Thread: Tikka 1980s rifles-anygood?

Hi Everyone,
I have the opportunity to buy a tikka rifle from the 1980s in new condition ..dont know what model yet.
Are they any good?

Cheers

hell yes...some would argue BETTER than todays.....

Yep they’d argue indeed. I’ve used one old girl and it was a good piece of machinery.

Buy it, to be fair the new ones are outstanding as well

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Yes,
If it's an M55 or M65 version I would say yes, I haven't handled those that came after until the T3

Had an M55 in 308, cool little rifle.
Should have kept it

Originally Posted by truman

Hi Everyone,
I have the opportunity to buy a tikka rifle from the 1980s in new condition ..dont know what model yet.
Are they any good?

Cheers

Check the model, some magazines are now very expensive to source if you need a spare.

Recoil lug arrangements can be a bit funky on them too.

Personally would not buy one, they stopped production for a reason (probably labour and material cost), and generally heavy brutes.

Compare it to a Rem 700 which has known problems but also known fixes.

Look here and find out what model you are being offered: https://www.optics-trade.eu/blog/tik...nting-systems/

I bought an LSA55 in 1976, still got it, will never ever part with it. And it still shoots lights out after 45 years. It aint heavy and it aint one of these new fan dangled ultralight things that cant shoot any more than a 2 shot string before starting to wander - it fits about in the middle. But it has the sweetest stock, fits like a glove, and its nice to carry. If I take it wobblie shooting or busting hares, it will shoot every shot to the same point of impact even after 2 mags/9 shots. And they were built when firearms manufacturers knew what they were doing. The recoil set up is simple and so well designed, there will be no need to bed it. I'd say buy with confidence cos I doubt you will ever wear it out, and it will continue to shoot for many many years.

My #1 gun is my Tikka M55 in .243 that I bought new in 1978, it's now on it's third barrel, a Sako this time. I wouldn't part with for all the tea in China. To put my 40 years of experience with that gun to good use - for you of course, I would faithfully recommend that you get it sent to me so I can check out it's dodgy recoil setup and determine if I think you should be burdened by it's excessive weight, something I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. Anyway I'm happy to provide you with a comprehensive report on it's condition and likely effect on your physical being, and if it so happens that I conclude that it's not in your best interests to be encumbered by it I will endeavour to find some way to dispose of it without additional cost or distress to you. In all seriousness the M55's are a very good gun, beautiful action, dovetailed reciever, externally adjustable trigger, the smoothest bolt in the business, solid 1/2 cock, drop mag, all steel, no junk, manufacturing ceased because it's just not economical to make a gun utilising those materials and processes anymore, not if you want to sell Sakos under the same banner as a superior product anyway. Stocks are nicely shaped and chequered too, some have very nice wood, depends on the grade as there were two levels, I had both. M65 - the long action version, I don't have the same affinity with as the long action is just not as slick, but maybe it's for you. M55's are not heavy, M590 (M690) and M595 (M695) that superseded them are a different story, I don't know what they were thinking because they added more wood and more steel and then some plastic, still a good gun but not in the same category as the M55 when it comes to mixing it with the New Zealand backcountry.

308,just works no matter who's driving.

I had and LSA 55 in 22-250. But it dated from the 70's rather than the 80's.
It was a very well made rifle made by the genuine but sadly gone Tikka company, not some Italian off-shoot.
Sadly the barrel was eventually toast and I traded it on a sterile Sako 75. I should have kept it and rebarreled.

Tikka of that era were said to be a poor man's Sako. My Tikka gave away nothing to the Sakos around then except of course a lower price. Probable timber was plainer.

When mine still had a reasonable condition barrel it was extremely accurate.

A mentioned in another post don't lose the mags!

thanks for your link..very helpful
If its the m55 which I think it might be,they weigh the same as a new Sako 85 walnut hunter.
Cheers.

LOL ..Thanks 38 south..very helpful additional info.

Thanks ..what would you consider the right price?

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

I have never owned or handled the eighties models. But remember mates back then stating they were very heavy.

Yeah….poofters wouldn’t want to own them….

My 595 stainless is a solid beast….even after a Jenny Craig on the barrel department…

There’s a wood/blue 590 in that classic of calibers .308 (no poofters need apply again ) on the rack in a Waikato shop….it’s tempting…..


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