tikka rifles? thinking about buying one.

Everybody that has them loves them. The one I fondled at the LGS seemed to have a much poorer finish than what I expected after reading so many reviews. I wanted to like it, I just couldnt Probably shot like a dream, I just couldn't get over the poor finish and sand papery action.

DISCLAIMER: I haven't owned or shot one, and the one I groped was used. I'm sure the new ones are much nicer.

loyal following

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Theres a reason for that. They are great guns and accurate. Just ditch the rings, they are kinda of peculiar for lack of a better word.

Everybody that has them loves them.

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i've got one. i don't love it nearly as much as my Savages.

I am not a loyal fan of Tikka. The 270 WSM T3 I had was junk, it wa rusting right out the box, the crappy recoil lug design was loose and the gun wouldn't shoot worth a hill of beans. Personally can't recommend one to anybody. Even though they are made by Sako they are not the quality of a
Sako and by the price point one should know that.

The one I saw rusted under the bases...but it was used, even still, just didn't seem like the finish was that well.

Kachok swears by Tikka

I've never shot one. Seemed decent enough in handling. Nice and lightweight, smooth action, shouldered well (for me). Just wasn't what I was looking for.

I've had a couple. They are great guns for the money. Among the most accurate, and the lightest gun you will buy costing under $1,000. They have great triggers and smooth actions. They come with very useable rings that will save even more money. Probably the best factory synthetic stock. Much better than the tupperware stocks on many other budget guns.

The downsides include unconvenional looks that really bother some. Lots of plastic parts that some are concerned with. If you want spare magazines they are expensive and hard to find. They only come in a long action with a magazine block for short action rounds. I'd strongly suggest replacing all of the screws in the factroy mounts with hardened steel screws. The factory rings work fine, but lots of people, myself included had issues with the soft metal in the screw heads rounding off when installing. It cost me $3 at Home Depot for better screws. Much better than spending $50-$60 for new rings

I sold mine, not because I had any issues with the gun, I just owned other guns that did the same thing that I liked a bit better. They are semi-customs that also cost a lot more. In fact I'd highly recommend one. A Tikka would do most anything my current rifles will do for a lot less money. But we cannot keep all of our toys and I let them go.

Not crazy about the 338 Federal. I have doubts as to its ability to hang on. Especially in a long action Tikka. With one action I'd just get a long action chambering. A 30-06 will outperform the 338 Federal in every way and is not going anywhere.

I would have to say I am a Tikka fan. I have a Stainless 30-06 and it is my favorite hunting rifle. It shoots sub-MOA with anything you put through it. My dad has the same rifle in .308 with the same results. My grandfather had one in 22-250 that shot great as well.

I have the T3 Hunter in 6.5x55SE. Bought it 3-4 years ago.

Very accurate, super-smooth action and good self-adjustable trigger 2-4lbs. if memory serves me. Extra magazine cost me $50.00.

Wonderful rifle. I'd do it again in a flash.

W-M

I have 2 my son has one.Two T3s one 595 I know several other owners.
Pros accurate every one I've shot shot fine
one of the slickest bolts
fit and finish fine I own seven centerfire Savages and I like them but their not as
nice as a Tikka
good trigger
good smooth rifling nice to run a couple patches thru and be clean. Savages shoot
fine but a lot of their barrels foul badly

Cons
They don't have the nicest magazine and spares are pricey
people with the heavier calibers have reported problems with the recoil lug
they only use one action length the price has been going up at the prices they
are now they should have a short action too


They are lightweight that can be a pro or a con depending on use I think the 595,695 series gun are nicer
Yes you can find magazines for less on gunbroker but if you have a problem Beretta won't warranty them if you didn't buy from them and good luck with the the seller on gunbroker if you have a problem

I had one and sold it. My buddy has one and loves it.

Mine was not anything special accuracy wise.... about 1.5 - 2 MOA. Listening to the fans, I expected much better. I didn't care for the rings. The trigger was nice and the action smooth. Honestly it was no better than my Ruger Hawkeye (both in 308).

But the Ruger had ring / ring mounts I like better and is American made. I felt really guilty buying a foriegn gun that I found in no way better than an American one. So I traded it off.

JustinNC said:

Everybody that has them loves them. The one I fondled at the LGS seemed to have a much poorer finish than what I expected after reading so many reviews. I wanted to like it, I just couldnt Probably shot like a dream, I just couldn't get over the poor finish and sand papery action.

DISCLAIMER: I haven't owned or shot one, and the one I groped was used. I'm sure the new ones are much nicer.

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The fondling was so good in my case I bought it despite not planning on spending that much or even getting that type of rifle...plus it had a Leupold scope on it!

I have two, a 30-06 T3 lite, and a 270 WSM T3 Hunter. Both shoot great, the WSM is amazingly accurate.

I really like how light they are, with a limbsaver added they don't kick much at all. You can have your cake and eat it too. I think they are a great deal still, even though the price has gone up, around here you can pick up a T3 lite blued for $498, and a stainless for $558. Not too bad.

i've got one. i don't love it nearly as much as my Savages.

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I actually had the exact opposite experience, I had one of my Tikka's before I bought a savage, and I just could not get excited about the savage. Compared to the Tikka it just felt.... crude (action, stock, everything). I finally just got rid of the savage and picked up another Tikka (I happened to find a killer deal on the T3 hunter) Different strokes for different folks I guess.

I would recommend a Tikka to anyone.

I have the T3 Hunter in 6.5x55SE. Bought it 3-4 years ago.

Very accurate, super-smooth action and good self-adjustable trigger 2-4lbs. if memory serves me. Extra magazine cost me $50.00.

Wonderful rifle. I'd do it again in a flash.

W-M

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Me Too!

That action feels amazing, it was insane the way the bolt just slid out so smoothly.

Bobson said:

Kachok swears by Tikka

I've never shot one. Seemed decent enough in handling. Nice and lightweight, smooth action, shouldered well (for me). Just wasn't what I was looking for.

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Yes I do, fantastic performer as are my Savages, the big difference between the two is that my Savages will shoot super tight groups with certain bullet/powder combinations, my Tikka will shoot super tight groups with darn near anything you can cram down it's bore. Cheap bulk PPU factory fodder shoots well below MOA with boring regularity. RL19 fueled handloads make one pretty hole at 100yd.

I love them and prefer them to most other bolt rifles in their price range. Slick, easy to use, VERY accurate, light, ergonomic.

Almost brought cigars to work!

I'm the proud owner of a new Tikka T3 Lite cambered in .308. She took a little nurturing to be where I wanted my accuracy to be but she's my baby now.

In the original stock I wasn't completely sold as well as closing the bolt originally was far from a smooth action. Kinda had to smack the bolt handle down to chamber a round but with some lapping of the lugs this was cured.

The original stock didn't do it for me so I went in for the Bell and Carlson which was not a direct drop in but after an hour or so of careful sanding the receiver and barrel fit in the stock like a tailored glove.

This is now a rifle I very much enjoy shooting, so much I kinda wish I went for a bull barrel but than I wouldn't want to tote that around very long hunting either.

My last trip to the range was the second time this rifle had been fired with the new stock. First shot aced a bullseye smaller than a nickle at 100 yards so I went to 200 where two bullet holes were touching. Looks like I'll have to take to the desert or find a range with more range.

Edit: Forgot to mention the rings that came with the Tikka stripped out when my spent scope was removed, I went for the Talleys which I consider to be of very good quality.