Tika does make a few models with properly threaded 5/8 barrels. Unfortunately they don’t import them to the us. At least as of a couple of years ago when I was in the market for one. I end up going up with a model made by fierce. It came with a 5/8 threaded barrel and is a wonderful rifle. There are a few still online on GunBroker from them and their prices have actually gone down by several several hundred dollars from when I purchased mine years ago.
If you’re looking for good barrel with good threading for suppressors I would strongly consider the Wilson Combat NULA. No direct experience with that particular model but Wilson typically makes damn good guns and I believe spomer tried one and liked it. CA also makes them with 5/8 threaded barrels. They are carbon fiber typically so not technically a bull barrel although I guess that gets into a whole nother realm of discussion. Also you have to play the whole CA roulette wheel with them.
For the most part Browning and Weatherby will have thinner barrels with smaller threads. Browning also goes metric with theirs for the most part although maybe with the x- Bolt 2 they will change that. One can at least hope.
Ruger typically puts good barrels on their rifles with not too thin and appropriately threaded.
Of course price point plays a huge role in your decision
For sure, that is the challenge! If I were going to move forward on one of these, provided I could find it in stock or via GunBroker, it can still be hard to get one that ticks all the boxes. Based on my own wishlist, the one that seems to be most ready-to-go / out-of-the-box is the Bergara Ridge, which features a medium contour barrel, threaded 5/8x24. I’d say the Ruger American also ticks a lot of boxes these days, but damn they are ugly. Cheap enough though that an aftermarket stock may be a possibility to remediate that issue. One of the most accurate guns I own is a Ruger American Predator, Gen1.
One more note re: Bergara–it’s one of the only manufacturers still offering hinged floor plate (real steel too–not aluminum or plastic bottom metal). Just such high quality production.
Agreed on the Bergara Ridge. Again, I couldn’t find it in stock in 7-08. I did however end up purchasing one at Scheels in .308. Actually ended up with the Wilderness Ridge Carbon. I looked at the regular B14 ridge and really liked it. The problem was they had the wilderness ridge carbon right next to it. As soon as I shouldered it and worked the action I had to have it, regardless of the mixed reviews I’ve heard on the carbon barrels. Figured it’s worth a try especially with how “handy” of a rifle it is.
I’m thinking in a few years if I ever find myself on the market for a “replacement” rifle I’ll slap a 7mm-08 barrel on this one just because.
I also Looked really hard at the gen 2 ruger American in 7-08 as it checks most of the boxes and based on all of the great reviews it has in terms of accuracy and features. However, when I held it, it just didn’t do it for me.
My Weatherby Vangard 7mm-08 came with a threaded muzzle (now wears a Harvester EVO suppressor), and with a cerakote finished. I suppose you could say it has a pencil barrel.
I have a Wby. Vanguard too, mine is 1/2x28. I like the ergonomics of the stock actually, feels very natural to the shoulder. Not sure what the new 307’s are like.
My family’s two hunting rifles are both Weatherby Vanguards chambered in 7-08. The one I mentioned above is threaded 1/2x28. The other is a Vanguard Camilla (female gun) that belongs to my 9-year old daughter. If we still lived in Nebraska she would be deer hunting with it, but here in the People’s Republic of Kolorado the State says she isn’t ready to hunt until she blows out 12 candles on her birthday cake. I digress. A local gunsmith threaded the barrel on the Camilla and built a muzzle break for it. I really like this gun, and am trying to find the right load of Varget and 140gr Accubond before antelope season. Her 12-year old brother, a small dude, will be shooting this gun. I have not shot a 3-round group of factory ammo that is <1MOA out of either of these guns. Perhaps it’s the loose nut behind the trigger, as they say. BTW, these two kids have 19 empty milk jugs taking up space in the garage. I wonder whose video they watched that would make them want to shoot milk jugs out to 300 yards??? I know the video went to 600, but where we hunt antelope, 300 is the needed distance.