Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 6.5 Swede ..... CZ or Tikka ???

Definitely not the only criteria but certainly a good one.

And I've personally owned both a T3 and a CZ.

You?

The CZ 550 (long actions) all have a normal safety. The 527 models have the backwards safety. So, they got half of it right.

Oh, I'd pick the CZ just cuz the weight of them doesn't bother me and they shoot pretty damm well.

I've never owned a Tikka.

I don't like CZ 550s, particularly the 550 FS.

If limited to 1 6.5x55, I have 9 of them, it would be the Winchester/USRA 70 Fwt that I took to Botswana, although the Ruger 77 R Hawkeye that I received the other day seems like a nice enough rifle.

Jeff

Nope, never even examined a T-3 in the flesh. I do own a 595 and 695 however and have examined a schematic of the T-3. The action and trigger assembly are essentially identical. The only differences between the T-3 and the earlier 695/595 appear to be in a slightly different magazine design and the recoil lug. My brother has owned a CZ and I have shot it. I'd much rather have a rifle with some non critical synthetic parts made to precise tolerances than sloppily cobbled together steel junk that needs to be rebuilt in order to perform up to snuff. I like to buy rifles that are ready to hunt right out of the box, not semi finished rifle "kits".

6.5x55 is never a bad choice

Irrelevant in my opinion unless you like to use your trigger guard to drive your tent pegs. I've hunted guns with plastic trigger guards for over 40 years and never had one break. Not even when dropped 20 feet out of a deer stand.

Well I have and owned both CZ's and Tikka's. Also had a Sako L61R in 6.5X55. The Sako wins this one hands down. The CZ's are a bit heavy but not really much more than the wood blueded Sako. The Tikka is lighter no doubt. As to accuracy the Sako again, between CZ and Tikka it is a bit of a crap shoot. My CZ was a bit rough at first, but smoothed up nicely with use. The Sako and Tikka were great out of the box. Hard choice to me, love the wood and blue, and CZ can have some great wood. One pays ones money and takes ones chanches.

Wow, Tikka VS whatever, really sets of a nerve on both sides of the fence. To quote the recently departed Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?"

The 6.5x55 T3 Hunter sports a 22.44" barrel and weighs 6# 13oz.

The 6.5x55 CZ550 sports a 23.620" barrel and weighs 8# even.

So for 1# 3oz you get an inch+ more tube, all steel parts, A hinged floorplate, two more cartridges in the magazine, a FP blocking safety, a single set trigger, and a finer finish.

And the Czechs have been making rifles a whole lot longer than the Finns.

Other than the rough as a cob action/feed rails, the crown on my brothers CZ looked like it was done by a retarded first grader with the corner of a brick. The quality of wood, stock finish and checkering were nowhere near my Tikka's.

I'd go T3 Lite in a heart beat over the CZ. Not trying to dog pile the CZ, it's just too heavy and beefy for my likes.

I'd love to see Tikka do a T3 in .260 as well.

Dober

Though they are rare, Sako chambered their AV and 691 in 6.5x55. I had two of the prior and one of the latter. Also had a beautiful AV in 7x64 and still have a Fiberclass in 9.3x62. If you can one of these in 6.5, you'll never look back!

I still have several of both... It's like comparing a Clydesdale to a Thoroughbred. One's good for a couple of years of work and then just [bleep] around. The other good and strong, built for the long haul.

nsaqam knows what I am talking about... others, not so much

Dr Lou, I also own an AV in 6.5x55... too many guns, not enough time to shoot em all.

Geo

Yeah, hell, my Tikka's are about all wore out after only 12 years of use. NOT ! Some of you folks really make me wonder with your unfounded, baseless theories. My buddies 658 {forerunner of the 695 and T-3} is still going strong and has been since he bought it in 1994. It has the same plastic trigger guard/ bottom metal and bolt shroud and in addition has a plastic action insert that the bolt rides within. If you threw that 658 and a CZ in a landfill for 1000 years and then dug them both up, the only thing left would be the plastic parts from the Tikka.

I've had the Swede in a Rem 700 Classic and a Win 70 Featherweight...nice cartridge!!

I just picked up a T3 Lite Chrome Moly today as I want a no nonsense basic reliable rifle that shoots out the box. If one does not mind the synthetic parts they are a great gun.

Now to shoot it!

I also like CZs though I have seen both rough and reasonably well made examples. Triggers normally need some work but thats the same for a Ruger too!

Take the Tikka and run.

Tikka is making a run on 260 Rem. Check out the EuroOptic website. I have one coming in left hand.

I do own both and I would take another Tikka every time.