Chuck Hawks Review on Tikka's

JasonS said:
For the record it was Sako not Tikka that popped. Those cheap Tikkas just keep on ticking unlike the horribly overpriced Sakos.:p
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No, it was both Sakos AND Tikkas.

They did the recall on BOTH rifles, and there were intraweb reports (and pictures) of both blowing up.

A limited number of recently delivered Sako and Tikka stainless steel rifles have been recalled due to a problem discovered in the steel used in the barrels. The lowest serial number affected by this recall is 419140 and the highest serial number affected is 461951; however, only a small percentage of rifles within this range of numbers is being recalled. In addition, no rifle shipped before February 2004 is involved in the recall. Because only a limited number of recently shipped rifles are involved in the recall, customers being asked to return their rifle are being contacted directly. Although the recall is nearly complete (99% of rifles affected by the recall in the U.S. have already been returned or are in the process of being returned), if you have a stainless steel Sako or Tikka rifle within the serial number range listed above, received by you after February 28, 2004, and you want to check and determine whether it is being recalled, please call 1-800-503-8869. If you have received a written or telephonic recall notice, please follow the instructions for returning the recalled product contained in that notice.
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I don't think that this is a concern any more, but if we are to complain about a tooling mark in a chamber (bad, but not life threatening) then I wonder how such a horrendous safety issue that could have got someone killed is going to be received?:cool:
 
StevieK said:
I totally agree. I don't think that the tikka is a bad rifle. I've fired some and they shoot great. But they have cut corners wherever possible to make the most economical gun to produce and they charge a lot. To buy a blued gun with a plastic stock and plastic everything else it costs $770!!! .
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Yup..It's ridiculous. When the T3 first came out they were inexpensive, as they should be.

Same as you, I don't think they are "bad" they are just cheaply made with a high price tag, and people get hoodwinked into thinking they have something of great quality because of a "smooth" bolt, just as "accurate" as more expensive rifles and they are "light". :)
 
Nobody is trying to say that T-3 is a "Bad" gun. T-3 would have made an excellent entry level gun, had it been priced in that range ($350-450). The additional $400 price gap is justified by the manufacturer, only by extra ordinary claims of "smoothness" and "Acuracy"... (read hype).

My $349 XL7 does all of that with a better or equal plastic, a better trigger (Marlin version of the Accutriger), excellent fit and finish, excellent accuracy and yes, a steel Bolt cone, not plastic. I do not like the blind magazine on it, but that is a personal preference. No mystic claims of grandeur or European ###iness to justify the extra $400 here.

I think that extra $400 is what Hawks is justifiably, howling about.

p.s. I am absolutely mesmerized by the number of folks on this thread who want to F**k Chuck Hawks! Being in his 90's, I am guessing he must be an extraordinarily attractive 90 years old dude!! :D
 
I tend to accept reviews from the average shooter (and lots of them) before I heed the advice of "pros". What the "average" consumer likes or dislikes is more valuable to me.
It's sorta like golf, the pro's may recommend a particular club, but they can use what the average golfer can't.
I research nearly everything of value, and read a good many Joe Dirt reviews before I try it on for size myself. My final decision will be based on the fit and function that works for ME!
 
Home3 said:
Nobody is trying to say that T-3 is a "Bad" gun. T-3 would have made an excellent entry level gun, had it been priced in that range ($350-450). The additional $400 price gap is justified by the manufacturer, only by extra ordinary claims of "smoothness" and "Acuracy"... (read hype).

My $349 XL7 does all of that with a better or equal plastic, a better trigger (Marlin version of the Accutriger), excellent fit and finish, excellent accuracy and yes, a steel Bolt cone, not plastic. I do not like the blind magazine on it, but that is a personal preference. No mystic claims of grandeur or European ###iness to justify the extra $400 here.

I think that extra $400 is what Hawks is justifiably, howling about.

p.s. I am absolutely mesmerized by the number of folks on this thread who want to F**k Chuck Hawks! Being in his 90's, I am guessing he must be an extraordinarily attractive 90 years old dude!! :D
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I've owned and used both rifles. The Tikka definitely has nicer fit/finish, and the trigger is also much better. There is no question here. The average accuracy seen from the T3 is better than the average accuracy from the Marlin rifles, both according to reports I've seen and read, and my own experience. I'm not huge on DM, but some guys like that about the T3, as well.

The Tikka is a better rifle, but not worth double the $$$ that the Marlin sells for. It was priced properly at $500 before the price hike that occurred a year or two ago.
 
I agree with his article. People forget he used Tikka T-3 as an example.
The gun tirade fits in with all industries in this day and age that area product of our consumer choices. We all want to spend less and own more.
We love having a TV in every room, so we buy and spend what would get us ONE great TV on 3 or 4 tv's.
We buy 3 or 4 shotguns when we could have ONE great shotgun for the same price. etc. etc.

In order to do it cheaper these guns have to be made and assembled largely outside of N. America (for the most part). Outsourcing is great if it doesn't happen to your industry.
Tikkas shoot great for what you pay for them.And we all ##### when the plastic cracks.....
 
It's interesting (amusing) to see the T3 CHampions falling all over themselves to get some metal parts for thier rifles on another thread in this forum.:D
 
when my buddy retired his sons gave him a SS T3 in .204
it was over a grand all tolled...
I was disappointed when I fired it,but not for the usual reasons.
It cycled smooth,the trigger was descent and it was very accurate.
I didn't like the stock,but that's no surprise,I like wood.
My big complaint was for that kind of money you'd think you would get an actual short action,not a long action with a blocked mag.
 
BrotherRockeye said:
when my buddy retired his sons gave him a SS T3 in .204
it was over a grand all tolled...
I was disappointed when I fired it,but not for the usual reasons.
It cycled smooth,the trigger was descent and it was very accurate.
I didn't like the stock,but that's no surprise,I like wood.
My big complaint was for that kind of money you'd think you would get an actual short action,not a long action with a blocked mag.
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Another great point!:p
 
Im not a T3 Champion, nor do I have a great love affair with Tikka rifles. All I know is that when it comes to my hunting rifles, I like them to be very functional and to be the most useful, low maitenance as they can possibly be. I hunt in the late fall, in Northern Ontario for Moose, or in Central Ontario for Whitetail. Its almost always a rain/snow mix during half of the week I go, and below freezing temperature usually.

I used to take my nice 30 year old Remington model 700 BDL with me, but I stopped bringing. I stopped bringing it because, it would show signs of rust on the blueing after a long days of hunting in wet weather, everytime I came back to camp I had a few extra nicks on the stock, it was heavy to lug around all day, and when I jumped out of the truck in a hurry because I saw a Moose walking across the logging road it took me about 30 seconds to wrestle the cartridges out of my pocket and load them in the gun, one at a time. After every day of hunting, I would have to clean my gun thoroughly because the barrel would pit very quickly if I left it laying around, after a full day of walking around in the rain/snow.

I got rid of that rifle, even though it was a very nice looking rifle, and was solid and well built. I bought a ugly Tikka T3 stainless because its the best all around hunting rifle, that suits my hunting need perfectly, for several reasons. The stainless steel barrel does'nt rust and wet weather does'nt affect it, I can bushwack all day long, and the stock always looks brand new, the gun is great to carry all day long because its so light, if I am in a hurry to load up while I'm driving on a logging road, all I have to do is grab the magazine in my pocket and load up, and within 3 seconds I am ready to shoot. At the end of the day, I just wipe down the barrel and I can put the gun away. And last but not least, my Remington Model 700 BDL shot about 2 inch MOA, while my Fugly, light, Tikka shoots Sub MOA.

Now Some people may find the Tikka not a qualilty rifle, or cheap or whatever, while they praise there old Grampas rifle like its the second coming of Christ. Too me, my Tikka T3 Lite Stainless Steel is the definition of what a hunting rifle should be.
 
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