Tikka for hunting? Thoughts in general

[CBH Australia]

What do people think of the current generation Tikka? T3/T3x.
Setting aside the CRF/Push feed debates etc, what do people think of Tikka for general hunting across the world?
I own a Rem 700 .223 Varmint, a CZ550 a Howa and I had a Parker Hale and Zastava in .308 as hunting rifles although I don’t hunt as often as I’d like.
My first Tikka was/is a brand new T3 stainless laminate in about 2012 i was doing a bit of shooting and bought something I had wanted for a bit.
I bought it online sent to my club armourer. I hadn’t really seen them close or handled them. I was disappointed when I found it was half plastic. Now I tinker with my firearms and have done some bedding etc trying to learn and enjoy my rifles, I found the recoil lug was back to front. I didn’t like that one bit! So it’s reverse to what I’ve seen on many other rifles as the lug sits in the stock and the action has a recess that locks on over the lug.
Well I stewed on it and wasn then happy about the plastic either, I looked at upgrades and thought some more. Then I realised that I a man smart enough to realise the Tikka designers and engineers are smarter than me. OK so the backwards recoiled lug works. I purchased a titanium lug and bedded the action in the stock. (Apparently the Aluminium can be impacted by repeated recoil.) T3x factory upgrades include a stell recoil lug.
The plastic, I later decided it must be a suitable quality and reduces weight.
I later bought a CTR version and it suits me, I like it. I bough this a .243 with a shot out Barrel my gunsmith set me up with a .22-250HB and varmint stock and it shoots well. I am thinking I might want one in .300wm or maybe 7mmRM after Africa?
I started a thread on 7mm rounds and people have me thinking about the 7x64, offered by Tikka but I’m not sure if it’s readily available in Australia.
What are your thoughts?

 

[YancyW]

I have a couple Tikka rifles, they are excellent rifles, and even better for the money. My, mostly stock, Tikka PRS rifle will shoot 1/2 MOA all day long, which is as good as customs I have had built for the same purpose. For all I know, all of them will do better and I am the limiting factor.

I wouldn't think twice about hunting with one.

 

[IdaRam]

I have a Tikka T3 Stainless in 7mm Rem Mag and really like it. I hand load for it and everything I have loaded so far has shot sub-MOA. 139 gr GMX, 150 gr Accubond, 160 gr Accubond and 160 gr A-Max. I have yet to hear of a T3 that doesn’t shoot extremely well, so Tikka is obviously doing something right
The felt recoil on the Tikka is milder than the other 7Mags I have owned, likely due to stock geometry. The Tikka fits me really well. The only thing I don’t like about the Tikka’s is the safety, but I would definitely buy a T3 in 7mm Mag again. Great gun, great round.

 

[Tra3]

I have a tikka in .25-06. Had a T3 in .30-06 which is now being used by my main hunting buddy. Both guns shoot very well. I would not hesitate to hunt with them here or abroad. They are a good value for the money.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I've had 3 Tikka's in .223, .308W and .300WM. They were all supremely accurate and perfectly functional and reliable. The .300WM was a kicker in the light package. They aren't much to look at, but I didn't pay more than $550 for any of those rifles. Easily the best rifle for the money I can think of.

 

[gillettehunter]

I've had a couple of them. Excellent triggers for the $$. Generally very good accuracy in a less expensive rifle. Light weight that makes them nice to carry but felt recoil can be noticeable in heavier calibers.
Bruce

 

[sgt_zim]

I have one in 6.5x55 SE. Love it. It's a tack-driver.

The plastic is a little bothersome, but i suppose I couldn't have gotten mine for 650 USD, give or take a little, if they'd had to mill steel for the trigger guard and mag well. No real complaints. I hunt with it all the time, though I haven't killed anything with it yet (haven't even shot it at a deer yet).

 

[TMac]

I like all my Tikka’s. Very accurate. I did put a B&C (I think) stock on one recently, with the Alum bedding block, with the recoil lug integral to the bedding block. Feels great, major improvement. Remains to be seen if it’s hard enough not to dent like the old factory alum lug. But restocking is an option if you dislike the factory one. The X model stock is somewhat better.

 

[CBH Australia]

I like all my Tikka’s. Very accurate. I did put a B&C (I think) stock on one recently, with the Alum bedding block, with the recoil lug integral to the bedding block. Feels great, major improvement. Remains to be seen if it’s hard enough not to dent like the old factory alum lug. But restocking is an option if you dislike the factory one. The X model stock is somewhat better.

TMac, what calibre is the rifle? do you think the recoil feels any different?
I was going to start a thread on these stocks for that reason. I handled one in a gunshop owned by the owner. He hunted a fair bit and he said weight wise It was pretty good. I don’t think I asked about recoil. It was his main hunting rifle.

 

[TMac]

TMac, what calibre is the rifle? do you think the recoil feels any different?
I was going to start a thread on these stocks for that reason. I handled one in a gunshop owned by the owner. He hunted a fair bit and he said weight wise It was pretty good. I don’t think I asked about recoil. It was his main hunting rifle.

All 3 are 270 Winchester rifles. Two are mine and one my brothers. I set his up and shot it quite a bit this season. It’s hard to be sure, but the replacement B&C stock seems to have mitigated the recoil a bit. Slowed it down if you will. All three are stainless lite models, they pop you pretty hard and fast for a 270. The new stock is more solidly built, and I suspect heavier. It does look very good on the rifle, to my eye anyway.

They started out just as an extra back up for western USA hunting, but quickly made the starting line up and the stable grew. Really like them. Ergo my recommendation of one to my brother when he wanted something more like my 25-06, than his current 308 Win.

 

[perttime]

In precision shooting circles, Tikka is one favorite for a rifle that isn't all that expensive. Accurate, reliable, great triggers.
Aftermarket component availability is good: different stocks and bolt handles are popular "upgrades" when people think that something dofferent will feel or look better.

 

[mark-hunter]

At my beginers point when I had only one rifle, it was tikka t3 tac.
I used it for hunting, hunting-shooting competition off hand plus on stick, and target shooting at 100, 300, 600 meters, prone position
With time, I added few scopes on QD mounts, to change them depending of application:
- wide angle scope, for driven hunts
- General purpose scope, FFP, for stalking and high stand hunts- 3-12x56
- high power scope, SFP, 50x magnification for target shooting.

Today I have about dozen firearms, for this or that, including the same old tikka.
In all, reliable, robust, accurate rifle (sub moa with good ammo).

I would not descibe it as my safe queen... but of all the sporting firearms, only two in my safe have a name: Tikka is "Daisy", and my match pistol 9mm is named "Violin".
The rest are just tools. (including higher end rifles... )

Only one minor issue noted:
I have a habbit when rifle gets home from shop, in first outing to the range, for zeroing - first to check mechanical sights. This was the only issue, noted for out of box tikka t3.
(we, the old fashion type, like mechanical sight on high power rifle)
Tikka T3 - is tactical rifle with mechanical sights... at the moment, it was the only tactical / varmint type rifle available in shops with mechanical sights.

So, when fired first few shots, I could not hit a paper target at 50 meters.
After first 4-5 shots, I was vorried.
Then, I noticed that after firing, a grass bursted under the target!
This means, the rifle shoots extremely low, at only 50 meters, like half a meter low at 50 m!
Looking through the bore, to the target, visually I confirmed this.
Went to gunsmith, and changed the sights. Fixed the problem.

Tikka t3 tac, has/had barrel cca 19 mm thick at muzzle, and I am of opinion that in factory they just fitted higher front sight, that goes in standard thin hunting barrel, this brings the muzzle down.

Zeroing the scope on QD mounts was not a problem.
After that, no issue on accuracy.

With general purpose 3-12x56 scope, t3 tac weight 4.20 kg.
With wide angle scope, less. It is not the lightest rifle in the world, but tac/varmint rifles are not suposed to be "light" anyhow. Hunting models are lighter of course.
Is 4.20 kg hravy? It is for everybody to decide.

It can be allarounder good for many applications with three types of scopes, (rifle as jack of all trades?), as I have used it, but accuracy is the one to highligt most..
Later, in my shooting club, came new tikkas t3x, tac -a1 (folding stock), CTR - with GRS stock, etc.
I had a chance to try them all.
On new lines there are few improvements (recoil steel lug, wider ejection port, metal bolt shroud). Tactical models no longer have mechanical sights. But reliabiltiy, and accuray remains at high level on all.

Back to my rifle: I used it, in all kinds of weather, from -10 degress celsius to plus 35 celsius in summer.In winter, snow, rains in fall, or summer heats.
Never a single issue, except, for mechanical sights to replace.

If looking for hunting rifle, lighter, stainless steel, wooden stock, etc... I beleive any hunter can find a suitable model. But reliability an accuracy will remain.

Pls note:
Fro Sako factory,
tikka is considered a lower end model, and they will not make a rifle of lower end model to compete on market with higher end rifle of same factory.

So, higher end model, such as Sako 85 has some features, of course, better designed then tikka.
For example:
trigger, tikka trigger can be adjusted, sako is set trigger, light as feather...
Safety - two position safety on tikka, but sako is beetter, as bolt can be open even with safety engaged, by preesing from the side.
tikka - push feed, sako CRF (said to be) etc...
Magazine single stack plastic, on tikka. Double stack, metal mag on sako.

But, accuracy - same!!!

But all in all, when it comes to pulling a trigger on paper target, and basic use when hunting in the field, there is nothing wrong with tikka!!! It is just more simple, and more basic, then more fnacy solutions on higher end rifle line.
(BTW I also own a Sako)

 

[perttime]

...
trigger, tikka trigger can be adjusted, sako is set trigger, light as feather...
...

Sako offers single stage triggers and set triggers. It is optional for most models.
Sako has several different action sizes/lengths. I believe Tikka actions are all the same chunk of steel, regardless of caliber, just machined to fit and equipped with the right magazine, bolt and bolt stop.

 

[Dr Ray]

Suggest if you really want 7mm the magnum
7x64 is a great cartridge but I do not know anyone in Australia who has or had one.
The 7mm magnum is very versatile and is fairly close to the 300 Winchester magnum.
Tikka is a great rifle. But; I prefer the Sako. That’s my choice. I like stainless steel and wooden stocks. But I do have Sako in 270 with a synthetic stock.
Overall it’s a natter of personal choice.

 

[Smitty]

My humble opinion, for what it is worth. Tikka is by far my favorite rifle. I went to SA this year for my first trip to Africa and shot 8 animals with a 7mm Rem Mag. and barnes 160 grain bullets. Kudu, Wildebeests (black and blue), Zebra, all with no problem. 1 shot kills although I did shoot the Wildebeests twice just because they hadn't fallen over yet.
I have 5 Tikkas and all shoot well. I am left handed and Tikka has a nice selection of left hand models. If you are thrown off by the plastic stock as I am, you can put a Bell and Carlson or a Stocky's laminated one. I have no idea what is available where you are. Also, the hunter line has wood stocks instead of plastic, but it is still a T3x model.
I hope this helps.

 

[Smitty]

Here is a picture of my Tikka hunting rig.

 

[perttime]

In my opinion, Tikkas have what most shooters and hunters need - but they aren't pretty.
For replacement composite stocks, the offering from https://www.pse-composites.com/ looks great to me. Not cheap, though. McMillan and Manners have other high end options for composites.

 

[Hearties]

Tikkas are fantastic value, accurate rifles. The plastic parts can all be upgraded and stocks bedded to improve the already impressive accuracy. I have a laminated SS .243 and couldn’t be happier.

 

[Voodooracer]

I love my stainless laminate in 30-06. It appears to be pretty picky about factory ammo though. It shoots the Norma 180gr oryx loads the best, consistently around the 1/2 MOA mark or better if I do my part.

 

[curtism1234]

The only plastic magazines I trust is on the Browning XBolts. However, buy an extra one for the Tikka and you should be good to go