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

I have a SS T3 in 7mm-08. It is the most accurate out of the box I have ever owned. It shoots everything under 1.25 inches and some preferred loads at the 1/2" -5/8" mark. It looks a bit funky but functions well.

just purchased a ss t-3 in 7-08, are the tsx in 140 the best factory ammo????

thanks
anie

DJ, no worries. I would help you and most folks here.
Without hesitation.
Dave

How does that rough finish on the stainless steel hold up to rain and snow? Does is spot or rust easily? I am looking at two of them in .30-06 and .270 Win, but if I have to Durakote it anyway, I might as well buy the T3 Lite in blue. I am looking to use it as a lighter mountain rifle, where it might see days of bad weather and banging on rocks.

I think the 6.5x55mm and 7mm-08 are the right power for such a light rifle, but the two rifles I weighed were both 6 lbs 14 oz, the same as a Remington 700 SP in walnut, so with a scope, they are going to be pushing 8 lbs anyway.

anie, I really like the Hornady Light mag (139 gr) and the plain ol' core likt (140 gr) for my deer hunting. Both extremely accurate. The Light Mags ran 3090fps avg in mine.

Lee24, Are you saying the T3 Lite in synthetic stock weighed 6lbs 14oz? That is WAY more than the 2 or 3 I have weighed. All weighed 6lbs 2-3 oz with factory rings and magazine installed.
Dave

Have one in 30-06, 7 pounds even with a Leupold 2.5-8X in the factory rings. Most accurate rifle I own, 1" or less consistently with all factory loads I have tried.

I've hunted with it 3 years and have had no issues with the plastic or finish. This does not bother me, Glock and others have proven that synthetics can be quite durable.

The magazines will cost $50-$70 if you can find them, which I think is crazy. It is a negative that I am willing to live with because I like the rifle so well. The stock is slick if not wearing gloves that provide some grip. I plan to paint mine with Rustoleum textured paint before next Fall.

I got a Quote today on a T3 LITE black syn / Stainless pick your CAL for 570.00 plus 20.00 shipping plus 25.00 FFL transfer.

I wish I could find one a little cheaper, and I am still not sure what CAL I want. they have the 6.5x55 CAL now too.

If you are in the market, the 6.5x55 would be a good move.

You wouldn't want to be any critter on the receiving end of a 140gr partition outa my sons mtn rifle!

I have a 595 Tikka 7-08 shown in this pic w/Weaver 3-10 GS...I like it!! Handles nice..very accurate....well made...super smooth action..just don't lose the clip...I also have the same rifle in 223 SS/syn...yes with a spare clip for each...yes..I also painted the stock on the 7-08...

My T3 SS/syn 270 w/rings bare nekkid weighs 6lbs 3ozs as advertised on the Beretta website right on the button. The T3 6.5x55 Hunter Grade with its wood stock weighs about 1 1/2oz's over the Beretta website specs at 6lb 11 1/2ozs with rings.

If you can find a a 6.5x55 Stainless you need to snap it up as I really wanted one and could not find one anywhere in Texas or in any distributor in the US from early December thru early March, and got one of the last two Hunter Grade 6.5's anywhere in the Gander Mtn system. Lots of 7-08's around...just not any 6.5x55's anywhere that I could find. Last time I looked 6-8weeks ago, Beretta still listed 6.5x55 in Hunter & Deluxe Grades on the website, but not in SS/syn or blue/syn...just did not import any 6.5's of any color since mid year '05 and had the wood stocked guns still left over was what I was told by one distributor rep I traded EMails with.
Ron

Verhoositz, you are right, I can't find a 6.5x55 either, I had just saw this past weekend on the tikka site that they do make that CAL, but now I can't find one to buy.

I picked up a 6.5x55 SS Lite last December. Had never seen one available before and their was a flash in the pan run on them, then they dried up completely. There seem to be lots in Canada but they can't share.

I have one in 300 WSM. If they only have one action length it would be hard to tell because the bolt stops just at the back of cartridge. They must have a stop setting. Mine is very light I wouldn't want it any lighter for recoil and steadiness.
Speaking of bolts it is a short bolt lift and feeds each round exactly the same from the vertical stack magazine. And smoother than my M70 or M700 rifles.

It is not pretty.

I do like the grip, it is sort of swollen symetrically like a double palm swell.

Trigger is fantastic.

I replaced the recoil pad with a LimbSaver.

If you shoot one much it will probably become your go to rifle.

I bought the t3 lite syn. blue in .308 win. weighed 6 lbs. 3 oz with rings and mag installed.top it off with a 2-7x32 nikon mon.6 lbs 14.5 oz total. 509.00 ordered from wally world.I've shot 150 rounds thru it so far with no problems.I don't care for the rings but have had no problem with them,will replace them before deer season, will also duracoat the barrel.It shoots great,and is very smooth and has a great trigger imho.I got no complaints.Get one you won't be disappointed.

I'll ask again - did those of you who bought the SS do it just for the look, or have you found it to actually be worthwhile for hunting in rough weather?

I am trying to decide between a blue T3 Lite for $409.00 and a stainless for $509.00.

I think the stainless is better in harsh conditions. Here in Texas, humidity is high, lots of dust, haven't hunted with it in rain a bunch since it's pretty dry here generally, but it has done well in all weathers. My 223 is in the truck all the time, and I wipe it down pretty regularly, but it has done well, although I did notice a little rust spot on the scope rail down in the groove.

The stainless barrel and action definitely resists rust better than the blue rings on the rifle, FWIW, but I don't have a blued Tikka rifle for comparison.

DJ

I did buy stainless for the more durable finish, but to be honest I hunt with some blue guns that are 50-100 years old. They do have some blemishes and spots where the bluing has worn through, but it has not affected their performance. I kinda like the looks of a well used, but not abused, blued gun.

Stainless is definitely worth it, especially here for me in the humid South. If you hunt in rough, wet, or humid weather, the the extra GDB (green dollar bills) you pay for stainless will be well worth it.