SPS 700 sold, welcome Tikka T3

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VinceMarksman

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I king of sold my 700 SPS varmint 308 in a magpul stock on an impulse and I found a tikka t3 varmint 308 that has less then 70 rounds through it, locally. I was completely sold when I cycled the tikka bolt and tried the trigger. My 700 was a great shooter but I heard the T3 can be even better.

There does not seem to be that many build based off a tikka t3 action. I will be getting the rifle soon and I want to know what king of minor upgrades I can make to improve it's accuracy. Some DIY upgrade if possible. I know the guy had the action accurized but there was almost no work to do on the action. I saw some recoil lugs kit for sale, would that be a good upgrade? I already plan on changing the bolt knob and handle and I saw some shroud upgrade too but I doubt it makes any difference on accuracy.

A stock upgrade is not currently in my budget.
 
You don't need to do anything except find the load it loves. Check out my post, last one on page 3, that target is a 4 shot group at 300 yards

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...Unveils-the-New-Tikka-Tactical-Bolt-Gun/page3

Nothing was done to this gun for accuracy purposes other then replacing the stock

Have fun with the new toy, I bought my 1st Tikka last year, now I have 3. I don't even look at other options when buying a bolt gun and I'm OCD when it comes to accuracy
 
Sweet! Thanks

Do you think the t3x brand new is worth it over the lightly used T3? The T3 comes with a 20moa EGW rail and 100 lapua brass
 
VinceMarksman said:
Sweet! Thanks

Do you think the t3x brand new is worth it over the lightly used T3? The T3 comes with a 20moa EGW rail and 100 lapua brass
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That's personal preference but the new features won't have an effect on your accuracy. If you're not going to replace the factory stock, the t3X stock would be nice for customizing.

Your rail and brass is probably worth a couple hundred bucks and add another $200 to get the X over a non X, I'd keep that $400 and just start shooting the gun, you can always make changes as you go along. All the new features for the T3x over the older T3 can be purchased separately....
 
Sweet, perfect thanks!

I am looking for aftermarket stocks even though it won't be for an immediate upgrade.

There are not much affordable options and I don't think I want to go with a vertical grip. Maybe a McMilan one day but they are expensive AF.

If I ever want to go vertical the new MDT ESS looks great.
 
You may also want to consider a Boyd's, here's a pic of the 1st Tikka I bought last year in 300 wsm. The stock cost around $250 after shipping and exchange rate, I also had to get bottom metal which was around $180 - $200. You'll need to bed it if you go this route but this gun also shoots nice tight groups without much effort

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Picked up a T3x in .243 a couple of weeks ago, weather permitting I'll be shooting it this Sunday, I can let you know how it goes. No mods have been done to it...
 
Yes let me know how it goes.

I did consider the boyds pro varmint but I don't want to fool around with the bedding job. Depends what a mcmilan will cost in CAD and will not rule out the mdt ess
 
VinceMarksman said:
Yes let me know how it goes.

I did consider the boyds pro varmint but I don't want to fool around with the bedding job. Depends what a mcmilan will cost in CAD and will not rule out the mdt ess
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Mcmillan would be around $1000

If you are loading rounds to touch the lands you might want to consider a long action mag and bolt stop.
 
you'll have fun with that rifle.. I have a .223 T3 varmint with a heavy barrel. It shoots better than I do.
I heard some smack about the t3x's bolt somehow being different and not as strong as the T3. So me personally, Im inclined to stick with the T3. I heard the smack from a smith, but who knows.. Cant know whats truth until you confirm it for your own self.
 
How much is a bolt stop and does it need to be done by a smith?

Im not yet playing with my COL. Just got into reloading and am having a blast just trying powder charges :D
 
Biggest thing for me I do with all my Tikka rifles is swap out the aluminum recoil lug for a hardened steel lug from someone like Lumley Arms, it is a drop in for all my rifles. I then bed the action and the first two inches of barrel with Devcon plastic steel putty, this is a very easy job, just look up some videos on youtube and you will be away to the races.
 
Would pillar bedding the factory stock and installing a steel recoil lug improve the accuracy of the rifle? Im not sure im handy enough to bed with a compound
 
VinceMarksman said:
How much is a bolt stop and does it need to be done by a smith?

Im not yet playing with my COL. Just got into reloading and am having a blast just trying powder charges :D
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The kit from stoeger canada is $73 plus shipping. You just take the stock off with the gun upside down and there is a little pin holding in the bolt stop. Pul that out but be careful as it is under spring tension then instal the new one in reverse order. The kit comes with a new pin, spring, short and long action stops.
 
Well I kinda did the same thing. Got a sweet shooting 700 AAC-SD but wanted something new so got a new unfired T3x, 20moa talley rail, yodave trigger spring, a sightron SIII 6-32×56 to top it off the EE and ordered a mdt ess chassis in fde. I was going to sell of the t3x stock but might keep it for hunting.
The action is incredible compared to the 700. Downfall of the t3x is the silly 180-200 mags but one for hunting should be fine.
 
VinceMarksman said:
Would pillar bedding the factory stock and installing a steel recoil lug improve the accuracy of the rifle? Im not sure im handy enough to bed with a compound
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In my experience, yes. It is the number one modification to your Tikka for consistent accuracy. It is also a very simple job, I know it seems intimidating at first but a few videos on youtube and some careful preparation and it is really quite easy.
 
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