I had a tikka .223 tactical in a manners PRS1. I sold it to get money to help a buddy out. I owned that tikka, still own slicked up remingtons, defiance, Stiller, and BAT. Honestly, the tikka, was pretty darn close to a custom action. It was a very accurate, fast shooting rifle. My advice will not be much help, but whatever direction you go you’ll be happy. Stay with tikka, hey you have a nice tikka, well now you’ll have a custom. Sounds like a win, win to me.
keep tikkas or sell/trade for custom
- Thread starter baredog
- Start date
baredog
Silver $$ Contributor
you know funny thing is all my life(62) ihunted deer ,turkey upland game in Illinois and you could not hunt deer with rifles only slug shotgun or muzzleloader so never owned one but traded a guy for a rem 700 7mm remington mag and took it to range and been hooked since....now reload and shoot and learn lots on this site ,crazy where life leads ya
joshb
Gold $$ Contributor
I love the Tikka actions. They're smooth! Send your action to Bob Green and send him a barrel. Just tell him what you want. I have done that 5 or six times and I'm always happy with the results! Here's one in 6br:
It was a 22-250. I've done 3 in 223, a 338 Win mag and a 308.
or two. I have Bordens, Stillers, Bats and a few others. The Tikkas are close to the smoothness of a custom. Rebarrel that Tikka! You'll love it!
If you decide to sell, send me a pm with pics. I'll buy them for a fair price!
Josh
It was a 22-250. I've done 3 in 223, a 338 Win mag and a 308.
or two. I have Bordens, Stillers, Bats and a few others. The Tikkas are close to the smoothness of a custom. Rebarrel that Tikka! You'll love it!
If you decide to sell, send me a pm with pics. I'll buy them for a fair price!
Josh
TheOtherZilla
Pull my finger
I have a TIKKA, and I hate that floating lug..
When I made a similar decision to simplify not just shooting stuff but life in general, it was amazing how much time, energy, and budget that freed up. Take the time to decide what it is that you really want/need, whether that's going custom or upgrading something you have, and sell the other stuff that really isn't accomplishing much. You can always buy another Tikka down the road.
Especially with factory rifles, buying the rifle is the cheap part. Like you said, by the time you add a decent optic, dies, powders, good bullets, range trips, aftermarket stocks/barrels, it adds up to far more time and money. I used to think I couldn't afford a high end rifle. In reality what I couldn't afford was all the "bargains" I'd picked up
JEFFPPC
Gold $$ Contributor
It is not necessary to build a NEW custom. You can start for about half price with some smart shopping of used guns. A lot more guys getting out of this sport than a getting in. Might take 6 mo but have your money on hand and a good deal will come along. It it, shoot it the first year as is and if need be then rebarrel it.
If it is a crappy model 595 i will help you by buying it.
Awesome, 6br is what i want next. That is really done right ! Tell us , is it 13.5 twist? 14 twist ? Zero freebore ? I'm curious.
baredog
Silver $$ Contributor
if i decide to sell ill give you heads up and pic.....thanks for advice
joshb
Gold $$ Contributor
What kind of custom are you looking for?
I'd say that if you have the coin now, buying a used, full custom will forever change your thinking about accuracy potential in target shooting, and your potential too. IOW, are you good enough marksman to make good use of a full custom, and can you develop the necessary skills?
Given what the economy is likely to look like over the next months and perhaps years, choose wisely and consider where you're likely to be financially in say, 6 months.
Given what the economy is likely to look like over the next months and perhaps years, choose wisely and consider where you're likely to be financially in say, 6 months.
baredog
Silver $$ Contributor
not sure either 6br or 223 shooting 300 yards max so going to sell one or two tikkas to help finance it
The easy cure for the, "floating lug" is to throw it away, install pillars (wood stock), and let the bedding compound form the lug.
That works extremely well. I must say, that even with the TIKKA lug, my .300WSM, "right out of the box", shot a five-shot (100yd) test group at about 5/8th" - well under the TIKKA promised <1.00". I used some ammo left-over from several years earlier, which was neck-turned and loaded with some 136 gr. FB bullets, for a barrel which I used in three NBRSA Hunter Class tournaments - though I won one of the three, the velocity was not worth the punishment.
Back to the TIKKA - with good ammo, they shoot - especially following a proper bedding job. 
RG
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TheOtherZilla
Pull my finger
I have bedded it, put it in a B&C stock, etc etc. Mine [22-250] grouped on 5 shot group into 3/8". Then went to s**t. Does ok now, but I cannot get that group back.The easy cure for the, "floating lug" is to throw it away, install pillars (wood stock), and let the bedding compound for the lug.
That works extremely well. I must say, that even with the TIKKA lug, my .300WSM, "right out of the box", shot a five-shot (100yd) test group at about 5/8th" - well under the TIKKA promised <1.00". I used some ammo left-over from several years earlier, which was neck-turned and loaded with some 136 gr. FB bullets, for a barrel which I used in three NBRSA Hunter Class tournaments - though I won one of the three, the velocity was not worth the punishment.
joshb
Gold $$ Contributor
Yea. I got that, but do you have a specific name in mind, like a Panda or Borden or Bat? I try to stay off the "used gun" classifieds here. If I don't see it, I won't buy it! Not having complete self control, I have seen a few bargains. There was a yellow 6ppc a little while ago. It might still be there. Panda, I think.
For "out to 300", you could be very happy with a ppc.
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joshb
Gold $$ Contributor
joshb
Gold $$ Contributor
This one changed, midstream. I bought the barrel and sat on it for a while. It's an 8 twist. Over a 6 month period, I kinda went crazy and bought a few "deals" on the classifieds. In the end, I had three more 6brs set up for the 105s. I set this one up for the lighter bullets, just for something different. It may overspin the bullets, but oh well! It's more of a hunting rig than a target rifle. That's why it wears a Nikon.
carlsbad
Lions don't lose sleep over the opinions of sheep.
Totally personal preference. You didn't say what style shooting you are doing but 99% of the time the same accuracy can be achieved with custom or with your OEM action. It's all about setup, stock, smoothness, etc. You can make the rifle you want from either action.
When I purchased my first Tikka T3 Lite, a 243 Win, I was concerned about the lug design especially since it was the older model with the aluminum lug. Well my concern was quickly dashed - the rifle shot very well and continues to shoot well after close to a 1,000 rounds through it.
Granted, the 243 Win, is not a heavy recoiling caliber but mine has held up well. My 308 T3X has the same design but a steel lug. So far it's held up without issue. I also have three 223 Rems and they all shoot extremely well especially the Varmint model.
My only issue with the Tikka's T3 Lites is the brutal recoil (for me) for calibers over 243. My 308 is a shoulder buster but I've tamed it with reduced loads using H 4895 and 125 Nosler Bullets. This load, at about 2,600 f/s has mild recoil and adequate for white tail at least to 200 yards which is all I need for where I hunt. I'm an old guy and only weigh about 170 lbs so I've become more recoil sensitive with older age.
baredog
Silver $$ Contributor
yea they are lite and have some kick after alot of discussion (thanks everyone)im going to use the tikka action to do semi build....the club i joined has f-class 300 yard league and f class high power league i never shot in one of these but i think f-class is 223 or 308 and high power is any centerfire rifle to a point ...so probably going 223 but really like all the accuracy talk of the 6br so i have that to consider man tough choice also see benchrest league any cailber under 308 but its 100 yd league
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