School Me On Tikka

[Donjuan]

It seems Tikka is the go-to rifle here. Why then does it seem everyone gets a T3x and then puts a new stock and barrel on it? Are the factory builds no good? Why not start with something that has a barrel and stock you like?

 

[LightFoot]

Because we like to tinker...

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[Ucsdryder]

Action is great, barrels are great if you don’t want to suppress them. If you want to suppress them, they’re awfully thin. I hate the stocks. There are lots of plug and play components that don’t require a gunsmith so if you want to buy a rifle and slowly build it into a semi custom it’s hard to beat! Start with an off the shelf tikka and immediately replace the stock with an AG composite inletted with a sendero lite barrel channel. Then shoot away with the factory barreled action until you decide you want to tinker!

 

[Wyobohunter]

Both of mine have the original stocks and barrels. The stock is nothing to get excited about but it’s light, rugged and works. Tikka rifles shoot great without tinkering but are well adapted to those who want to play around with them. I think they are ugly rifles but the groups are pretty and they are nice & light. I cut my 30-06 barrel down to 18”. It weighs exactly 7 lbs loaded with the scope, rings and sling. The 3 shot groups are tiny. It kicks very hard.

 

[HiMtnHntr]

Doing stuff to Tikkas does seem popular. I think there are plenty of people around who don't and have fine shooting rifles. I have two that shoot great and I've done nothing to them, with no plans to do so.

Building them up is cool if that's your thing... better than blowing it all on many other things...

 

[Tmac]

Use 3 SS Lite’s in 270Win. Replaced the first ones stock, the original T3 stock had gotten so much use it was getting slick and shiny. Replacement is a B&C stock that eliminates the loose recoil lug, we’ll see how it holds up. Will probably depend on how hard the aluminum is and how true the fit is.

The others are stock, a T3 and T3X, except for the replacement recoil lug in the T3. The T3X stock is an improvement, but not great. Good odds of the restocked T3 getting a Pre-Fit barrel sometime soon, of the three, it shoots the worst, always has, but is plenty accurate for hunting. The other two shoot very good and great. They are a top pick for a budget rifle, but some Savages, Ruger’s, Browning‘s, Howa’s, Bergara’s, and some others are good choices too.

 

[Harvey_NW]

Tikka's are great factory, but they also have extremely tight tolerances and quality actions making them popular to build customs out of without spending full custom action/component prices. The other slight downside is their chamberings and barrel twists aren't modernized to stabilize heavy for caliber projectiles, so even buying one new and ordering a custom prefit barrel for it can be way higher quality result and still less expensive than the competitor.

 

[z987k]

Tikka's are great factory, but they also have extremely tight tolerances and quality actions making them popular to build customs out of without spending full custom action/component prices. The other slight downside is their chamberings and barrel twists aren't modernized to stabilize heavy for caliber projectiles, so even buying one new and ordering a custom prefit barrel for it can be way higher quality result and still less expensive than the competitor.

Yup, it's cheaper to buy a tikka and throw the barrel and stock away then to go full custom. And you end up with a rifle that shoots as well as any custom.

 

[B23]

It seems Tikka is the go-to rifle here. Why then does it seem everyone gets a T3x and then puts a new stock and barrel on it? Are the factory builds no good? Why not start with something that has a barrel and stock you like?

It's kind of like being a new truck and putting aftermarket tires and wheels on it. The factory stuff for all intensive purposes will often do fine but we like to personalize our trucks and guns so IMO I'd say it's mostly about personalizing it your tastes and wants. If you're that guy that is perfectly fine with how the stuff comes from the factory that's fine too.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

My tikka is stock other than a rail I installed for my atlas bipod and the bottom metal which dosent do anything a tall for the rifle.

 

[HaydenLane]

It seems Tikka is the go-to rifle here. Why then does it seem everyone gets a T3x and then puts a new stock and barrel on it? Are the factory builds no good? Why not start with something that has a barrel and stock you like?

If the rifle you want doesn’t exist, you make it.

 

[archp625]

Ill admit I bought a brand new Tikka 200 miles way to get home and have it taken apart and sold everything but the action and trigger to turn around and have a rifle build off it. The rifle turned out awesome and I am still breaking in the barrel to start developing a load for.

I still go back and fourth on if I should have done it that way or not. I think I would be money ahead if I just bought an BH Origin action.

 

[DakotaBPNW]

It seems Tikka is the go-to rifle here. Why then does it seem everyone gets a T3x and then puts a new stock and barrel on it? Are the factory builds no good? Why not start with something that has a barrel and stock you like?

Because carbon barrels and sponge painted stocks are the new cool thing.

 

[Harvey_NW]

Because carbon barrels and sponge painted stocks are the new cool thing.

I feel personally attacked..

 

[LeftyWilbury]

i have two T3 Hunter 7 Rem Mags (one syn/SS, one wood), a .300 WM T3x Syn/SS, and a T3x Hunter (wood) in 6.5x55.

I have no problem with the synthetic stocks, they work fine, manage recoil much better than my old savage 110 in 30-06. All of the rifles are wonderfully accurate. I put in Mountain Tactical trigger springs for fun. I had the wood 7 mag threaded (required a shoulder and looks goofy, but it's accurate). Someday maybe I'll get a composite stock for one of them. Until I find that motivation I just keep killing tasty critters with them. They're not heavy, nor particularly light. Short bolt throw. Great triggers even before putting in the new springs.

Lots of accurate guns being made these days, but I'll keep buying tikkas. And after shooting my guns three of my hunting partners shoot tikkas now.

 

[Cant hit em]

I feel personally attacked..

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[DakotaBPNW]

I feel personally attacked..

Haha they’re popular for a reason. Tikka’s are shooters and I don’t think they can be beat for $2,000 or so dollar gun by the time you get the stock and barrel on it.

 

[HaydenLane]

I still go back and fourth on if I should have done it that way or not. I think I would be money ahead if I just bought an BH Origin action.

I see this sentiment often on SH. It doesn’t make a ton of sense, there are almost no similarities between the two. The cost is close, but a $250 trigger negates that. The driving factor should really be what features you want.

 

[Ross]

There is no need to modify the tikka only wants and desires to either modify aesthetics or enhance its capabilities……2003 versus 2021 only change is the stock like myself is heavily abused still shoots lights out 19 yrs later….this gun has seen alotttt of mountain time with zero failure

 

[archp625]

I see this sentiment often on SH. It doesn’t make a ton of sense, there are almost no similarities between the two. The cost is close, but a $250 trigger negates that. The driving factor should really be what features you want.

It depends on what all you do. I had the bolt fluted, new bolt lever and knob and all cerakoted. When you price all that I have about $900 in the action.

You are correct about the trigger. I just put a spring on my trigger instead of having to buy a TT.