Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles I know Tikkas are accurate but......

......would you pay $1,100 for a T3?

I've noticed that there is strenghtening support for Tikkas in the USA on the basis that they are a good, accurate rifle offering value for money. I've owned four myself: two 595 Master/Whitetail Series and two T3 Lites and can't dispute that they are accurate rifles. However, I feel that the T3s are a retrograde step on the earlier models which I prefer by far.

Here in the UK T3s are typically $1,100 depending on specification and at that sort of money I think there are better options. I'd be interested in hearing some of your opinions in the USA - if you were spending that sort of money on a rifle would it be a T3 or would you opt for an alternative? Incidentally, 700 SPSs are about the same $1,100 price tag over here as well.

Thanks and regards,

Tim

If they are still priced with the other entry level centrefires, then yes, I would pay that much. Here in Canada, they are about $100 more than a Remington SPS.

Tim,

You could do alot worse for 1,100 "pounds sterling".

Doc

everything else being the same if they where $1100 US dollars I say no, because for around $1300 you can get into a mickey stocked custom, thats another reason why I can't see spending all the money that people do on weatherbys. I have been looking at the new senderos, they are about 1k these days, I have to admit I am having a real hard time spending that much for a factory remington 700

I haven't bought a new rifle since Feb. 05. For one, my time to hunt has been limited, and three, the cheapest new rifle (bolt action) here is over $600. I am thinking more and more about ordering from the internet, or going to a NEF single shot.

Hudge,

I don't know where you are shopping, but you should be able to get a Remington SPS for around $450 at Academy (I know Little Rock has one on Markham west of I-430), and Academy advertised them on sale for $430 a couple weeks ago.

If you are thinking about going to an NEF single shot, Academy carries Mossberg ATRs for around $300 (they frequently advertise a package of rifle and scope for $300). The Walmart stores that still carry guns have both the Rem SPS and Mossberg ATRs for about the same prices as Academy does. There also should be somebody around that sells Stevens rifles for less than $300. To be honest, I haven't heard anything bad about the functioning of the Mossberg and Stevens rifles.

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Back to the topic for the gentleman from the U.K. - my opinion is that gun prices are relative and unfortunately in the U.K. the prices are elevated. I have never owned a Tikka, but I am thinking about buying one, and I view Tikka as being at least slightly better than a Remington SPS.

......would you pay $1,100 for a T3?

No I know where there are three of them of a little over $500 new.

Tim,
In the US for a few hundred more we can get a Sako.
How much is a Sako in your country?

You also mentioned that a Rem SPS is about the same price, so in either country I would pay more for a Tikka T3 than a SPS.

I think the Tikka T3 is a great value for the money. I think there are better options in the $1,000 range. I bought my T3 .308 used for a little over $300. I got a great deal and it shoots great. I am very happy with it. I have other rifles that I am very happy with also.

For $1,100 US you could get a new never sold still on the shelves Sako 75 and have a little left over to put down on a scope or something.

You're joshing aint ya, Doc?

I think he is kidding. That should read about 550 pounds sterling. It is my understanding that many products in the U.K. cost the same number of British pounds as products here cost in dollars (e.g., a rifle costing $550 here would cost 550 pounds in the U.K., which is roughly equivalent to $1100 right now).

No. but, I don't like my beer at room temperature either, so.....

you can buy a brand new remington 700 action from brownells for $400 + the fee your FFL holder will charge ... that comes with the trigger assy as well ...

for about another $400, you can get a McM stock of your choice ...

Then for about another $400, you can have the bbl of your choice made, chambered, cut to length, and installed on your newly trued action ...

go ADL style and all you need is a mag box, spring and follower and you're into a true custom for about $1300, less optics/mounts ...

IOW, there are not too many factory offering rifles out there, of any kind, in any chambering, that I'm willing to spend over about $1000 on ... and even then, it better have more than a tupperware stock, and plastic parts ... no matter how good it shoots ...

Down the road Tikka's are selling for $550-600.
Of course I don't live in the U.K..

Tim1, I get your point. If all are the same price get the Tikka.

I think the value of the US dollar was lost in translation somewhere.

FWIW, the exchange rate is almost 2 to 1. And the Canadian dollar has almost caught the US dollar. Yesterday it was .97 to 1.

That's OK, we'll lower interest rates and print more thus lowering the value even further.

I think China has us right where they want us.

Oh yeah, get the Tikka.

Bang on, almost everthing does. I don't know the actual rules for importing a gun form the US to the UK, but I do know the rules to Canada. Even in the great days for the loonie importing a rilfe would easily add $300 to a $500 rifle.

[quote=StrayDog]Tim,
In the US for a few hundred more we can get a Sako.
How much is a Sako in your country?

Stray Dog, I have two Sako 75 SS as my main rifles. They sell here for about �950 or $1,860. My brother just took delivery of a Sako 85 SS in .300WSM which is a special order item. It took close to a year to arrive and when it did I believe it cost �1,150 which translates to about $2,254.

Razorback is absolutely correct in that all firearms related stuff over here costs about the same in Sterling as it does in Dollars over on your side. It was around 1997 when I was last in the USA but I seem to remember that the only thing that was cheaper over here was European optics.

Given the choice between a T3 and a Remmy 700 at the equivalent cost of about $1,100 I'd take the Remmy. I switched out my T3s for Sakos. Although I didn't mind the plastic on the 595/695 Tikka models there is just a bit too much of a plasticky feel about the T3s and they don't feel solid enough for my likeing.

As an aside petrol here is now up to about $9.20 an Imperial Gallon!!!

Regards to all,

Tim