Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Answer to "which new bolt rifle" question

I keep reading posts with the question of "which rifle" and all the answers. While they're all good, and with a little tweaking, they'll usually shoot, there's a stand-out in the crowd. I have shot more rifles, over the years, than I care to admit. I've owned some real tack drivers from all the major makers, but there's one that you don't have to work on to get it to shoot.
The Tikka T3, (as well as the 595/695 rifles) is one that you can literally take out of the box, mount a scope, sight in and start shooting, tiny, TINY groups. This makes about the 8th or 9th one I've shot,and all were tack drivers, but I now own a T3 stainless/syn .270. After sighting in to get the scope zeroed, I've fired about a dozen groups with various reloads, and have yet to get a group over AN INCH. That's right, every single group I've shot is easily inside of an inch, just as the gurantee says. It's just a super rifle to shoot, no tweaking, no bedding, just a simple trigger weight screw turn and it's top notch all the way. If you like shooting off the bench, it's boring because you hit what you aim at every time, unless you screw up. This is positively the best hunting rifle I've ever owned, bar none. Heck it's close to shooting with some of the best factory varmint rifles I've owned.
I know eveyone has their favorite bolt rifle, and really they're all good, but none are as easy to get shooting on target consistently as the Tikka. If I could count them, this probably makes my 200th bolt rifle that I've tinkered with, bedded, tuned and shot, and it is truly the easiest to get shooting.
I don't intend to give up on all the rest, heck I need something to do at the range! But the T3 is a super rifle if you just give one a try.

I might give one a try when they start making them in the USA. Until then give me a ruger, winchester, remington........

I used to walk by dealers at the gunshows selling them for under $300, then after a little research found out Sako owned them, picked up a 595 in 7mm-08 and stuck a Doctor Optik 3X9 on it about 6 or 7 years ago, I don't do that gun justice, man it will shoot.
I wish I could find someone selling them like that again.

Are all Tikka's long action, I know the T3's are what about the whitetail hunter models?

ben

the 595's are short actions...the 695 is the long action...

The T3 is more of a uni-action. While its a true long action, the bolt stop is moved forward for the SA cartridges.

Bchannel

That has been my experience entirely with Tikka. I have a 6.5x55, 300wsm and have just ordered a 9.3x62 in a T3 Laminated Stainless. Also I have a 308 & 223 in the prevoius model 595 and not one of these rifles have failed to impress me with their accuracy out the box. Also the triggers are superb. I am not all that partial to the Synthetic stock on the T3 but they are functional and serve the purpose. Good value for the money. And I have not had a Ruger that can come within a bull's roar of a Tikka for accuracy or finesse.

If my experience holds true, buy the Tikka and go for really good optics. I have a T3 in 22-250 that shoots so well it's scary. Wish I had such good luck with my latest 700...Essex

My son is now shooting a 695 in 270 win, his only beef is the single stack clip. I never realized when I bought it, but we never chamebr a round until we separate when we are out together, he finds it a pain to have to remove the magazine to empty the chamber and reload. Otherwise very accurate, excellet trigger and I like the stock design of the 695/595 model way more than the T3.

Well, first, I love Sakos and second, the Tikkas have a Sako barrel. So, I deceided to try one.....I found a NIB Tikka Whitetail Hunter for $550..... Guess what I'm shooting deer with this year? Well, the Tikka is just wonderful in 7Mag...I'm consistantely shooting 3-3 1/2 groups at 400 yards. They get my 5 star rating!!!Since Berreta took over...all bets are off. Regards, Rick.

Question for you guys.............can anyone tell me the length of pull on a Tikka t3 Lite??

Thanks.

Bchannel,

I just bought the a twin to your T3 stainless 270. I am not a reloader, and was wondering if you could give a few details of the set ups yours likes best and any suggestions on similar factory loads. I guess bullets will be the best comparison, but I would appreciate any details as I get ready to try to find some factory loads this rifle will like. I know there may be no correlation, but then again...

I sure hope mine shoots like yours!!!!

It sounds like it should - I hear nothing but good things about these guns! I sure like the weight of the rifle and this is about the slickest action I have handled.

Thanks,

DJ

The Tika is great! ----- Almost as good as a Sako! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />