Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Tikka or Sako ???

How much difference in price, availability, quality, accuracy from factory, etc

Do you like one over the other and why?

I can afford the Tikka I bet but are willing to drop coin for nicer.

If you are talking stainless and synthetic,the Tikka is 90% of the Sako for about 50% of the price.I prefer the Sako because I don't like plastic tigger guards,magazines and bolt shrouds.The plastic is perfectly functional but it is still associated with cheap for me.

I think the older Sako rifles,pre 75,display a higher level of craftsmanship if you can live with the heavier weight and enjoy a classic walnut and blued steel rifle.

I own several Sako's but have only owned one Tikka. I just can not warm up to them for some reason. I always tell myself for a few hundred more I can own another Sako. Sako are worth the extra money to me.

Dink

Both!

I was fortunate enough to snag an A7 for the same price as a new T3. Love them both. Neither is more accurate than the other as trips to the range usually run in the .4's to .5's.

I prefer the A7 but thats just me.

If you are looking at a new Tikka, you can get a used sako for close to that...if you are patient and shopping an ordinary caliber/rifle. I have no experience with Tikka, but have 2 sakos and wouldn't trade them for anything...except maybe a different sako

Also, all the quality and accuracy issues that seem to randomly affect some high-end rifles you read about on the fire are not issues with the sakos I own.

Can't wrong either way though

Are you talking Tikka T3 and Sako A7?

If so, are you looking at a LA or SA cartridge?

I'm not sure how much difference there is in price in the current market, but if it's fairly close and I was going short action, I'd opt for the A7 since all the T3's are LA's.

Years ago, I picked up an A7 in 243 that was actually cheaper than I could get a stainless T3 at the time. Got it off Gunbroker, IIRC, off some dealer that was closing out the old models before the new ST stocked models came out.

It's a good shooter, but I think the Tikkas shoot a little better. I think the action is a little stiffer on the T3. That said, I don't think it's a world of difference - the Tikkas just shoot phenomenally with everything and are so non-finicky.

In a Long Action, I'd probably go Tikka if there's much price difference - although the A7 may be easier to top load if that's a big deal.

If you're comparing a T3 or an A7 to a M75 or 85, that's not really apples to apples, IMHO. Weight, price, etc. don't really line up.

A stainless 75, standard or Finnlight, is a lot of rifle and better built than either, IMHO - but it's heavier and more expensive and probably won't shoot any better than either the T3 or A7.

Problem with the 75 or 85, to me, is that they still need a stock, even at that price. Plus, the Finnlight barrels are shorter than I'd like in most cartridges.

DJ

The A7 is just a Tikka with the Sako name on the side.Between the A7 and Tikka,I see no reason to pay the extra for an A7.

The A7 has a Soft touch stock, feels better to some and is quieter, the mag release is less likely to drop the mag by accident, a true short action in the small calibers, can open the bolt with the safety engaged, a 3 lug bolt instead of 2.

I have 1 of each and they are good guns. I got my wife's 308 A7 for less than most stainless T3s on clearance.

Sounds like you got a nice rifle at a good price.Different things matter to different people.My statement was based more on ammount of plastic parts than anything else.

Yep, plastic bottom "metal" on both. The A7 has metal feed lips in the mag but both are plastic and terribly expensive. Both guns fit the plastic stocks very well, much better than the Win or Rem stocks.

Both are more accurate than they should be.

Not so - it's the 75 bolt head with 3 lugs and the verticle stack mag can be top loaded unlike the T3......

what's the advantage of "top loading" vs. magazine?