I think few purchasers of T3's will be looking for aftermarket parts. Nor will they be asking how to improve the trigger or make the bolt smoother. And if the gun isn't up to their accuracy expectations, they really need something radically better than a factory hunting rifle, either that or they need to learn how to shoot.
Is the Tikka T3 the new Remington 700?
- Thread starter Tack
- Start date
Its not about those who did buy T3's. Its about those who didn't, or wouldn't, due to the feel of the rifle or the plastic parts. The people that were turned off, are the ones that will prevent the T3 from outselling the 700.
Absolutely agree, this gun will be considered ugly and cheap looking by many. Its not for everyone. Maybe it's history repeating itself with some parallel to the M-16 or Glock pistol and how it was greeted with its use of light weight parts that defied convention at that time.
mike shickele
Regular
This is most probably due to the availability of aftermarket parts. The Remington 700 is stiffer than most, but the savage 110 is not. I haven't paid attention to Benchrest fads for a few years, but it always struck me that what was popular, was what Sinclairs' had the most toys for. Most American aftermarket companies are loathed to make components for non-American rifles. The Sako single shot action was as stiff, and the finished rifle as accurate as any 40X.
Remington rifles have a "reputation" for accuracy; they may have let this lapse in the last few years. Savage is doing very well, and supplying the customers what they want. Sako is right up there in design and quality. Because they are not being used in "production class" is no indication of otherwise. I actually think that the T3 would do quite well in the benchrest game. (my opinion).
Mike
I don't think the T3 has any aspirations of being a 700. It's content being a superbly accurate hunting rifle at an afforable price.
Odd - at the range I just drop them in one at a time from the top, close the bolt and shoot my .300 T3 Deluxe. Lots of room. Doubt the T3 was ever intended to target the benchrest/competition shooter, and in many classes if they're not shooting rifles that are definitely changed "radically" I might be missing something. $ for $, the Tikka is still right up there for accuracy, reliability, and maybe more important manufacturing consistency or quality. Once you get an exceptional shooter, far more common out of the box in a Tikka than a Savage or the 700, you tend to hang on to it.
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My Tikka absolutely will not feed unless you use the magazine, everytime i try it,(it's a habit), I have to flip the gun on it's side and shake it or remove the mag and let it fall out the bottom, then reload it into the mag. Don't have to do any of that with my Remingtons.
604shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Neither here nor there.
Nope.
Im wondering how out of the box accuracy compares. Eg how a Sako compares to a 700.
My Sako was/is much more accurate than my 700 Ti and on a par with my old '92 vintage 700 Mtn.rifle and BDL SS.
Depending on the loads fed to each rifle the Sako and my T3 St Lite are pretty similar, however a lot depends on how much the shooter's arthritis is bothering...( thats me ).
Accuracy-wise, I don't think there is a great deal of difference as none of them have shot factory ammo....I reload for everything so each toy regardless of make gets its own "pet load".
I'm sorry if this isn't a good response to your question, a better answer might come from a shooter who uses factory loads in both Sako and 700 Rem.
you sir are either:
A: Mentally Retarded
B: High as f**k on crack
C: All of the above
+1
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I sure hope not. The current incarnation of the Tikka, the T3, is a gun built by and for bean counters. Beretta and even Sako have increasingly done everything possible to reduce the cost of production at the expense of what was once a fine rifle M55/65. If this is where rifles are headed over the next 30 years I shudder to think where it will eventually stop.
