I have always wanted to buy a Tikka rifle and have desided to use two rifles I own at present as a trade ins to help finance my purchase of a new rifle.

What I need is the opinions of Tikka rifle owners in what you love about them or hate ( if anything) about them. The ONLY negative thing I have ever heard concerning Tikka rifles is that once their barrels heat up, the groups thay shoot tend to open up. If true not a problem for me because when shooting from the bench I never allow the barrel to heat up anyway.

I would especially like input from Tikka owners with rifles in 300wsm, as that is the caliber I will buy one in.

Thanks,
Arthur.

Every one I've seen at our local range shoots very well (I hang out there a lot).

I bouth one and I personally couldn't get used to it. It may have been the most accurate rifle I ever own or ever will own. But me personally and the rifle couldn't mesh. I found it a pain with the box magazine that I couldn't load thru the top - tho I've been told depending on what caliber and if you fiddle long enough you can.

If I buy a rifle with a detachable magazine I prefer to just leave it in and load from the top.

Just a personal thing.

If that doesn't bother you I see no reason not buy one.

I have a T3 in 270 wsm that I won in a raffle several years ago. The rifle shoots subMOA with everything I've tried. I think for the money it's a great rifle.

I was talking to a store owner who is right into his long range shooting. hes been looking at all the tikka barrels going through his store and he said that they are alot smoother on the inside than they used to be.

everyone seems pretty happy with them...my brother 270WSM shot half MOA

For the money they are a lot of rifle; they seem to be the most accurate out of the box $5-$600 rifle out there. Smooth action,light weight, low bolt lift, nice feeding and a synthetic stock which is stiffer than most of it's peers.The polymer parts have proven to be quite tuff.
I've bought 1 for each of my 3 kids and can tell you they all shoot very well. The only thing needed is change out the recoil pad to a limbsaver and go shootin!

I don't own a .300wsm but have shot lots of them for customers. If you shoot factory ammo I suggest trying the plain old 180gr Power-Point. I have had outstanding luck with that load in most of the Tikkas and it will handle nearly all your hunting chores. I have had excellent experiences with Tikkas. They have replaced the Rem 700 as the best buy on the market.

Why can't the magazine be loaded from the top ?.

I own a couple of T3's and mine certainly load from the top .

As mine are Left handed models perhaps something is different I don't own RH

so can't elaborate on that aspect . They fit me rather well as I'm a Big Fella .

Accurate light weight easy to carry ( with the correct sling ) What's not to like ?.

For inexpensive out of the Box well constructed accuracy their very hard to beat .

IMO ...

I have a Tikka 243 and a 223 both of which are solid rifles which shot well straight out of the box using factory ammo.
They are a little on the heavy side but the action and safety features work well. I'm not keen on the plastic magazines but apart from that, I'm very happy.
I'm considering having the 243 pillar bedded because I think there's a more accurate rifle inside waiting to be brought out.

Greatest of thanks to all who took the time to help me out with their replys. Great info all around. I will buy a Tikka as soon as I find one I like.

Thanks again for reaferming my choice.
Arthur.

Good choice. My Tikka .300 wsm <1.0 @ 100yds w/factory ammo. My .270 win w/handloads <.25 @100yds. Never heard of one that shot bad. Bass Pro has them starting around $499 . Good luck.

bought a T3 lite in 7-08 all I have done is shoot it 4 times to make sure it works, will be sighting in this week. Got a real shiny bore, I bought blued-- SS were impossible to find locally,
I would go with SS if possible. Nice lite and loooow recoil in 7-08

Doc

The only thing I hated about the LH .338 WM Tikka I found for dad-in-law (Whitetail Deluxe Hunter) was the detach mag. You have to load it like a .22LR clip -- detached, one shell at a time, inserting the cartridge by slotting the base in perpendicular to the bore.

Singles could be loaded and shot, but you'd have to carry another pre-loaded mag in case you needed more shots quickly.

It was a tack-driver, tho!

BNagel

Yep, my buds Tikka 338 WM mag is a non top loading affair, as is my Sako TRGS Lapua mag. A minor point it may be but I like the ability to charge a mag from the top. Stuff happens in the hunting field IME.

John

Was with an outfitter last week who has replaced every spring, pin, and screw on his, a .243- I can't attest to it's accuracy, except to say he's had it for four years, but he could shoot anything and hit his target.

Apparently, his doesn't take day-in-day-out use very well.

Had an T3 lite cal 300 win mag and it proved to be extremly accurate if it didint get too hot wich it did really quickly with that light barrel.
Did have some doubts about all the plastic parts but it was unnessesary as i never had any problems with that.

Did sell it thou and bought an Sauer 202 LH in same cal and absolutly love it! Far superior in all ways but rather unfair comparison given the price diffrence...

I have two T3's in stainless synthetic.
7-08 and 300WSM
Both shoot great.
Make my handloads look like I know what I'm doing.
Both wear new Limbsavers(you'll thank me for that one)
I like detachable magazines, These are hunting rifles and you slap in the mag and you're ready.
The only thing I might change is the factory scope mounts....no failures or innacurracy, but I might buy a deadnutz, warne, or other aftermarket mount.

Don't have any experience with the 300 wsm, but do know that the Tikka has a great reputation for accuracy. I have experience with a 243 and a 25.06. My next rifle will be a 30.06 made by them. Check out budsgunshop.com they have them for less than what you would get in most stores. Esox357.

Tikkas may have a great reputation for accuracy. but they are just like other brands in that some are very accurate, others are not.

I bought one of the very first TRGS to arrive in Canada... in 7.62 Nato. It shot sorta barely okay, but would never make a group, not even one, of less than 1.25 MOA.

It didn't shoot anything over 2.0 MOA either, but nothing below 1.25 MOA. Did not cheer my heart as I had numerous other rifles I could do better than that with, with iron sights from prone! (The Tikka had a U.S.-made target-knobbed T-10 on it and was tried both prone and from the bench numerous times.)

Finally, after letting it sit in my vault for 15 or so years, I sold it to a medical doctor buddy here who just had to have it.

Thanks to all for the additional posts to my request for help. Especially for the Bass Pro tip. I have two little ones in private school and the wife is a stay at home mom, so I count every penny. The Tikka is realy my best bet in a powerfull ultra lt/wt hunting rifle.

Again thanks to all.
Arthur.

quote:

The ONLY negative thing I have ever heard concerning Tikka rifles...

again only rumours...i've heard that their box-magazine doesn't always function that well, however turning the magazine spring upside should help.

I do not at this time own a Tikka rifle, but a good fried of mine that I shoot with a lot owns several. I have shot his 300WSM and watched him develope several loads for it over the past months. It is a very accurate rifle with most everything that he has shot through it. Seems to be a easy on to load for.

I own (2) Tikka T3's; both VERY accurate with multiple factory loads & handloads. My son has a T3 in 300 WSM; consistantly under 1" . In my experience, most accurate "out of the box" rifle available; mine give my (2) ULA's a run for their money!!!

I have put several hundred rounds through a Tika T3/Tactical rifle in 308 over the past few months and am pleased to report that the rifle is indeed accurate, functions as it should, feeds flawlessly, bolt makes full contact on both lugs, trigger adjusts to crisp 2 lbs, well written and informative manual for the shooter included and overall fine rifle.

I do not care for the plastic trigger guard, plastic bolt shroud, plastic magazine(5&10rnd,) but to date have not given any problems. Due to the performance of this Tika, considering purchase of one of their sporting versions.

I've owned a Tikka T-3 Lite SS chambered for .270 WSM for a little over a year now. It is THE MOST accurate rifle I've ever owned!!!!
BUT, is is so sub-standard for chronographed velocities for both factory and handloads.
As an example: Factory Federal 140 Nosler Accubonds chronograph 2870 f.p.s. Advertised velocity is 3200. It will shoot 3/8th of an inch all day rain or shine. At 100 yards.
I put together a max load with the Nosler Partition 160 using RL-19 that chronographs 2800 f.p.s. that will cut ONE five shot bullet hole at 100 yards.
I cerocast the chamber and found the leade to be Very, VERY long. IT IS SOOOO accurate that I could care less.
To compare with my Kimber 8400 .270 WSM.....
.Factory Federal 140 Accubond...3215 with MOA.
.Handload with the same 160 Nosler Partition RL-19 combination....3009 f.p.s. with sub MOA results. Go figure...
Overall, the Tikka is a very fine rifle.