Tikka T3 - reason for popularity

I have a t3. Got it pretty cheap but for the same price these days you can get a model 70. The m70 looks and feels a lot better to me. The imam shoots ok buy my m$0's shoot better and more consistently. So if I was to do it over I would just buy a rifle worth the $1000 instead of a $500 rifle selling for a grand
 
I've had several T3's, still hunt with one.
Good rifles, accurate and reliable.
But the popularity seems to have brought the price up to the point where more options are within the price point.
I like it but at the current price I'm not sure if I'd buy another, maybe...maybe not.
 
Installed a GRS Vrmint stock this year. I liked the Tikka stock, but now there is a love affair with the combo!!!

I've been drooling over those GSR stocks . Now I'm mad - or maybe jealous
And ya , the tikka s are getting expensive . I have an old smith and Wesson ( howa ) that shoots just as good
 
I've been drooling over those GSR stocks . Now I'm mad - or maybe jealous
And ya , the tikka s are getting expensive . I have an old smith and Wesson ( howa ) that shoots just as good

I almost pulled the trigger on a Tikka Sporter Stock. The GRS is the same $$$

But the GRS is a lot better in terms of inletting, and fit. Honestly, If I had known how good these were, I would have invested sooner. Yes, they are that good, yes it is money well spent.

Maybe I do not get it. I have no aftermarket Tikka bling (bolt covers, tactical handles, atlas stuff etc) although I am sure the bling is cool, having a stock that gets you a proper cheek weld, and comfortable is amazing.

The neatest part? The wierd harmonic when shooting the Tikka stock is gone. The rifle feels much better.


Now if you want to get mad...lol, a member here sold me his for 600.00. (he sold the rifle it was in)
 
They're great rifles for what they are. I got mine t3 lite in 6.6x55 on sale for 600 bucks. Can't beat that. They've gone up in price. The rifle failed me a couple days ago after being in and out of the cold for 5 days. I was getting light primer strikes and it cost me a shot at a deer.

Took it home and stripped the bolt and cleaned, polished & oiled everything and it's good to go.
 
I almost pulled the trigger on a Tikka Sporter Stock. The GRS is the same $$$

But the GRS is a lot better in terms of inletting, and fit. Honestly, If I had known how good these were, I would have invested sooner. Yes, they are that good, yes it is money well spent.

Maybe I do not get it. I have no aftermarket Tikka bling (bolt covers, tactical handles, atlas stuff etc) although I am sure the bling is cool, having a stock that gets you a proper cheek weld, and comfortable is amazing.

The neatest part? The wierd harmonic when shooting the Tikka stock is gone. The rifle feels much better.


Now if you want to get mad...lol, a member here sold me his for 600.00. (he sold the rifle it was in)

You hurt my feeling and I only have the one . But thanks for the review , you got me believing
 
I almost pulled the trigger on a Tikka Sporter Stock. The GRS is the same $$$

But the GRS is a lot better in terms of inletting, and fit. Honestly, If I had known how good these were, I would have invested sooner. Yes, they are that good, yes it is money well spent.

Maybe I do not get it. I have no aftermarket Tikka bling (bolt covers, tactical handles, atlas stuff etc) although I am sure the bling is cool, having a stock that gets you a proper cheek weld, and comfortable is amazing.

The neatest part? The wierd harmonic when shooting the Tikka stock is gone. The rifle feels much better.


Now if you want to get mad...lol, a member here sold me his for 600.00. (he sold the rifle it was in)

Metal bolt shroud has been described as a safety upgrade, not just bling. Something to do with containing blow-by in a particular situation.

GGG
 
I have had:
T3 Lite .223
T3 action with a Shillen barrel bedded into a Manners stock
T3 Sporter in .308
T3 Tactical in.223
T3 Lite in.223
T3 CTR in .308

All have been fantastic and keep me going back to Tikkas. I regret selling my T3 Tac but it was a bit heavy for hunting. The Sporter was also a bit on the heavy side. The T3 Lites are excellent hunting rifles. Some day I'll grab a woodstock off the EE because I find the plastic stocks can be a bit noisy when they hit branches. The new T3x have foam in the stock to fix the noise issue. My CTR is an amazing all-round hunting / long range rifle. The mags feed very well and are double stack, making them compact. All of my Tikkas have been accurate, especially my CTR and T3 Tac. I think lots of people get lasers and lemons with other brands but I have found the quality with Tikka's to be extremely consistent.
 
Interesting. I will need to look into that. It is not something I have heard of before.

PM skypilot. He's the one that posted about it. A lot of people b!tch about plastic this, and Tupperware that, but he has an actual mechanical reason. Something to do with if a case fails, the boltface and lugs don't seal like a 700 style action, and then you can have 60000psi release past your head.
 
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PM skypilot. He's the one that posted about it. A lot of people b!tch about plastic this, and Tupperware that, but he has an actual mechanical reason. Something to do with if a case fails, the boltface and lugs don't seal like a 700 style action, and then you can have 60000psi release past your head.

Great summary of the important points.
I tried to buy one Friday however they didn't have the caliber in LH that I wanted to start a build from. Anyway it didn't fit me well or at least the HB .243 didn't. They were the old models and still had the plastic /polymer bolt shroud which can be changed to metal and I'd recommend doing that.

Picked up a great Savage .260 from a Gun Nut instead and will build from there or if it does as well as I expect, I may just restock/chassis it.
 
My first time out when I closed the bolt it was so smooth I thought it didn't pick up a round from the mag I opened the bolt to check, first 3 rounds were touching first day with a new rifle doesn't get better than that.
 
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