.....is it worth the extra $500 to step up to the A7? And being a new model, anyone heard of trouble with the A7?

And better yet....that 85 Finnlight looks purdy dang sweet too! Now I'm even more uncertain.....one is $500...other $900.....other $1500. I'd bet that if I bought the Tikka then made the mistake of handling the 85 I'd be pissed.

Depends on your criteria, appearance, reliability, accuracy, etc. Personally, and this is not to belittle your aforementioned choices, if you are interested primarily in accuracy and reliability, I'd go with a Savage. I bought my first Savage fifteen years ago, ugly looking thing, but it worked and was more accurate than anything I owned up to that point. To make a long story short, I kept buying Savages and got rid of all my high end guns, the only exception being a Remington 7600. After using the Savages in the far north all that time, I've never found a reason to regret it.

Hey Norton,
To me, the Tikka and the Sako A7 are pretty much the same rifle. I really don't see the added $500 in the A7.

I work at Gander Mtn up here in the frozen north of NY so I get to see a lot of the guns people are initially very happy with only to be traded in 2-3 months later. IMO, thoose that have purchased the Tikkaa have been extremely happy and in the 2.5 years I have been there, I do not recall even one Tikka coming in for trade. Most people that have purcahsed them are genuinly happy with them reporting excellent accuracy and positive function. The only downside reported is the magazines are made of a phenolic resin and cost about $70 for additional mags.

The Sako 85 is a nice rifle, but compairng the value of the Tikka, an additional $900 is pretty hard to justify. But of course it always come down to personal preferance.

I have two Tikka's, one being Varmint 223, SS version and the other Tikka T3 Tactical 308.
Have about all of the common mfg's and am a big fan of Rugers, but the Tikka is one of the best values available today on the market. The Tactical model has been "worked" pretty hard and taken some hard bumps, but nothing has broken and accuracy is outstanding with both reloads and factory. Varmint version is just as accurate and both have very smooth actions and positive feeding, no malfunctions. Barrels clean up nicely and have no copper issues with either of them. Triggers adjustable and mine came out of the box w/ slightly over 2 lbs as per NRA Certified Weights. Overall a lot of gun for the money.

martin

Thanks gents.....accuracy and reliability is where it's at for me. A buddy of mine works at Scheels out west and both he and another guy in the store swear by the Tikkas and said customers love them. Glad to hear that it's not worth the extra $500 for the A7.....I'll spend it on glass instead......probably a 4.5x14. I have heard good things about the Savages too re accuracy......I'll check one out at the LGS as well.

Go with the Tikka T3, I bought a T3 light in .270 WSM last fall and love it. My dad actually purchased a .270 T3 light this spring because of my suggestion, and he liked my .270 WSM, so convincing him wasn't that hard!

I've read a bit on the A7, and agree with BigBullet, they're practically the same rifle, so save your $ and put the savings into a fine peice of glass to sit atop your new T3!

It's a bit difficult to say, they have the same barrel and trigger, the chief differences being the name, the stocks, two lugs on the tikka and three on the sako.

The Sako 85 is a very ince rifle without the plastic of the T3/A7.

both makes are popular in the UK and from what I have seen are tack drivers in most configurations.

The only way to decide between the two models you mention is probably to handle them both and go from there.

I still prefer the older Tikka and sako models, pre T3 and 75, ass they just feel "nicer" when held.

I put my money where my mouth is and waited until a M690 came up in the right condition.

1/2" from a 30.06 sporter for 5 shots with mine is no big deal with it's preferred loads.

How about a mint or VGC second hand older model instead of the newer ones?

The Sako finnbears were particularly nice rifles, I have hunted a fair amount with one in 270 and it is a very nice rifle that puts 150 grain NP factory ammo into 3/4" of inch!

Regards,

GH

I have a Sako 75, in 300 RUM., it's the most acurate rifle i have shot. I have it topped off with a Zeiss 3x9 conquest, make's for a real nice moose gun.

I love my Sko m75 rifles, but my two Tikka T3 LS 270WSM rifles match the accuracy of my Sakos. Under 0.4" groups with my Tikkas and anywhere between 0.4-0.6" groups with all of my Sako m75 rifles. I personally prefer the m75 stock over the m85.

IMO if your going with a Tikka T3, go for the laminate stainless. If not maybe the A7 would be the better option on the SS model. I have never handled a A7 yet.

Here in Canada a T3 SS is almost same price as an A7 say $200 diff.

Another option to look at- maybe look for a used mint Sako m75 or m85 rifle for sale and be even happier. Saved the money with a used rifle and still put it on the scope.

Happy hunting

I love my Sko m75 rifles, but my two Tikka T3 LS 270WSM rifles match the accuracy of my Sakos. Under 0.4" groups with my Tikkas and anywhere between 0.4-0.6" groups with all of my Sako m75 rifles. I personally prefer the m75 stock over the m85.

IMO if your going with a Tikka T3, go for the laminate stainless. If not maybe the A7 would be the better option on the SS model. I have never handled a A7 yet.

Here in Canada a T3 SS is almost same price as an A7 say $200 diff.

Another option to look at- maybe look for a used mint Sako m75 or m85 rifle for sale and be even happier. Saved the money with a used rifle and still put it on the scope.

Happy hunting for a rifle and on game.

I have a 308 T3 stainless - I think for what you pay you are getting a bargin - a real accurate workhorse (If you can mix metaphores!)
You can chuck it on a quad or in a river - done both - and not feel bad, and neither will the rifle.
It owes more to Sako than the price suggests. I think the new Sako just isn't worth that extra, but if you want to spend on a Sako, a wood blued 85 hunter or similar would be awesome.

Well, despite nearly opting for the T3 I've decided to go with a Savage Weather Warrior .300 mag.......gonna drop a 4.5 x 14 on it. I'll report back after my MT trip in November.

Thanks for the input though, fellers(and it doesn't mean I won't buy a T3 also!).

I have two Tikka T3 Lightweights. One in 338 Federal and one in 7mm-08. Both are very good rifles and are a bargain with scope rings and swivels included. For the money its a best kept secret.