Tikka T3 Lite

madluk18

CGN Regular
Rating - 95%
19   1   0
Location
Peace River AB
Looking for peoples experiences with these fine rifles in the cold, specifically the plastic shroud and magazines.

I'm looking to buy one for the upcoming hunting season in the NWT and will be using it in temperatures like minus 30. I am nervous the of the plastic breaking or cracking and would love to here of peoples good and bad experiences, anything you can share would be great.

I'm set on this gun for the time being because of the price and the reputation it has. I would love to buy a sako but my budget for the time being says otherwise, had an incident with my brothers dog and well the Vet isn't cheap.


Any input would be Appreciated.


Lukas M
 
I've had a T-3 Lite for going on 11 seasons, and while I don't hunt all the time in minus 30, I have hunted with it in cold temps like that and I've had no problems. I have never heard of anyone breaking a T-3 mag, they are actually pretty tough. My bolt shroud cracked somehow the first year that I had the rifle, but I got a free replacement, and it's been fine ever since. Metal replacements can be found.
 
Go check your local snowmobile dealer, lots of plastic on new sleds, its come a long way. No problem with the 4 Tikka's I used in Northern Ontario. Great accurate rifle, Good Luck.
 
My late Brother used a couple T3 Lite Tikkas for several years in the Yukon with no issues.
He had no complaints at all concerning their cold weather usage...
 
My friend had his out almost every weekend this winter in northern Ontario without issue for wolves/coyotes - no issues
I used one in northwestern Alberta for a couple weeks over the course of three seasons during late season deer hunts - no issues
For a hunting rifle I find you get what you pay for and then some with the t3, when compared to similarly priced rifles.
 
Tikkas have been around long enough now that these posts about about the plastic and how they function are getting really old. They are Cleary a good choice for any climate in Canada or there wouldn't be so many good reviews.
 
No issues with my two Tikka T3 LS models I had. Hunted hard with on of them during a late season cow elk hunt....-30 to -35 for about a 2 week stretch. Took a large cow elk on the last morning at -33.

The rifle performed flawless the entire hunt.

FYI, Wholesale Sports has a sale on Tikka / Sako rifles right now. I tried to pick up a Sako A7ss for my nephew at a rifle ship I love to shop at on the weekend (P & D). They didn't have one in stock in the caliber I needed or know if they had one coming in/ same with the ammo- out of stock -waiting for their shipment. I went to WSS for the ammo (they were out of stock as well), just happened to ask about the rifle and caliber as their website said the didn't have the caliber I needed, the gun staff went back and looked and had both of the 2 calibers I was looking for in the package deal with Burris scope.

I'm a Sako m75 rifle guy and loved my Tikka's. Very impressed with the Sako A7, and so is my nephew.:cool: The Sako A7 might be another rifle to consider.
 
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Can't speak for the magazine or firing mechanism but I definitely think the safety catch on my T3 is a weak link. No way u could click it off with thick gloves or cold hands.
 
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