Tikka/Sako actions vs each other/older models etc etc HELP!

[Southernfried]

I have searched for an answer for my question, but have found it no where. The recent Tikka vs Custom really made me think about it. I will admit I know nothing about Tikka or Sako except for what I have read here. I have always had Rem 700's and ar's. Never served in the military or police and at 59 it is too late lol but......I want to learn AND I like the atmosphere here, even with some of the back biting. Thats ok, I can still learn. My question. IF one were starting off in the Tikka/Sako world, since most pre model 70's are through the roof now. What is the hierarchy of Sako/Tikka models for one to search for. I am constantly going to pawn shops, used places, searching the net like on BP's used site, gun broker etc etc. Like in the Rem world, Model Sevens are highly sought, Pre 64 are highly sought in the Win world. Does my question make sense? For example in the last month I had stumbled upon a Tikka T3 with the stock like @Formidilosus has on his 10,000 round Tikka, but I didnt know if it was good deal. I found a Tikka T3 Artic for less than 900 US, but didnt know the history fast enough....I have found Sako A2's with target stocks for less than 700$, Tikka M65, M55, etc etc etc. and I just dont know which is good, bad or whoa walk away from that one. I have tried google to no avail lol is there a web site besides here, to gain knowledge of the Sako/Tikka line and what to really search for and what to stay away from? Thanks from a old newb-Randy

 

[hereinaz]

I kinda started looking into Sako and Tikka too. I didn’t get very far either. But, when I saw that the Sako didn’t have aftermarket stock support, killed my interest.

I think there is a Sako forum that I would troll for a while to figure it out.

The Tikka T3 are nearly identical to the T3X.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

The T3 & T3x are going to have the most support. The era prior to them tikka had a short M595 and long M695 action. Easy button is the T3 / T3x. The M695 has a longer length but low support for stocks and such.

I haven’t paid attention to the stuff before that.

 

[nm.otter]

I think there is a Sako forum that I would troll for a while to figure it out.

The Sako Collectors Club forums are a gold mine (and a rabbit hole) of information -- mostly on older guns.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

As far as Sakos are concerned, I have only ever owned one. It was a mint L579 from 1968 in .243. It shot great and was beautiful, but it wasn’t threaded and I would not cut on it to thread it. I sold it for what I had in it. That era is superb. I don’t know much about the 1970-2010 models. As far as I am concerned, a new Sako is a Tikka with an integral picatinny rail and a 3-position safety. Maybe a bit nicer wood. If that’s worth an extra $1000 to you, go for it. That’s not a knock on them at all.

As far as Tikkas are concerned, I have a T3, three T3Xs, and an M695. When customized with a couple of upgrades like steel bottom metal, metal bolt shroud covers, wooden stocks, steel recoil lugs (already in the T3X), Tikkas are really nice. There are some nice aftermarket metal magazines too, if you don’t like the plastic ones.

Apart from the things above, the only upgrade I have considered is a wooden Rokstok. I have zero interest in any other stock or chassis. And Mike could put any rifle into a wooden Rokstok if you are willing to pay for it and wait for it.

 

[nm.otter]

As far as I am concerned, a new Sako is a Tikka with an integral picatinny rail and a 3-position safety.

...that comes in five different action lengths, each with its own double stack semi-flush metal mags. Also a nicer, more adjustable trigger -- and a 3-lug bolt with a 70° throw.

BUT:
No 3rd party or high-cap magazines (AFAIK), and (as previously mentioned) very few 3rd party non-custom stock options.

 

[Chris in TN]

My grandpa had a few M70s and I had one ~30 years ago. Dad had one too. They're nice actions in certain ways but I wouldn't put them on any short list for hunting rifles now, outside of the nostalgia/cool factor.

Grandpa had at least one Sako. Dad had a 75 model. Meh. Wasn't overly impressed.

I had a Tikka 658 and still have a 595. They're gorgeous rifles, the walnut stocks they had back then were really well done, I'd never sell my 595 and wish I could find a 558 to use as an eastern treestand deer gun, but I wouldn't bother trying to buy one to build on. Just get a T3x and be done with it. Yes, it's annoying that the T3 only has one action length, but at the end of the day it's not a big deal. Yes, a Model 7 Remington would be shorter, but you don't have a ton of aftermarket support there.

I love Remingtons, and particularly 700s, but that window is mostly closed now. The era is over. I'll bitterly cling to my 700s and 513 and 341 but that was yesterday. Move on. Just get a T3X with the bolt face size to match what you want to build, and be done with it.

 

[Southernfried]

The Sako Collectors Club forums are a gold mine (and a rabbit hole) of information -- mostly on older guns.

LOL imagine that, finding another rabbit hole on Rokslide lol thanks!!!!!

 

[Southernfried]

I love Remingtons, and particularly 700s, but that window is mostly closed now. The era is over. I'll bitterly cling to my 700s and 513 and 341 but that was yesterday. Move on. Just get a T3X with the bolt face size to match what you want to build, and be done with it.

Thanks, kinda the same boat I am in. I have 1 R700 308, and 1 R700 7mag left now. I loved my 700's, over the years, but it was just me hunting/shooting them. Yes I went through all the pitfalls of the trigger, and as I have posted else where, I had one that I "gunsmithed" on, that would fire when the safety was pushed. So I always knew there were issues. But I knew about them, and worked around them. Now that I have grand boys, I dont want them to have to face those issues is what I am thinking I guess. In fact if I really think about it, the issues I had with the R700 is what pushed me to AR's so much. They are pretty much "legos" with easy barrel or upper swaps, easy parts to interchange with, and find. Also with the ar15/ar10 you can have pretty much any cartridge you want to hunt anything in North America, where legal of course, and they for sure are here in TN........thanks everyone, I will look up everything mentioned.