School me on Tikka Hunting Rifles

[HTSmith]

I'm wanting a new deer rifle this year and want something that will shoot good without a lot of modifications and upgrades. I've seen a lot of good things about Tikka on line, but would like to hear about your personal experience. My big question is about the trigger--can I get it down in the 2.5 to 3 lb range safely? (I just can't deal with a real heavy trigger.) Thanks for sharing.

 

[JFrank]

No problem on the 2.5 -3 lb trigger weight, I’ve heard of the yo Dave trigger replacement spring that will take it even lower

 

[ttfreestyle]

Change the trigger spring(very simple to do) and most will get under 2 pounds easily.

 

[Al Lu]

https://www.mcarbo.com/tikka-t3-trigger-spring-kit.aspx

I am a happy client and no business relation but check this one out (also a video on install). I have a Tikka .308 WIN,

 

[gman47564]

I hunt with a tikka t3 lite.. super accurate right out of the box.. tikkas shoot great but their barrels tend to run slow.. still a nice hunting gun..

 

[hunter67]

I have yet to see one NOT shoot.

 

[Siko12]

I have a T3 Lite Stainless in 260. Absolutely great rifle. The ONLY gripe I have is that the design of the receiver prevents me from carrying it in one hand with my thumb between the rifle and scope. Other than that, it's light (a good thing), super accurate, great stock trigger, easy to handle, and low maintenance. I think I wiped it down with an oily rag last summer.

Kicks very little with 100 gr bullets. Kicks a bit with hot loads of 120 gr bullets, but still is nowhere near significant. Probably in 270 it would kick you a bit with hot loads of 130 gr bullets.

The Tikka quickly became my favorite rifle, and I use it for hogs, coyote, and deer. My Sako and Rutgers stay in the gun safe these days.

 

[FryeGuy]

I love all of mine! I currently only have 2. well one is my son's. both 6.5 creedmoor. both shoot excellent. I have yet to replace a spring in any I have owned. I have had no issue at all getting them to 2#, the CTR I used to have went well below that, and I adjusted it back up to 2#. I have had 308, 708, 6.5x55, (3) different 6.5 creedmoor. all were great. my son is 10, and has no issue with recoil on his. I loaded his a little lighter, using 129lrab nosler bullets. shoots great at 2400fps, shoots great when I speed it up too. my latest is the Veil Wideland model, it is cerakoted, and mainly it came threaded so I can shoot it suppressed. I did need any load development. I just tried the hunting rounds I had loaded for my CTR, and it shot them under 1/2". I tried the sierra 130hpbt bullets because I was bored, and they are way cheaper than accubonds. it shoots them just as well. same for the ballistic tips.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I bought a TIKKA last year in 22-250. Read all the hype and how great they are.. Not.. You will learn to hate the floating lug. I won't go into detail on all the things I have done to get mine to shoot, but I dropped some coin and a lot of time into mine. Not impressed.
Get a CZ...

 

[rebs]

I have a Tikka Varmint model in 223 and love it. I did no upgrades except the trigger spring and it shoots 2" groups at 300 yds

 

[joshb]

I own 6 Tikkas in various calibers and built three for a friend, my son in law and his son. Great rifles, every one. The smoothest bolt I have ever experienced. I’ve put custom barrels and stocks on a few, cause I like to build stuff. The factory barrels shot great but I thought a new custom might shoot better. They did. Good action to build with. I have had no problems building custom stocks with the lug configuration. I’ve done 595s, 695s, t3s, t3x and ctr’s. All have performed well. A couple weeks ago, I bought another 223 T3x Varmint, used. I’m waiting on the shipper. I put the $12? Yo Dave spring in every one I buy. Great rifles! If I see a lightly used Tikka at a good price, I buy it! I know I can’t go wrong.

 

[GSPV]

I used the “Ernie The Gunsmith” spring upgrade rather than the ones mentioned above. Not sure it would make any difference.

I got a “Varmint” rather than a “hunting” weight spring. Works great.

 

[drano38]

Agree, triggers can be lightened, and still safe.
Had a 'smith friend hone my T3 Light a bit, and I think its under 2 lb.
Great rifles.

 

[drover]

I'm wanting a new deer rifle this year and want something that will shoot good without a lot of modifications and upgrades. I've seen a lot of good things about Tikka on line, but would like to hear about your personal experience. My big question is about the trigger--can I get it down in the 2.5 to 3 lb range safely? (I just can't deal with a real heavy trigger.) Thanks for sharing.

The biggest issue with a Tikkaback is that they are Boring!!!
All you have to do is mount a scope, adjust the trigger to the 2.5 - 3 lb simply by backing out the weight of pull adjustment screw (the only screw on the trigger), then go hunting.

I have owned three of them in 223, one of them in 243, one in 308 and all easily shoot 5 shot groups under one inch at 100 yards, with most groups 5 shots being nearer !/2" than one inch.

drover

 

[HTSmith]

Now to find one. Walked into my local gun store and the cupboard was bare. Thanks to all for the input.

 

[mensajd]

Why Tikka over Sako? Serious question. I get the price delta, but if you can afford either, then why Tikka?

 

[K22]

I have four Tikka's, 223 Rem lite, 223 Rem Varmint, 243 Lite, and 308 Hunter.

Positives:

1. Great triggers - easy to adjust - you can get them down to about 2.5 lbs without any replacement parts - I wouldn't want a deer rifle below that, in fact, I like my deer rifles around 3.0 lbs due to handling in the winter with gloves etc.

2. Extractor system is very reliable.

3. The synthetic stocks are stiff enough for precise shooting.

4. All of mine shoot under 1 moa some approaching 1/2 moa with tailored reloads.

5. Smooth action and mine all feed reliably.

Negatives:

1. This is more of a personal issue - the rifle is too light in the 308 caliber for me for sustained range shooting. Of course you'll never feel the recoil shooting at a deer but if you plan to do a lot of range work and are recoil sensitive you may want to consider a lighter caliber in the Lite Model. I solved the problem by developing a reduce load, i.e. 125 Nosler BT's with H4895 at about 2,600 f/s which is plenty of energy for deer out to 200 yards.

2. Not crazy about the polymer magazine and how wear resistant it will be under sustained feeding. I had a Browning X bolt polymer mag wear out in one season of heavy varmint hunting. Not saying that the Tikka will wear out - I just don't have enough field experience with mine to say.

Comment on Reference post about the Tikka in 22 250:

I've seen two similar complaints at the range about the 22 250 relative to the Lite Models. I believe the problem is due to the light weight of the rifle in trying to achieve varmint level accuracy. If I was to get a Tikka in 22 250 I'd opt for the Varmint Model which is significantly heavier.

While I'm not crazy about the recoil lug design, it doesn't seem to affect the accuracy in my rifles

 

[Siko12]

Why Tikka over Sako? Serious question. I get the price delta, but if you can afford either, then why Tikka?

I think branding is the difference between sako and tikka, Sako makes excellent rifles too.

 

[clunker]

I bought my very first rifle a few years ago on clearance for $278. It was a Tikka T3 in .223, and I stole the thing at that price. It shoots 0.75 MOA with quality factory ammo, and I'm planning to start reloading for it. The trigger is crisp with zero creep, and the bolt action is buttery smooth. I have yet to experience any rifle at three times the price I paid for it that has a comparable trigger or bolt action.

My second rifle, I bought for hunting. It is a Tikka T3x Superlight in 6.5CM. My only regret with this rifle is that the barrel is too light. I wanted a lightweight rifle for hiking through the woods, but I wasn't expecting the consequences of shedding a pound or two. It will shoot sub-MOA all day long, but the target you just nailed will not be visible in your scope after the shot. Even with the light recoil of a 6.5CM, the light barrel will not sit still. Get a Tikka with a heavier barrel for hunting, and you will not be disappointed.

 

[Juppe12]

I go with Tikka M65 Sporter .308 and Tikka T3 .222 Super Varmint. T3 has GRS Sporter laminate stock, makes it just much better than that awful factory stock. M65 is just 500 shots fired, got it from my father. And I have to say that old trusty M65 is just better and more accurate than new T3.