Need advice on Tikka T3

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brow_tines

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I was at a local gun store the other day, and the guy says hey check out the action on this gun (Tikka T3 lite in .223). Boy was it smooth, so before I go trading on it I would like some opinions about it. So please give me the good, bad and ugly.
 
I almost bought one, but instead opted for the Sako A7 which you can load from the top and has steel magazine lips, both features I liked over the Tikka.

I didn't like the covered chamber of the Tikka. I have a buddy who shoots a T3 light and it is very accurate and has so far been reliable.

The only other knock I've seen against the Tikka is that for short chambered rifles you're actually getting a long chambered rifle with a bolt stop. They are very popular rifles and are pretty affordable as well.

Edited to add: None of the above comments were meant to disparage the Tikka in any way....so don't misunderstand. By most accounts, they are really good rifles.
 
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BrowTines;

I've got several Tikka's, two T3's. I thought enough of the basic design to pay a fairly considerable amount of money to have a custom left hand 6.5 Swede built on one. And I'm as happy as a hog in high mud.

900F
 
After reading countless rave reviews, I got one in .308 several years ago. Mine will practically split hairs. The few freinds that have shot it are also very impressed. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
 
Love my T3 in 223. The only drawback is the cost of an extra mag. I found one last year for a little over $20 and bought it before they changed their mind.

I have taken 4 deer with it using handloaded Sierra 65 grain Gamekings and all have been 1 shot kills. None ran over 10 yards. The last one was a nice 8point buck at about 90 yards.
 
Tikka is the "discount brand" Sako. And that's not a bad thing. Very accurate, very smooth. Seen and handled a few in the gunstores and they feel great.

Only bad thing I can bring forth is that the removable mags are plastic and stupid expensive.

I have a strong hankering for a T3 Lite Stainless in 6.5x55 Swede.
 
The Good.

The lightest, most accurate rifle you will buy for under $1,000. One of the best out of the box triggers and a slick smooth feeding action

The Bad.

The factory stocks are slick and hard to hold onto, especially when wet. Spare magazines are hard to find and insanely expensive when you do find one. The factory scope mounts are questionable. Many guys go wth DNZ or some other rings but I found that after replacing the screws that came on the rings with better haredned steel screws they worked great. A $3.00 investment.

The Ugly.

Well, their ugly. Many guys cannot get past the unconventional looks. I actually had 2 in the past and would highly recommend them to anyone who wanted a rifle. I eventually sold mine because I have other rifles that are more conventional in looks that have had a little custom work done on them and they will do the same thing at even less weight. They also cost a lot more.

If you don't mind the uncnventional looks, you could do a lot worse.
 
I was about to buy one because I loved the smooth action. Then I shouldered it and cycled the bolt a few times. I have fat cheeks and found that the bolt pinches my cheek if I don't move my face away from the stock as I cycle the bolt. Wasn't a pleasant feeling and that was the deal breaker for me.
 
The Ugly.

I went to a DPMS AR-15 and it has functioned 100%; not a single malfunction of any kind in 300-400 rounds since I got it last spring.

In closing Tikkas are fine if they work; but the 'warranty' offered if it fails is asinine. I only buy guns with readily available spare parts now because of this experience.
 
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Fella's;

It's sad, but Berretta does own Sako/Tikka, so Berretta calls the shots on warranty policy. In other words, just take it to gunsmith you know & trust because you're chances of getting warranty consideration are slim. The upside being that Tikka's are pretty damn reliable.

900F
 
My only experience with a Tikka has been with a stainless T3 Lite in 308 that I located and bought for a friend. I scoped it up with a Minox 3-15x and sighted it in with factory Remington 150 gr Corelokts, and I was pleasantly surprised by the smoothness of the action and fit and finish. I was also pleasantly surprised by the accuracy.

From this limited experience, I would recommend one to anyone.
 
I bought a blued T3 Lite in .223 for a range gun that's cheap to shoot. I loved it so much I started hunting for a stainless T3 in .308. It is now my big game rifle. I just took an elk with it a few weeks ago - a good way to start off!

I love both of them. Very accurate and I haven't had a single issue. I can see why some people would be critical of some of the design decisions, such as the short-action rifles having a bolt-stop and the stock, but if you don't mind those things (I don't) then you will love it.

I don't want something with a fancy wood stock. It will get ruined in the field.

I don't care that it's got the added weight of a long action. It's still incredibly light.

I don't find the stock to be slick or cheap feeling, as some have complained about.

Spare mags are expensive, but that seems to be the trend nowadays. In my experience, most rifle magazines are a bit pricey. It's not a pistol or semi-auto... one spare mag is enough for a hunting situation and I can't imagine needing more than two at the range.

Some people think the mags feel cheap. I agree they do seem that way, but I'll take a strong polymer mag over a metal mag any day. I haven't read of any T3 mags breaking easily.

About the only thing I would change is either a 3-position safety or a bolt release button. I don't like having to go to "Fire" to open the bolt. I think the Sako A7 has the bolt release button.

All-in-all, I love mine (as you can tell by my user ID). There are a lot of good rifle options out there right now, Tikka being one of them. If you like it and it feels good on your shoulder, then I say go for it. You won't be disappointed when you get it to the range.
 
I have a T-3 in 7mm rem mag and I'm getting groups at 150yrs I can cover with a nickel the ugly is the cost or lack of after market parts if you like to tinker with your guns but they are becoming more popular now and parts are getting cheaper and more available so if you are looking for a great outta the box rifle go for it if you want to customize it get a rem 700,win 70 or savage
 
Spare mags are expensive, but that seems to be the trend nowadays. In my experience, most rifle magazines are a bit pricey.
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Try an AR with some Magpul P-mags; they work 100% and run $13 to $14 each. :eek: :)
 
I have the T3 Hunter in 6.5x55. Accurate, dependable, super-smooth action and a great, self-adjustable trigger. One of the best values on the market.
 
Try an AR with some Magpul P-mags; they work 100% and run $13 to $14 each
Click to expand...

I don't have an AR but I have heard good things about the P-mags, and I think they're a good example of when metal isn't necessarily better.

Regarding price, I was more referring to bolt-action rifle magazines. My Browning's mags are expensive too. Maybe they aren't for something like the Remington 700, but magazines for a bolt-action rifle seem to be a bit pricier, probably due to the lower demand.
 
I currently have two Tikka T3s, a blued synthetic in 30-06 and a Hunter wood stocked model in 270 WSM. They are great rifles, the actions are superb, and the accuracy is most excellent (5 shots in .71" w/ 30-06, and 3 shots in .4-.5" w/ 270 WSM). I think Tikkas synthetic stocks are among the best i've held, they have a high fiber content and are very stiff; also, I do not find my stock to be slick or difficult to hold on to.

I don't know anything about Beretta's CS in relation to Tikka, the one time I've had to deal with them was with a U22 pistol, and they sent me a new one relatively quickly.

Tikka's have kind of ruined me for cheaper rifles, every time I look at buying other rifles in the $300-$500 range and usually end up deciding that I would rather just spend a couple hundred more on a Tikka and know that I'll wind up with a quality rifle that I like. If Beretta would import the Tikka's in 9.3x62, I probably would have gone with one over the Ruger African I just picked up.

As an aside, some folks have said that they have trouble single feeding Tikkas... I'm not sure how, that is all I do when developing a load at the range. Just leave the mag in drop a round through the ejection port and work the bolt... done.
 
Gtscotty;

CZ makes & imports their bolt action rifle in 9.3X62 I do believe. My neighbor has one & is very happy with it.

900F
 
Have a stainless T3 in 30-06 and got rid of one in .243 a couple years back but didn't want to. Both are/were LH. Love/loved them. The 30-06 is my primary deer rifle and has been since I bought it. Have found literally nothing to complain about other than spare mags being pricey / hard to find.
 
Fella's;

Regardless of the expense, and it's rather high, the Tikka mags do have a saving grace if you do your homework. There is a lot of commonality among them. Therefore, if you buy a second Tikka that shares the magazine with the first gun, you've got a spare for hunting purposes for both guns. Buy one extra, it'll work for both guns and supply the insurance factor you may be looking for.

900F
 
Regardless of the expense, and it's rather high, the Tikka mags do have a saving grace if you do your homework. There is a lot of commonality among them. Therefore, if you buy a second Tikka that shares the magazine with the first gun, you've got a spare for hunting purposes for both guns. Buy one extra, it'll work for both guns and supply the insurance factor you may be looking for.
Click to expand...

Sounds like I need another Tikka....
 
That may be true, but not for those of us that don't do homework and buy one that's a long action and one that's a short action... ;)

Edit: That was meant as a reply to post #23. For some reason, the quote didn't work for me.
 
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