Rebarrel vs buy a Tikka

I'm thinking about rebarreling a rifle to 6.5 Creedmoor or buying a tikka.

When all is said and done, I can have a nice tikka for about $1300 or….

A rebarrelled and tru'd M70 for $1800….

Which would you do and why? What are the decision factors?

Is Tikka just the easy button? Are there bad ones? Warranty ok?

Also 6.5 creed vs prc….

Are you planning on this being a hunting rifle with lots of walking, stand/blind hunting and/or range shooting ?

Smart hunting rifle with moderate walking. Max shot distance is about 600 yards. No I can't shoot that far yet. Mostly mule deer as the target. Basically do it all public land hunting western mule deer rifle

My 6.5 Creed, L-H, Tikka, T-3X, SS, 24" puts 5, 130 gr ELD-M's in group's from, the 3's to, 1/2 MOA @ 2,800+ FPS for only, $ 850. ish,.. IIRC.
Rifle group's 5, 143 gr. ELD-X's @ 2,725 FPS W/ StaBall Powder into, a 5/8 th inch group ( will be, my Deer / Antelope, Hunting Load ).
Made my own, Kydex Cheek Riser, installed, a LimbSaver recoil pad, a 1.5 Pound Elay Precision, Trig Spg. and Now has, a PVA Back Country Brake, for practically,.. NO Recoil !
I'm Lovin' this, Rifle !

I'm not clear, Is this an action you have? Pre or post 64? Is it already in use? Chambered in? Does it shoot as is?

I've had good luck with Tikka's, but if the model 70 isn't functioning as is, or just the action. I'd re-barrel. Using a top brand barrel, I think probabilities lean toward better results with a Bartlein or such.

If not one of the better brand barrel, I'd likely go Tikka, and save a few bucks.

Idaho Lefty said:

My 6.5 Creed, L-H, Tikka, T-3X, SS, 24" puts 5, 130 gr ELD-M's in group's from, the 3's to, 1/2 MOA @ 2,800+ FPS for only

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Idaho Lefty said:

Rifle group's 5, 143 gr. ELD-X's @ 2,725 FPS W/ StaBall Powder into, a 5/8 th inch group

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…..and these numbers are why I struggle. You are not the first person with a Tikka that shoots well.

Idaho Lefty said:

Kydex Cheek Riser

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Would love to see pictures!

HARPERC said:

I'm not clear, Is this an action you have? Pre or post 64? Is it already in use? Chambered in? Does it shoot as is?

I've had good luck with Tikka's, but if the model 70 isn't functioning as is, or just the action. I'd re-barrel. Using a top brand barrel, I think probabilities lean toward better results with a Bartlein or such.

If not one of the better brand barrel, I'd likely go Tikka, and save a few bucks.

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I have a m70 classic crf action with a barrel on it. 5 shot groups are bad. My analysis shows a pretty burnt throat and an uncounted ~800-1200 rounds on it. Initial loads shot some in the 0.25" for 5 shots with match bullets. Then shooting first load development, I got to about 0.75" groups for 5.
Then I shot a bunch of bullet types looking for better. In that process, groups were around 1" and increasing.

I then had to COW fireform 100 cases because I over sized and then stretched some Peterson cases. These things saw about 5-7 reloads anyways. I'm on about 3-5 rounds on my starline now also. Anyways, fire forming the starlines may have been rushed. I just wanted to get past that point.

So, the barrel is past its prime, 20 shot composite groups over 3", throat has firecracking.

I'm looking to hand off a m70 crf action, trigger, bottom metal, stock and move on. I loved the rifle concept, but it didn't shoot. Gunsmith didn't touch the action other than a bolt handle and cerakote. Barrel is a Brux 10 twist. I can't make it shoot so I will be selling as an action with scrap barrel attached……or possibly truing and rebarreling.

Making a Kydex Cheek riser, is NOT Hard,. Look on, YouTube for, idea's ( I Never learned how to, Post Pic's,.. Sorry ! ).
I use, .093 thick Kydex sheet and warm in Oven @ 200- 225 ish degrees, til' Flexible ( Just a FEW Minutes ) and drape OVER your "Protected",. Stock.
I taped Alum Foil over, a Sheet of Paper to Protect Stock from, the Warm kydex then,. let Cool.
Kydex Risers can Be Held with "Straps" or Screws or, even adjustable.
I think somebody, NOW makes / Sells,. the Adjustable Ones

Idaho Lefty said:

My 6.5 Creed, L-H, Tikka, T-3X, SS, 24" puts 5, 130 gr ELD-M's in group's from, the 3's to, 1/2 MOA @ 2,800+ FPS for only, $ 850. ish,.. IIRC.
Rifle group's 5, 143 gr. ELD-X's @ 2,725 FPS W/ StaBall Powder into, a 5/8 th inch group ( will be, my Deer / Antelope, Hunting Load ).
Made my own, Kydex Cheek Riser, installed, a LimbSaver recoil pad, a 1.5 Pound Elay Precision, Trig Spg. and Now has, a PVA Back Country Brake, for practically,.. NO Recoil !
I'm Lovin' this, Rifle !

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That 130 eldm would be a death ray on antelope. I actually use an AR 10 in 6.5 Creed with 123 eldm's at 2800fps as one of my depredation rigs. It drops does up to 115 pounds with authority out to 450 yards. I don't shoot farther than that with thermal. I shoot the 123 because it's the same thing my Grendel likes so I have less components to keep up with. I've used 123 SSTs also but the eldm seems to kill better and is a bit more accurate.

What cartridge do you have that the barrel is "shot out" at 800-1,200 rounds?

Almost sounds like a RUM.

Personally, i'd give the Model 70 a thorough scrubbing, down to bare metal. Put a few foulers through it and see where you are.

I put 6,000+ rounds of 7mm-08AI through my Stevens 200 and even after that, it would still put 5 rounds in 0.78".

Bear in mind, I'm not about to discourage someone from getting a new rifle!
And you'll be hard pressed to find a smoother action than the Tikka!!

Unless you have some sentimental value in the M70 I would get the Tikka.

std7mag said:

What cartridge do you have that the barrel is "shot out" at 800-1,200 rounds?

Almost sounds like a RUM.

Personally, i'd give the Model 70 a thorough scrubbing, down to bare metal. Put a few foulers through it and see where you are.

I put 6,000+ rounds of 7mm-08AI through my Stevens 200 and even after that, it would still put 5 rounds in 0.78".

Bear in mind, I'm not about to discourage someone from getting a new rifle!
And you'll be hard pressed to find a smoother action than the Tikka!!

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I did the first clean and shoot suggestion. Bare metal, borescope inspected. Shot ~1.5-2.5" groups. It is a 300 Sherman.

It will go up for sale here this weekend. Buy it and prove me wrong. I can't believe it is crap either.

Tikka for sure

nksmfamjp said:

It will go up for sale here this weekend. Buy it and prove me wrong. I can't believe it is crap either.

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I'll look for it!

Priced right I can always find a use for an action.

Maybe its jus a dud barrel. In Nathans books he talks about, noticing percentages and such with various makes. Happens to the best of em right.

Heres a couple thots, when ur on a hunt and nothings happening ever catch urself admiring the lines on that M70? A fine rifle will do that. To me my hunting rifle becomes a partner and companion on the hunt. I enjoy it when they have nice lines, or pretty wood etc. Those actions are timeless, they carry well, can slick up nice and if it shot sounds like youd be happy with it. I think Id slap a new barrel on it.

The Tikka is noteworthy for the smoothness of its action, if u said u were stillhunting timber, climbing steep mtns or tracking bucks Id say give the Tikka a hard look. The bolt runs like its on ball bearings. N they almost all shoot. Mine was 6.5CM Superlight 24" 8 twist. I pulled the barrel with only 56 shots on it to make a 22" 8 twist. 3.2" .284win from Preferred Barrel, because i wanted to. It shot well n was faster than some. Also was throated longer than my other CMs which was nice.

Their stocks handle well in both hands, quick to shoulder. Carried one handed by my side it feels like a 2x4. The magazine sticks exactly wrong in my hand. I switched mine out to carbon Stockys. Fixed both issues.

I dont think you can go wrong either way.