Suggestion for a Tikka T3 Lite

DocBurN

DocBurN

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
15   0   0
Location
Montreal, Canada
lite.jpg


Bonjour CGNers,

I finally set my mind on getting a Tikka T3 Lite in 30-06 and would appreciate your more-than-me expertise on the subject. (also planning on reloading in a few months)

1) Is there a world of difference between the "lite" and the next more expensive Tikka T3 version.. should i push to a wooden stock ( Tikka T3 Hunter +140$ ) or something else.. less recoil.. etc.. ?

2) Is there something wrong about the Tikka T3 Lite that i should know before buying.. for those who own or know them well... ?

3) The hunters i have seen at my range seem to not really go higher than a 3x9 40mm glass on that kind of calibers (30-06, .270, .308).. and i got one on my .22 so i taught an higher caliber should get higher than 9x .. what is your experience on that.. ?

4) What is a cheap scope and an expensive scope exactly.. if i shell about 300$ for a glass.. am i in the average price for that caliber ? i dont wanna pay less than 100$ and more than 500$ but could really use your input on that.

5) Are there any recommanded upgrade that i could concider getting ? In other words, is there a part or a mod that you would get/do in a heartbeat on a Tikka T3 Lite ?

Thank you for your help

Any input are appreciated

DocBurN
 
Got 3 T-3 lites. and really like them all. These are the only factory rifles I have ever bought that need no mods at all. Good to go right out of the box. All are very accurate , save your money and buy the best glass you can afford. Can't go wrong with a leupold.
 
I had one in 308 and really liked it. A great shooter. About the only peculiarities I'd mention are: small ejection port in receiver makes single feeding more of a challenge, factory scope base / rings are expensive (I used Leupold bases instead). Trigger is easy to adjust and light and crisp. Accuracy was good with all types of ammo. For my type of hunting, I'm ok with a 3-9x40 scope. I like to keep it light and simple. Some good lower priced scopes are Burris Fullfield II, Leupold VXI, Redfield, Bushnell Elite series.
 
Great choice, nothing to change on it. Get a set of Talley one piece LW's and a new Leupold VX2 3-9x40mm and go shooting....Tikka's are tack drivers
 
I have two T3's in the LS model. Didnt like the Lite stock after owning a few Sako m75ss rifles. Great shooters..love them.

As for glass I prefer Leupold but for the money a Bushnell Elite 3200 in a 3-9x40 is a good deal. I found one for a friend a few months ago at P&D Enterprises...it was Bushnell days and the scope was on for $199 and includes Bultler Creek flip up lense covers.

Burris FF2 is good. I like the Ballistic Plex reticle in it. Maybe a Redfield or Vortex scope.

If spend more than $300, Leupold VX2 or a VX3 if you spend more.

I prefer the Sako / Tikka Optilock rings and bases myself for the scope mounts.

In the Lite model, you may have "more felt" recoil. Everyone is different. Spend time at the range. If you start to develop a flinch, its too much caliber for you IMO.
 
Great choice you won't regret it. The action is like silk, bolt throw is short (60*), smooth strait feed magazine, very accurate and lightweight.

I would change the "hockey puck" recoil pad for a pre-fit Limbsaver.

I would use Warne rings which fit directly on the receiver, to avoid installing bases and raising the scope.

Spend as much as you can afford on good glass. A good choice would be a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40mm. I went even higher on my T3 and installed a Swarovski Z6 1.7-10x42mm TDS - never regretted it.
 
I own one Tikka. It is the Hunter. For years it was a go-to rifle of mine, and has taken a lot of deer. The plastic bolt shroud did eventually break. But I got Flick [a CGN'er] to sell me one of his aluminum ones. That's the only issue I ever had.

I'm not crazy about the feel of the Lite version's stock. It's a little too much like a Savage to me. A replacement from Bell and Carlson is available nowadays though.

So if I were to buy a T3 Lite, [and I'm considering it] then I would want the Stainless version, I'd try to get Flick to get me a replacement bolt shroud, and I'd buy a replacement stock. Then I'd have a rifle I was really happy with.

Oh yeah, I'd put a Limbsaver on it as well.
 
I had one in right hand .30-06. Sold it to my hunting buddy and got a left hand Sako in the same caliber.

The T3 is a great gun - lightweight, durable, easy handling, very accurate and I prefer a detachable magazine for hunting - so it has all the qualities I might want.

One minor caveat: Felt recoil in .30-06 chambering in this rifle is jarring. You will almost certainly want to put a Limbsaver (or similar) recoil pad on the rifle from the start.
 
Ive owned many T3's, excellent guns, great triggers. Recoil never bothered me but I mostly shot it in Nov. with plenty of clothing and adreneline to absorb the punch. Limbsaver is a nice addition though and not expensive. As far as optics, get a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 and don't look back.

Cheers!!
 
I own 4 T3's, 3 are my main hunting rifles. I like them because they have a very slick bolt and good trigger. One allen key and you can lower the trigger down to 2lbs with no creep, prefect for hunting I think. All the scope I have on mine were around $300 when I bought them. I like the Redfield better than the Elites now, and they were cheaper too. They do have a lot of plastic on them but keeps them a nice light affordable hunting rifle, and all mine have shot the guarenteed 1" at 100 yard group as well.
Listed from top to bottom: 300WSM Bushnell 3200 Elite 3-9x40mm
300winmag Bushnell 3200 Elite 3-9x40mm
.308win Redfield 3-9x50mm Revolution
.22-250 Redfield 4-12x40mm Revolution
IMG_0039-1.jpg
 
if in the budget go for the ss laminate. much nicer. i have two in laminate, 7mm & 300wsm and one in a b&c stock in 338wm. as for glass a vx2 3x9 or elite 3x9 fits the budget. get a set of talley one piece rings they work great on t3's. in 30 06 a limbsaver pad is not really needed.
 
I have the 300 winmag and so far love it. I did put a limbsaver on it right from new and that was mostly because I have a bad habit of flinching when target shooting. Not the guns fault but just something I have a problem with. I am sure you will love the gun.
 
While waiting for my pal I spent the last 2 months researching my first purchase. Online and at various stores touching and feeling the firearms. I am 99% decided on a tikka. Bolt compared to others is like butter. That's not to say other brands wouldn't wear in a bit and smooth out a little but the Tikkas are awesome from the factory. I can only assume this is because Tikka's are machined to closer tolerances or have a finer polish (or both). Online the reviews are excellent and its hard to find a bad one. Apparently they are tack drivers out of the box. Besides the above, Tikka is one of the more "South paw friendly" companys offering more of a range for us leftys. I am probably going to get the 204 varmint in stainless although many reviews claim the lite versions are just as accurate. Still, the varmints are light compared to other manufacturers HB versions. Good luck.
 
this thread is full of hope, thank you all for your advice and positive reviews. i'll most probably put a limbsaver anyway (any sponsor offer it?) but i have not tried a 30-06 yet.. some folks at my range had me try a 270wsm and it was not too bad recoil wise. But if it offer any sort of additional comfort, i'll do it. I was thinking about a Bushnell Elite.. i think it was a 3200 or something like that but i'll think about upgrading to Zeiss/Leupold if i can..

I saw a few aftermarket stock that can replace the synthetic stock but for 200$+ .. then i was thinking it would be cheaper to get "maybe" a T3 Hunter (+ 140$) with wooden stock. Get a little bit heavier but its not a real problem.. if it offer more stability and help recoil a little bit.

Also i don't see any point of forcing me to get a stainless steel over the blued version.. rust ? i am not too worried about that.. like my esee knives who are prone to rust, i never had any real problem with that.. beside rust, i think it must be only an esthetic / look factor.
 
I have a 6.5x55 tikka left handed and it is a great gun. Looking at 7mm reg mag one day just considered about the lite weight. If I did get one in 30 06 or 7mm reg I would a pound of weight to it and buy a nice 18oz scope. One thing I will say is there are shooters. Also sims recoil pad is a must.
 
I have the T3 Lite in 30-06 with a Burris Fullfield 2 balistic plex 2-7 and love it. Most of my hunting is less than 100 yards so the lower powered scope fits my situation better. Yes I put a limbsaver on and would recomend it.
 
Is there a world of difference between the "lite" and the next more expensive Tikka T3 version.. should i push to a wooden stock ( Tikka T3 Hunter +140$ ) or something else.. less recoil.. etc.. ?

I've read reviews where the recoil lug in the wooden stocked rifles has worked is way loose from the recoil as it compresses the wood slightly. The synthetic stocks do not seem to have that problem but I've come across more than a few that were not completely free floated in the synthetic version. Mine was like this and caused issues when the barrel got hot or the action screws were not torqued properly. Nothing a dremel can't fix.


Is there something wrong about the Tikka T3 Lite that i should know before buying.. for those who own or know them well... ?

Plastic bolt shroud, plastic trigger guard. Useless recoil pad, not for recoil sensitive shooters.


The hunters i have seen at my range seem to not really go higher than a 3x9 40mm glass on that kind of calibers (30-06, .270, .308).. and i got one on my .22 so i taught an higher caliber should get higher than 9x .. what is your experience on that.. ?

I think that would have more to do with what your shooting at. Big game hunting a 3x9 should be more than enough. Long range small targets, you'll appreciate some extra magnification.


What is a cheap scope and an expensive scope exactly.. if i shell about 300$ for a glass.. am i in the average price for that caliber ? i dont wanna pay less than 100$ and more than 500$ but could really use your input on that.

You get what you pay for. Spend the most you can afford and you'll probablly never regret it. Caliber of the rifle should have nothing to do with the value of the scope you choose. Be it a .22 or a .300 mag, good glass will make or break the whole setup.

Are there any recommanded upgrade that i could concider getting ? In other words, is there a part or a mod that you would get/do in a heartbeat on a Tikka T3 Lite ?

BELL AND CARLSON REPLACEMENT STOCK!! the synthetic stock is the weak point, its got to go. Better than most synthetics but still not great. I can't get past the hollow sound it makes when I lock that bolt down. I'm willing to take on more overall weight for a better stock. I've seen them on EE for $299. If you keep the factory stock get a Limbsaver recoil pad.
 
Sbarkowski said:
-snip-

BELL AND CARLSON REPLACEMENT STOCK!! the synthetic stock is the weak point, its got to go. Better than most synthetics but still not great. I can't get past the hollow sound it makes when I lock that bolt down. I'm willing to take on more overall weight for a better stock. I've seen them on EE for $299. If you keep the factory stock get a Limbsaver recoil pad.
Click to expand...


I looked at their catalog, as I already put the down payment on my T3 lite 30.06 left hand, and I dont see much for it in the catalog. Ive never owned a syn stock mind you; but I agree, a wood stock would look excellent i think. I wonder how hard it'd be to put a wood stock on the lite... Though I doubt Id change mine, anytime soon anyway. Gotta get the rifle, then a scope.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom