Tikka T3 Hunter

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pyscodog

Active member
Went to a local show this morning and as I was leaving spied a nice Tikka T3 Hunter in 270 Win. The Hunter is the one with a walnut stock. The rifle also had a 3x9 Nikon Prostaff and a nice leather sling. After some haggling, it came home with me. Didn't really plan on buying a rifle but the price was right and its a nice clean rifle. I have dies, brass and plenty of bullets so it was a win win for me or at least I'm hoping it was. I found a nice Tikka 595 in 22-250 but he was pretty proud of it and didn't want to deal at all. AR's were on every table and not moving. Ammo was stupid high but that was expected.
 
Out of curiosity, were the ARs priced too high to sale, or just no interest from potential buyers out of fear of a ban? I know the market is saturated with them, just wondering if the idleness is due to pricing or lack of buyers interested.
 
I think actually its a combination of both. I thought prices were kind of high. I'm not an AR guy but seems the ones that were going for $500 a year ago were closer to $800 and up at this show. I think the dealers are hoping for the guy that "thinks he won't be able to get one if he doesn't buy it now" comes by.

I think, and maybe wrong, that I got a really good deal on the Tikka. Its very clean and looking at the bolt face, looks like it wasn't shot much. Has Nikon Prostaff, which I know isn't worth a lot, and a really nice leather sling for $575 OTD. I think the bare rifle is worth that. I may be wrong, IDK.
 
I’m not up on Tikkas much but I would say that’s a heck of a deal for a ready to hunt rifle setup. Especially with a wood stock. 270 is my favorite rifle cartridge for whitetail deer. That’s all I used as a kid with dad and that’s the first rifle cartridge I bought for myself to deer hunt with. 130 gr is all I use.

The reason I was asking about the ARs other than curiosity, is I’ve got a few but find myself almost always using my bolt guns. I’ve got an affliction for nice glossy wood stock and deep bluing or even stainless barrels and actions. I’ve been looking at a few rifles and selling a couple of my barely even shot never goes out ARs might make it more realistic to get into the bolt actions I’ve been looking for.

If that Tikka shoots and I would say it will I’d definitely say you came out on top.
 
The show was flooded with AR's and parts. Maybe just high prices and so many was the reason for slow sales. Like I was saying, it seemed like every table had at least a few and some had four or five tables full of rifles and parts. It was actually a decent show other than high prices. Lots of vendors I had never seen before.
 
Well, I found some 270 ammo I had from a previous 270. It chambered fine in the Tikka so I figured I would head to the club and see what the newish to me rifle would do. It was shooting OK and figured for a 270 it was for sure an accurate enough rifle to kill deer. A friend of mine showed up and we got to visiting so the rifle set and cooled for at least 30 minutes. Next three shots was just a ragged hole. Pretty darn impressed and learned real quick that groups are much better in this rifle out of a cold barrel than one that's warm. My load was 140 Accubond and H4350. If it shoots this good next time out I'm just going to call it good enough
 
Thanks AdamT. I usually deer hunt heavy woods between bean fields on public land. A long shot is usually 50-100 yards so accuracy isn't a big deal but it is nice knowing that the rifle is accurate and my loads are working. If I miss,I got no one to blame but myself.
 
The problem with tikka is they shoot everything well making it difficult to pick a load!!!
I think you did well on your purchase and will find it to be 1 of your go to rifles.
 
Thanks lowholer1, it is a pretty nice rifle. Needs a little trigger work as its kinda heavy but I can fix that. I have another T3x in 223 and its a shooter. I also have a Sako Finnbear in 30-06 and it shoots good to. Those people seem to know how to build rifles.
 
I found the load data that I shot in the 270. Even though it shoots good, its going to be really slow. The weight was 3 grains below book minimum load,51 grains of H4350. Don't have a clue where I got that load but its gonna need some work. I think I will drop down to a 130 grain bullet as I have several different kinds. Any suggestions on powder or just stay with H4350?
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogI think actually its a combination of both. I thought prices were kind of high. I'm not an AR guy but seems the ones that were going for $500 a year ago were closer to $800 and up at this show. I think the dealers are hoping for the guy that "thinks he won't be able to get one if he doesn't buy it now" comes by.

I think, and maybe wrong, that I got a really good deal on the Tikka. Its very clean and looking at the bolt face, looks like it wasn't shot much. Has Nikon Prostaff, which I know isn't worth a lot, and a really nice leather sling for $575 OTD. I think the bare rifle is worth that. I may be wrong, IDK.

Ya done good. Funny enough I have actually been after the same rifle in the same caliber. $575 is pretty good for the rifle alone much less with a scope
 
Seems you don't see the Hunter model much or 270 Win and both together was a big plus to me anyway. I think its going to make me a nice deer rifle.
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogI found the load data that I shot in the 270. Even though it shoots good, its going to be really slow. The weight was 3 grains below book minimum load,51 grains of H4350. Don't have a clue where I got that load but its gonna need some work. I think I will drop down to a 130 grain bullet as I have several different kinds. Any suggestions on powder or just stay with H4350?

I have loaded the 270 since 1963 I found that 4831 has worked for me. I tap the case with a pencil to get it all in. I load the 90 gr open point. My K98 with its Douglas barrel has killed many a groundhog or fox.
 


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