Lite or Super Lite?

Buying a Tikka T3X in 7mm Rem Mag however after yesterday's rainy day visits to Hunting & Fishing and Gun City I'm unsure which version. Lite or Super Lite?

The standard Lite at $1499 is tempting but was suggested the Super Lite. It's $1599 at H&F and only difference is it's factory fluted so 200g lighter.
GC suggested their Elite at $1699 which is factory fluted and threaded plus large bolt handle & soft vertical pistol grip.
GC also had the SFT at $1599 which wasn't fluted but was threaded with Tikka muzzle brake, large bolt handle and the soft removable fore end and soft pistol grip.
So many choices! Main question is for 7mm Rem Mag is removing front weight via fluting a good idea? I'll add a suppressor so was told it'd help balance. Thinking Gunworks suppressor since they're nearby. Thoughts?
I liked the wider removable fore end so will add that if the version doesn't come with it.
Wasn't sure about the vertical pistol grip or not as standard and it both felt ok. Easy to add later.
And a dumb question I forgot to ask in store, will any of these come with rings or are they always extra?

Either way is a good option. I personally would take the factory fluting if it was on offer, especially if you are adding a suppressor (it will just help the rifle balance out nicely). The Elite at $1,699 is a good option as it will include the threading which you would have to pay to have done when getting a suppressor added anyway. In that case you're essentially getting the grip and bolt handle for free. If you didnt like the vertical grip on the elite, just ask them to swap it out to a soft touch standard grip as it is the same cost to the store.
Tikka rings are always standard and many people feel they are good enough. For me, on a magnum you will need better rings. The Talley rings are a one piece alloy that work brilliantly on the Tikkas and are as tough as nails (they are also reasonably priced)

The factory fluted Tikkas use Sako Finnlight barrels, an easy choice but they all shoot well.

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Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

The factory fluted Tikkas use Sako Finnlight barrels, an easy choice but they all shoot well.

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Sako Finnlight is better?

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Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

The factory fluted Tikkas use Sako Finnlight barrels, an easy choice but they all shoot well.

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I didnt know that .
Wouldnt all the barrels for Sako / Tikka be made in the same factory ?
Do you think the Finnlight barrels maybe better quality ?

Is the gun city version actually factory fluted? They were fluting them privately at one point

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Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

The factory fluted Tikkas use Sako Finnlight barrels, an easy choice but they all shoot well.

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Are they not shaped to the same contour? Not sure if they are exact same quality as the Sako?

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Originally Posted by MSL

Is the gun city version actually factory fluted? They were fluting them privately at one point

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Yes Factory fluted. If what I read is to be believed.

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Originally Posted by Ground Control

I didnt know that .
Wouldnt all the barrels for Sako / Tikka be made in the same factory ? YES
Do you think the Finnlight barrels maybe better quality ? NO

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I was told by (supposedly) someone who's been to the Sako / Tikka factory and there is one quality, one barrel making section. Different engraving (stamping) of the name on the side of the barrel. Finnlights have shorter barrels than Tikka superlites in standard calibers too.

Good to see you adding the suppressor, as the super lights in a belted or short magnum will have a decent recoil with the hard factory recoil pad. They will come with the factory alloy rings, but it’s worth upgrading to the Sako Optilocks rings.

GC says for the T3X Elite "Factory threading - $100 in value with stainless thread cap. Factory fluted - same contour as the Sako Finnlight $200 in value". It does not specifically say it is the same.

Seems like a real toss up between
1) $1599 factory fluted super lite from Hunting & Fishing or $1569 Reloaders, add wider fore end then get Gunworks to thread and fit one of their suppressors
or
2) $1699 fluted and threaded from Gun City, add wider fore end then buy whatever suppressor to suit
Overall cost about the same once consider factory vs gunsmith threading.


I've only shot one in a range and it had a muzzle brake. It wasn't fluted so that would have helped but I found recoil and jump to be fine. How much different will recoil be with suppressor vs brake?

Factory threading keeps full warranty .Berreta nz can be difficult for warranty claims if its been threaded elsewhere.

A good brake is better for recoil and weight but the NOISE !!!
Suppresors are generally nicer all around .Noise is reduced and recoil is managed

I value my hearing, so prefer suppressors. The only brake I have is for a 6.5 Grendel and that’s really a mount for a suppressor.
A brake will be far more effective at recoil reduction, but with the obvious noise and blast downside.
It depends on your hunting style (bush or open tops) and own preference. Most of my hunting is close bush, so there is little time to put on ear protection before shooting.

I'd probably keep the standard contour and definitely suppress it.
Recoil is going to be considerable so the extra weight would tame that a bit.
I'd also look at other stores as GC isn't known for best pricing.
I would replace the factory rings, mine worked fine for years before going south on me, so I use Talley lightweights now and they are great.

Will be Canterbury high country as live in Christchurch (Prebbleton) and have bach at Lake Clearwater in Ashburton Lakes area.

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Originally Posted by Beetroot

I'd probably keep the standard contour and definitely suppress it.
Recoil is going to be considerable so the extra weight would tame that a bit.
I'd also look at other stores as GC isn't known for best pricing.
I would replace the factory rings, mine worked fine for years before going south on me, so I use Talley lightweights now and they are great.

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Thanks. Getting out calculator the 0.2kg taken off from fluting is only about 6% of total rifle and suppressor so I'm not sure I'd notice difference in recoil. Muzzle jump change maybe due to where that weight is located. Benefit is going standard it saves me at least $100 and I'm not sure bigger bolt handle that much advantage as not varmitting and using it frequently.
Re pricing it was misserbale raqiny day yesterday so did a lot of googling and seems like Reloaders are the only ones with price less than others. Even then only $31 diference. Call me a skeptic but is there Apple'esk pricing policies on Tikka where sellers are 'encouraged' to be very similar?

I work in the trade .Everyone checks out h&f and GC first to see what their prices are and will match those or make it a little bit less.
Theres no price fixing . Its just a buy for this add a % and round it to the nearest nice round number normally . Why you see $1499 instead of $1523

Some of you would be surprised how small the profit is on many rifles.

I’d go the fluted one for the extra $100, buying a tikka ya must be after a lite rifle so might as well make it lighter..

My 2c on a suppressor, I wouldn’t. You’d need to cut 5-6” off the barrel to fit the big magnum suppressor to make it friendly enough to carry in the Bush.. then the performance you’d get from factory ammo wouldn’t be far from a 7mm-08 which you’d be better off with...?

I’ve got the fluted tikka 7mm mag and got it lite as I can, no suppressor or noisy brake, it used to beat me up quite a bit when first using it at the range, but many rounds later Have learnt to manage the recoil and it’s a breeze to shoot, And when shooting animals I don’t notice no recoil or noise... minds elsewhere I guess, nice to carry around the hills as a walking stick too being lite..

That’s my opinion anyway

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Originally Posted by Dev

My 2c on a suppressor, I wouldn’t. You’d need to cut 5-6” off the barrel to fit the big magnum suppressor to make it friendly enough to carry in the Bush.. then the performance you’d get from factory ammo wouldn’t be far from a 7mm-08 which you’d be better off with...?

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It won't be used in bush so length no issues. I'm thinking supressor as animals are rare enough in the open tussock areas around our bach so I don't want unnecessarily spook any that are there

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Originally Posted by Clint Ruin

I work in the trade .Everyone checks out h&f and GC first to see what their prices are and will match those or make it a little bit less.
Theres no price fixing . Its just a buy for this add a % and round it to the nearest nice round number normally . Why you see $1499 instead of $1523

Some of you would be surprised how small the profit is on many rifles.

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I wondered if it was situation like that. That's why I'm tending towards few $ more nd buy from local H&F, GC or Gunworks over buying from remote Reloaders.

Suppressor or no suppressor they’ll hear it...

Also a limb saver made a big difference too

Gunwerks do an instore package deal of Tikka and suppressor for a good price and a $100 voucher to spend instore which basically covers the price of a set of Talley rings .If you want fluting they will do it for about $300 I think .
If you do the numbers it comes out reasonably good and it keeps the whole deal under one roof .
Im not sure if they offer that on Magnum calibers, but it would be worth a phone call and they are local to you .
Im looking at doing that myself , but in 6.5x55

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Originally Posted by uk_exile

Thanks. Getting out calculator the 0.2kg taken off from fluting is only about 6% of total rifle and suppressor so I'm not sure I'd notice difference in recoil. Muzzle jump change maybe due to where that weight is located. Benefit is going standard it saves me at least $100 and I'm not sure bigger bolt handle that much advantage as not varmitting and using it frequently.
Re pricing it was misserbale raqiny day yesterday so did a lot of googling and seems like Reloaders are the only ones with price less than others. Even then only $31 diference. Call me a skeptic but is there Apple'esk pricing policies on Tikka where sellers are 'encouraged' to be very similar?

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I don't think it make a huge difference either, but I don't see the point in paying extra for something that in this case could be considered a negative.
Fluting limits your options on shortening the barrel down the track, which you may want to do if you find the added length of the suppressor a burden.

I thought the going rate for Tikkas was nearer the $1300 mark, I'd definitely ask around and see if places are willing to match or better other competitors.
The likes of HnF and GC sell a crap load of Tikkas so should be able to do you a good deal.
Personally I like Reloaders, great guys in there, I try to support them where I can and they can definitely do some good deals.

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Originally Posted by Clint Ruin

Factory threading keeps full warranty .Berreta nz can be difficult for warranty claims if its been threaded elsewhere.

A good brake is better for recoil and weight but the NOISE !!!
Suppresors are generally nicer all around .Noise is reduced and recoil is managed

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I thought about a brake on my 7 mm WSM but could not say for sure I would have time to use hearing protection so no brake and as it weighs 6.5 lb with a scope no moderator either for one or two shots out on the tops.

If you live in Chch I would only be going to gunworks. I pretty much only go into HnF to pick up powder and all my other stuff is a mixture of gunworks and blackwatch reloading. Reloaders is mint but cannot get into store as live on the other side of akl and don't work near it but definitely worth the visit if you can get in

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co.nz/f13/t3-48143/

Get this and get it reamed to 284?

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Originally Posted by deepsouthaussie

.. Not sure if they are exact same quality as the Sako?

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There is NO difference in quality despite what some Sako owners believe (hope).

https://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/hun...b38b3dfccb6941

not mine but good deal

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Originally Posted by Mathias

I was told by (supposedly) someone who's been to the Sako / Tikka factory and there is one quality, one barrel making section. Different engraving (stamping) of the name on the side of the barrel. Finnlights have shorter barrels than Tikka superlites in standard calibers too.

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The barrels are all made on the same processing line. The difference is that Sako barrels are hand lapped and inspected before final assembly. Not that it seems to make much of a difference as hunting rifles they are both as accurate as they need to be.


Sakos are just better

Via trademe I’ve noticed GC are having a sale this weekend 2 & 3 March so depending on deals that might settle what I get. Wrong weekend for them to have sale as I’ve got volunteer fire training 9-5 both days but hoping suitable deal online

Called GC today to ask when online sale starts. Guy wasn't sure. Thought 9 or 10am. Asked why I wanted to know & told him because I can't be instore due to rural fire training. He offered to take my order on phone today. Sweet I think, thats awesome respect for volunteers.
But then he checks and guess what, all advertised T3X SFT in 7mm Rem Mag sold already. Wasn't respect. They're taking pre sales :-(
So if you want anything call now, don't wait until tomorrow! Or buy it elsewhere. I'll be buying a Lite from Gunworks.