Tikka

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Odinson

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Looking for real life experience with various Tikka rifles. I'm considering placing an order for a Tikka T3 lite. some folks tell me that it is not ideal for target shooting because after a few rounds, the barrel warms up and accuracy goes down the drain. Is there any truth to this or is it B.S.? The Tikka Hunter is nice but I think too heavy for an old guy to lug through the bush.
Real life opinions from experience greatly appreciated.
 
If you want a tikka get a ctr or varmint, the ctr has a 20 inch barrel while the varmint 24 inch. Also the barrel is medium contour, not too heavy nor too thin. The ctr is crazy accurate, I get 3/4 inch groups with my ctr 308 and its not too heavy too carry in the bush.
 
I have the T3 laminate/stainless in 300 WSM
weight is just under 8 lbs with a Swaro 3 x 9 x 32
I don't target shoot so can't help with barrel heating up , I really doubt it . Are not Sako and Tikka barrels the same ?
My barrel is cut to 22.5 in and then put a pachmayr on it. The recoil pads that come on the T3 were hard

I love the gun , shoots 3/4 in all day
 
It's been my experience that multiple centerfire rounds through a sporter barrel in a short amount of time DOES impact the accuracy. It's also no fun carrying a varmint gun with a heavy barrel all day, but those heavier barrels take longer to heat up and longer to cool down=better suited to target shooting.

For a hunting gun that is likely to be 1-2 shots max and carried allot, the best option might be to get the sporter barrel and let it cool between shots while load testing/developing. I doubt there is any accuracy difference between the two, but the lighter barrels don't always like to place nice when they get hot.

Tikkas are excellent rifles, and I can say that from first-hand experience. I think the CTR (mentioned previously) might be an excellent combination of barrel weight, O/A weight, size, accuracy, etc. That 10rd. box mag not so fun to get jabbed by if sling carrying with it installed. I have no reason to believe their lighter hunting guns are anything but excellent. Every Tikka I've owned/used has exceeded expectations.
 
Alexei said:
If you want a tikka get a ctr or varmint, the ctr has a 20 inch barrel while the varmint 24 inch. Also the barrel is medium contour, not too heavy nor too thin. The ctr is crazy accurate, I get 3/4 inch groups with my ctr 308 and its not too heavy too carry in the bush.
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These are fairly heavy guns to lug through the bush - something that OP does not want to do. Accurate, hell yes.
 
Odinson said:
Looking for real life experience with various Tikka rifles. I'm considering placing an order for a Tikka T3 lite. some folks tell me that it is not ideal for target shooting because after a few rounds, the barrel warms up and accuracy goes down the drain. Is there any truth to this or is it B.S.? The Tikka Hunter is nice but I think too heavy for an old guy to lug through the bush.
Real life opinions from experience greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

You will have to compromise one way or another - weight vs accuracy. Tikkas are generally accurate, Lite versions included. Hunter models have Lite-profile barrels. If Hunter is too heavy to carry hunting, then CTR or Varmint barrel profile are not for you as they are heavier.
 
Thank you to all for the informative replies. Looks like I have some thinking to do. It looks like maybe the "hunter " might be the way to go. I do more target shooting than hunting.
Thanks to all.
 
I’ve had 3 Tikkas both in hunter and sport-shooting configurations. They’re very accurate, very light, but cheaply-built with cheap components (unless you buy a premium model).

At that price point, they’re hard to beat, but still not the rifle Id buy next if I was shopping for one.
 
I’ve had two Tikkas, both T3s

One in 300WSM a Lite version and the other a SSLam in .204R. Both were stupidly accurate and a joy to handle and take afield. I’d buy another Tikka in a heartbeat if I was looking for a third/fourth rig.
 
I picked up a Tikka T3x Roughteck chambered in 6.5 PRC and it is AWESOME !!!!!! It has a medium heavy fluted barrel, muzzle brake and I put the soft touch verticle handgrip on it. Weight is right around 7.5 lbs with a Leupold VX3HD 3.5-10×40 ZL-1 on it. In the summer months, every rifle barrel will heat up, it's un avoidable. Be smart, shoot sparingly, let the gun cool off in the shade and you will be fine.
 
Odinson said:
Thank you to all for the informative replies. Looks like I have some thinking to do. It looks like maybe the "hunter " might be the way to go. I do more target shooting than hunting.
Thanks to all.
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STILL to Lite for a good Target rifle ! The ROUGHTECH is what you really need for both target and hunting . I have this one and it wears a Leupold 4.5-14x40 CDS - 30 mm Side Focus scope in Talleys . 8lbs total . JMO RJ

https://choose.tikka.fi/usa/code/TF1T9641A5709D0MB
 
I have a 22-250,243win, 257wby, 6.5-284, 270 win, 6.5 PRC, 270wsm, 6.5x55 and 300wm. All of them are left handed Tikkas. All shoot in the .2-.5 range with hand loads.
If I were to buy one for mainly mid range target shooting 200-1000yds it would be a CTR in 6.5 PRC. Light enough to pack and heavy enough for the bench.
 
Canuck65 said:
I’ve had 3 Tikkas both in hunter and sport-shooting configurations. They’re very accurate, very light, but cheaply-built with cheap components (unless you buy a premium model).

At that price point, they’re hard to beat, but still not the rifle Id buy next if I was shopping for one.
Click to expand...

What rifle can beat the smooth action and out of the box MOA guarantee at that same price point?
 
I've been on the fence on ordering a Tikka T3X lite in .223; the price is very attractive at sub $1000

Realistically, how many shots are we talking before the barrel gets too hot for accuracyto be affected?

And how long are we talking for barrel cool down?

I will be mostly benchrest target shooting......
 
Smokinyotes said:
I have a 22-250,243win, 257wby, 6.5-284, 270 win, 6.5 PRC, 270wsm, 6.5x55 and 300wm. All of them are left handed Tikkas. All shoot in the .2-.5 range with hand loads.
If I were to buy one for mainly mid range target shooting 200-1000yds it would be a CTR in 6.5 PRC. Light enough to pack and heavy enough for the bench.
Click to expand...

Well, I see that you have the one that I want ..... Left hand 6.5X55.
 
Had two Tikka lite they are hunting guns they are not designed for target shooting because of the lite barrels however they are very accurate the first three shots out of a cold barrel - if you want a target rifle your looking at something with a heavy barrel.
 
Ipscshooters said:
I've been on the fence on ordering a Tikka T3X lite in .223; the price is very attractive at sub $1000

Realistically, how many shots are we talking before the barrel gets too hot for accuracyto be affected?

And how long are we talking for barrel cool down?

I will be mostly benchrest target shooting......
Click to expand...

I have T3X Lite in 223 REM I shoot 5 shoot groups then let it Kool before reshooting BUT it doesn’t get as HOT as my other Tikka Lite 6.5 Suoer Swede or my 338 Fed do after 5 shots ! RJ
 
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