Tikka M65 questions...

lord-humungous

lord-humungous

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1) Can these be dated by xreferencing serial numbers?
2) If not, are there other ways to date the rifles?
3) Rumour has it that the M65 are better than the newer T3's. Anyone here agree? I think it's mostly founded by old schooler's who don't like plastic.
 
The M55's an M65's are more in line with a Sako of the same era as far as fit, finish and quality. There's no plastic on an M55/65 Tikka.....I've owned a few of them.

You can't compare a T3 with an M55/65.....there's NO comparison.
 
Both excellent, owned both; actually all 3 versions that Tikka has put out. Have 4 x T3's and no Whitetails/M55/65's. I wish it was the other way around. The T3's are very nice but the Whitetails/M55/65's are so much better IMO
 
I have an M-65 (LSA 65). Gotta love the old Tikkakoskis . The things are built like a tank with no apparent Production Shortcuts. Im not sure how to compare a T3 vs an M65. The only thing I can find in common is the scope mounting groove in the receiver .

If someone has a way to date them I would be interested in knowing too. I have one in 6.5x55 and a hunting partner of mine has one in 300 WM . Id also really like to find an extra magazine which seem like hen's teeth.
 
Pathfinder said:
I have an M-65 (LSA 65). Gotta love the old Tikkakoskis . The things are built like a tank with no apparent Production Shortcuts. Im not sure how to compare a T3 vs an M65. The only thing I can find in common is the scope mounting groove in the receiver .

If someone has a way to date them I would be interested in knowing too. I have one in 6.5x55 and a hunting partner of mine has one in 300 WM . Id also really like to find an extra magazine which seem like hen's teeth.
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Is yours marked Ithaca or Tikka? I believe the LSA are even older than the Tikka marked ones...

I think the timeline goes LSA - M65 - M558 - M595/695/ - T3... not 100% sure...
 
I have an M65 and two M55s as well as a T3 and like everyone else I think the older ones are awesome. Overall workmanship is excellent and the rifles are easily as accurate as anything in a store today.
I like the T3 but it just doesn't feel the same in spite of being a really good shooter. :)
 
blargon said:
Is yours marked Ithaca or Tikka? I believe the LSA are even older than the Tikka marked ones...

I think the timeline goes LSA - M65 - M558 - M595/695/ - T3... not 100% sure...
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yeah, its the ones that Ithaca brought in as LSA 65's. I would think 1970's ? It does still have the Tikkakoski name on it.
 
Pathfinder said:
yeah, its the ones that Ithaca brought in as LSA 65's. I would think 1970's ? It does still have the Tikkakoski name on it.
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Yes, they would be marked. Interestingly, the M65's that were made for Europe were just marked Tikka M65. I would imagine some of these have made it over here as well...
 
blargon said:
Yes, they would be marked. Interestingly, the M65's that were made for Europe were just marked Tikka M65. I would imagine some of these have made it over here as well...
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all three M65's I had were marked Tikka M65...no LSA......wasn't the LSA only on the Ithaca marked guns?

Not sure about dates but I had an M65 Deluxe in 30-06 that was in the original box marked 1985...and it had both Tikka and Sako logos on the box end.
 
Rembo said:
all three M65's I had were marked Tikka M65...no LSA......wasn't the LSA only on the Ithaca marked guns?

Not sure about dates but I had an M65 Deluxe in 30-06 that was in the original box marked 1985...and it had both Tikka and Sako logos on the box end.
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Yes, the LSA were the Ithaca ones, but I think there was a time (70's) where they were the only ones being imported...then the Tikka M65 came after..
 
lord-humungous said:
1) Can these be dated by xreferencing serial numbers?
2) If not, are there other ways to date the rifles?
3) Rumour has it that the M65 are better than the newer T3's. Anyone here agree? I think it's mostly founded by old schooler's who don't like plastic.
Click to expand...

Obiviously you have never seen let alone handled a real Tikkakoski Rifle.The new Tikkas are good guns,but nothing like the pre Sako versions.The M series rifles are some of if not the best of their day.Very few rifles come close to measuring up to them,Sakos included.
 
I have a M55 in 22-250 and a M65 in 7mm Rem Mag. I also had an Ithaca LSA 222 which I sold and I wish now that I hadn't. The quality is definitely in these rifles. The bolts are extremely smooth and the bluing is deep. I like the hand cut checkering and the oil finnish on the 22-250 better than the skip line on the 7mm Rem Mag but that is just my personal preference.
I have had the 7mm Rem Mag for sale on the EE for quite some time but for the life of me I don't know why it has not sold. It is a fair price in my eyes, maybe it isn't but I may carry it to my grave.
Quality like this will cost you a lot more money new in today's market.
 
Go to the Sako collectors forum site, click on Tikka section and post questions, these guys are right up on all you want to know about Tika's, hope this helps Dale Z!
 
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