What happened to Tikka?

Rost-SD

Rost-SD

New member
The general consensus around here is that any and every Tikka will shoot lights out. I agree, because I own two T3's myself and they are great.

However, I am terribly disappointed with the wood stocks on mine! My deer hunting partner owns an older model Tikka M695 Delux (wood grain). Every time I see that gun I drool wishing it was mine.

So what [beeep] happened? At the very least, why won't Tikka make a half way fancy gun with a decent finish? Or do they just save the good stuff for Sako?
 
Running out of good wood in Finland...
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Sako and Tikka are kind of like Savage and Stevens. Anyone wishing for something a little nicer than a Stevens just buys a Savage, anyone wishing for something a little nicer than a Tikka buys a Sako.
 
A Stevens is a WHOLE LOT closer to a Savage than a Tikka is to a Sako.........

Yes it is. Tikka made a Deluxe with a little better wood and the price point increased. I think the last price was $702. You can get a Sako A7 for that. Sako/Tikka barrels are the same and that's about it. The Sako has a 5 shot MOA guarantee.
I can remember getting the T3 for under $400 not so long ago.
 
Originally Posted By: 2muchgunA Stevens is a WHOLE LOT closer to a Savage than a Tikka is to a Sako.........

AMEN
 
I've owned a couple of the older model wood stocked Tikka's and were never impressed with the rifles for their looks. European built guns have never been know for their wood work - especially in the utilitarian level of guns that the Tikkas fall into.

I am a Tikka fan as far as function, accuracy, and use are concerned, but I've never bought one considering it to be a family heirloom when I'm gone. At roughly $500+ a pop, I'm not sure in this day and age with good wood being very expensive that you should expect a show piece for the price.

The same can be said for just about any other rifle on the market today. Sadly, what might be graded as AAA walnut today sold for A, or at best AA, 20 -25 years ago.

Today, if you are going to have a quality full custom rifle built with good wood in the AAA+/exhibition category with decorative but functional checkering, plan to pay several $K for just the wood and at least another $K for the wood work...

The shortage of good wood was what led to the synthetic stock revolution ~20 years ago. Back then, I can remember thinking rifles just won't be the same without good looking wood, but I've come to really appreciate the quality and usefulness of a well built synthetic stock on a hunting rifle that will see hard use. Ding one up and for a few bucks you can have it repaired to like-new status with the original finish recreated....You can even easily do it yourself if you want to, and you aren't concerned abut possibly not being able to recreate the exact original finish...

JMO - BCB
 
Originally Posted By: LongcruiseThere is always the option of dropping the t3 into a fancy aftermarget stock!

Not that I am aware of.. at least Bell and Carlson, H-S Precision don't carry stocks for Tikka. I called H-S and the guy said they'd love to design a stock for Tikka, but Tikka won't sign over the rights.
 
My Tikka T3 6.5x55 I bought last year has beautiful wood. The rest of the stock looks like the butt stock you see here.
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I have seen a couple of wood stocked T3s that have very nice wood. My dad has one in 6.5 Swede that is almost too nice to take to the field.

I have an older 695 in .338 that has OK wood, but nothing great. To be honest though, I generally buy composite stocks. Wood is nice to look at, but plastic and stainless just make sense on a hunting gun that may see a lot of nasty weather.
 
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