Tikka question

[Mr Drysdale]

I looked at a new Tikka at the local gun shop today. I went in wanting to put my hands on a T3 Lite in 300WM stainless. They did not have one but had a T3 stainless in 7RM with fluted barrel and Camo stock. The clerk said it was a "Shot Show Special". I knew that Tikka sold their "Super Lite" with the fluted barrel and Camo stock through Cabelas but had not seen one listed outside of there. My question is: Could this be the "Super Lite". Only said Tikka T3 on the barrel. Did not say T3 Lite or Super Lite. I did not weigh it but it was lite compared to a X Bolt I also looked at. Anyone able to answer this question?

 

[Tim McCoy]

I know they made all sorts of variations, they have an old model section on their web site you could check.

Both my T3 SS Lites say so on the box, but on the gun itself say T3. So I suspect you are correct. Do they have the box to look at? If not, maybe get an accurate weight and sleuth it out? But if you like it, who cares, go get it...

 

[buckbull]

Perhaps you could look it up by serial number.

 

[DRUSS]

my tikka is pre T3 and says M695 on the side ( I am not looking at it currently) if I remember correctly. but have yet to find any tikka that wasn't smooth and accurate

 

[Mr Drysdale]

I know they made all sorts of variations, they have an old model section on their web site you could check.

Both my T3 SS Lites say so on the box, but on the gun itself say T3. So I suspect you are correct. Do they have the box to look at? If not, maybe get an accurate weight and sleuth it out? But if you like it, who cares, go get it...

I'm about to talk myself into doing just that. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Mr Drysdale]

Rifle purchased. DNZ mount ordered. Limb Saver ordered. Happy with the purchase. I will let y'all know how it performs.

 

[JDM]

The rifle you purchased is a superlite. They were the only T3s produced with a fluted barrel and a poly stock. You will love the rifle
but you're going to appreciate a limbsaver pad. The stock pad is like a rock.

 

[Mr Drysdale]

I do not hand load. I shoot TTSX's out of my 308 and like the performance. I am thinking I will see how the 140 gr TTSX's group in this rifle. Anybody shooting factory ammo out of this same setup? I will be mounting a Leupold VX 3 4.5 X 14 X 40 CDS on this rifle in the DNZ Game Reaper mount.

 

[RICMIC]

I have the t3 Superlite in 30-06. I worked up a variety of load using Barnes 180 gr. TTSX, and also tried several different factory loads. I used plain old Remington Corelokt 165 gr. to break it in, and after it all was done, I found the sweet spot using the Corelokt. So far it has been one shot death on 3 mule deer, 3 whitetails, and 3 antelope. I can get the Corelokts for $18 a box, and it's hard to reload for much less than that with a premium bullet.

 

[monster 5X5]

You will be thrilled with your purchase!
I bought my first Tikka a few months back.
I got mine in 300 WM.
After 10 days Goat hunting I decided enough was enough when it can to packing heavy gear. The 5lbs of tent went down the road and so did my long range gun with the 5x20 scope on it.
My new rig should weigh under 7lbs.
I just bought a vx-3i 3.5x10 cds and ordered dnz base and rings.

The gun shoots a 180 accubond pretty straight

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[stevevan]

Wow! You've got a shooter. Factory or handloads.

 

[boiler]

You will be thrilled with your purchase!
I bout my first Tikka a few months back.
I got mine in 300 WM.
After 10 days Goat hunting I decided enough was enough when it can to packing heavy gear. The 5lbs of tent went down the road and so did my long range gun with the 5x20 scope on it.
My new rig should weigh under 7lbs.
I just bought a vx-3i 3.5x10 cds and ordered dnz base and rings.

The gun shoots a 180 accubond pretty straight

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Dang, I can't shoot a group like that at point blank range! Nice shootin!

 

[monster 5X5]

Wow! You've got a shooter. Factory or handloads.

Hand loads.

I tried 3 different powder and the one I least expected was the one that works. At some point I acquired 8 pounds of XMR 3100.
I tried 74.5 grains and the 180 AB loaded 6 rounds and shot those two groups.


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[Mr Drysdale]

That's impressive monster. Any break in?

 

[Slugz]

You will be thrilled with your purchase!
I bought my first Tikka a few months back.
I got mine in 300 WM.
After 10 days Goat hunting I decided enough was enough when it can to packing heavy gear. The 5lbs of tent went down the road and so did my long range gun with the 5x20 scope on it.
My new rig should weigh under 7lbs.
I just bought a vx-3i 3.5x10 cds and ordered dnz base and rings.

The gun shoots a 180 accubond pretty straight

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Great picture and a great example with visuals on how a properly put together weapon/hand load combo can operate. Thanks

 

[monster 5X5]

That's impressive monster. Any break in?

I did a 10 shot break in with factory Winchester loads. Basically I just patched the barrel every shot.

On the two groups I posted I waited five minutes between shots.



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[GKPrice]

there's been chatter that the Tikka and Sako barrels, at least the fluted versions, are made in the same factory by the same master gunsmiths - Sako hammer forged barrels are highly regarded as some of, if not THE smoothest "out of the box factory" barrels in the industry - I've owned and worked with a dozen or more Tikka T3 and the same has been my observation with them so break-in "should" largely be a cursory exercise - Tikka are great rifles - Mountain Tactical in Bozeman MT has many performance enhancing products for Tikka's as well

 

[Indiana Mike]

Bought a T3 Lite in .243 for antelope and deer it is the most accurate rifle I have ever owned. Sub 1/2" groups with Sierra Gameking 85 gr BTHP and Hornady 95 gr SST.

 

[GKPrice]

I looked at a new Tikka at the local gun shop today. I went in wanting to put my hands on a T3 Lite in 300WM stainless. They did not have one but had a T3 stainless in 7RM with fluted barrel and Camo stock. The clerk said it was a "Shot Show Special". I knew that Tikka sold their "Super Lite" with the fluted barrel and Camo stock through Cabelas but had not seen one listed outside of there. My question is: Could this be the "Super Lite". Only said Tikka T3 on the barrel. Did not say T3 Lite or Super Lite. I did not weigh it but it was lite compared to a X Bolt I also looked at. Anyone able to answer this question?

the Tikka T3 "LITE" is the standard version rifle that comes in CM or SS with a black synthetic stock - The "superlight" is merely a SS T3 with a fluted barrel - the weight savings is nominal but they look great - There may have been some sort of "shot show special" but Cabela's has been selling "their" version which sports a camo finish stock for $899 for some time - Sportsmans Warehouse sells the black synthetic stocked model for $699 - Other than stock finish both rifles are identical - There is also a "new improved version" soon to be released that might have some appeal, have to wait & see - I shoot superlights and although they're not "true" ultra light rifles they are lightweight and balanced so well that to me they "hunt" lighter than they actually weigh - All of mine have Mountain Tactical anodized aluminum picatinny rails and Leupold PRW rings (there are quality aluminum rings out there if you want to save an ounce or 2 more) - I install Limbsaver recoil pads and always carry at least 1 spare magazine in my pack - These are well designed, well made rifles that have never failed to give excellent service to my entire hunting camp (collectively we own 8) for scopes: 6 Leupolds. 2 Swarovskis

 

[Tim McCoy]

GK, the new one is the T3x. Has a metal bolt shroud, several stock improvements, ejection port change, another scope mount base screw hole I think, and probably a few others I have forgot. They have the info on-line. Have not handled one, but when they go on sale for just a bit over $600, I may have to have one.