From the reviews I've read, the Ruger American is just as good with less cost.

They both have a lot of plastic in them but are very accurate.

Plastic magazine
Plastic trigger guard
Plastic bolt shroud
Plastic stock (or cheap wood on the Tikka)

Do you think the Tikka is a better rifle?

I'm going with the less expensive Ruger American All Weather Compact, when Simmon's can find one!

I'm sure it is a decent rifle but never expect anything to be just as good that costs half as much.

IMO Tikka is the better rifle. The Ruger American will kill a deer or whatever animal you shoot with it just as dead as the Tikka. I own both rifles and the Tikka is just such a smooth action. I prefer the Tikka T3 over the Sako 75 I owned.

Prob on some accounts but I've found quality and value in lesser priced guns. Savage rifles and Franchi shotguns being a couple of examples.

Bravo on the Franchise!

I've shot both side by side. Both were .308. The Tikka shot better than the Ruger. The Ruger was well capable of hitting the kill zone, but it shot roughly a 1" inch group and the tikka would put 3 in the same hole. I shot three different bullet weights from two different manufacturers and got the same results each time.

I've owned .30/06 caliber bolt actions in Remington, Winchester, Ruger, and Tikka. I still hunt with the Tikka. I am all for getting a bargain, but in this instance you get what you pay for.

I've never pulled the trigger on a ruger american......but if it is equal in all aspects then go out and buy all of them you can afford because they are the best deal since the Louisiana Purchase!

I have yet to see a Tikka that will not consistently shoot sub MOA with factory ammo.

I bought my T3 back when they were considered a "budget" rifle. Once everyone figured out how good they are the price naturally increased.

The T3 excels in the aspects of a hunting rifle that are important to me. Lightweight, smooth action, excellent trigger and most importantly....extremely accurate.

The T3 synthetic stock is far from beautiful and sounds like a ripe watermelon when you thump it but I couldn't care less. I put a rattle can camo job on mine and hunt with it. Guess I need to find a new sig line

If I were gonna go with Ruger I'd get a Hawkeye. My MkII is a deer slayer and a good shooter although it took Varget and a Timney trigger to get there.