Tikka Confusion

EasternPredHunter

EasternPredHunter

New member
I have been very interested in a Tikka T3 in 338 WM for a long time now. But everyone is saying don't buy it because it has a Tupperware stock, the build quality is awful for the $550 price tag.....etc. But why shouldn't I buy it because of the Tupperware stock? Its just aesthetic appeal, and would not harm functionality of the gun. And I would like to know of another rifle in the price range that is built as well as the Tikka. Yes the savage bear hunter fits in that range, but I'm not impressed with savage quality myself and they have a Tupperware stock as well. I'm just trying to figure out how they can be bashed so bad, when I rarely hear of the breaking down and they most always shoot good out of the box. Replace that cheap aluminum recoil lug for an SS recoil lug for an extra $25 and your good to go......or at least those are my thoughts among a harsh crowd. I'm not expecting the quality from a $2000 Sako, but I am expecting a serviceable rifle that I can always depend on..And as you can tell by the caliber, my life may be on the line with this rifle if I ever get the chance to hunt a few of the animals on my list(ie. Alaskan Brown's).
Any thoughts guys?
 
I to have always wondered about the nay-sayers. I bought one in 7mm-08 when they first came out and i have never had a problem.Mine hasn't had a easy lifebut it has always worked flawless. It rides on an atv, behind the seat of my truck, been dropped several times.I think some people despise that a cheap gun can shoot with guns that cost 2 and 3 times as much.In that price range the tikka t3 are hard to beat. we all would like to have a custom gun but some of us myself included can't afford one. I wanted a light accurate rifle and the tikka delivered.
 
Tikkas function quite well and do what they were designed to do, which is shoot stuff. My only gripe with them is the size of ejection/loading port on the reciever. It's so narrow that it makes it extremely difficult to impossible to load singles when the circumstance comes up, whether its at the bench at the range or trying to hurry and thumb in a round to take a shot at an incidental target when your gun is empty. Other than that, they are decent guns...that is just my 2 cents.
 
Tikkas were made with one thing in mind----cutting costs. If you look at each part of a Tikka, other than trigger and barrel, it isn't hard to validate this theory.......
 
I don't think that the statement that Tikkas were made with cutting costs as part of the equation will be a revelation to too many people. That is why they run quite a bit behind a regular Sako in price.

On the other hand, they are a very competitive lower priced rifle that generally perform very well against their price-comparable competition in the market. For some young hunters on a budget they are a very good purchase.

I own several Tikka rifles that get a lot of hard use down country. I didn't buy them to admire their aesthetic beauty. They spend their entire life in either an open topped Jeep or on a 4-wheeler in some fairly rough country. When I use one, it always does exactly what I expect it to do which is to hit what it is pointed at. For my money that is all I want or expect it to do. And all of them have been filling this role for quite a few years, so they show their age on the outside, but they still function and perform like they were new.
 
Originally Posted By: 2muchgunTikkas were made with one thing in mind----cutting costs. If you look at each part of a Tikka, other than trigger and barrel, it isn't hard to validate this theory.......
I dont think its quite fair to say just the trigger and barrel...what about the bolt and reciever ? To the best of my knowledge, they are a very smooth time tested design.
 
Fair has nothing to do with it. Every other part has had "corners cut" in some way. They are a "utilitarian" rifle. If that is what you want, get one.

IMO they are not that cheap, considering what you get for the price. Compare it part for part with other rifles in same price range.......
 
Originally Posted By: 2muchgunFair has nothing to do with it. Every other part has had "corners cut" in some way. They are a "utilitarian" rifle. If that is what you want, get one.

IMO they are not that cheap, considering what you get for the price. Compare it part for part with other rifles in same price range.......
in this price range + or - ...there is a savage...and a little more would get a model 70. Those are basically my only 3 options...becasue im not a rem fan i left out the 700
 
I buy my rifles to shoot and hunt with not tinker with this and tinker with that to get them to shoot. That's why I buy mostly Tikka's. Now for the people that want to tinker, that's great. Whatever floats your boat. I personally would rather spend time with my family than trying to get a gun to shoot accurately that I just spent alot of money to purchase. Don't get me wrong I used to be a remmy man through and through. Wouldn't even look at any other brand. Anymore, you can have em. No place in my gun safe until they get some quality control issues taken care of.

You can't argue with the fact that the tikka comes with a ugly tupperware stock, cause they do. And the recoil lug in theory seems absolutely ridiculous. They also only use a long action. This complaint leaves me on the ground rolling in laughter. Afterall it does take a tremendous extra amount of effort to cycle that second shot in a .223 with that extra distance the bolt has to travel. Heck, the animal your shooting at will probably be over the next hill before you even get a second shot cause it takes so long.

I think it goes without saying that Tikka rifles were produced with cutting costs in mind. And for that I salute them. I can now afford a production gun that for the money outshoots most other more expensive guns right out of the box. I call them a poor mans SAKO.

For the money, Tikka's are some of the most accurate rifles right out of the box that you can buy. It definitely isn't hard to validate that theory!

I apologize if my opinions offend anybody. That was not my intention. I read these boards very often but rarely post. I am just tired of certain members who feel they need to post a negative comment everytime a tikka thread comes up. Everyone has a favorite brand of rifle and that's great. It would be pretty boring if everybody like the same thing. On a sidenote I do have four older Remmy rifles and shotguns that are about 20 years old and I will never sell them cause they are some real quality guns.
 
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What's wrong with a Vanguard or Howa? Or a Marlin? What does Tikka offer you that these rifles do not? Which costs the most?
 
A few of my friends shoot them and for the most part they are very accurate. The only one I have seen that wouldn't shoot worth a darn was a 338wm, and it wasn't a whole lot of fun to shoot either. Hard to hate the short buttery smooth bolt throw and decent trigger. The stocks are fairly stiff for a cheap synthetic.
 
Originally Posted By: 2muchgunWhat's wrong with a Vanguard or Howa? Or a Marlin? What does Tikka offer you that these rifles do not? Which costs the most?
vanguard/howa ....cant stand the made in japan factor. Marlin does not make a 338 win mag so there isnt even a rifle to consider there. Mossberg does, but i wouldnt touch one with a 10' pole.
 
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Originally Posted By: 2muchgunOne good thing about 338s is that there are always plenty of barely used ones for sale at discounted prices........

This is true. I've seen plenty of older big boomers with a decent price tag.

I'd much rather buy a 20+ older rifle or build a new one,than buy some of the stuff of today.

I used to dream of Alaska Browns, then the real world changed that. Nothing wrong with hoping or wanting however. My AK trip is gonna happen soon I hope, but the big stuff aint.
 
Originally Posted By: 2muchgunNot American = not American, IMO.

I'll take a Vanguard over a Tikka all day long.

Why not a Ruger?
I understand what your saying with the non American vs non American. But I would take a Belgium made semi auto over a Chinese semi auto any day.

I hadn't put much thought into it, but now that I have...Weatherby has their specifications on how well the metal is made and how it is machined....etc etc. So essentially it cheaper labor. Am I on target to think this way?

If my grandfather ever caught me with a Japanese rifle, he would be sure to let me hear it! I guess I've been a little blinded by the US only mentality, that anything else is garbage. But I'm gonna keep an open mind to the Weatherby
 
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Originally Posted By: jbfastcat......For the money, Tikka's are some of the most accurate rifles right out of the box that you can buy. It definitely isn't hard to validate that theory!

I apologize if my opinions offend anybody. That was not my intention. I read these boards very often but rarely post. I am just tired of certain members who feel they need to post a negative comment everytime a tikka thread comes up. Everyone has a favorite brand of rifle and that's great. It would be pretty boring if everybody like the same thing. On a sidenote I do have four older Remmy rifles and shotguns that are about 20 years old and I will never sell them cause they are some real quality guns.

Good post. There's some good logic involved with what you are saying. Not everyone is the same nor should be.

It seems that being negative to push their own agenda is a springboard to internet immortality. At least in some people's minds it is, and it's how they "birth" themselves on forums. If they get a couple of vocal followers to support them, they become bigger than life. Again, in their mind.

 
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