I never much liked Chuck Hawks articles. But you Tikka boys will hate him for this.

Yeah, that links been posted a few times before on here.

I don't hate Chuck Hawks.
I pity him for his lack of knowledge and shooting ability.
 
Chuck is the kinda of guy who likes the way things used to be back in the 'good ole days' - when things were made better (sic). He does not think that anything decent has been developed or built since the 1960's.


Oh well, I will take advantage of new advances in metallurgical processes and polymers when I purchase my next firearm.

/cl
 
I just read his article. It's certainly opinionated as to T3's. However, he hasn't said a thing in there that isn't true when it comes to the actual product's incorporated "features". I was a little surprised when I looked at a T3 a few months ago and somewhat put off at the plastic clip. It's certainly a very light good fitting rifle, but in my opinion overpriced for what it is. I prefer the Weatherby Vangard in that class of rifle. The Stevens at almost 1/3 of the price will do the same as the T/3 but just doesn't have the polish and finish to compare fairly...and Remington? I'm not a fan after the 710 fiasco... maybe the 770 will be better than a good paddle in an emergency? I have yet to look at one.
 
What's wrong with personal bias? Isn't that how anybody decides on a product? So Hawks has a bias against the plastic in the Tikka, big deal. Get over it.

I am aware of the Tikka's excellent reputation for accuracy but I do not like the look of 'em either and I also prefer the older guns. In particular I have a weakness for old M-700 Remingtons. For current production rifles I like the Brno's.
 
Hawkes... just another gun writer 'eggs-purt'.... :p

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Well, he's RIGHT. A lot of the so-called 'features' used in a lot of modern rifles are actually cost cutting mechanisms. Ever looks at your $250 Mosin Nagant, and wondered how much it would cost to machine one today on modern equipment? It's hugely more complex thatn a Rem 700 (for example) which could almost be made in its entirety out of round stock on a lathe.

Still, I don't think it can be argued that modern inexpensive rifles don't actually *work*, and work very well indeed. But they are engineered from the ground up for ease of mass manufacture and cost efficiency. That also makes them a little more 'soulless' than the older and more finely crafted guns
 
it's not a secret that new designs are engineered for mass production FIRST, then function, then form last.
 
prosper said:
Still, I don't think it can be argued that modern inexpensive rifles don't actually *work*, and work very well indeed. But they are engineered from the ground up for ease of mass manufacture and cost efficiency. That also makes them a little more 'soulless' than the older and more finely crafted guns
Click to expand...

When do you think the industrial revolution began? 1960? It's been quite some time since gun's where not mass produced by machines and came from the hands of skilled craftsmen.

I for one, like the fit and finish of my Tikka, isn't any better or worse than any 'modern' (new) rifle that I looked at like - Remington, Ruger or Browning (rifles in the $600 - $1000 range of the Tikka T3's).
I think the plastic clip is a bit of a red herring - it is built no better or worse than my 'all steel' mag clip for my M14 (all US built - not Norinco )

Yup - everyone is entitled to his/her opinions - it's when opinions are being passed off as fact that gets my back up!

/cl
 
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Ironic that he favors the good ole days because he and his industry have driven the sporting arms into where it is today.

how often have we read about the issues with a solid wood stock vs a composite one? how often has 'CNC' machining been used to describe accuracy and precision (not that it does that)?

The sporting rifle is now a tool where function and costs are paramount. Manf have obliged by retooling and using materials that fit both extremely well. We now have cookie cutter rifles in tuperwear stocks at dirt cheap pricing, yet PROFITABLE and more accurate. Sportmans are buying them all up so manf keep making more and 'improving' on the theme.

The 'pretty' guns are still being built. They are now done by the small volume custom builder who charges an arm and leg for the work. Craftsmanship is given value and those who want it spend the money.

Big manf are sticking to bread and butter products cause it is getting hard to make enough bread to butter.

I always love hearing people knock plastic/alum in hunting or tactical rifles but gladly carry a 'composite' pistol or 'pop can' assault rifle.

Jerry
 
I've got to be honest. My dislike of the T3's never came from the fact that it has a plastic magazine. I don't really like clips much. But what I don't like is that on a $700 rifle, the trigger gaurds are plastic. It's not much of an issue, I know. But i certainly wouldn't write up a whole report on a rifle because of it. I feel we are blessed with what we have available today. I'm working on a book, and in my research I found that we have well over 1300 different possible configurations for production rifles. We have the ability to choose today what our grand fathers could never have fathomed. I think buy what you like, and support others decisions to buy what they like.
 
I hated chuck before the T3 even came to market.:)

I've owned 3 T3's and all were very accurate and functioned smoothly. The only fault I found with them is the magazine length. They don't allow much room for different length cartridges or bullets.
 
I LIKE the plastic mag as well as the plasic trigger gaurd. Less cold parts you have to touch when it is -20 on a long and cold November day.

My Tika is one of the only guns i have ever bought that was perfect out of the box. Zero adjustments, tweeking, or fixing needed. Even the trigger is perfect.


I can also work the bolt faster on this rifle than any other I have ever owned, I am a lefty that uses right handed rifles.
 
Old write up from a biased writer.

The T3 is a cheaply made rifle that is accurate and reliable. IMO you get more than you pay for but it's far from a top shelf product like Sako.
 
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