T3X Lite Vs. Superlite

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RecentPhase

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Hey all, I am looking for reasons for or against getting a T3X Superlite over the T3X Lite.

I am looking to buy my first hunting rifle for next season and decided i was going to get a Tikka. I was set on a T3X Lite in .30-06 until i saw a Superlite on sale for nearly the same price as the regularly priced Lite. It looks like the weight of these rifles is almost identical despite the fluted barrel on the Superlite. The fluting is a major draw for me to the Superlite just for the aesthetics.

Should i be worried about the .30-06 kick out of a lightweight rifle?
Will the fluting make the barrel weaker and possibly more prone to damage?

Thanks in advance for any replies!
 
I shoot a Tikka T3X SuperLite in 30-06 Mine is a Special run rifle that also came with a Fluted Bolt . the barrel and bolt fluteing are purely Aesthetics. There is very little weight savings Maybe a few Oz s . The recoil is not harsh but it’s lets you know it’s gone off especially with 180 -200 grers . I prefer 150-168 grers . Great shooting rifle and one if my favourites . 111.55 oz so just a hair under 7 lbs .
Fluteing a barrel or bolt will NOT weaken it . RJ

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I've shot both and own the t3xin .308 stainless,synthetic lefty ,I noticed no difference in recoil from these 2rifles at all using 165 grain ammo,but it's not a 30-06 either.It would be great if you could try them both and decide but that's hard sometimes.

My vote goes for the t3x lite,I find they are already plenty light in weight and unless you are adding a crazy heavy scope it will still be easy to carry.
 
If you do alot of walking or climbing hills, you will benefit from the superlite. However, the negative is energy recoil, at the range or in the field; flinching causes poor marksmenship. Lighter guns are "generally" less accurate and barrels heat-up quickly. Fluting makes the barrel less ridgid.
 
How does removing material from the outside of the barrel affect the bore? Please educate me. If fluted barrels aren't as accurate as non fluted barrels I need to know.
 
elKrusto said:
How does removing material from the outside of the barrel affect the bore? Please educate me. If fluted barrels aren't as accurate as non fluted barrels I need to know.
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Have a feeling that comparing fluted and non fluted Tikka barrels, the difference will be negligable. No reason to avoid one at least. As for the mechanism, assuming its heat from the machining process swelling that secion of bore? Dont know exactly either though.

porpoise said:
If the only significant difference in weight is to make your muzzle twitchier for offhand I wouldn't do it
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That twitchiness seems to decrease just about equally with recoil though...
 
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elKrusto said:
How does removing material from the outside of the barrel affect the bore? Please educate me. If fluted barrels aren't as accurate as non fluted barrels I need to know.
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I as well don't believe that fluting affects the rifling, accuracy, yes. Non-fluted barrels are more ridgid, therefore leads to better accuracy. Case-in-point: I can't remember viewing a bench rest or F-Class rifle with a fluted barrel. There maybe some out there but rare.
 
track said:
I as well don't believe that fluting affects the rifling, accuracy, yes. Non-fluted barrels are more ridgid, therefore leads to better accuracy. Case-in-point: I can't remember viewing a bench rest or F-Class rifle with a fluted barrel. There maybe some out there but rare.
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Given every other factor that makes a hunting rifle acccurate (or not)....must be at or near dead last on the list. Simply too many sub MOA shooting fluted guns to think otherwise.
 
elKrusto said:
How does removing material from the outside of the barrel affect the bore? Please educate me. If fluted barrels aren't as accurate as non fluted barrels I need to know.
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At times when fluting is done after a barrel is reamed/chambered and to much pressure is used or to much material is removed it can cause pressure fields/humping on the inside of the barrel affecting accuracy, this was an issue at times when guys were having factory lightweight barrels fluted, this is why most gunsmiths won’t flute existing lightweight barrels and why custom barrel makers will only flute certain size contours.

pretty rare by todays standards in factory or aftermarket barrels as most quality barrel makers twice stress relieve their steel, I’ve used dozens of Benchmark, Bartlein, IBI fluted and spiral fluted barrels and it’s never been an issue, Tikka/Sako’s quality control on hammer forged barrel is second to none, I’m pretty sure their fluting process is of the utmost quality.
 
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RecentPhase said:
Hey all, I am looking for reasons for or against getting a T3X Superlite over the T3X Lite.

I am looking to buy my first hunting rifle for next season and decided i was going to get a Tikka. I was set on a T3X Lite in .30-06 until i saw a Superlite on sale for nearly the same price as the regularly priced Lite. It looks like the weight of these rifles is almost identical despite the fluted barrel on the Superlite. The fluting is a major draw for me to the Superlite just for the aesthetics.

Should i be worried about the .30-06 kick out of a lightweight rifle?
Will the fluting make the barrel weaker and possibly more prone to damage?

Thanks in advance for any replies!
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Go with the one the "feels" best on your shoulder, and that you can hold POA with better (sometimes a slightly heavier rifle is better for this).

Hunting is 99% carrying, and 1% shooting, so who cares about the recoil. To answer your second question, fluting (done properly) doesn't just make the barrel lighter - it makes it more rigid. Sako makes very good barrels.

edit to clarify - a fluted barrel is stiffer than a non-fluted barrel of approx. the same weight. That doesn't mean though that it's inherently less accurate or less durable. ... it'll heat up quicker, but again, for hunting, what does that matter.
 
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Canuck65 said:
Go with the one the "feels" best on your shoulder. Hunting is 99% carrying, and 1% shooting. Who cares about the recoil. To answer your second question, fluting doesn't just make the barrel lighter - it makes it more rigid.
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That they do.

And the SL balances and carries well. At least the 24.4" 6.5 CM does. The shorter barreled 30-06 must be light for sure.
 
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Joel said:
Well, kind of both, doesn't it?

Its less rigid than a barrel the major diameter of the flutes...and more rigid than one of the minor diameter.

Could say it makes it equally lighter, AND more rigid, depending on which way you're comparing.

As for the "who cares about recoil"...good shots? Might as well have a rifle you enjoy practice with?
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I agree Joel - you should want to practice with it, but it's just a 30-06 ... maybe my idea of heavy recoil differs from the majority. One could practice with 110 or 150grainers for lighter recoil if that's an issue, then hunt with 180s.
 
RecentPhase said:
Hey all, I am looking for reasons for or against getting a T3X Superlite over the T3X Lite.

I am looking to buy my first hunting rifle for next season and decided i was going to get a Tikka. I was set on a T3X Lite in .30-06 until i saw a Superlite on sale for nearly the same price as the regularly priced Lite. It looks like the weight of these rifles is almost identical despite the fluted barrel on the Superlite. The fluting is a major draw for me to the Superlite just for the aesthetics.

Should i be worried about the .30-06 kick out of a lightweight rifle?
Will the fluting make the barrel weaker and possibly more prone to damage?

Thanks in advance for any replies!
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Get whichever one you prefer the looks of as if they are similar weight recoil will be similar, I love the looks of a fluted barrel/bolt body but of course its mainly cosmetic.

If you pick up a 30-06 I suggest trying the Barnes Factory 150gr TTSX or the Barnes 168gr TTSX seems to shoot well in their barrels.
 
Canuck65 said:
I agree Joel - you should want to practice with it, but it's just a 30-06 ... maybe my idea of heavy recoil differs from the majority. One could practice with 110 or 150grainers for lighter recoil if that's an issue, then hunt with 180s.
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Man, once they get light and whippy, its a hard pass here....I'm jealous.

A fairly moderate bore rifle with some weight behind it like a 375 Ruger or H&H, no prob. Have liked and hunted with. 6 lb 30-06? Yeah, no thanks haha. Maybe its from doing most of my early hunting/shooting (quite a bit) with a Win 70 30-06 that probably weighed 9 lbs scoped but I think its recoil velocity that gets me, not overall energy.

You're sterner stuff than I am...That one would give me bad habits, especially with a light scope like a Leupold on it.
 
The Lite barrel is so thin already you can barely get a dozen rounds through without mirage being a thing and so hot you can barely touch it. Do not get this if you always want to shoot a lot of targets.

Any rifle under 7lbs equipped is normal to carry.
 
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