Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Model 70 CRF vs Tikka T3x - don’t hold back

10-4. Opinions and elbows I guess. All good.

I've got two customs builds on Tikka actions. The smith didn't even have to true it up, it was straight from the factory.

Lots of people whine and cry about Tikka's "small" ejection port, but it's one huge reason Tikka actions are so stiff, strong, and accurate.

Interesting, When on the search for my go anywhere "PBGR" I choose the Tikka because it eliminated the nits I had with the Rem 700.

It a'int the extractors it's the triggers.

The so called "cassette" triggers will pack up quickly in salt air or fine sand conditions.

That is what makes the older M70s so reliable. The BEST single stage trigger ever put in a sporting rifle. The only one more reliable is the Mauser 2 stage.

IMO all the problems with the Walker trigger can be traced to crud in it.

As for two stage: If it works in the trenches of WW One it will work in any hunting application.

Well there's two we now know of!

With the controlled round action you can just open the bolt just right and push the round back into the magazine straight down when you need to get in the truck. Can't do that with a push feed.

I cannot imagine anything more important.

Just easier and faster, no chance of dropping a cartridge in the snow. I am glad you imagination is so limited.

Did it with PF 70’s and 700’s for years. I must be amazing.

And you are! Did you have jack one out into your hand opening the action and then put it back in the magazine and close the bolt holding the top round down so the bolt wouldn't catch the rim? Were you wearing gloves? CRF actions are far easier to do the same thing with.

wut?

one in the tube, mag box full.

The Tikka is the Toyota Camry of rifles, and I mean that in a good way. That said, I've sold my Tikkas - I want to like the guns I own and just never liked them. I would grab a model 70 in a heartbeat if the right opportunity presented itself.

300 Weatherby would be my choice

I must be unusual. I have and love model 70’s and tikkas. Love and use both. I have sold everything else.

All I have is tikka for push feeds. Models 70’s only like pre 64’s and stainless classics.

Haha some days I feel like a half pint short.

That's mostly a non-argument. No mention is made of what rifles the Tikka was tested against, and I'm doubtful they tested against the older M70 w/ crf and open trigger design. And I also doubt they tested the even simpler and more rugged Ruger 77 MKII/Hawkeye. I'd take either of those over a Tikka with its removeable magazine in cold, snowy conditions. I'd bet a removable magazine was part of the military's criteria. And of course, military weapon choices are notoriously political.

I have nothing against the T3, and in fact when a guy (or gal) new to Montana asks me what rifle to buy for elk hunting I tell them to get a Tikka T3 in 270 Win. Mount a Burris 3-9 with dots on top in Talley Lwt rings, add a Butler Creek Mountain Sling and you're off to the races.

But for me I throw up a bit in my mouth around the Tikka. For a lightweight I'd always rather pack a Kimber MT, and for a midweight I'd rather use an M70.

But the Tikka does it all right off the shelf with no dicking around...

Tikka's are great rifles, but I wouldnt put to much stock in what the Canadian Rangers use or their testing. If you lived here you would know why.
In any event their first choice wasnt the Tikka, it was the Ruger Gunsite scout, but they couldnt get them at the price they wanted so went with the Tikka, and got soaked. A good friend did some research and wrote an article on it and if my memory is correct they paid over 3k per rifle.

I have Tikka's, and they are fine guns, but as far as reliability goes, the Winchester/ Ruger wins hands down.

I have. A few times actually. On expensive hunts too. Most of the failures I've seen were with Remington 700s. The hunters ended up being successful, but only because they used my rifle.