Jeff's Outfitters has Valmet/Tikka barrel sets in 12/7X57R and 12/7X65R for $549.95 each.

quote:

Originally posted by luv2safari:
Jeff's Outfitters has Valmet/Tikka barrel sets in 12/7X57R and 12/7X65R for $549.95 each.

Are they Valmet or are they Tikka bbls??? There's no doubt in my mind the older Valmet bbls are of a lot higher quality steel than the current Tikka bbls...

DM

They will be the Tikka barrels. I have had many sets of both. The steel is just as good in the Tikkas, but the final exterior finish is superior with the Valmets, for sure.

The newest Lothar Walther DR barrel sets for the Valmet and Tikks guns are FAR superior to the early Valmet sets, IMO, and the sights are an improvement.

I have yet to get a dud with either variety...Valmet or Tikka.

quote:

Originally posted by luv2safari:
They will be the Tikka barrels. I have had many sets of both. The steel is just as good in the Tikkas, but the final exterior finish is superior with the Valmets, for sure.

The newest Lothar Walther DR barrel sets for the Valmet and Tikks guns are FAR superior to the early Valmet sets, IMO, and the sights are an improvement.

I have yet to get a dud with either variety...Valmet or Tikka.

Those are pretty interesting comments, and a first for me...

From my experience, and from the several folks that i have talked to that are using 412's in the field extensively, the 512's are NOT as good of quality as 412's. And, when reboreing the bbls, the 412's show a better quality tougher steel over the 512's.

Anyway, i'm glad you like your 512's...

DM

I would like a combo barrel. Maybe should have bought one set instead of a rifle set and a shotgun set. A 12-76?9.3X74 set sounds good. Not to hijack here, but I am still looking for an economical scope mount. I suppose I should have bit the bullet and picked one up before the dollar dropped more against the Euro. I wanted to mount optics on the shotty for turkey. Anyone have one of those cool mounts used, for sale? Packy

DM,

I much prefer the newer Lothar Walther double 9,3X74R barrels to the early Valmet series. I find them far more accurate than the Valmets...I have owned five sets of 9,3 barrels...three true Valmet, one Tikka from 7-8 years back, and more recently the Lothar Walther set; they were the best in all aspects but exterior finish. I believe I prefer the more matt finish of the Walthers for a hunting gun, however.

All sets were fitted by the same excellent gunsmith, by the way. I hated to have to sell the last of my Valmet/Tikka combo guns last year. I had some great hunts with them. Over 20+ years I did a lot of trading and trade in the various variations and give them all a lot of respect. Some I liked better than others, however. The early Valmets had some of the lousiest , softest screws I have ever encountered. The barrels were unnecessarily heavy, also, with the full length ribs. The top barrel ribs made them hell to regulate at times.

Any recommendations on where to buy a 412 today? Had one years ago, but traded it off even up for a travel trailer. Should have paid cash for the trailer and kept the Valmet.

prof,

The guy I sold my last 412 in 12/30-06 may sell it, he says. Are you interested?

Yes

He traded it off for a SXS 20ga last week, he says. It was a pretty good one, too.

I had been offered one sans scope mount for $1050.00 about 6 weeks back. I'll see if it is still available. I'm out of anything but my 412S 12ga o/u...no other barrels.

I need to sell a drilling, but they are about 3X the cost. That new 6,5X57R/16ga/22 mag insert set is now for sale, and it is a great little drilling. Business is very slow, and something has to go.