Mauser 225 vs Tikka M65

[HungarianHuntsman]

Hi folks,

I am looking to soon buy my first hunting rifle. I found two used guns, a Mauser 225 and a Tikka M65, in nice condition for a reasonable price. Both guns seem very high quality, everything on them is wood and metal, and they both are great all-round calibers; the Mauser is 30-06 and the Tikka is 7X64. I have only had the chance to check out the Mauser in person; it is sold by a trustworthy reseller/servicer, and they even give a year-long warranty and help with attaching a scope. On the other hand, the Tikka is not sold by a reseller, so there is no warranty. However, I am still hesitant to choose the Mauser because I have had the chance to check out similar but newer Tikkas before, and I always really liked how slim and light they are. Is the M65 similarly light as compared to the Mauser as the M658, T3, or T3X? Or should I not care about this and just go ahead and choose the Mauser?

Any opinion or advice is welcome.
Thank you in advance!

 

[HonestJohn]

I’d go Tikka M65 every day. Smoothest bolt you’ll find, possibly the best trigger I’ve ever used. Never lose the magazine though!!! Super accurate and 16mm dovetail mounting system. GRS makes after market stocks if ever needed. The Mauser 225 is a rebadged Heym, so mounts are hard to find and expensive usually. I have heard of quite a few ejection issues with this series. You will never find spare parts. The M65 is a problem spare parts wise, but it’s of such quality I can’t imagine one part that would ever need replacement.

I shoot an m65 I inherited from my late father, and which I grew up shooting from when I was young.

To me, it’s a no brainer

Do ensure the bores are good and not pitted to hell of course, whatever you chose.

 

[HungarianHuntsman]

I’d go Tikka M65 every day. Smoothest bolt you’ll find, possibly the best trigger I’ve ever used. Never lose the magazine though!!! Super accurate and 16mm dovetail mounting system. GRS makes after market stocks if ever needed. The Mauser 225 is a rebadged Heym, so mounts are hard to find and expensive usually. I have heard of quite a few ejection issues with this series. You will never find spare parts. The M65 is a problem spare parts wise, but it’s of such quality I can’t imagine one part that would ever need replacement.

I shoot an m65 I inherited from my late father, and which I grew up shooting from when I was young.

To me, it’s a no brainer

Do ensure the bores are good and not pitted to hell of course, whatever you chose.

Thank you very much! The Mauser actually comes with mounts, but regardless, at the very least I will have to check out that Tikka M65 in person; if it is similarly slim and light as the newer Tikkas, it will probably be love at first sight. I will try to find some local professional who could help determine whether the rifle is in good condition internally as well; if it is, it seems like it would be a very reliable gun.

 

[Dietman]

Thank you very much! The Mauser actually comes with mounts, but regardless, at the very least I will have to check out that Tikka M65 in person; if it is similarly slim and light as the newer Tikkas, it will probably be love at first sight. I will try to find some local professional who could help determine whether the rifle is in good condition internally as well; if it is, it seems like it would be a very reliable gun.

The M65 is not light or svelte but a lovely rifle nonetheless. The quality is top notch and the accuracy superb. The magazines work flawlessly. I have 2 M65s in 270.. I love them.

 

[HandB]

Another vote for Tikka. I own an M55 in .243 which is the short action version. It shoots brilliantly despite being pretty old and with a burned out barrel. The trigger is the best trigger I have ever used. Example of a ten shot group at 300yds is here:

 

[HungarianHuntsman]

Another vote for Tikka. I own an M55 in .243 which is the short action version. It shoots brilliantly despite being pretty old and with a burned out barrel. The trigger is the best trigger I have ever used. Example of a ten shot group at 300yds is here:

Wow, that's very impressive!

 

[pendle]

As Triggertrix says dont loose the magazines
If you can find a good tikka 695 spare magazines are still available
I have a tikka 695 and a t3 .
The 695 has the better action

 

[harrygrey382]

Playing devils advocate here - I think people saying how accurate the tikka is are ignoring the Mauser. All reports give these Voere (not Heym) actioned rifles extremely good accuracy - it seems they were one of the first to offer factory guaranteed 1/2” MOA accuracy I think? Either way, all reports are exceptional and there is doubt in my mind the Mauser would at the very least be as good a quality and quite possibly better than the Tikka. And now nasty little magazines to lose and almost write off the rifle. Personally I’d get the Mauser but I guess I’m biased as well