I own a T3 Lite SS in 270 wsm, just love this rifle, shoots great, never jams, the best feature as fas as I'm concerned is the trigger. I've had lots of the other makes, but this one is the best I've ever owned and am presently looking for another in 300 wsm, just waiting for the budget
The "Your Opinion On The Tikka T3" Thread to (hopefully) End All Tikka T3 Threads
- Thread starter bill c68
- Start date
manbearpig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in the Third World
pretty much sums it up right there.
discussions are much more civil around CGN, but in most web posts there is so much rampant Tikka fanboi-ism on the net right now that many new rifle owners seem to think that the only way to get an accurate rifle is to buy a Tikka. they also buy into all the 'low-glare bead-blasted', 'self-lubricating lightweight corrosion resistant radar-invisible co-polymer resin' and 'tactical' marketing hype.
in every single thread people just post 'go see what else is out there, you could get more for your $800-1000'.
yeah i havent shot my own Tikka (thank god, otherwise id have been stuck with it). i have owned one for one brief day before i returned it after examining it next to my other rifles and realizing that it wasnt what i wanted. materials/quality-wise it was about on par or slightly lower than a Savage, but it had cost $400 more. this was unacceptable to me.
insert: 'but if you had shot it youd have changed your mind'.
why, exactly? because it 'worked'? every bolt gun ive ever purchased functioned perfectly - i only have problems with semis.
because it would shoot MOA? whooptee-doo, so do most factory production bolt guns these days like Remingtons, Rugers, Weatherbys, Savages, Stevens, etc. the only bolt actions i own that dont shoot MOA are old milsurps. theres nothing wrong with the Tikkas, but expecting accuracy and function from a modern bolt-action rifle is pretty basic: what people are trying to tell you is to open your eyes - you can get more for your money such as actual fit & finish, actual quality materials and finishes (not bead-blasted crap or injection molded plastic), an action that isnt designed totally around cutting manufacturing costs, etc.
if the Tikkas were selling for $500-550 id probably change my tune, but $800-1000 is rediculous for what they are - a Finnish Savage.
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well, it's certainly not my intent to say that a Tikka is anything but a fantastic rifle. I've bought them, and I'll buy more in the future. But they're hardly the be all end all that they're often made out to be. Value statements are highly subjective - depending on which features a potential buyer values and how much. To me, Tikka offers a low 'bang for the buck' factor.
I think your last post is a little over the top manbearpig. I'm not speaking for anyone else who replied to this thread, but I'm no "Tikka fanbois"... I take offence to comments like that, they usually come from trolls.
I own several different makes of rifles, including Remington, Winchester, Sako, and Ruger. They all have good points and bad points. My Tikka doesn't have the safety issues that my Rem. 700 has, or the ####ty trigger that my Ruger has. My Win. 70 has the nicest wood, but the action isn't as smooth as some of the other rifles I own. So what if guys want to post that they like their Tikka rifles? That was the request of the original poster. As most owners have pointed out, they are good, affordable, reliable, pratical rifles that shoot about as good as any on the market. If you don't like them, don't buy them and stick to the Rugers you like so much. Buying a rifle doesn't require popular consensus.
I own several different makes of rifles, including Remington, Winchester, Sako, and Ruger. They all have good points and bad points. My Tikka doesn't have the safety issues that my Rem. 700 has, or the ####ty trigger that my Ruger has. My Win. 70 has the nicest wood, but the action isn't as smooth as some of the other rifles I own. So what if guys want to post that they like their Tikka rifles? That was the request of the original poster. As most owners have pointed out, they are good, affordable, reliable, pratical rifles that shoot about as good as any on the market. If you don't like them, don't buy them and stick to the Rugers you like so much. Buying a rifle doesn't require popular consensus.
manbearpig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in the Third World
i was not referring specifically to the people here, although re-reading i can see how it could easily be taken as such.... just generally the internet attitude towards Tikkas. the discussions are a lot more civil here than elsewhere like the US forums.
ill edit my other post to clarify, and a short note to clarify here:
on CGN noone is saying that the Tikkas are bad rifles. people are just saying 'go see what else is out there, Tikkas are not the only accurate factory rifle and you can get more for your $800-1000 in addition to accuracy'.
but then inevitably it turns into a back and forth argument. noone ever said that Tikkas were bad but its like many Tikka owners cant even accept that not everyone will agree with their 'Tikkas are the best' posts and just move on -- they cant even allow someone to say 'go to your gun dealer and ask him to handle 3-4 different rifles and decide'. its like they have to prove, right here, right now, that Tikkas are the best and only option.
if you go out and buy a Tikka and like it, and are happy with it, great. what i have a problem with is this campaign to convince every gun newbie that Tikkas are somehow gods gift to firearms.
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Tikka T3 owner here. When I went to purchased my rifle, I look at quite a few - Win Model 70, Ruger MII77, Browning A-Bolt, Remington 700. I went with the Tikka for a few different reasons, namely the adjustable trigger and the smooth bolt action. But with that said, I will be adding a Browning A-Bolt as my next purchase.
Out of the box the Tikka's are a great deal (price wise) and accurate. Some people are just shooters, and want a gun that shoots well from day 1, other people are moder's, who like to tweak and modify their rifles to get them to shot 1/2" MOA. It all depends on your individual needs! For moder's, the Tikka may not the best choice, limited barrels and stocks. The Remington is by far the better choice - the V-Bull conversion is a great example of what is available for the 700's
As for recommendations, I really think it all demands on what the shooter is looking for.
I think we are flogging a dead horse here on what is the 'best' rifle is - no one ever wins that argument!
/cl
Out of the box the Tikka's are a great deal (price wise) and accurate. Some people are just shooters, and want a gun that shoots well from day 1, other people are moder's, who like to tweak and modify their rifles to get them to shot 1/2" MOA. It all depends on your individual needs! For moder's, the Tikka may not the best choice, limited barrels and stocks. The Remington is by far the better choice - the V-Bull conversion is a great example of what is available for the 700's
As for recommendations, I really think it all demands on what the shooter is looking for.
I think we are flogging a dead horse here on what is the 'best' rifle is - no one ever wins that argument!
/cl
manbearpig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in the Third World
i should also clarify that when i say 'Tikka' in this thread i am talking about the T3, not the old Tikkas (which were great). just that 99% of the time when someone says Tikka nowadays its referring to the T3.
Republic of Alberta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ,location, location
I have only 2 (full) seasons on mine (T3stainless 7mag) but so far but so far it is working well.
Things I like about my Tikka
-Trigger was prefect out of the box
-Safety engages and stops the firing pin, is easy and silent to turn on/off
-The thing has never jammed up, no matter how hard I have cycled the action.
-There is a palm swell on both sides, good for lefties
-Forend is stiff enough that no matter how you hold it or what you rest it on it never touches or puts pressure on the semi-free floated bbl. A must for a hunting rifle in my books.
-Mag is really tough, more so than any steel mag I have owned, you cannot bend the feed lips & screw up the feeding no matter what.
-The bolt handle is designed well, you can grip it quickly while reloading and it doesnt slip out of my hand....I am left handed shooting right guns, this is important to me.
-It is light, the "correct" weight for a hunting rifle (for normal cals) in my opinion, and balances good.
-Fast lock time helps real world off hand/shaky rest hunting shots.
-Plastic trigger guard/bottom "metal" & clip nice to hold all day long when it is -20
-Accurate enough you don't have to go through the special load development crap.
What I don't like
-The plastic bolt shroud thinger, probably no good if you have a ruptured case.
I didn't think much of them until I bought one and used it. It has exceeded what I wanted... a light weight, stainless all weather real hunting rifle that I can ride hard and put away wet. I would recommend it to a novice guy that wants to buy one and only one hunting rifle and be done with it.
Things I like about my Tikka
-Trigger was prefect out of the box
-Safety engages and stops the firing pin, is easy and silent to turn on/off
-The thing has never jammed up, no matter how hard I have cycled the action.
-There is a palm swell on both sides, good for lefties
-Forend is stiff enough that no matter how you hold it or what you rest it on it never touches or puts pressure on the semi-free floated bbl. A must for a hunting rifle in my books.
-Mag is really tough, more so than any steel mag I have owned, you cannot bend the feed lips & screw up the feeding no matter what.
-The bolt handle is designed well, you can grip it quickly while reloading and it doesnt slip out of my hand....I am left handed shooting right guns, this is important to me.
-It is light, the "correct" weight for a hunting rifle (for normal cals) in my opinion, and balances good.
-Fast lock time helps real world off hand/shaky rest hunting shots.
-Plastic trigger guard/bottom "metal" & clip nice to hold all day long when it is -20
-Accurate enough you don't have to go through the special load development crap.
What I don't like
-The plastic bolt shroud thinger, probably no good if you have a ruptured case.
I didn't think much of them until I bought one and used it. It has exceeded what I wanted... a light weight, stainless all weather real hunting rifle that I can ride hard and put away wet. I would recommend it to a novice guy that wants to buy one and only one hunting rifle and be done with it.
I have a T3 Super Varmint in 204 Ruger, its a great gun, my first rifle actually, shoots minute of gopher every time, I like the stock because it takes a pounding when I'm packing it around, or shooting from the box of the truck, my only complaint would be that the mag's are $100 (at least the ones I can find). The Detach mag is nice to keep legal when I'm getting in and out of a truck to gopher hunt between properties, just pop it out, then slam it back in when you exit the vehicle. Did I mention it shoots like a hot damn?
smacdonald
Supporting Dealer
- Location
- Ontario 905 area
I bought a T3 (Hunter) in 300 win mag 2 years ago. Shot 1/2 min. out of the box. I like the trigger and the bolt is smooth. I agree on the but pad so I put a Limbsaver on it. The mags are a little pricey but I did find one for $65 (I think it was priced wrong but it is mine now
)
I picked up a T3 hunter in .270 win last week and can't wait to go shooting with it. (Noticed the mags are the same so now I have 4)
)I picked up a T3 hunter in .270 win last week and can't wait to go shooting with it. (Noticed the mags are the same so now I have 4)
I noticed that with my 7-08 and 22-250... Still only have 2 though.
I think they are a good deal for 599.00 at Ellwoodepps for the blued, but if I was looking at a 1000 dollar version, I would like towards a Kimber already.
In the 500-600 dollar range, I also really like the Vanguards and I think their finish is a little better.
When reading forums on the Americans sites, keep in mind that the Americans are not very tolerant of anything that is not built in the USA. I lived there from 1999-2004 and used to hear it all the time, if its not built in the USA, it is crap. That went for rifles, cars, etc.
In the 500-600 dollar range, I also really like the Vanguards and I think their finish is a little better.
When reading forums on the Americans sites, keep in mind that the Americans are not very tolerant of anything that is not built in the USA. I lived there from 1999-2004 and used to hear it all the time, if its not built in the USA, it is crap. That went for rifles, cars, etc.
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My opinion of the T3 is that they are an overpriced economy rifle.
You can get a Ruger for the same price, and actually have somethign made form metal, and you will be able to top up the magazine from the top, as well
T3's work fine, but you can get a Stevens 200 for $300, if you want an economy rifle that works fine.
You can get a Ruger for the same price, and actually have somethign made form metal, and you will be able to top up the magazine from the top, as well
T3's work fine, but you can get a Stevens 200 for $300, if you want an economy rifle that works fine.
My opinion of the T3 is that they are an overpriced economy rifle.
You can get a Ruger for the same price, and actually have somethign made form metal, and you will be able to top up the magazine from the top, as well
T3's work fine, but you can get a Stevens 200 for $300, if you want an economy rifle that works fine.
The steven 200 does not compare to the T3 IMO... bbl needs floating and the stock is crap. But for the price they are a great gun.
To be fair, I have only ever owned one Ruger bolt, hated it, couldn't get a decent group with it and it was HEAVY! I sold it to buy a Tikka T3.
The Stevens do what most T3 owners are impressed with- They are accurate. The Stevens are a bargain at $299...If the T3 was $400, that woudl be a reasonable price.
When did 8# with scope attached get to be a heavy rifle?
death-junky
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Moose Jaw SK
Ive used em! They are great but the recoil pad sucks. Very accurate rifles!
