Home Forums Hunting & Shooting The Lefty Forum FYI, Eurooptics/Christensen Arms

It's very easy to do. Like already mentioned in this thread....you can buy a Tikka T3X which to me is a more consistent shooting rifle than the CA in stock form. Regardless, you can buy the Tikka, throw an aftermarket barrel of your choice, and a carbon stock and be money ahead. And more importantly, a better performer. You can do the exact same thing with an old Remington 700 which to me is the best way to go.



That is so far from the truth. People that have done their research would much prefer a build based on a Tikka or Remington action than a stock CA Mesa/Ridgeline. Look at the resale in the classifieds...that should tell you enough. The Tikka and Remington 700 (or R700 clone actions) are the gold standard for most hunting rifle builds. I'm sorry, and don't take offense to this, the CA rifles are a very budget entry level introduction intro 'custom' rifle. You aren't really getting a custom rifle if that's what you're seriously after.

Me, I’ve taken no offense, this has been a good conversation,

But,

I disagree that you can put together a build with new parts for 1500, especially when you are talking about a new barrel and smith services.

Find me a smith who will do completes for 1500/1600, I’ll have the check in the mail by this Saturday.

And no, I don’t consider a CA a ‘custom”.

Like I said earlier, the Custom that I would like, 6,000 dollars before optics.

The Ti arrived today, weight is 6lbs 3oz, No thread protector in the box,

Otherwise liking what i see so far.

Some good conversation here by all,

Here’s my thoughts on the Tikkas,,

I don’t hate the stock enough to throw it away and drop 800 on a Mcmillin, BTDT and less than satisfied on 2 of them,

Then paying 800 for a stock on a 800 dollar rifle,,,,just doesn’t compute to me,

Liked the stock enough to keep it around and throw a few bucks at it, grab that vertical pistol grip that really does improve the ergos in my opioion, but we are still left with that slippery feeling that is often mentioned by many, so the stock is currently off in Texas for paint and spiderwebbing, main focus here is grippyness, should have that stock back next week, fingers crossed, about 140 bucks invested in this,

Others have mentioned the tikka mag, not my favorite either, even though Tikkas have the long action, I can barely get 140 VLDs at -.050 to feed properly from the mag, had a few hang ups,

So ordered the Mountain Tactial mag which has a few extra K hairs ID, the 140’s feed a little better, but now Barnes TSX bullets hang up when the bottom of the bolt catches the bands on the Barnes, another 80 bucks here, (?)

Different mags for different bullets? Huh?

And now the Plastic bottom metal, and plastic bolt release, and plastic bolt shroud, That might be all in my head, but before I would spend any more money on a Tikka, those plastic parts would be gone,

And now for the trigger, if there was a Trigger tech trigger for a Tikka, it would already be here,

Help me out here folks, This trigger has a soft mushy feel in the take up, it just adds to the plastic ambiance of a Tikka, It’s not a heavy trigger or such, just mushy in the take up and break,

Any ideas on a fix here?

Spent 10 days last August humping 60 miles with a 9 lb rifle when the 7.5 lb Tikka was left home, just didn’t have the confidence in the rifle to bring it with, So the old heavyweight Mr. Reliable went for a long walk…

I saw where others here have mentioned likes and dislike with either the Tikka or the Mesa, Neither are perfect so far to me,

No one’s right, and no ones wrong, It’s the search that keeps us going,

The Tikka is one of my more accurate rifles, buttery smooth bolt, Just need to get rid of that Tupperware ambience,

Handling the Mesa tonight, I like what I feel compared to the Tikka,

Load work up should be interesting, I’ll let ya know how it goes in the next few weeks.

Just rambling on here………..

The plastic bothers me as well.



The mag is the only plastic left.

A few months back I got into some really interesting discussions here with several other Tikka owners via pm,

Tikkas are almost like AR platforms with the availability of aftermarket parts,

Titanium bolt shrouds, bolt releases, bottom metal, jeweled bolts, McMillan stocks, Mags, You can really throw some coin at these bad boys.

Yes.

But not the $1600 base model Mesa that Kenneth was mentioning.


For a comparison…

I’ve had Alamo Precision build 2 for me.

At that time, their base model was $2500 or so. Looking at the API website , it’s around $3200 now.

No complaints. They make a great gun. And prices of everything has increased.

I think he got the Ti for $1600 via the sale that this thread was started about.

Just call them and they will give you a promo code for a free thread protector with free shipping, I have no idea why they do this either, you would just think they would stick it in the box with the rifle, oddly enough on the more expensive Ridgeline you have to purchase a thread protector separately, on the Mesa it’s free.

Do not buy the Christensen.

Pm me for details

lefty

Worst f...ng rifle I ever owned. Bar none

Lefty

Correct.

Tried your idea today, No go.

Thread protectors are available on their website is what I was told,

Color options are black, black, and black,

No stainless.

Too late,

Range report,

All good so far, fed and ejected with no issues,

Basic barrel break in but initial groups show inch or even slightly less for 3 shot groups,

I’ll take that, And so far I’m really liking this rifle. Love that trigger tech trigger.

you got lucky and got one of the good ones.

All the parts are there, they just don't take the time to put them together right.


lefty

Ditto!

I got lucky too I guess. I took a chance on a lightly used Ridgeline 7mm-08 and I love it. It shoots basically any load I can throw together under 1" and very close to the same POI, which is a first for me.

For comparison…

The fft ridge line in 18” barrel..

Euro Optics lists for $2600.

Alamo Precision has something similar listed on their website for $4200.

Carbon stock. Carbon barrel. Etc..

Apple to Apples? No.

But a comparison non the less.

Me personally, I like this Mesa Ti for 1600 so much that I’m considering grabbing another in 6.5 PRC