older tikka's...
- Thread starter ruger22
- Start date
BC Bigbore
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- BC's Peace Country
A huntin' pard carried an older Tikka Whitetail Hunter in 7mmMag. Very nice rifle, that one. Had a contrasting pistol grip cap and forend tip, skip-line checkering, nice wood and comfortable palm swell. With the factory open sights, I watched him put 3 shots into a shade over an inch when his scope crapped out one time. Those were the real Tikka's, not the plastic Mattel t3 that seems so popular now.
The old model 55 and 65 are my favorites.....had several of both and all were awesome shooters.
They had floating barrels, no plastic parts and one of the smoothest working bolts of any factory rifle I've handled.
I have a 6.5x55 carbine with a 20" barrel, a dream to carry and groups almost every weight of bullet tried under an inch.
I'm still looking for a Model 65 in 338 Win Mag having seen only two and their owners won't part with them.....
They had floating barrels, no plastic parts and one of the smoothest working bolts of any factory rifle I've handled.
I have a 6.5x55 carbine with a 20" barrel, a dream to carry and groups almost every weight of bullet tried under an inch.
I'm still looking for a Model 65 in 338 Win Mag having seen only two and their owners won't part with them.....
I'm not familiar with older Tikka's, however below within my signature is my newest investment; which is a Tikka T3 Synthetic Blued Barrel.
The main difference I was looking for was either wood or synthetic stock, an adjustable trigger and overall good customer reviews. I watched various utube shows on the Tikka and based a small percentage on how they appealed to the rifle.
Overall, you need to base your opinion on what you want in a gun or features you would like in a T3. T3's are customizable like any rifle, the price point for the rifle is great, accurate, close groupings.
30 06 is a great caliber for hunting, recoil is soft (for m) and many different bullets to choose from for different game.
The main difference I was looking for was either wood or synthetic stock, an adjustable trigger and overall good customer reviews. I watched various utube shows on the Tikka and based a small percentage on how they appealed to the rifle.
Overall, you need to base your opinion on what you want in a gun or features you would like in a T3. T3's are customizable like any rifle, the price point for the rifle is great, accurate, close groupings.
30 06 is a great caliber for hunting, recoil is soft (for m) and many different bullets to choose from for different game.
I agree that the 55s and 65s are superb, and I envy your 6.5x55! If you ever want to trade it....
I've had them in .270 and -'06, and they all shot extremely well.
I also had a 65 in .338, and that was the hardest recoiling rifle I've ever owned. I suspect it just didn't fit me, but I swear, my vision went fuzzy and my face went numb every time I pulled the trigger....and I shoot other .375s and .458s all the time with no discomfort. I finally traded it, and a week later the stock split - the new owner put it in a synthetic (I believe an MPI), and it instantly became a pussycat. I kind of got switched over to L61R Sakos which seem to fit me better and shoot about as well.
But back to the main topic - yes, I think the 55s and 65s were the best of the bunch.
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heavyBullet
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Just off the island of MTL
I like any that are in the PRE-PLASTIC years.
I have a Tikka M55 in .223rem. It is easily the most beautiful and accurate rifle I have owned. Handloaded with 50 grainers over 26gr of H4895 she's a consistant half-incher at 100 yards.
Mine cost $650 used six years ago. I don't know how old she is, but I love the pure quality.
Mine cost $650 used six years ago. I don't know how old she is, but I love the pure quality.
Last year I seriously considered retiring my 6.5 carbine, so not being able to make up my mind I bought a Rem 700 Ti in 260, a 700 LSS Mtn. 280, and a 280 Anniversary 700.
Unfortunately none will come close to the Tikka for overall accuracy, so I sold the Mtn. rifle and the other 280 is going to be "Ackleyized".
I don't know what to do with the Ti, had thought about re-barreling it to 284 if the action is long enough, or maybe sell it.
If anyone is looking for a Mod. 55 or 65 Tikka, PM me...I know where there is a couple...
Unfortunately none will come close to the Tikka for overall accuracy, so I sold the Mtn. rifle and the other 280 is going to be "Ackleyized".
I don't know what to do with the Ti, had thought about re-barreling it to 284 if the action is long enough, or maybe sell it.
If anyone is looking for a Mod. 55 or 65 Tikka, PM me...I know where there is a couple...
Auto-cocker
Member
- Location
- Wet Coast....B.C
I only have one Tikka an it is M695 in 270win Laminated Stainless. It weight about same as the Sako 75. Just like most Sako and Tikka it shoot very tight groupings.
I just love the older Sako 75 and Tikka M695 and 595. I do not like the new T-3's and 85's.
Next new rifle I like to get is the CZ 550 or 527.
I just love the older Sako 75 and Tikka M695 and 595. I do not like the new T-3's and 85's.
Next new rifle I like to get is the CZ 550 or 527.
I'll admit to being very skeptical of the "plastic" Tikkas until I took my T3 9.3 to the range for the first time. After using it for a couple years I really like it.
My brother has the identical rifle and he's had it horseback hunting, quadding, crawling up mountains chasing sheep and also taken Caribou and Moose with it without a problem.
Although having said that, I think I still prefer the feel of the non-plastic rifles.
My brother has the identical rifle and he's had it horseback hunting, quadding, crawling up mountains chasing sheep and also taken Caribou and Moose with it without a problem.
Although having said that, I think I still prefer the feel of the non-plastic rifles.
I have a 695 syn/blued in 30-06, and the only thing I regret about it is not getting it in Stainless. Recoil is mild, I can comfortably shoot it prone all I want. It can be very accurate, with the right loads, and awful with factory stuff it doesn't like. (It was terrible in Rem 150 Cor-lokt)
- Location
- WMU247 near Edmonton
- Location
- Steel Town
I own both a Sako 85 Bavarian Carbine and most recently a Tikka T3 Sporter. I am in love with both, and both are keepers. Overall, they are well made rifles that can really shoot out-of-the-box. The T3 has a few fibreglass reinforced composite pieces, like the mag, trigger guard and bolt shroud, but otherwise they are of equal quality, fit, and finish. The barrel and receiver on the T3 is Sako anyway. I must admit, the mag on my T3, which is a single stack variety, is BY FAR the easiest/smoothest feeding set-up in over 20 mag fed rifles I own or have owned. Basically, its effortless feeding. I don't know if its the material, or the single stack design, but it works! I have absolutely no issues with the mag not being made of metal as it also seems pretty damn strong. I recently dropped it on my basement floor from about 3 feet, and there's not a mark on it. Metal would have likely bent or dinged. The trigger guard doesn't bother me either, much like the trigger guard on my Remington Marine Magnum (my favourite shotgun of all). The actions are also the smoothest of any rifle I have ever owned, and in fact, the T3 is the smoothest of the two! I am a big supporter of old world craftsmenship, and own a number of vintage rifles that will never leave my collection, but Sako/Tikka still build a quality, functional product that is designed to be used and enjoyed -- not to sit behind glass or sit at your local gunsmith getting expensive upgrades.
Lastly, the single set triggers on both rifles are so good that I have never contemplated "upgrading" to an aftermarket variety, unlike just about every other rifle I own or have owned.
A new T3 Sporter in for sale in EE for $1750 + tax: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=463490
Lastly, the single set triggers on both rifles are so good that I have never contemplated "upgrading" to an aftermarket variety, unlike just about every other rifle I own or have owned.
A new T3 Sporter in for sale in EE for $1750 + tax: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=463490
