Polish_Pounder
Member
I read up quite a bit on the Tikka T3 and came to the conclusion that most people thought they were the greatest thing since sliced bread. Since my deer rifle for the last 2 years has been an M91/30, I figured it was time to upgrade. After a great deal of research, I determined that a T3 Lite SS in 6.5x55 would be my ideal deer rifle. I called a local gunsmith/dealer to order one, but found out that he couldn't get one. I tried online dealers, but no go. I came to find out that Beretta USA wasn't anticipating a new shipment until January 2009. With only 4 weeks left until deer season, I decided that compromises needed to be made. I ordered a T3 Lite Stainless in .30-06 through my local dealer and busied myself with shopping for brass, bullets, dies, a sling, a scope, and mounts.
One week later, I got the call to pick up my new rifle. I only had a few minutes before work to go get it, so I hurried over and filled out all of the paper work, inspecting the rifle quite thoroughly. After dropping the rifle off at home, I got to work just barely on time. After a long day, I went home and took the gun out of the box. I was reading through the manual and admiring the smooth bolt, checking each part of the rifle as I came to it in the manual. To my surprise, when I looked at the crown of the barrel I saw brown spots. Small, rust-colored spots. Thinking it must be flecks of dirt or something, I wiped the crown with my thumb. No help. I took an eraser and gently rubbed the surface. Nothing. A little more elbow grease produced no change whatsoever. I had a new, rusted gun.
I called my dealer the next day and was quite upset. I showed him the barrel, and he confirmed it was indeed rust. Not just surface rust, but pitted. Since I had already accepted transfer on the rifle, my only option was to have my dealer send it to Beretta USA for service. I was told that wait time was anywhere from 3 to 12 weeks. It was 3 weeks from opening day.
After a week and a half, I got a call from another dealer. He just wanted to let me know that Beretta imported another batch of 6.5x55 T3 Lite SS rifles. I called my dealer and had him order one for me. Awesome! I'll have a rifle for deer season after all! After a 5 day wait, I got the call from my dealer that the rifle had arrived. I eagerly drove to his shop to check out the rifle. This time I was going to go over it with a fine-toothed comb.
When I arrived at my dealer, he had a look on his face that I have seen too many times in my life. He said, it's here, but I don't know. You look at it. It didn't take me long to see the rust spot on the bottom of the barrel. I looked at the top of the receiver and saw that there was rust in the grooves. He offered me a light to look inside the action. Rust. I refused transfer on the rifle and it was sent back. The second rifle came from a different distributor than the first.
Dejected, I drove home. Barely over a week left until deer season and I had no rifle. For reasons I won't get into the M91/30 was unserviceable. I ended up borrowing a friends rifle and missing a shot on a nice 6 pointer. The shot was from 35 yards, 3x scope, solid rest, perfect execution. However, a small sapling decided it would like to deflect the bullet. Tough cookies for me.
With one day left in rifle season, I get a call from my dealer. The rifle was back from Beretta, in perfect condition. They refinished it, bead-blasted it, put a protective coating on it, and sent it back re-crowned. Great. I picked up the rifle and took it home. I have taken it out of the box once or twice, but nothing more. Every time I look at it, I feel let down.
So how does this saga end? I have Lapua brass, Nosler bullets, and dies for a 6.5x55 that I don't own, and a pristine, unfired Tikka T3 Lite SS .30-06 that I don't want to own. I am selling it all and going with something else. The Tikka T3 has left a very bad taste in my mouth. If you want it, PM me. I'll even pay shipping just to get rid of it. I also have Burris XTR steel Weaver bases and Warne 30mm Quick Detach rings. I will edit this post shortly to contain the link to the" For Sale" thread. I am not saying that the T3 is a bad rifle, it just isn't the rifle for me right now.
Thanks for reading,
-Polish
ETA:
For Sale thread:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=5123094#post5123094
One week later, I got the call to pick up my new rifle. I only had a few minutes before work to go get it, so I hurried over and filled out all of the paper work, inspecting the rifle quite thoroughly. After dropping the rifle off at home, I got to work just barely on time. After a long day, I went home and took the gun out of the box. I was reading through the manual and admiring the smooth bolt, checking each part of the rifle as I came to it in the manual. To my surprise, when I looked at the crown of the barrel I saw brown spots. Small, rust-colored spots. Thinking it must be flecks of dirt or something, I wiped the crown with my thumb. No help. I took an eraser and gently rubbed the surface. Nothing. A little more elbow grease produced no change whatsoever. I had a new, rusted gun.
I called my dealer the next day and was quite upset. I showed him the barrel, and he confirmed it was indeed rust. Not just surface rust, but pitted. Since I had already accepted transfer on the rifle, my only option was to have my dealer send it to Beretta USA for service. I was told that wait time was anywhere from 3 to 12 weeks. It was 3 weeks from opening day.
After a week and a half, I got a call from another dealer. He just wanted to let me know that Beretta imported another batch of 6.5x55 T3 Lite SS rifles. I called my dealer and had him order one for me. Awesome! I'll have a rifle for deer season after all! After a 5 day wait, I got the call from my dealer that the rifle had arrived. I eagerly drove to his shop to check out the rifle. This time I was going to go over it with a fine-toothed comb.
When I arrived at my dealer, he had a look on his face that I have seen too many times in my life. He said, it's here, but I don't know. You look at it. It didn't take me long to see the rust spot on the bottom of the barrel. I looked at the top of the receiver and saw that there was rust in the grooves. He offered me a light to look inside the action. Rust. I refused transfer on the rifle and it was sent back. The second rifle came from a different distributor than the first.
Dejected, I drove home. Barely over a week left until deer season and I had no rifle. For reasons I won't get into the M91/30 was unserviceable. I ended up borrowing a friends rifle and missing a shot on a nice 6 pointer. The shot was from 35 yards, 3x scope, solid rest, perfect execution. However, a small sapling decided it would like to deflect the bullet. Tough cookies for me.
With one day left in rifle season, I get a call from my dealer. The rifle was back from Beretta, in perfect condition. They refinished it, bead-blasted it, put a protective coating on it, and sent it back re-crowned. Great. I picked up the rifle and took it home. I have taken it out of the box once or twice, but nothing more. Every time I look at it, I feel let down.
So how does this saga end? I have Lapua brass, Nosler bullets, and dies for a 6.5x55 that I don't own, and a pristine, unfired Tikka T3 Lite SS .30-06 that I don't want to own. I am selling it all and going with something else. The Tikka T3 has left a very bad taste in my mouth. If you want it, PM me. I'll even pay shipping just to get rid of it. I also have Burris XTR steel Weaver bases and Warne 30mm Quick Detach rings. I will edit this post shortly to contain the link to the" For Sale" thread. I am not saying that the T3 is a bad rifle, it just isn't the rifle for me right now.
Thanks for reading,
-Polish
ETA:
For Sale thread:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=5123094#post5123094
Last edited:
Thanks for the heads up, though.