Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Tikka T3 lite stainless in 7-08? Anyone

Do you own one? what do you think? web-site say's it weights 6-3/8 with a 24"-3/8 barrel? What kinda muzzle velocitys are you acheiving? Accurate?
I'm wondering about the plastic trigger guard and it's toughness? Is it a push feed?

Would like to hear the good bad nag the ugly!
Even if you don't own one I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Thanks

No you wouldn't.......

Love mine. Never weighed it though. Feels plenty light climbing around the local hills. Presently shooting the 140 Barnes TSX at 2850 fps(42.5 grains Varget).

Trigger guard has not been an issue for me or bolt shroud. Gun has seen hard use now for around 4 years. Have taken lot's of deer and antelope, 2 elk and 2 pet bison with this rig so far. I believe it is a push feed, maybe someone else here knows for sure. Again, has not been an issue for me.

Accuracy is the best of ANY rifle I have owned. No problem to get 1" groups. Oozes confidence. Can't say enough about a gun I paid $520 for(stainless/syn).

Only my CZ comes close in buyer satisfaction.

SH

What scared? Yea I wanta hear what you think. Might buy one. But I hear they don't load well from the top. And I'm concerned about toughness.

Acurracy and weight might win me over. I can con a like new outa a friend for $425 and I really want a lightweight 7-08. Also 2-1/2"s more of barrel. That's a few more fps!

Don't be scared

Looks-wise, I hate 'em. Parts-wise, I can do without the plastic magazine, shroud, and trigger guard. Have not experienced loading problems, but have never taken one afield either. They are actually probably plenty tough in actuality, just look cheesy as hell. The other thing I do not like and don't understand is the non-integral recoil lug. It is not even the slip-on type. It is merely a slot cut in the bottom of the barrel shank and the lug fits into a matching slot cut in the tupperware. Triggers and barrels are generally good and these guns usually shoot well. I have a problem getting over their looks, some of the plastic parts, and the "recoil lug", but they are not an accident waiting to happen like an A-bolt........You'll like the 7-08 if you are not already familiar with it. There you go.....

Are you sure the T3 Light has such a long barrel in 7-08? Just don't sound right for some reason.....

Thanks, hope I didn't horn you up!LOL

Seriously, thanks for your input. I also wasn't blown away by the way it felt in my hands. I'm also not a big detach mag guy. But it could perform?

The way I saw it on their site says it's a 24-3/8 inch T 3 Mag barrel?? 6-3/8pds

It absolutely will perform.

I have a couple, and off the top of my head, here are some pros and cons.

Pros:

1. Very Accurate with lots of different ammo - least picky guns I have owned. They will shoot a variety under an inch, in fact, mine have shot everything I've tried under an inch (223 and 270).

2. Barrel is Sako - 'nuff said. Has some beef to it too - not too thin, but still a light rifle.

3. Trigger is as good as you will find - easy to adjust with an Allen wrench without even taking it out of the stock - right down to 2 lbs and breaks like glass. Outstanding.

4. Light and nicely balanced (to me - I like a little weight in the barrel.)

5. Action is butter slick and well designed for reliability and strength - not identical to Sako, but they are kin.

6. Cost - great value. Rings included, and mine have done fine.

Cons:

1. No beauty queen, although I don't think they're as ugly as some - especially not since you want Stainless and Synthetic - those aren't usually pretty without a Mickey.

2. Stock - functions well, but that's about all.

3. Plastic bolt shroud and trigger guard and magazine - I have had no problems and heard of very few, but as tough as they are, they're still plastic. It does help shave weight, though.

4. Magazines are expensive if you lose one.

5. Hard to top load, if that's important. Pretty tight quarters.

6. Same length action for everything - this bugs me, and would bug me if I had a 7-08. Might as well go LA if you have to carry it anyway.

To me, the pros far outweigh the cons for what I use these rifles for - they are terrific to use and not worry about, have them with me all the time, and don't worry about abusing or even losing them, because if I do, I can find another that will shoot just like what I've got. It's not a fluke to find a shooter right out of the box, it's the norm.

Hope this helps. Buy the one you can get for $425 - you'll never regret, IMHO.

DJ

Sounds like it is 24 3/8" in mag chamberings.....not 7-08....

I bought one for my daughter's bear hunt last fall. Very pleased with the action, trigger, feel, felt recoil and accuracy. I personally don't like the stock as it is too plastic for me. I don't like the clip. The outer dimensions is the same for all calibers but the inner part of the clip is the difference. You almost have to remove the clip to load it. It is similar to a pistol clip where you have to slide the rounds down and in.

Would I purchase another one, yes but probably not my first choice. It certainly fits the "Fairly inexpensive for a light weight rifle with all mechanics being exceptionally well constructed".

they are great guns, I (for kids) own 3 of them, two being 7mm-08. As far as ss/syn I DO like the looks of them, the stock is much stiffer than many factory synthetics, the clip feeds perfect everytime. The 7mm-08 has a barrel of about 22 1/2, all up with a leupy 3x9x40 they weigh around 7 1/2 lbs and shoot and function very well. As I've said before, for around 6 bills, the best thing going.Do put a limbsaver on it though.

What DJ said. Mine is a 308 and with max loads shoots way under an inch and most anything to same POI. Mine weighs 6lbs 2oz with rings and no scope. Balances perfectly (I like some muzzle weight also), action is the smoothest I have ever handled.
As far as looks with a 3-9x40 conquest on board it looks great at least as far as a black stocked SS rifle.
I'll stop and say.

What DJ said.

At the rate DJ is buying up goodies I am waiting for him to sell one.......

Dave

Oh and I wish mine was a 7-08, eventhough this one shoots lights out I would prefer a 7-08.

Mine shoots bugholes in 30-06.

DJTex nailed most of the issues.

I wll add that it is just plain boring. Load ammo, shoot little bitty groups, go home. No load development, no straining with COL, nuthin'. Its just no fun. . . . (wink)

Although, I bought mine to shoot partitions and it would not agree to do so. I shoots 150 grain TSX at 3000 fps into cloverleafs, though.

Will try 180 grain Accubonds next.

BMT

Thanks, Dave...I think - .

I did sell my fancy Swaro scope in the classifieds last week - shipped it yesterday.

While I would never sell my Tikka 270, I am giving it away if you can believe it. I guided the two oldest sons of one of my best friends to their first whitetails this season, and one killed his first bobcat and the other a monster boar with huge cutters on the same hunt. Both boys were shooting my Tikka 270 - so I am giving the rifle to them. This created a 270 sized hole in my arsenal, and I also sold 3 other rifles this year after never selling a rifle in my life, so I been fillin' the gaps.

There is another SS T3 in my future, but it might be a 25-06... .

I have upgraded some stuff lately after not buying a rifle for 15 years, but it sure is easy to get carried away. Thankfully, if you buy right, they're like money in the bank, and this is true of the Tikkas as well, so I'm still answering "buy it" on the $425 stainless....

DJ

Me too. If CD doesn't buy it I hope he tells me where it is...
We are neighbors, so to speak...
DJ it was a friendly jab......

Dave

Took it as friendly, for sure, Dave.

Response intended the same way, neighbor.

I wouldn't be scared of a truckload of $425 Stainless T3's in good cartridges if they were in good shape. They are just very useful rifles, IMHO.

DJ

"I wouldn't be scared of a truckload of $425 Stainless T3's in good cartridges if they were in good shape. They are just very useful rifles, IMHO."

BINGO. I was referring to CD and me as neighbors (WA state).

Dave

Thought it was a rifle loony, hunting & outdoor kinship...which transcends distance.

Maybe even an indication you might help me out instead of crossing to the other side if I was laid out on the side of the road.

DJ

I bought my son the T-3 Stainless in 7-08 about 3 years ago. Now I borrow it from him often. I didn't buy it to look at as I use my rifles really hard. They are nothing but a tool to me. That being said, I like the looks, the trigger is fabulous, it shoots anything I feed it under 1". The plastic doesn't bother me as it is very tough (I've had a tikka whitetail for 6 years and it is extremely tough). I drag it through snow, sand, and mud and it has performed flawlessly. All 3 of my Tikkas do the same.