Tikka vs Sako

Assuming you are talking about the 85, it has a one piece bolt, three locking lugs, action sized to the cartridge, metal trigger guard/bottom metal, metal magazine, metal bolt shroud and a better stock.
 
Yeah there's enough difference between the Sako 85 and Tikka T3 to warrant a debate. The Sako A7 is a compromise between the two. But as some people say a compromise means no one gets what they want... Which is basically my feeling on the A7. Not different enough to the T3 to warrant the 50% price increase.
 
Fishbandit66 said:
Yeah there's enough difference between the Sako 85 and Tikka T3 to warrant a debate. The Sako A7 is a compromise between the two. But as some people say a compromise means no one gets what they want... Which is basically my feeling on the A7. Not different enough to the T3 to warrant the 50% price increase.
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I owned both side by side (T3 and an 85), and have since sold my Tikka. 99% of my shooting now is fair weather range stuff. Because of that, i wanted a gun with more physical appeal and more finely crafted components. The 85 is slightly beefier, but it has a traditional blue finish, oiled bavarian stock, and all the metal bits mentioned above. To me it is worth the extra moolah , and i know it will hold its value nicely down the road. If i was doing more hunting, i would probably choose a synthetic T3. I would probably avoid the A7 since it overlaps closely with the T3.
For my poor shooting skills, none of the bunch shoot better than any of the others.
 
Sako is the superior rifle as compared to Tikka, and Sako 75 is better than the newer Sako 85, imho.
 
Tikkas are Sakos after the consultants get involved. Both shoot, one has cheaper parts and manufacturing techniques. For the money you pay for a Sako you could build a better custom gun out of a Tikka but most aren't willing to do that.

Patrick
 
My T3's all shot at least as well as my 85. T3's can be upgraded with ease and made into even nicer rifles.
The 85's as Bowie indicated, have more metal parts ($), actions sized to calibres = smaller production runs ($), and require more complex machining ($). The one-piece 3-lug CRF 85 bolt is more expensive to make than the 2-piece 2-lug T3 bolt... but I like the ease of upgrading/changing bolt handles and knobs on the T3.

If I didn't want to spend money on a custom rifle, and wanted decent wood that I can strip and nicely oil finish myself, I would opt for a T3 stainless hunter with or without a fluted barrel. Or the T3 Hunter in a "blued" finish and have it properly rust blued. I prefer the DM's, and I don't mind the smooth-feeding and very durable glass-reinforced polymer mags.
 
I own an older Sako Fiberclass (and REALLY like it) and have owned a couple of Tikka's. You'd have to hold and shoot the Sako to really appreciate it. The Tikka's are also great but are not finished as nice. In my opinion, if you can afford it, you wouldn't regret paying for the Sako. If you'd rather not put out a lot more $, buy the Tikka, you'll really like it. Personally I think the Tikka's are about the best deal out there. Best of luck with your purchase.
 
ENFIELD1911 said:
I'm thinking of getting a new hunting rifle. I'm looking at a Tikka but I'm wondering what makes Sako cost so much more
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I have both, and love both brands. We could get into the technical reasons and have a super long discussion about what makes Sako superior or not, but superior is entirely dependent on what is important to YOU. What I can offer is that in terms of performance and reliability, they are identical. I would suggest handling the models of each you are interested in, and deciding if the feel and impression you get is worth the $$ difference, because that's about the only place you'll notice it. I LOVE my 85. It's a joy to hold, look at, carry and shoot. But can I honestly sit here and argue it performs $1200 better than my Tikkas? Nope. Is the price difference worth it to ME? Yup.

Sako's claim that the 85 has controlled round feed is a dirty lie though - it has no such thing, not at least as I understand it or it's commonly meant as with a Mauser 98 type action. However, I equally don't understand how it could ever, possibly, be a reasonable factor in selecting a rifle - and yes, I mean including for dangerous game. My word, the military gets away with using non controlled feed auto loaders to hunt the most dangerous game on the planet, and you don't hear them complaining =)

NL-Hunter said:
Saakko... (Sawkko) Seiko is a watch lol...
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I like that, I'm using it LOL.

Sing along with Mika...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp8ED1CekOc
 
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If it gives you any comfort, the Canadian Rangers are getting a .308 box magazine rifle based on the Tikka T3 Compact Tactical. Colt Canada will make the bolt, receiver and barrel using Tikka's drawings.
 
Considerations:
[1] Both brands owned by the same company (Beretta).
[2] Both equally accurate (maybe because they both use barrels made in the same factory?)
[3] Both made to pretty much the same standards.
[4] Both have slide safety's, instead of the Mauser-style swing safety's you get with Win M70s or Kimbers (which I prefer).
[5] One about 1/2 the price (Tikka) of the other (Sako).
[6] One seems relatively faultless (Tikka), the other has a long-standing cartridge ejection problem (Sako).
[7] One is fairly light in weight (Tikka), the other tends to be heavy (Sako).
[8] One has no models that are considered questionable, the other has a couple models that sako collectors tend to avoid (Sako M85s & Sako A7).

I used to collect Sakos. But eventually I got fed up with the extraction problems almost all I owned had, and I sold them all.
(now I only own Kimbers, in stainless, very light weight, 1/2 way in price between Tikkas & Sakos, and with the Mauser-style swing safety's)

However .. if you need to own a Tikka or a Sako then, given the above considerations, I'd have to recommend a Tikka.
All of my friends who bought Tikkas still own them and adore them (despite the slide safety's! .. lol).
And many (most?) of the owners of new Sako M85's .. who dropped over 2 grand for them .. now have buyers regret.

Whatever you do, please do NOT spend a couple of hundred dollars on the ugly, heavy & over-priced Optilock mounts.

My 2 cents.
 
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Tikka are as accurate and have zero ejection issues. Bottom metal is cheap as is a new metal shroud. The known issues wth the ejection are enough reason not to buy one , been there...done that and won't buy another. Wanna take a $1800 plus gamble buy a model 85
 
The T3 doesn't compare to the Sako 75/85 in fit and finish nor does it handle the same, they're two completely different guns, you really have to examine them both to know what I'm referring to.
Yes they both shoot well, but if that's your only criteria, buy a Savage and you're done.

FWIW, I've had two 85's and neither had ejection issues (30-06 and 338WM-still own the latter). I also own two Tikka M658's (300WM and 338WM). They're superior to the T3's IMO, but they're nowhere near the Sako.
 
I have had both and I would have to pick the sako even though mine had ejection failures (300 short mag) (had something to do with the ejector being at 6 o clock and the short fat case the case would hit the scope and sum times fall back in) the fit and finish are much better on a sako I would just not get one in a short magnum. As for the tikka my wife has one in 270 win which is a tack driver it is more accurate than my custom built Remington pss the thing that bugs me on the tikka is the recoil lug is an aluminum block which gets beat by the action and looses it tolerance (a gouge) there is a company out there that sells steel lugs though. Pick the one that fits you best. And the one that you feel the most comfortable with
 
The way some talk about the 85's having ejection issues makes it sound like they're all faulty. I must have an anomaly because there's never been an issue with mine.

When I was in the market for a rifle I considered the Tikka and the 85. The Tikka had plastic bits, a rough (un)finished bolt and a cheaper price tag. The 85 was a finished product with all metal bits - no cheap plastic (including the stock). I bought the 85 and would never consider replacing it with a cheaper Tikka. Buy once cry once. It will be beside me me when I have my Viking funeral in years to come.

If the OP wants a more cost effective rifle than the 85, I would suggest a new model 70.
 
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