Valmet/Tikka/Fennwerk O/U rifles

03 January 2002, 11:07

<Mike Dettorre>

Anybody have experience with these. Accuracy, etc. Looking at a 9.3x74r & 30-06

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MED

The sole purpose of a rifle is to please its owner

14 February 2002, 00:46

<Double50>

Hi Mike

I have Valmet 412 which is .375 and uses Moshin-Nagant (7.62x53R) cartridge. Accuracy is fine, both barrels shoot regularly 1,5 inch groups. 9.3 x 74 R is better as cartridge because ejectors are similar as in shotguns. 30-06 has more power, but ejectors have small "clips" which grabs in cartridge groove. These clips broke easily and are hard to find spares. Both calibers shoots well. I have not yet have tried out these barrels which are made in Italy.

Double50

[This message has been edited by Double50 (edited 02-13-2002).]

14 February 2002, 01:35

Softlead

Hi
A big advantage with the valmet/tikka is that you, the shooter, can regulate the barrels at the range. Tha goes for windage as well as for elevation. This makes for great flexibillity in choosing/loading ammo.

You can also by shotgun barrels or shotgug/rifle combo barrels.

The function is wery good, but you have to decide for your self if the weight and lack of finnish (compared with German doubles) is acceptable. Off cause the price is mutch lower than for a Merkel or krieghof.

I definetly recomend the 9,3x74R, as there is nothing that lesser calibers can do witch the 9,3 cant do better. :-)
(In this rifle I might add)

Softlead

14 February 2002, 01:58

Daydreamer

I have two Tikkas in 7x65R and 9.3x74R and I like them. The newer 7mm is much heavier than the 9.3mm, but it is good balanced and very easy to shoot with. Also due the barrels are lot heavier it isn't sensitive to head up and spread groups then.

The 9.3x74R has much lower pressure than the 06, extraction with the 9.3 is also better for a double.

You can use 230gr bullets to get a flatter trajectory, but this is not a bean-field rifle anyway, so out to 200 yards it will be fine with the 286gr standard bullets.

Be carefull when you get a shot-gun change-barrel-set for it, have a good smith fit it - otherwise your foreend might get loose, this happend in the used 9.3 I bought.

Franz

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Franz A. Holzer

Franz@Holzer.com

14 February 2002, 11:40

dan belisle

I have one of the Valmet 412's in 308. I like it. It's a little heavy for a 308, but that probably helps in the larger calibers. Perhaps some of our Nordic posters can tell us if/what other barrels are available, from whom, and what they cost. Specifically looking for a 9.3 barrel set and a 12 gauge barrel set. thanks. - Dan

14 February 2002, 16:11

Dr. Duc

Mike, I have my 9.3 shooting to 1 1/2" and the 30.06 doing the same. They are very load sensitive and you will have to regulate for one particular load and use that. My 9.3 is regulated for Norma 286r. Nosler duplication shoots 3 1/2" even though it uses the same N-201 load as the Norma. The 30.06 is set for Federal Nosler 180gr Partition. 165 gr Sierras shoot patterns not groups-6-8".
I like the rifle and the way it shoots but it is as picky as any other double rifle.
You can also have trouble regulating because of that cold barrel n the first shot. It like to have drove me nuts.