Tikka Woes

[JGRaider]

Take a Rem 700 and a Tikka, whatever cartridge you wish, and 9 out of 10 times the Tikka will outshoot the 700, easily.

 

[Timjohnson11]

I just picked up the new Tikka T3x superlite ‘Gen 2’ for my dad. The model that just dropped at sportsman’s warehouses. It’s 6.5 PRC with a 22” threaded barrel.

I was able to shot it today bone stock. It’s ridiculously slow (~ 175 fps slower than my 21” Seekins Element with the same ammo) and shot Berger 140 Elite Hunter, Hornady Match 147, and Hornady ELDX Hunter all pretty poorly. I couldn’t get any to group remotely close to my expectations.

Obviously it will speed up a little, hopefully tighten up a little, and there is other ammo I can still try… that said, I’m quite disappointed in first impression..

 

[grfox92]

All my tikkas have shot well, though I’ve only shot 2 in factory form. Have to say, I don’t love my Tikka 223. I want to like it, and it shoots fine, it just doesn’t do much for me. Kind of wish I’d put that money elsewhere. I guess it works out ok since I have to pretty much avoid recoil for a while post neck surgery. Maybe I’ll learn to like it more this winter.


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If you still feel this way in a couple months I will buy it from you.

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[Fireflyfishing]

Take a Rem 700 and a Tikka, whatever cartridge you wish, and 9 out of 10 times the Tikka will outshoot the 700, easily.

Please refer to post #99. I have a 7mm Rem Mag and several 300 WMs. All of them on OG Rem 700 or 700 clone actions. I have optimized these rifles to shoot those cartridges. This includes recoil. No way could I get my handloads to fit in a Tikka action. Cannot physically be done.

My buddy has a T3X chambered in 300 WM. It shoots well for my buddy…his max range is maybe 500 yards with his factory load. My 700s shoot really well over 1000 yards, comfortably. Lots of recoil on the T3X in the standard, out of the box configuration shooting 180 grain factory loads.

How about Africa and dangerous game hunting? You’re relegated to a cartridge 375 H&H or higher/bigger. You’re not doing that in a Tikka action.

Although I believe Tikkas to be the best factory rifle for the price, they don’t check every box and will never be the answer for certain cartridges.

 

[JGRaider]

IF you actually take time to develop loads for a Tikka, they way you did for your Remy, the Tikka will reign supreme. BTW, 99.9% of hunters on the planet will never chase dangerous game in Africa, so that's a bit of a reach. I've had my Tikka 7mag on African plains game hunts 5 times, 60+ head of game. Put it this way......Retumbo/160 Accubond/ max mag box length is stupid accurate an deadly.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

IF you actually take time to develop loads for a Tikka, they way you did for your Remy, the Tikka will reign supreme.

I have four Tikka rifles. I hand load for all of them and they shoot great. I have 5 Rem 700s. I hand load for all them and they shoot great as well. I don’t care to buy a Tikka in a long action mag as I’m covered with my 700s, and I know what I can do cartridge wise between the two different actions.

What is your experience with 700 rifles that has led you to your conclusion?

BTW, 99.9% of hunters on the planet will never chase dangerous game in Africa, so that's a bit of a reach.

Not reaching…fact. It doesn’t even need to be in Africa. Folks that choose larger cartridges are not running out to get a Tikka….for the reasons I already listed.

I've had my Tikka 7mag on African plains game hunts 5 times, 60+ head of game. Put it this way......Retumbo/160 Accubond/ max mag box length is stupid accurate an deadly.

Awesome! I’m glad this works for you. What twist? Have you tried larger projectiles?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I have four Tikka rifles. I hand load for all of them and they shoot great. I have 5 Rem 700s. I hand load for all them and they shoot great as well. I don’t care to buy a Tikka in a long action mag as I’m covered with my 700s, and I know what I can do cartridge wise between the two different actions.

What is your experience with 700 rifles that has led you to your conclusion?

Not reaching…fact. It doesn’t even need to be in Africa. Folks that choose larger cartridges are not running out to get a Tikka….for the reasons I already listed.

Awesome! I’m glad this works for you. What twist? Have you tried larger projectiles?

If I could get my hands on a Tikka 9.3x62, I would be running out to get one. As it is, I may have to go for a Sako.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

If I could get my hands on a Tikka 9.3x62, I would be running out to get one. As it is, I may have to go for a Sako.

No argument

 

[JGRaider]

I have four Tikka rifles. I hand load for all of them and they shoot great. I have 5 Rem 700s. I hand load for all them and they shoot great as well. I don’t care to buy a Tikka in a long action mag as I’m covered with my 700s, and I know what I can do cartridge wise between the two different actions.

What is your experience with 700 rifles that has led you to your conclusion?

Not reaching…fact. It doesn’t even need to be in Africa. Folks that choose larger cartridges are not running out to get a Tikka….for the reasons I already listed.

Awesome! I’m glad this works for you. What twist? Have you tried larger projectiles?

Experience-like most anyone who's been around a while, I've owned a handful of Rem 700's, last one being a Hill Country Rifles semi custom built on a Rem 700 action. Shoots lights out, but it took 7 different 700 actions from Rem to find one that HCR was satisfied with to start work on. That says a lot to me.

Larger projectiles-Why bother? 95% of game animals are killed at 300 yds or less. 160's are the sweet spot for the 7mag IMO. I did try 168 VLDH's on about 20 hogs and a whitetail doe. Moral to the story......miserable failure.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Experience-like most anyone who's been around a while, I've owned a handful of Rem 700's, last one being a Hill Country Rifles semi custom built on a Rem 700 action. Shoots lights out, but it took 7 different 700 actions from Rem to find one that HCR was satisfied with to start work on. That says a lot to me.

Gotcha. So I’m gathering you’re debating actual OEM Remington 700 actions/rifles? Not new school blue printed factory or custom 700 clone actions? No argument. Tikka wins everyday there. Hence the ability to buy prefits for Tikka actions.

Larger projectiles-Why bother? 95% of game animals are killed at 300 yds or less. 160's are the sweet spot for the 7mag IMO. I did try 168 VLDH's on about 20 hogs and a whitetail doe. Moral to the story......miserable failure.

I find I’m presented with shots over 300 yards in my location every hunting season. Three out of the last five big game animals I’ve harvested have been over 400.

The last two animals I’ve killed with my 7 mag were with 168 VLDs. No issues. Ironically, both of those deer were less than 100 yards in. Just the way the ball bounces and I’m not going to turn away chip shots. I would like to try the 175s in my rifle with a 9 twist. So many guns, so many projects, and the 168’s are in ample supply and seem to be working. A project for another day.

What issues did you have with the VLDs?