Thread: thoughts on tikka t3 lite

Originally Posted by andyanimal31

The amount of people I have met that have turned up at various shoots with their pride and joy ti then be out shot by the stinky old tikka that then come to the next shoot with you guessed it a stinky old tikka which then made them competitive so go figure!

Andy I'm bloody sure your a fencer/tikka salesman

The only con with a Tikka is the noisy bolt action, it cost me dearly when I was sneaking up on a mob of pigs one night and didn't have one up the spout, no matter how carefully I cycled the bolt the noise was bloody deafening.

There's a few aftermarket parts being produced for them so you are able play around with them.

HAHAHAHAHAA The Tikka T3 lite 7mm-08 is pretty much the quintessential Kiwi hunting rig. Don't think you can go too wrong with it

Originally Posted by 300winmag

The only con with a Tikka is the noisy bolt action...

The biggest let-down on the one I used (after the way they're talked up on forums) was the trigger - it was pretty heavy and even after a couple of groups I couldn't really tell when it was going to fire.

Just buy a nice timney trigger and you're laughing

Originally Posted by GravelBen

The biggest let-down on the one I used (after the way they're talked up on forums) was the trigger - it was pretty heavy and even after a couple of groups I couldn't really tell when it was going to fire.

I got the gunsmith to lighten mine on both the 223 and 243 (it was an easy do coz he had a pull gauge and I had it in the shop anyway)

I dont know if he "worked" the mechanism or just lightened the screw - but either way people have commented what a nice trigger it is ..

Speaking of triggers does anyone like a bit of creep then a kind of hard bit but not that hard that it makes you pull the gun just enough to know that its about to fire? Any one with a CG 6.5 should know what I'm talking about unless its just mine.

I really like the trigger like that. I also like the model 70 where I just touch it then it fires.

They are fantastic rifles.
The non ability to top load a magazine sounds like something an American would argue, it really does not matter.
Same with complaining about the trigger guard and plastic magazine. It is not flimsy and cheap, it's very good quality strong plastic, and I have no trouble trusting in mine.

The Tikka easily has the nicest action in the price range, I'm definitely not a fan boy or anything, but compared to the Remington or Savage the Tikka is miles ahead.
They have also one of the nicest triggers found in a factory rifle. I've never felt as though the plastic stock was noisy at all, I've never had any trouble with mine.

Americans also like to complain about the lack of after market parts, but that's really a non issue. In general I feel as though nothing on the Tikka needs to be changed, and if you want to you can get stocks, bottom metal and triggers piece of piss.

I own a Tikka lite 223 SS and it's stupidly accurate, shoots under .5 moa with cheap Hornady ammo, and under 1 moa with most other cheap ammo.
Every Remington I've looked at and played with didn't even compare quality wise, and considering Tikka's can now be had for pretty much the same price as a Stainless Rem 700, I see no reason to bother with them. When I buy my next centrefire it will definitely be another Tikka.

You can definitely get better rifles than the Tikka's, but for their price they are pretty bloody good.

Originally Posted by Toby

Speaking of triggers does anyone like a bit of creep then a kind of hard bit but not that hard that it makes you pull the gun just enough to know that its about to fire? Any one with a CG 6.5 should know what I'm talking about unless its just mine.

I really like the trigger like that. I also like the model 70 where I just touch it then it fires.

I hate creep in triggers. I like ones that break like glass. I didn't mind my old 303's trigger as the two stages eliminated every bit of creep, even though it wasn't the lightest trigger, you knew when it was going to go off.

Originally Posted by GravelBen

The biggest let-down on the one I used (after the way they're talked up on forums) was the trigger - it was pretty heavy and even after a couple of groups I couldn't really tell when it was going to fire.

Did you try adjusting it?
When you back them off, you get them down to 2lbs and they are generally very very good.

Originally Posted by Beetroot

Did you try adjusting it?
When you back them off, you get them down to 2lbs and they are generally very very good.

Nah, it wasn't my rifle just put a couple of groups through as a second opinion for a mate who was having accuracy issues sighting in. Not sure if he has tried different ammo yet, think he decided 3" group was ok for bush hunting until he finishes off the box.

The trigger (as it was at least) was much worse than any of my rifles - my Ruger trigger has been tickled up so isn't a fair comparison, but my Savages are bog standard accutriggers adjusted to the lighter end. I figured the pull could be lightened, but the vagueness was just as annoying - I like to know when a trigger is going to break.

The T3 action was certainly nicer than the Ruger (which is a bit clunky) but no smoother in feel than my Savage, and didn't feed as well.

Having owned only top loadable rifles for many years not being able to top load really pisses me off.
Everytime you chamber a round just before lookin out at a clearing etc and don't end up fireing you have to drop the mag and load it instead of just pushing it back down.
Even pisses me off with the 22.
Also if your on a mob of goats(or anything for that matter) its great to be able to quickly top up the mag.

That said still think the Tikka is great value for money. Just a shame they don't have a 5 round flush fitting top loadable mag or even a floor plate.

Originally Posted by RichieRich

Pro's
-guaranteed 3 MOA at 100m

Brilliant

Originally Posted by Toby

Speaking of triggers does anyone like a bit of creep then a kind of hard bit but not that hard that it makes you pull the gun just enough to know that its about to fire? Any one with a CG 6.5 should know what I'm talking about unless its just mine.

That's not creep Toby. The Swede has a 2 stage trigger.

Originally Posted by Barefoot

That's not creep Toby. The Swede has a 2 stage trigger.

Ahhh righto, Well I like that