Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Tikka T3 lite??

I am looking at a Tikka T3 lite. I would appreciate any feedback on the performance of this line of rifle by any users out there. The particular rifle is chambered in 223 Rem and has a 1in8 twist. That is the concern I have with this rifle. I will use it for chucks and would prefer lighter varmint bullets. How will 50-55 gr varmint weight bullets perform? The other option is a 22-250 That is offered in a slower twist.

I have that rifle and it shoots 60 and 50-grain V-max's very well. 55 Grain Sierra 1365's too.

Mine works good, shoots good, and wears a recycled Loopie 3-9.

BMT

My T3, in 338 Fed, shoots well. Easy, accurate, cheap, light. But you're gonna rile some here who insist on paying more money for less gun. Get it anyway.

T3 is hard to beat. My son has one in 243, shoots lights out. I think good shooters are the general rule for these. Have to agree with 338Federal, you can spend more for less.

i have been shooting a 270 win t3 for 3 years now,best carrying rifle i've ever owned. also have a t3 in 308win for sale right now. both shoot well under a inch at 100yds.

Mine shoots 55gr V-Max's well under 1/2" at 100. 50's almost as well. Don't hesitate.

I have one in 7mm-08 and it shoots great. However I don't think I would buy one in 223 because the T3 only comes in a long action and I think a 223 should be a shorter, trimmer, handier gun. You're carrying a lot of excess material.

But that's the only downside I would consider.

Dale

Even with all that excess material it weighs in less than some "Fwt" numbers

Don't hesitate in the least bit. Mine shoots 55 NBT's and 55 Blitzkings into a dime for 5 shots. No fuss no muss. No bedding to fix, tweak this and that, re-crown, use a de-resonator, paint your toenails or........well you get the idea. Its all good.

If you are looking for a carefree,lite and accurate hunting rifle.You have found it.But you would like a 25-06 more.

Buy one and don't look back!!

Hey, American made rifle companies, are you reading this? You should and be embarrassed.

About the action length issue. I held my T3 up to my .308 Rem 700 short action and the action of the T3 is almost exactly the same length. That same T3 action takes all the long action cartridges in the same size of the 700 SA, so which one is really oversized? The T3 is also slimmer than many.

Basically the Tikka is my first pick in any caliber.

Here's another opinion-
I have no dog in the fight, just sayin'-

http://www.chuckhawks.com/critical_look_T3.htm

I don't care much for how accurate they are advertised - - - much prefer the how accurate they really shoot thing, and Tikka rifles shoot accurately! I appreciate gun writers' opinions, but they are still just opinions -- sometimes paid opinions. Every Tikka I have ever shot was accurate -- very accurate -- right out of the box.

Chuck says - "I suspect that most satisfied T3 customers are not experienced rifle buyers. A person who has never owned a fine rifle is much more likely to be tolerant of an economy rifle's shortcomings than an experienced shooter and hunter. The relative newcomer simply has inadequate personal experience upon which to base an informed opinion."

he can forget a free promo rifle from tikka.

I like my .223, light , easy to handle and shoots well. I had a .308 also but a buddy borrowed it last deer season and made me sell it to him as he didn't want to give it back..

Too bad most of us are so uninformed and newcomers to the game of rifle buying, I guess.

I call BS on this.

At one time the T3 was an economical choice, it isn't any longer. For significantly less money you can get the American made, accurate and reliable Marlin X-7 series in two action sizes. The accurate, reliable, made in America Stevens 200 in 2 action sizes. For the same price you can get the accurate, reliable, and legendary American made Remington 700. The Savage 110/10 series is another American made rifle comparable to the T3.
Maybe not, none of these American made rifles have plastic magazines or plastic bolt shrouds or a one size fits all action.

I'm happy that you are passionate about your T3's but don't try to blow smoke up our azzes about their supposed superiority.