well as a new one. Might not create single hole groups on paper, but that's pretty much irrelevant in the field.

(Oh, and don't worry about the lack of moderator. Enjoy that reverberation around the hillsides!)

I think it's clear from your post in the other thread that using the Finnbear the other day brought a smile to your face! That's your answer.

 

[@theroedeerguy]

As a former very happy 270 owner who got a 6.5 Creedmoor I’d strongly recommend that you buy the Creedmoor first and then you’ll probably find your 270 funds can be used to buy a better scope.

 

[Tim.243]

Dear all,

I recently renewed my firearms certificates and put in for a .270 at the same time, all fine & received now. I have also provisionally ordered a new Tikka T3x Lite in .270. I'll be shooting deer, mostly Sika, Red and Roe. I also have a Tikka M595 in .243, synthetic stock, for e.g. foxes (or deer...it's had plenty).

As these things go, a friend's father, an old gunsmith, then offered to sell me his .270, which he loves. He's made a couple of modifications like adding pieces of buffalo horn (done perfectly, it looks great) and therefore it has a bit of history too.

It is a Sako L61R (Finnbear), unmoderated (I would want a moderator eventually so if I bought it I'd need to sort that out). I took it out to shoot yesterday and it was lovely, much "easier" than I'd feared. It is in superb condition; I could not find a mark on it, it shot well, was light to carry, lovely wood - and so on.

He's asking £750 (it has a scope but I'd want to change it) --> which for the rifle in question sounds reasonable-ish...??

If the L61R is as good as it seems, would I be daft to ignore it and buy a new Tikka T3x at nearly £1000 extra (the model I've selected and which I like)?

I also have permission for a 6.5 Creedmoor on the new ticket...so I could buy the old Sako and a new Tikka T3x 6.5CM (and maybe sell the .243).

It doesn't make *any* sense to have both the old Sako and the brand new Tikka both in .270...does it?! Two .270s...one would just never get used, I think...also I'd need a new variation (but no rush to buy the Sako so that could be bought down the line).

I guess my question really is (and please excuse my ignorance here) --> is an old rifle just as good as a brand new one? Obviously being wood it isn't going to be as weather-resistant but that goes without saying. I don't think deer have evolved much since the 1970s so if it worked then...

Any advice appreciated! A happy situation to be in, however, I do believe.

There is no romance in shooting a lot of bigger deer (only hard work)
If it was a lot of traveling for a new job would you buy a car from the 70's (some would lol)
My Rem 700 in .270 was new second hand fired around 50 shots 7 years ago as I checked with the people who sold it as it has the same thread as my Rem .243 also same barrel profile meaning my .30 cal mod fitted.
Same plastic stock same lop just a bit bigger on the bore.

 

[Alhamander]

As a former very happy 270 owner who got a 6.5 Creedmoor I’d strongly recommend that you buy the Creedmoor first and then you’ll probably find your 270 funds can be used to buy a better scope.

I’m 100% buying a .270 - it’s just deciding new Tikka or old Sako…!

 

[Alhamander]

There is no romance in shooting a lot of bigger deer (only hard work)
If it was a lot of traveling for a new job would you buy a car from the 70's (some would lol)
My Rem 700 in .270 was new second hand fired around 50 shots 7 years ago as I checked with the people who sold it as it has the same thread as my Rem .243 also same barrel profile meaning my .30 cal mod fitted.
Same plastic stock same lop just a bit bigger on the bore.

That’s exactly the example I thought of and no way would I buy a 1970s car. But is a rifle like a car…?

 

[Navarone]

That’s exactly the example I thought of and no way would I buy a 1970s car. But is a rifle like a car…?

I’ll almost certainly get eviscerated for this on here but no, rifles are not like cars in that the basic mechanical action/workings of them has moved on very little since what 1900 or so (albeit ballistics etc have). Where as a model t Ford vs a brand new bmw are so far removed aside from an internal combustion engine and wheels as to be totally separate.

Also as VSS says sub moa groups etc have little relevance to killing a deer in the field.

I’d go old…and romantic….%

 

[25 Sharps]

Dear all,

I recently renewed my firearms certificates and put in for a .270 at the same time, all fine & received now. I have also provisionally ordered a new Tikka T3x Lite in .270. I'll be shooting deer, mostly Sika, Red and Roe. I also have a Tikka M595 in .243, synthetic stock, for e.g. foxes (or deer...it's had plenty).

As these things go, a friend's father, an old gunsmith, then offered to sell me his .270, which he loves. He's made a couple of modifications like adding pieces of buffalo horn (done perfectly, it looks great) and therefore it has a bit of history too.

It is a Sako L61R (Finnbear), unmoderated (I would want a moderator eventually so if I bought it I'd need to sort that out). I took it out to shoot yesterday and it was lovely, much "easier" than I'd feared. It is in superb condition; I could not find a mark on it, it shot well, was light to carry, lovely wood - and so on.

He's asking £750 (it has a scope but I'd want to change it) --> which for the rifle in question sounds reasonable-ish...??

If the L61R is as good as it seems, would I be daft to ignore it and buy a new Tikka T3x at nearly £1000 extra (the model I've selected and which I like)?

I also have permission for a 6.5 Creedmoor on the new ticket...so I could buy the old Sako and a new Tikka T3x 6.5CM (and maybe sell the .243).

It doesn't make *any* sense to have both the old Sako and the brand new Tikka both in .270...does it?! Two .270s...one would just never get used, I think...also I'd need a new variation (but no rush to buy the Sako so that could be bought down the line).

I guess my question really is (and please excuse my ignorance here) --> is an old rifle just as good as a brand new one? Obviously being wood it isn't going to be as weather-resistant but that goes without saying. I don't think deer have evolved much since the 1970s so if it worked then...

Any advice appreciated! A happy situation to be in, however, I do believe.

Get the Sako!!

 

[south-nofolk-stalker]

I’m 100% buying a .270 - it’s just deciding new Tikka or old Sako…!

Neither buy a ruger m77

As fashionable as a kick in the boll@cks, but it’s a gun you will never kill!

You can shoot that gun hard for 10 years, grease the barrel sling in the box when you snuff it 100 years later drag it up clean grease out squirted WD-40 and you’ll shoot that bugger for another 10 years hard and that guaranteed!

Abused my Ruger 270 to the point where most rifles would’ve fallen to bits!

Sold it after 13 years with a shot count somewhere in the region of 5000 plus , still shooting sub inch

 

[VSS]

That’s exactly the example I thought of and no way would I buy a 1970s car. But is a rifle like a car…?

That's not a bad analogy.
No, you wouldn't buy a 1970s car if you needed it to commute to work every day, but you might buy one if that's your hobby and interest.
Same with a rifle. If you're a full-time deer manager under pressure to cull hundreds of animals per year then buy a soulless stainless/synthetic workhorse and crack on with the job.
But if stalking is your hobby, taking maybe less than 50 deer per year, with quality being more important than quantity, then get the gun that makes you grin

 

[Alhamander]

That's not a bad analogy.
No, you wouldn't buy a 1970s car if you needed it to commute to work every day, but you might buy one if that's your hobby and interest.
Same with a rifle. If you're a full-time deer manager under pressure to cull hundreds of animals per year then buy a soulless stainless/synthetic workhorse and crack on with the job.
But if stalking is your hobby, taking maybe less than 50 deer per year, with quality being more important than quantity, then get the gun that makes you grin

…and has bits of buffalo horn on it…

 

[Tim.243]

That’s exactly the example I thought of and no way would I buy a 1970s car. But is a rifle like a car…?

Yes an old rifle is like an old car...they come out go to car shows and when it rains scuttle off home.
Answer me this please.. if the old rifles are that good why did the makers bother to change?
I have in the shed a 350 Jap Grass track bike (built by my Dad in 1970) It will run ok but put it up against a modern 350 and you will only see them coming past you. I have a 90 year old lathe and 70 year old mill but they won't hold tolerance like a modern one

 

[Tim.243]

That's not a bad analogy.
No, you wouldn't buy a 1970s car if you needed it to commute to work every day, but you might buy one if that's your hobby and interest.
Same with a rifle. If you're a full-time deer manager under pressure to cull hundreds of animals per year then buy a soulless stainless/synthetic workhorse and crack on with the job.
But if stalking is your hobby, taking maybe less than 50 deer per year, with quality being more important than quantity, then get the gun that makes you grin

Did you come on the bus to Colchester market or a modern (ish) car/wagon
Do you use digital scales to weigh your meat or the old balance set as like you said you are a small scale producer?

 

[VSS]

Yes an old rifle is like an old car...they come out go to car shows and when it rains scuttle off home.
Answer me this please.. if the old rifles are that good why did the makers bother to change?
I have in the shed a 350 Jap Grass track bike (built by my Dad in 1970) It will run ok but put it up against a modern 350 and you will only see them coming past you. I have a 90 year old lathe and 70 year old mill but they won't hold tolerance like a modern one

So why haven't you scrapped that old bike then? And the old lathe & mill?
Could it be that there is some attachment there, some element of nostalgia, that goes beyond mere performance?

 

[Navarone]

Yes an old rifle is like an old car...they come out go to car shows and when it rains scuttle off home.
Answer me this please.. if the old rifles are that good why did the makers bother to change?
I have in the shed a 350 Jap Grass track bike (built by my Dad in 1970) It will run ok but put it up against a modern 350 and you will only see them coming past you. I have a 90 year old lathe and 70 year old mill but they won't hold tolerance like a modern one

My table saw was built in 1941 and is better made and has higher tolerances than anything you could buy today. I don’t think there is a modern machine which can match it for ripping solid timber.

 

[Tim.243]

So why haven't you scrapped that old bike then? And the old lathe & mill?
Could it be that there is some attachment there, some element of nostalgia, that goes beyond mere performance?

"taking maybe less than 50 deer per year, with quality being more important"
Unlike you to swerve a question Tim
Do you use digital scales to weigh your meat or the old balance set as like you said you are a small scale producer?

The bike is left in my will to my niece and I asked them both and one wanted Grandads JAP
Both machines are on single phase with the cost to run 3 phase for later models also the other niece will use them as she likes to make stuff and made parts on them for her degree!
Besides if I have a job beyond them I use this...
But put the slots in with that...

 

[VSS]

Did you come on the bus to Colchester market

No, of course not. Taking lambs to Colchester market was, for me, a commercial undertaking requiring 2 vehicles and 2 twin-deck trailers.
You will notice (if you read my posts properly) that I have not advocated using a "vintage" rifle for commercial stalking.

Do you use digital scales to weigh your meat or the old balance set as like you said you are a small scale producer?

Either.
Digital scales in the larder (ie, the "commercial" side of things), and an old balance set in the kitchen (ie, the "hobby" side of things).

 

[yellow belly]

New tikka. Warranty and will last you a life time!

 

[Tim.243]

No, of course not. Taking lambs to Colchester market was, for me, a commercial undertaking requiring 2 vehicles and 2 twin-deck trailers.
You will notice (if you read my posts properly) that I have not advocated using a "vintage" rifle for commercial stalking.

Either.
Digital scales in the larder (ie, the "commercial" side of things), and an old balance set in the kitchen (ie, the "hobby" side of things).

Glad you have moved into the fast lane....
The op is not commercial stalking but wanting a reliable tool for the job which like your digital scales settle back to 0000 each time with no guess work.

 

[Eric the Red]

For me, an original Sako Finnbear is one of the nicest factory actions you can find. Tikka are 'fine'. If I didn't want the option to change the stock etc., I'd buy the Finnbear in a heartbeat - they are just nicer to use. However, if you may want to swap stock, put in rails etc then I would go for the Tikka to make it easier. Both will, as has been said, shoot fine - it's all about the experience and the heritage/association with the item. Whatever you choose - enjoy!