Tikka T3x reviews anyone?

avocado said:
the fact that the steel in the barrel is lighter per volume than any other rifle under 1500$. Ill take the weight savings because the extra 1-200fps doesnt matter in hunting ranges.
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Is that some internet wisdom you are repeating or have you actually measured the density of the steel in a tikka barrel? How much lighter is it?
 
Thunderhog said:
Anyone that knows me personally can say I'm not a Tikka fan.....:(

I don't like the long action receiver in a short action cartridge. The plastic Tupperware stocks are cheap for the $1200.00-$1300.00 price tag.

In saying that, I've been working on and cleaning some Tikka rifles. The actions are smooth when clean and not rusty, they come apart relatively easy, although I had to build a special tool to remove the firing pin spring.

For the $1250.00 average cost, I would expect a metal bolt shroud, not the plastic one Tikka provides.

With a laminate stock, or a nice walnut one, I bet these guns would be a sweet hunting rifle. So I am warming up considerably to the Tikka design. And they do shoot very, very well.

I would like to see a $1000.00 price tag, or just under that for a synthetic/blued model. $1000.00 for a stainless/synthetic model would be fair.

I would also like to see an actual short action receiver in the short action calibers like 308 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08, 260 Remington, 223 Remington, or any other actual short action round.

I do like the bolt lift, it felt like 60-70 degrees, it was very smooth, and again nice and accurate.

So there you go, I can actually say I do like Tikka rifles, go figure, right!......:);)
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Any tikka made since 2016 (t3x vs t3 ) has a metal bolt shroud.
 
Thunderhog said:
With a laminate stock, or a nice walnut one, I bet these guns would be a sweet hunting rifle. So I am warming up considerably to the Tikka design. And they do shoot very, very well.
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They do make a couple of models with nice wood stocks, and one with a big solid laminate stock better suited for benchresting.
 
Wow Thunder thats way more fair of a review than I was expecting haha
 
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Thunderhog said:
Anyone that knows me personally can say I'm not a Tikka fan.....:(

I don't like the long action receiver in a short action cartridge. The plastic Tupperware stocks are cheap for the $1200.00-$1300.00 price tag.

In saying that, I've been working on and cleaning some Tikka rifles. The actions are smooth when clean and not rusty, they come apart relatively easy, although I had to build a special tool to remove the firing pin spring.

For the $1250.00 average cost, I would expect a metal bolt shroud, not the plastic one Tikka provides.

With a laminate stock, or a nice walnut one, I bet these guns would be a sweet hunting rifle. So I am warming up considerably to the Tikka design. And they do shoot very, very well.

I would like to see a $1000.00 price tag, or just under that for a synthetic/blued model. $1000.00 for a stainless/synthetic model would be fair.

I would also like to see an actual short action receiver in the short action calibers like 308 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08, 260 Remington, 223 Remington, or any other actual short action round.

I do like the bolt lift, it felt like 60-70 degrees, it was very smooth, and again nice and accurate.

So there you go, I can actually say I do like Tikka rifles, go figure, right!......:);)
Click to expand...
I had a T3x Lite in 7mm Rem Mag that was just a touch "kickier" than I liked so I ended up selling it. I eventually ended up with another T3x, a Laminate Stainless, also in 7mm Rem Mag. I really like the laminate stock, it has a bit more heft and is very rigid. Seems to deal with the recoil a bit better. I agree the factory stock is a weak spot, but they still shoot regardless.

I bought the bottom metal from PR Precision which addresses my biggest pet peeve with many new rifles having plastic bottom metal/trigger guards. It's got that solid feel all around now. Last thing to complain about is mags :LOL: mostly for the price, not so much for the function.

nsJeznt.jpg
 
old303 said:
They do make a couple of models with nice wood stocks, and one with a big solid laminate stock better suited for benchresting.
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Yes indeed. I use to sell Tikkas in my gun shop.
I specifically brought in the nice walnut and beautiful laminate stainless models. But their price tags were $1500.00. Most people want to spend less money and end up with the Tupperware stock.
I totally understand the reasons, I just wish Tikkas prices were a little more reasonable on the laminate and wood stock models…:)
 
Joel said:
Wow Thunder thats way more fair of a review than I was expecting haha
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I know, right Joel!….:)

I gota say, I really liked the way the bolt came apart. The action is like butter.
I always knew this but I guess I never really gave the ole’ Tikka a fair chance.
Their asking prices always turned me off. As I thought they were too expensive for what you got.

If Tikka ever made an actual short length receiver, I would buy one.

I’m certain Sako makes a short action receiver, but after much research, they are way overpriced for a gun that may or may not shoot. From my experience, Tikka’s have a better reputation for accuracy than the Sako brand.

Your thoughts?…..:)
 
mikeyb said:
I had a T3x Lite in 7mm Rem Mag that was just a touch "kickier" than I liked so I ended up selling it. I eventually ended up with another T3x, a Laminate Stainless, also in 7mm Rem Mag. I really like the laminate stock, it has a bit more heft and is very rigid. Seems to deal with the recoil a bit better. I agree the factory stock is a weak spot, but they still shoot regardless.

I bought the bottom metal from PR Precision which addresses my biggest pet peeve with many new rifles having plastic bottom metal/trigger guards. It's got that solid feel all around now. Last thing to complain about is mags :LOL: mostly for the price, not so much for the function.

nsJeznt.jpg
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Beautiful rifle Mikey,

I love the stainless/ laminate look and feel.

I too would have opted for a metal trigger guard, I don't care for the plastic ones.

I'm not a fan of the factory plastic Tikka magazines, even though they seem to work fine. The $100.00 replacement cost is ridiculous. Especially when a Winchester XPR mag is almost identical and is $45.00 to buy.

Is there no metal aftermarket Tikka magazines available at all?

Someone must make them.
 
Thunderhog said:
Is there no metal aftermarket Tikka magazines available at all?

Someone must make them.
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For T1x/T3(x) yes, Canadian made. I have their T1x version. Very nice
http s://ndrshootingsupplies.ca/shop-all/

For CTR/TAC-A1/Arctic/Ace the Tikka OEM are 10 round metal - $220 ouch
 
I picked up my first Tikka just before Christmas. It's a stainless & fluted 30-06 Special Edition T3x SuperLite in TrueTimber VSX & I used medium height Leupold Backcountry rings to mount a Bushnell Elite 4500 2.5-10x40 with a 30mm tube. Very happy with the set up, it shoots 3 shot groups of Norma Whitetail ammunition under 1 inch at 100m.

I was so impressed with the 30-06 Tikka that I ran out & picked up a plain blued with black synthetic stock 300wsm T3x Lite & set it up with the same rings & scope. I've yet to shoot it, but I expect it will be the same as the SuperLite.

So, another happy first time Tikka owner here!

30-06
TikkaT3xSuperLite.jpg

300wsm
IMG_2497.JPG
 
I'm used to Savage accuracy, a few friends have Tikkas and do well with them hunting. My son has a T3 in 270 lh. Absolute tack driver. I wanted a light .308 for my ebike. Bought a T3x from the LGS. Smooth action, great trigger, shoots a pattern-not a group. Ran the bore scope down it and TBH it looks like an old Enfield-pitted and dark. LGS has sent it to Stoeger for a warranty claim. I'm not #####ing about Tikka as I know they are excellent rifles, i just drew short straw, it happens with mass production. I will post an update .
 
Slimbo said:
Is that some internet wisdom you are repeating or have you actually measured the density of the steel in a tikka barrel? How much lighter is it?
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Well a guy spec'd out the same contour/caliber/length and compared weights in an article. Tikka came out lightest in the same contour/length/cal. Was a guy from New Zealand, likely why they typically use tikka and sako for theit ultralight mtn rigs there.

Its also in their advertising/propaganda.
 
Okay, I got out to sight in my Tikka T3x Lite in 300 wsm. Of the 2 types of ammunition I had, Remington CoreLokt Tipped performed the best.

The main difference between the 30-06 SuperLite and the 300 wsm Lite was recoil. The 300 wsm has more recoil, but it was also the way it felt recoiling, the pulse was sharper...

Even with the 4.4" of eye relief the Bushnell 4500 2.5-10x40 has, it took me several shots to relax behind the 300 because I didn't want to get scoped...

Overall, both Tikka rifles I have are great but the 30-06 would be my recommendation & the one I will likely shoot more. That being said, IMHO the 300 wsm is the s3xiest short magnum & I just had to have one!

Cheers
Jay
 
I have had 2 T3s and shot another. The 308 I shot of a friend's shot under 1 MOA when I shot it. I was asked to take it to see if I could figure out what was wrong with it. Went back and said it ain't the gun. Because they are light, he was not used to the recoil.

I had a LH T3 in 223 with a 1/8 twist. That thing shot bulk back to 1 MOA and Hornday Vmax to about 2/3 MOA. I sold it when Turdeau banned ARs and I built a Renegade. Dumb decision as I miss that gun.

I own right now a T3X LH stainless in 308 as an all purpose gun. Got a Leupold Mark 3HD 3-9 with Firedot on it. Shot sub MOA, and then I decided the Tikka mags were too expensive and started f**king with it. Got a CTR stock for it and bottom metal for AICS mags. It started vertically stringing. Ended up the stock was not fully tested, and the mags were also pushing hard on the bottom of the action. After I got it to seat properly in the stock with a torque wrench, and got the little bar that hold the mags in shaved down, it went back to MOA. Also put a Limbsaver pre-fit pad on it which works beautifully.
 
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