Just a FYI.

I went in to get a stainless light and they had a super-lite in 7-08. It weighs 5 pounds 14 ounces on my fishing scale.

Daddy sho would likee. I'm a 7mm/08 fan from Way back!

Were they priced low? Wasn't it sportsmans that was blowing out the Supelight models for just over $600 a month ago?

$699.99, just like the other chamberings.



P

If they ever did a 1:8 243 SL Finland would double their GDP.

Don't you wish they would make a limited run of the 7 WSM or the 6.5 SAUM?

My wife doesn't.

Dentist do

6.5x47 Lapua.

Fin rifle, Fin round.

280 remington would be pretty sweet as well..

wish in one hand............

I love these Tikka's SL's, no sending it in to a smith for a trigger job or bedding the action.
Just out of the box accuracy and no frills function.

I've sold most of my 700's, have kept a few Ti's and odd cartridges.

Sold my Kimber 84L's
Sold the Forbes
Sold the Winchesters

Buying Tikka SL's, and spending the rest on out of state hunts.

Nothing wrong with the first gen Sako A7 either.

amen! make them Kimbers obsolete. At way cheaper prices!

Can these be found online to purchase (if so, link please) or only in person at the stores?

Twist on the 7-08?

1/9.5"

http://www.tikka.fi/rifles/tikka-t3/t3-lite-stainless

Shortactionsmoker in the other......

I bought one...




P

And ready to hunt out of the box!

Shod

Ok, so what is a "super lite"? I see nothing on their website that has this moniker.
Do you mean T3 Compact?

The only difference between the sportsman warehouse version has a black synthetic stock.
The difference between the "superlite" and std "lite" model the superlights has a fluted barrel.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Tikka-T-Superlite-Stainless-Steel-Camo-Bolt-Action-Rifles/1170172.uts

Ok no wonder, its a non-catalogued item. Maybe I'll find them on GB.
Thank you.

Nothing on two internet auction sites. Maybe a limited in-store supply.

Nothing on the Sportsman's Warehouse website.

Call your local Sportsmans Warehouse.
Sportsmans Warehouse does not advertise guns on their website.
The Superlight in addition to having a fluted barrel is Lighter than the regular T3.
My 270 Winchester was 5 pounds 13 ounces out of the box.

To the best of my knowledge the Superlites are exclusive to Cabellas and Sportsmans Warehouse which is why you aren,t finding them on GB etc.

Does your 270 shoot well? I see no reason to buy a short action caliber in a long action only rifle.

Yes it shoots great.
Hornady 130 grain WHITETAIL factory ammo about .85 3 shot groups at a hundred off of rest with bags.

Federal 130 grain Fusion factory ammo .75 3 shot groups at a hundred off of rest with bags !

I got to get me one in 270. I have the light weight 7mm-08 covered with a Montana.

Get it and I bet you will really like it.
Mine came with trigger pull set at a light crisp 2.25 pound pull,I did an easy trigger mod that brought the trigger pull down to 1.5 pounds.

Excellent trigger,excellent accuracy,lightweight
I like everything about it.
270 Winchester ,relativly low recoil,flat shooting,available in any store,kills deer great !

Great combo

Why?

I can understand wanting a certain caliber, but for me and what I intend to use it for the only advantage of a short action caliber would be weight saved in the action.

Clark, the Tikka T3 though it is a long action is designed with the mag box back against the trigger group making it shorter and lighter than other long actions such as the Remington 700 action.

In fact when comparing the T3 long action to other various short actions you give up very little.

When comparing Long action rounds such as the 270 the design of the tikka is a plus as far as weight savings.

Shod

I didn't know the action was shorter than a 700. Thanks for the info. I've been wanting a light weight 270 and with the Montana at 5 lbs 10 oz in the 270, I thought I might as well try a Tikka SL since I don't own a Tikka. I do have a Sako 75 Finnlight in 270 that seemed light when I bought it but surly isn't by today's standards. I love the 270 even if it is gay.

Thanks for all the replies - clears up the lack of successful searches.
The .270 Win. in either configuration would be a winner - even its been mischaracterized as being a little - ahem - gay.

Where and how are you measuring the actions?

From the face of the action to the tang:
R700 SA = 8"
R700 LA = 8-3/4"
T3 = 9"

From the face to the trigger:
R700 SA = 6"
R700 LA = 6-3/4"
T-3 = 6-3/8"

Plastic bags in the stock. Limbsaver swapped. Trigger lightened. Talleys on the way. Wipe-Out applied, dry patched, Dyna Bore Coated. Gonna shoot it as soon as I get the mounts.




P

Put a .308 on layaway today after much deliberation. Didn't want to pick it up yet as I need to make room in the safe and choose a scope. I'm thinking VX3 2.5-8 on this one.

I don't have a Sportsman's Warehouse close by, does anyone know if Cabelas will be offering the SL in 7mm-08 as well?

Seriously thought of one, then having it made into a 280 AI

Damn if that wouldn't be interesting....

16 Bore, the way I was shown to measure action length by a gunsmith friend of mine is to measure the distance from the bolt handle to the back of the chamber to effectively determine travel distance.

Don't know if this is how most do it or not its just the way I was shown.

Some actions may have a longer or shorter overall length while some may have a longer or shorter travel length. Travel length is where the greatest weight savings is and also becomes apparent when operating the action.

Shod

I like my Tikkas, but I also didn't like having a short action cartridge in a long action. Since all four of the Tikkas I've owned had long throats, I decided to change the bolt stop and the magazine so I could load the bullets closer to the lands.

On my lite (7-08), I bought a long action bolt stop from a shop for $35, then I ordered the LA mag. Super easy and it works great.

On the SL I bought last week, I sold my mag here for $30. After shipping and Paypal I'll get $22 for it. Cheaper than dirt has Tikka mags on sale for $34. With shipping it was $39, so $17 difference/more. I went to my uncle's house last night and we put the bolt stop in the vice and took a file to it. Like in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4rCsOohVks

I ran 20 rounds through the new SL with the filed bolt stop and a LA mag with no problems last night. (Just cycling at the house, not at the range.)

This group is from two days ago. We had almost no wind. It is with the 162 A-Max at 2.970" OAL (about .010 jammed). Ignore the three bullet holes on the right, they are from an AR. There are five shots in the group, the one out is the cold shooter, first shot of the day.



However, I'm not really sure why I changed to LA mag and bolt stop because that was exactly how the same lite shoots at short action mag length with the same load. (It's about 30 fps slower, though.)

Some bad picture. The 2.97 round in the LA mag:



What it looks like in the SA mag just for comparison:





I sold my T3 in 270 for no real reason. I ran 140 SSTs at 2880 in it with 59 grains of H4831. In my T-3 7-08 I can run 139 SST at the same speed with 49 H4350. The difference is that with the 7-08 I can run the 162 A-Max at 2650 easily and that bullet is a lot of fun.

In short, (too late, I know...), I really wouldn't worry about the 7-08 in the LA with the SA mag and bolt stop. But if you do want to change things, it is $17 (while the sale lasts)and 10 minutes with a file away.

This is exactly why people shouldn't get torqued up over the SA in LA deal..

My favorite is when people point to the differences in weight.



P

At Sportsman's with an accurate scale I weighed a T3 Lite and a T3 Superlite, same caliber. The Superlite weighed 4.9 ounces less.

Jerry

I think the sticker on the stock claims 5.8 lbs; that pretty close to what you saw on the scale?

.8 pounds is 12.8 ounces

Can anyone say Hyper analyze!!

Any T3 owner Not been happy?

I am not a fly weight rifle guy, but if accurate, they are another option.

Long vs short action. Fluted vs round. Flip a coin. Mount, sight, hunt, enjoy.

My 7-08 SL 7-08 is 5 pounds 14 ounces on my fishing scale.

Good point as Tikka shows their weight in decimals not ounces.

Yup, beat me to it.

We call it skullphucking in these parts....

Here's what mine looks like:



16bore's dad did a great job on the mounts:



I'm gonna shoot her ASAP.



P

That is a great looking setup, Pharmseller. I may need to make a run to SW.

Pharmseller, which ring-height are those? I'm hoping I can get away with Talley extra lows when I pick mine up; think I'm going to put my Minox 1.5-8X32 on it and want it looooow.

Milled lows will put the tube .410 off the receiver.

Nice looking set up. Does the recoil lug remain in the modified Talleys?

I had no idea the SL was that light.




Travis

Talleys do not have a recoil lug. They have two mounting screws per mount, no need for the recoil lug.


P

+ 1 on the .280.

call your closest one

Does anyone have a list of what calibers are available as SW? I don't have any close by to check. Calling on the phone is tough to get them to do much digging.

here is what I have seen at my local SW:
223 rem
22-250
308
270
30-06
7 mag
300 win mag

Thanks, so at a min, they offer 223, 22-250, 7mm-08 on top of what Cabelas has in their lineup.

I have a .308 that I bought here NIB and it shoots great!

I just bought one of these Tikka T-3 Superlights in 7mm-08 yesterday for my mountain goat hunt this fall. Looking forward to hitting the range with it. It should be a pleasure to carry in the mountains.

They have .243 also, but 1-10..

Local whorehouse had the .223 and 7/08 in stock. Coin flip won me the 7/08 this morning..

1:8 243 SL would be the schit.

I'm working on that....

Don't forget to have them appropriately mag lengthed....

When the 6.5 Sweede SL's supposed to hit your shelves?

Late September or October...remember mine are blued. They wouldn't let me have stainless this year. That's why I did 125 of each instead of going with bigger numbers.

I'll be happy with the 1 in 8"! Getting them to switch reamers would boggle their minds. I'll have the talk though...

In all honesty, I've never owned a Tikka in 243 so I have no idea how they're throated. My guess would be deep like the rest of their offerings, but I could be wrong. They've all shot well for me regardless of jump.

Fugg yeah!

Picked up a '06 LA magazine too.. Gonna see how the 150 LRAB's shoot in one of my rigs.

5-14.7 on my scale if anyone is paying attention.

I am!

Be sure to let us know how the 150's shoot.

I'm good with blued... I want two of them. Do you know if they're going to be on the 'long action' or set-up as a 'short action' with the bolt-stop and 2.8" mag?




Sounds about perfect... I'm also looking forward to the report in the 150s

The .223 is a SL also?




Travis

Yep.

shortactionsmoker....Do you have any 9.3x62's coming in?......thanks......bearit...

I'll have to check next week. I'm finishing up a week of beach hell tomorrow.

That's what I was hoping.

Are the factory rings worth a crap or should I just buy Talleys when I pick mine up?

I'll probably go extra low talleys.

I have talleys in low and 40 mm scope. Looks like I have mediums on. Oh well. Next time extra low

Good to know; the scope I'm going to mount has a 32mm objective. Fortunately my local Sportsman's has the ex low on the shelf.

I hear that they shoot.

Nice group, love the bug hole that must be 4 or 5 rounds, did you cool down in between? MY 7-08 is on a 120 grain diet and consistently puts 2 in 1 hole with a flyer 1/4 inch off or so for .5 inch groups usually, sometimes better.
I have one of the few LH Hunters in 7-08 to go with my T3 .270 winchester.

Hey Form,

Why shoot a 10 shot group?















Travis

Smong,

No cooling. Those were shot just about as fast as he could rack the bolt.








Travis,


GFY.

I plan to.

Then I'm gonna shoot some 10 shot groups with my Tikka.



Travis

Looks like you finally got it to shoot. Bedding? Tip pressure? Recrown? Tweak the mag box? Barrel set back and throated? Retube? Action blue printed?



Oh, this is a Tikka thread. Nevermind.

Moo cow camo..

Or Rorschach test camo, take your pick..

Hopefully that's not a Cooper Rifles certified 50 yd test target.

If it was, it'd be one ragged hole.

Knock them if you want, but Cooper rifles will shoot. I take nothing away from Tikka, but it isn't a Cooper. At least not in my personal experience.

For 10 rounds at 100 yards with a 7-08?

16B - exactly.

My Superlite in 7mm-08 did this today:



140 Partitions doing 2870 at the muzzle, .453", not too bad.



P

Reckon you didn't hear that Partitions don't shoot, or kill for that matter.

Same load, 2013.



I don't know who was more surprised, me or the bull.




P

I might have to go pick mine up earlier than planned. Don't really have the space right now, but that will be corrected soon. The new scope came in today so the optics box is checked. Looking at these groups gets me in the mood to do a little bench time.

Emphasis on "little", it appears....

What was your load date Pharm? Nice shootin', not surprised.

47.5 grains Big Game
140 NP
WLRM
2.805"
1x Remington brass

Chronoed the load at 2924, not 2870. Might have been the heat, I just assumed it would be close to the MV of my other 7mm-08.



P

I like Tikka rifles and they're as good or better out of the box than anything out there....but they're still not perfect. I've tried them all and Tikka's are superbly accurate--they're the top of the heap off the shelf.

My current 7-08 shot bugholes for a while, then digressed. This has happened with three previous Tikka's as well. Here is one of the culprits..



The other issue is the pressure points a few inches in front of the receiver. When the barrel gets hot, shots begin to walk. I've seen it happen on 8 or 9.

The most accurate Tikka's I've ever seen have been floated all the way back to the receiver. To say they don't need anything from the factory isn't totally accurate...they still need a little TLC to perform their best. Bedding helps, as does a harder lug.

They're one of my favorites at the moment and tough to trump off the shelf, but still not without minor issues...

I'm not so sure it's an inherent characteristic of Tikkas. I've been shooting them for over 15 years now, and have none of those issues. Never needed to bed any of them. Not gonna represent it never happens, but to say it happens regularly.....not so sure.

That's it I am buying another T3....
Gave my nephew my old SS 7-08 that is a drill and just sold a SS 7mag to a nice fellow that works for me.

So I am out of T3s and 7mm's....

The local SW had one SL so I will try to beat DWW there this week....

BTW - factory rings work fine......

Found this'n the other day.... though it's in .308.

7lbs 10oz: 10xSS, SWFA Low Rings, factory Pic rail (off CTR)

I like that set up myself, 1:8 223....

Dude dude dude.....

My brand new SL in 7-08 shot 120BT into an inch but Fed Fusions were like 2".

Guess I don't have a "one holer" but 120's at 3000 in 1" triangles will kill plenty critters.

BTW - mine weighs zactly 6lbs with rings on a digital postal scale...

You guys are killing me with the SS super lights. Not a Sportsmans Warehouse around for hundreds of miles so I have pretty much no chance of picking up one of those anytime soon. I do have other rifles though not too many I can beat on like the Tikkas. Enjoy

Craig

Take a drive..

My 7/08's seem to like 150 BT's over RL 15.

I have three rds loaded with 150BTs and 42 or 42.5grs of R15....

Next question is do I want one more? Unfortunately the 243 is 1-10 otherwise it would be a no brainier ....

I love that Superlite SS in .223.....Where can I get one?.......Thanks Hb

Take 81 north to 581, Hershberger West, right on Ferncliff. Call and verify that they have a 1:8.

I guess I should be glad that there are no Sportsman's Warehouse stores around here as I already have two 7-08s, but it seems a bit unfair that you guys can get a rifle that we can't.

I've sent a couple of e-mails to the store manager in New Mexico to see if they could ship one to a TX FFL. Never have received any reply's, so I guess that's a no.

Oh well, I'm sure my wife would thank them if she new.

Thanks 16bore....I will give them a call.....You the man!.......Hb

If you decide you want Mod Talley's, I'll meet you there.....

That's correct. I called 2 different stores and they both said no.

Just thought I would share .... tikka has a promo: $150 in Beretta bucks for any Tikka rifle purchase:

http://www.tikka.fi/promo

Rats !!!! Week too early...

yeah Talley's are a given for me, the only mount system I've used for the last 10 years....I dont know when I will make the trip but before Fall for sure...I think I use the low Talleys on My T3's though.....Hb

I've got lows too....

Modified T3 Talley's

very good, I will shoot you a PM when I make My road trip................Thanks Hb