tikka t3 tactical short review+added range report 1st post

Moser40s&w

Moser40s&w

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picked up my newest toy yesterday after getting rid of my 700 sps. Was it a wise choice? i think so. has all the features i want already built in and going to take just as much money to build the remington into something like this IMO.

after unboxing it and initial inspection everything looked and functioned flawlessly. came with all the tools required for complete disassembly and also the manual.

This is one tight rifle!!! the action has zero play between bolt and receiver and glides butter smooth and locks beautifully. for being a "tupperware" stock it is extremely tight with no flex. i had to really squeeze to get the barrel to touch the forend of the stock.

24" heavy barrel .308 with the Sako muzzle brake makes it long and heavy but i dont mind the extra weight. (still lighter than my 700 in a Choate stock without a heavy barrel)

I do have a couple negative things to say about this rifle though.
-plastic bolt knob? really, cmon, on a rifle this nice and complete you cheap out on a plastic knob? this will be getting changed out to a HSS handle/knob
-finish on barrel marks easily. Dont know if it is parkerized or what but it does mark easily. Not a big deal to me since this will be no safe queen.
-Magazine is plastic and feels flimsy but im a assured by others that it will hold up to abuse. one issue is if you are running reloads u cannot stretch them out very far since this mag runs outta room quickly. CDI makes a bottom metal kit for these

PROS:
-Adjustable cheekpeice locks up tight and has lots of adjustment
-detachable mag
-stock is light enough to carry but still strong and tight enough for precision work
-action is the smoothest ive ever felt
-trigger is phenomenal, i have it set down to 2lbs and it breaks crisp with no creep
-sling swivel spots on all 3 sides front and rear
-built in 0-MOA rail from factor that can be removed. (will be changing out to a 20-MOA)

The aftermarket is getting better for these rifles and i have found lots of products through:Roedale, UK gunworks, KRG, HSS, and a few others

i topped it off with my previous scope that i have nothing but good things to say about
-vortex viper HS-LR 6-24x50
scope does everything i want it to and to me has very clear glass even at max power.

onto some pics now

will update with range report once i get out there and get some reloads through her
















well got "Heidi" out to the range today and only managed to scoop some hunting rounds from the local store. (need to get some more reloads made up)

weather was -5 degrees. overcast. 1-4 kmph winds left to right

i was using hornady superformance gmx 165gr ammo

target was at 200 meters

i will load burger 175 vld"s when i get around to it

i shot a 9 shot group after sight in and wanting to keep a few for coyote hunting

group was 1 7/8" wide and 1 5/8" tall

i believe that is a touch under 1MOA and i thought it pretty good for factory ammo

sorry for the Iphone ruler. cant find mine

pics
 
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I've got a 20" in an xlr chassis.
It likes very low loads, like the lowest listed in most books. Still gets good velocity...
It shoots everything pretty decently.
Standouts are 75 grain Amax, 1/2 moa with that. And it loves Berger 75 grain vld's, .2 to .3 moa (!) with those and vv n135.



 
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Moser,
If you want to stick with the stock mags for reloads just buy the long action mags for the 30-06 and you can load the .308 out as long as you want. The T3 mags are all the same size externally they are different internally for the different length cartridges. You would then just need to order the custom bolt stop from Roedale Precision ($25 EURO) and your good to go.

http://www.webshop.roedale.de/product_info.php?info=p885_Custom-Bolt-Stop-for-Tikka-T3.html

 
Very nice, I specially like the 24" barrel for more velocity/ knock down power at longer range, and you will expect .223 like recoil due to the TRG muzzle brake. The trigger is awesome also, I got my trigger pull down to 1 LB let off. I took a coyote @580 yards just a week ago, and mine is just a 20" barrel in .308, scope is the Mark4 8.5-25X50mm illuminated with AAC blackout muzzle brake. It love the Hornady SST.

 
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Very nice guns! I was thinking about doing a T3 lite in a McMillan Remington Classic edge fill, shorten the barrel to 20" in 223 with an 8" twist, but the tacticals look pretty sweet. The only thing I had a hard time getting past with my last tikka was having to take the safety off to open the bolt, not sure if I'm the only one this bothers?
 
DMS1 said:
Very nice guns! I was thinking about doing a T3 lite in a McMillan Remington Classic edge fill, shorten the barrel to 20" in 223 with an 8" twist, but the tacticals look pretty sweet. The only thing I had a hard time getting past with my last tikka was having to take the safety off to open the bolt, not sure if I'm the only one this bothers?
Click to expand...

Doesn't bother me much personally.
The regular tikka's are great shooters, but the tacticals use some kind of voodoo sako barrels.
They don't always show their true character unless you load for them, but I've yet to see one that wasn't a tack driver.
That .223 of mine above is the most accurate rifle I've owned, or even seen. I've owned several $4000+ custom builds...
The xlr chassis can get a little credit though, it's so easy to get behind, very comfortable.
 
ntm said:
Doesn't bother me much personally.
The regular tikka's are great shooters, but the tacticals use some kind of voodoo sako barrels.
.
Click to expand...

Would love to hear from someone who knows more about the Barrels on the Tactical`s - Are they different then the Varmint Barrel? Different twist rate??
 
Moser40s&w said:
well got "Heidi" out to the range today and only managed to scoop some hunting rounds from the local store. (need to get some more reloads made up)
weather was -5 degrees. overcast. 1-4 kmph winds left to right
i was using hornady superformance gmx 165gr ammo target was at 200 meters
i shot a 9 shot group after sight in and wanting to keep a few for coyote hunting
group was 1 7/8" wide and 1 5/8" tall
i believe that is a touch under 1MOA and i thought it pretty good for factory ammo
Click to expand...

Excellent shooting - thanks for taking the time to post
 
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