Is the Tikka T3 the new Remington 700?

T

Tack

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Hi,
We were having a rather spirited discussion about the relative quality of current sporting bolt-action rifles at work yesterday when one of my colleagues suggested that the Tikka T3 will do in the next thirty years what the Remington 700 did for the previous thirty years.
I am no lover of the 700, particularly given the somewhat variable levels of quality control we have seen recently. The T3 on the other hand is rugged, reliable and I have yet to hear of one that doesn't shoot superbly right out of the box. The only issue with the T3 is the relative lack of aftermarket replacement parts and accessories available for it, but surely as the sales of this action continue to increase then manufacturers of everything from stocks to barrels will get in on the act. They already seem to be doing just that in Europe.
I want to hear your views.
Tack
 
I think the stevens 300 maybe a contendor though, seams to be getting the same following as the 700's once were.
 
I would say that given the relative ease that action contours can now be changed with CNC machinery, we will see very few actions stay the same for as long as the 700 did. Sako has a reputation of changing things up every 10 years or so (it encourages people to buy their guns, and the old ones become saute after). I would guess the Stevens 300 as well, as all that it is is the old 110 that stuck around for years.
Mike
 
Do you judge the success of a product by the number of aftermarket parts, or by the relative lack of them?

Is the Remington 700 action popular with customisers because of availability or suitability or both?

Do aftermarket bits exist because the originals are bad, or because a successful product selling volume makes it economic to manufacture the aftermarket parts?

Must admit, despite the moniker, I have owned both over 30 years and put each to the accuracy, usability and endurance test at of regular use at long range and short. I have thoroughly enjoyed shooting several of both marques Given today's products and prices, dollar for dollar the Tikka T3 wins my recommendation to a new shooter in my biased opinion.

Those Savages are hard to beat too you know!

Are we just plain spoiled? Our forebears had to live with Enfields and Mausers.........
 
T3

I have several Remingtons and really enjoy shooting them just as much as my Tikka's. Are the Tikka's going to overshadow the Rem's? I doubt it. Remember Remington produces a wide range of products at varying prices to accomodate everyones price point.

I think it's more along the lines that Tikka will never replace Remington's market share but they will take a large bite out of it. The Remington is a favorite of too many gun shops and gunsmiths to start loosing ground now.
 
For a hunting bolt action, the Tikka may be the next 700..but not for target/benchrest shooting. It would require major changes, so many in fact that you would change the gun radically. One must be able to drop or load singly without the use of the mag, for serious bench work, it's just not possible with my tikka, shells hang up and won't feed, and my fingers can't fit in the tiny opening to right the case. I'll take a 700 for ease of use and aftermarket parts and i think it will remain that way. I know a couple of gunsmiths that will only work on 700s.
 
I've got both and really like both in their respective chamberings and would have a tough time parting with any. As for single-feeding the T3, I've had no problem doing that perhaps because of the shape of the 9.3 and the fact that the bullets being used are all fairly blunt or slightly rounded and the case itself doesn't have sharp shoulders...
 
The Remington 700 isn't just popular as a benchrest action, and there are also other actions such as the Stolle Panda that are dedicated benchrest actions, obsoleting the Remington for that game. When the Remington 700 was originally used for benchrest, it was common practice to put a sleeve around the action to stiffen it. As a sporting action, it is probably more than stiff enough though. Speaking of the Stolle Panda action; take another look at the T3 action, and compare it for a moment to the Panda; the outside shapes are very similar. Not only that, but the openings for ejection, and the single stack magazine are small, and that in itself increase the overall stiffness of the action.
In saying this, my main hunting rifle is a Remington 700ADL, with a custom installed Gentry safety that I'll never get rid of. I don't even own a T3; that doesn't mean that I can't appreciate good design though.
Mike
 
The only thing that holds the T3 back is the plastic parts, as they do shoot very well. When the time comes that you can buy aftermarket metal bolt shrouds and triggerguards, they may become the top selling rifle. Although Robertson is making custom stocks for the T3, when more stock makers inlet for the T3, it will definitely boost sales.
 
The 700's action is just too stiff for hunting. It may be more suitable to build a custom rifle on it but its action just isnt smooth and it isnt ergonomically friendly.
 
Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the T3, but there are a whole pile of fans out there, and Tikka sure sells more rifles here than they did prior to the intro of the T3.
David Petzal of Field and Stream rated the Tikka number 50 in his list of top 50 guns a few years ago. As I recall, he actually said that in his opinion, it was this generation's pre-64 Model 70. I don't know that I'd go that far. I have no interest in owning one.
 
I guess different people like different rifles for a reason. I thought the 700 rem had a nice smooth ergonomic action. Not quite as smooth as my tikka, but good enough that I bought one for my second hunting rifle.
 
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mackillan said:
The 700's action is just too stiff for hunting. It may be more suitable to build a custom rifle on it but its action just isnt smooth and it isnt ergonomically friendly.
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I'm sorry but I don't agree with this statement at all having had and still have some very smooth 700s...and what exactly do you mean by not "ergonomically friendly" ??
I'm not trying to be biased here as I also have T3s, Sakos, a BRNO, a super-smooth Nesika, and dozens of others.....
As for being too stiff for hunting, that is total crap....I can't speak for other hunters but my 700s have probably put more meat in the freezer than all the rifles you will ever own.....:mad:
 
Hehehehe Are we being defensive about our 700s? They just arent as smooth as a Tikka or Sako. The only advantage is that they are more easily worked on and are toploading for those who like them.
 
mackillan said:
Hehehehe Are we being defensive about our 700s? They just arent as smooth as a Tikka or Sako. The only advantage is that they are more easily worked on and are toploading for those who like them.
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As I said, I own Tikkas and Sakos as well as Remingtons....not being defensive....just saying your statement is a load of BS...ok ???
 
Although I don’t own any 700 now I possessed a few Rem hunting rifles in the recent past and still have at least one in my safe.

It has been a while since I looked at Rem 700 prices. I would imagine it is at the same level as T3. While Remington has tons of after market products and shoots reasonable well out of the box, the fit and finish on their rifles are not great and it is not my choice of equipment to-day.

Unless it improves on their overall quality and/or pricing, Remington will be putting themselves gradually out the market space. That reminds me that GM looses their market share one car at a time…..

:redface::redface::redface:
 
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