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I am considering a Tikka lite in .243. Good or bad idea?

Bad.

Incoming!

I bought one in .308 a few years ago. I needed a lightweight reliable rifle to use for late season elk, which usually means snowshoes &/or skiis.

The gun is a little over 7 pounds, up & ready to go. It consistently puts 3 rounds touching in a target, with a group measurement of .5 or .6.

The downsides are minor to me. Extra clips are expensive, & you can't top load single cartridges.

The trigger is excellent, & the action is fast & smooth. I think you'll be quite happy if you buy one.
Jim

Good vs. Bad may depend on what bullets you want to run, and your likes/dislikes on rifles.

If you want to run heavy stuff, Tikka 1/10 twist may not stabilize them as well as something like Remington's 1/9.

Rifle will probably shoot lights out with bullets it will stabilize, and will have the usual list of Tikka pros and cons:

Good trigger, barrel, nice weight and balance, extremely accurate and non-finicky.

Plastic, poor recoil pad, not real pretty (and some find it ugly), plastic, one size fits all action, plastic, sometimes poor mag/throat geometry, plastic...grin.

I like Tikkas fine for what I use them for - they are amazingly non-finicky and accurate with almost anything you throw at them, and I like their weight and balance; however, I don't have one in 243 - opting instead for a 223 with the 1/8 twist.

They are easy on the pocket book stainless rifles that you don't have to monkey with or even load for to get a very accurate hunting rig with a great trigger and barrel.

Lots of subjective stuff, but twist on a 243 is an objective concern if you want to run the high BC heavy 243 bullets that are so fantastic for LR work.

DJ

I own 2 Tikkas. Glad I bought them. A 223 lite - 1/8 twist. 30-06 hunter(walnut stock). Both are good shooters. the stock will transfer by the way since all actions are the same - long actions. There a couple minor issues but overall a great buy.

I have two T3's in the house, a 338 Federal and my LH son's in .270. Both are very accurate smooth bolt and great trigger. Don't know about the twist rate for .243, but for the price Tikka's are a great deal. Yes plastic, and a removeable mag. Never had any issues at all. Just about anything else in the Tikka's price range will be the same, but my not match a Tikka's accuracy out of the box.

I have two older Tikkas, and they both are shooters. My next purchase will probably be a T3 in 6.5x55. A lot of bad feedback by some guys about the "plastic" mags. My brother ran over one in way sub zero weather with his 4x4 plow truck, and it still functions flawlessly.

But the rifle, Ivan, and enjoy great out of the box accuracy.

I have a stainless steel T3 light in .243 that I love.

It weighs 7 lbs field ready and shoots like a heavy barrel target rifle.

Here is a 200 yard three shot target:

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70 grain Nosler BT with 45 grains of H4350 Federal 215 primer. 3212 fps velocity (rather mild load). Three Shots I measured at .780

To date, each and every one I've been around has shot balls out! Light rigs, cost effective, incredibly accurate. They'll get it done and then some.

Dober

If the recoil pad is an issue one can get an out of the box Limbsaver that fits perfect. Have one on the 338 Federal and it works very well. Two screws and it's done.

I just bought a Stainless Laminate 270 a dealer near me had on the rack for almost 2 years. He finally closed it out. I am getting an aftermarket aluminum or steel bolt shroud and be good to go.

Hard to trump a long action 243. Giving it a 1-10" twist only sweetens the pot.

how about a blue/plastic long action .223 with a 1-8" and short mag box?

Yes indeed the Tikka is a one size fits all. Twist rate on a 243.. Might not be the best. One could get a 700 and spend twice what a Tikka costs and still have a rifle that is not as accurate right out of the box. LOL

With tongue firmly in cheek!!!

Tikka's aren't that inexpensive anymore.

At $400 mine was way overpriced.

I've got a T3 lite 243 - she'll poke one hole on most days.

Do wish I had a 260 though.

Spot

Well that's the good thing about the US, many choices and one can get for the most part what one wants. From my experience the Tikka's have been great. Others might not agree. The one's I have and have seen work just fine. Like most anything prices are going up. Diesel is now $4.43 in my area.

My wifes first rifle was a Winchester Model 70 XTR in 243, it is the only rifle that I have owned that will not shoot better than 2 MOA. It is a LA as well. Different stock, scopes free floating etc. Still shoots the same. Going to change the barrel and caliber. Never have seen a Tikka that did not make MOA out of the box with factory off the shelf ammo. Others may not think so. Ones I have personel experience with have.