Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats What would you tweak on a Tikka to improve it for an Elk Rifle

I have a pair of Tikka's that are intended to be elk rifles. I have a good shooting standard T3 in 7mm Rem Mag and I just traded in to a standard T3 in 300 Win Mag. I was going to make some improvements on the .300 win mag for my primary elk rifle. What would you do to a factory Tikka to make it a bit better and be your primary elk rifle?

Put a better recoil pad on it then go kill some elk.

drover

I have never had a problem with a Tikka trigger. Would it be worth while to upgrade the trigger?

I like the Tikkas as they come. I definitely wouldn’t change the trigger since I don’t think there is anything any better than what comes on the rifle. If they shoot well for you, I’d hunt them as is. I’ve got a 7-08, 270 Win, 22-250 and 6.5 CM and the only things I did was swap them into McMillan Sako Classics since the Tikka stock never fit me real well. If the regular stock works, I’d run them as is.

Did you ever find those Sako classics in stock at McM or have to order and wait every time?

Gentry Quiet muzzle break

I just got one not long ago, I like it, as is.

IMO changing the Tikka stock trigger for an aftermarket one would be step backwards - no point in changing out a dependable proven item.

drover

I would adjust the trigger to the weight you want using a trigger pull gauge. I have adjusted my two Tikka triggers to 2 1/4 lbs with no creep but they will go lower than 2 lbs. and still pass my drop tests and bolt slam tests if desired. They are a fine trigger I would not change them.

+1 on changing the recoil pad, if you take the screws out and see how it is made you will understand why it is so hard. There is about 3/4" of hard honeycomb plastic covered with about 1/8" of thin rubber. The "LimbSaver" pads fit and work nicely.

The stocks on my T3's felt a little slippery to me, so I painted one with rustoleum ruff surface paint and I bought a Bell and Carlson stock for the other.

Steel recoil lugs, Limbsaver recoil pads, and Nosler Partitions. Tikkas are pretty much perfect out of the box.


Okie John

Thanks for the feedback gentlemen. I appreciate it. I have a back of 180 grain Nosler partition 2nds from the pro shop that I have had for a few years. I will work up a load with those. The Nosler manual shows Reloder 22 to be the powder, or IMR 4350 and I have both. I will look into the limbsaver recoil pads. Sounds like they would be a good upgrade for the magnum Tikka's I have. I may upgrade to the steel recoil lug too, seems like a decent move for a small price.

Edit: I ordered a pair of limb savers and a pair of steel recoil lugs. The good news is that both items were on cyber monday sales at Mountain Tactical.

Yes but yours is a 22-250.......not your typical elk rifle !!!!!!!!!

The only aftermarket trigger I have seen for a Tikka is a two stage Timney......absolutely a step backwards !!!!!!!!!

I used a LimbSaver pad on the T3 I rebored to 35 Whelen. That was the only change I would make

Definitely the Mcmillan Sako Classic and aluminum bottom metal would be all the changes I would make. Titanium lug, adjust trigger pull.

Stainless recoil lug. Properly glass bedded into the stock, of course. The t3 will need a better recoil pad like the others suggested. Trigger and stock is just fine. If you wanted to upgrade to the T3x stock, you could always do that. Tikka's are almost perfect right out of the box..

Not a thing. All my Tikka triggers have been very good, once adjusted. Got another coming any day. If the trigger is not good, I'll let you know.

2 T3x's replaced recoil lugs adjusted trigger and added real bottom metal. Really didn't need it but that's what I wanted

Oakster,
I remembered something, when I bought my first T3 in 2007 there were some negative rumors about the Tikka mounts or was it the screws, anyway I have used Warne mounts on mine ever since without any problem.
Good luck with your elk

If you prefer a lighter pull weight the mountain tactical springs are well worth it.