Tikka T3x or Sako 90 Finnlight

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ImbeaultNF

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Hello, I'm looking for advice between one of the two .270 rifles, for deer hunting.

1) Tikka T3x TrueTimber Midnight (fluted barrel, cerakoted, cheekpiece, muzzle brake) about 7lbs, maybe a tad less.

2) Sako 90 Finnlight (fluted barrel, SS, adjustable cheekpiece, threaded barrel, picatinny receiver) about 7.3lbs

I'm aware the Sako is more expensive (but hypothetically only $100 more for the Sako) so it's not really a price question.

I tried both in my hands and both feel nice. Just looking for someone with experience using those rifles.

Thank you,
 
I bought a fancy tikka a while ago, the polymer bottom “metal’ and magazine is light but I would rather metal.
No experience with the Sako.
 
I have a bunch of T3X. I prefer due to more aftermarket doodads available. If purely for single use (deer hunting) philosophy & only $100 difference, I'd go with Sako. Cheek riser itself is worth it.
 
Mik123 said:
Tikka. I like to fiddle and the tikka has a lot of aftermarket support, just shy of the Rem 700.
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The T3 is a nice alternative to the 700. Most of mine are 700s but I like the Tikkas a lot as well.

Just bought a new-to-me T3 SS in 30/06. Not that I needed another 30/06. <eye roll>
 
If it were me, I wouldn't buy any of the pimped out Tikka's. The stock is the same as the lite on all of them, just coloured. The fluting or the bigger bolt knob isn't worth the money they're asking for a hunting rifle. And I'm not a fan of muzzle brakes on hunting rifles. I'd get a stainless lite model in the caliber I'm looking for and call it good. To each their own.

I haven't handled any of the Sako model 90's so I can't speak to the quality of those.
 
Never handled a sako 90 but I have a few 85s and a t3x, nothing at all wrong with the tikkas but if you paying almost the same price I wouldn't even consider the tikka. The sako is better on so many levels in my opinion, better mag, plus it's actually flush with the rifle if you carry one handed all day when hunting, and it's metal as is the bottom metal. If you like changing parts and want to modify to aftermarket then that's another story, but you are then spending sako or more money and still end up with a tikka... to each their own we all have different tastes and can spend it accordingly
 
kamlooky said:
I’m a big Tikka fan.

Did Sako ever fix the brass hitting the scope issue?

Something rings a bell 🔔 on this.
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Yes they did fix this with the 90.

The Sako 90 is an easy win in this thread. This list of features that are top tier is long. Short story is the 90 finnlight is a super model in hoodie and sweats and the Tikka is a pig with lipstick and a dress.

Scope mounting, trigger, bottom metal, and magazine (flush 5 round vs sort of flush 3 round), wr lock time, safety, all elite level top of rifle world features materials function and design in the 90. Tikka a reliable accurate quality workhorse but they are many levels apart.
 
If velocity is a factor you consider I have found Tikka barrels to run a bit slower than some other barrels including Sakos. The Tkkas are just as accurate as the Sakos I have. My Tikka T3X (6.5 Creedmoor) is about 150fps slower than than the same loads in both a Ruger rifle and an AI with a Gradous barrel, all same length. There are many comments about the "slowness" of Tikka barrels on long range forums and and PRS forums.I have never used 270s so I don't know whether velocity is an important factor for your intended purposes.
 
big bear said:
If velocity is a factor you consider I have found Tikka barrels to run a bit slower than some other barrels including Sakos. The Tkkas are just as accurate as the Sakos I have. My Tikka T3X (6.5 Creedmoor) is about 150fps slower than than the same loads in both a Ruger rifle and an AI with a Gradous barrel, all same length. There are many comments about the "slowness" of Tikka barrels on long range forums and and PRS forums.I have never used 270s so I don't know whether velocity is an important factor for your intended purposes.
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Tikka and Sako barrels are made in the same factory by the same tooling.

Perhaps Tikka barrels are slower because they are produced on graveyard-shift only by less motivated Finnish staff.
 
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Sun_and_Steel_77 said:
Tikka and Sako barrels are made in the same factory by the same tooling.

Perhaps Tikka barrels are slower because they are produced on graveyard-shift only by less motivated Finnish staff.
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I was aware of that but it is my understanding the chamber dimensions and freebore differ between the two makes in a given calibre and even between two models of the same make. Please understand I am not being argumentative, always just trying to learn more. I was cleaning my Tikka when this thread came to mind. My particular rifle has been really frustrating for me,very accurate, but very slow. 100 to 150fps slower with all my loads and all factory ammo I have tried.

Cheers!:)
 
As far as I know the barrels are exactly the same between Tikka and Sako. Tikka seem to be used more for competitions than Sako and I think they have the edge in accuracy. I prefer the Tikka as it has more options and aftermarket parts, one can fit flush fitting magazines if one wants or pop in a five, ten shot. I also believe centre feed magazines are more reliable than left right feed. Scope fittings have better options especially for the ultra short mil type scopes in one piece mounts etc. I have a few Sako rifles as well as several T3's, prefer shooting T3's and Rem 700's over the Sako's. Bedding seems simpler on the T3 as well.
edi
 
I bought new Tikka 308 same time as my Sako 90 peak 308 and one really liked 168 eldm and 180 fusion ammo, the other only like 165 fusion, while looking for cloverleafs or ‘sub-moa’ 3 shot type groups testing 8 different factory loads. Same twist. Can’t comment on velocity differences, didn’t chrony same loads in either and had the Tikka chopped to 20” out of the box to match the Sako, I can say that fusion 165 is hot, faster than expected and current lot of 168 eldm pretty slow out of Sako at 2592 fps, but that fusion 165 in Tikka from recollection all of 75 fps faster.

Had a few tikkas and never noticed them slow on chrony before, howa I have noticed them quite slow and heard similar about them having notoriously tight bores so take for what it’s worth which isn’t much as it’s a small sample size I have experienced
 
The barrels come from the same line and are very likely to be extremely accurate. The smooth action, finish, and triggers of the Sako 75, 85, and 90s are significantly superior to the Tikka. Tikkas shoot well but are still the economy gun but some models now come in really high prices. Get the Sako 90.
 
Duncan Idaho said:
The barrels come from the same line and are very likely to be extremely accurate. The smooth action, finish, and triggers of the Sako 75, 85, and 90s are significantly superior to the Tikka. Tikkas shoot well but are still the economy gun but some models now come in really high prices. Get the Sako 90.
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and yet many believe the T3 is the better designed action, stiffer than Sako. Has less accuracy issues in factory stocks because the bedding is better. We have had very few if any complaints about Tikka accuracy but have had to bed several Sako rifles. Once properly bedded they are very good... similar to a T3.
Every rifle has flaws, T3 it is the action size that is just a bit short for long cartridges with high bc bullets. The S20 seems almost perfect in action length but the two section pica rail is a handicap with some scopes or mounts. You'd have to fit a proper rail on top of the one on the action... Stocks would not be my favourite on the S20 but the action is nice. TRG 22 is closer in design to a T3 than 75/85/90.
I think Sako would be streets ahead if the resolve the bedding on their 90 rifles. Heym and Schultz & Larsen both epoxy bed their rifles....

edi
 
When it comes to durability, T3's seem to hold up well even with two lug bolt. This one of quite a few T3's we put together, in this case with a Hawk Hill barrel. The action came from a shot out 25 06. The rifle went to a young PRS shooter who went on to two world championships and many other Euro comps now on the fourth barrel and well over 10k shots without an issue. The two lug bolt with around 70 deg is very close to the Sako 60deg.
The T3X did improve and some weak points on the T3 were fixed like the alu recoil lug that would dent with high shot count or the plastic bolt shroud that just about always developed a crack. The plastic mag systems are ultra light (only 73 grams including magazine) and are ok for mountain hunting. Many aftermarket options are available but mostly increase weight.

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edi
 
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