Best $ ever spent?--- Tikka T3x Tac A1

[SavageScott]

Wanna sell it?

Hahaha nope!!!

 

[waspocrew]

My brother has a CTR 24" 6.5 CM - that thing just plain shoots anything he feeds it. I've never had much of a desire for a 6.5 CM, but if I do get one, it'll be a CTR.

Those Tikka's are great rifles!

 

[SavageScott]

My brother has a CTR 24" 6.5 CM - that thing just plain shoots anything he feeds it. I've never had much of a desire for a 6.5 CM, but if I do get one, it'll be a CTR.

Those Tikka's are great rifles!

Yea, Tikka is definitely doing something right. I do like the CTR...... very easy on the eyes and no doubt they shoot!

 

[lyotehunter]

3 3 Savages and a Ruger American predator that cost $375 new they all shoot in one hole groups. But I had to reload maybe that's the difference.

 

[localdirt]

Ok guys, I finally saved up enough $$$ to buy another rig for some long range work. After going insane trying to decide what to buy I went with the Tikka T3x Tac A1 in 6.5 Creedmoor. After having a few Savages that were just shooting "ok" I decided I'd brand-jump...... after all the Tikka T3's that I've had for hunting were excellent shooters so why not....

That was Monday, and today I finally got to the range. Full disclosure--- I don't hand load, I've only been "in the game for longer range stuff for a few years, so I still have a ton to learn......

I almost couldn't believe it, but sighting in the rifle today I pulled-off something that I never thought was possible--- I put 3 bullets through the same d@mn hole (100 YARDS)!!! Then, made the adjustments left and on the next group put 2 bullets through the same hole! Unbelievable! Not bad at all I think! I wanted to stretch out a bit more, but will have to find a longer range for that (I'm in NY and only had an hour anyway). Anyway, I didn't calculate the MOA's on each group but it seems pretty low. Wanted to share the pics as I am REALLY excited and think I made the right choice with the Tikka! I used a couple targets that were left at the range hanging (hey--- they worked!)..... next time I'll buy my own so it will be easier to see the group size. Anyone else seeing this kind of accuracy with the Tac A1?! I don't want to get too excited, but this is definitely encouraging! Think I got my hands on a shooter, folks!

Great report. Thanks much.

Please share the ammo you were using.

 

[ericbc7]

The Prime 130 gr 6.5 creedmoor ammo shoots very well in my buddies T3 Tac A1

 

[Specialized]

I have a couple of Tikkas, and they're both stupid accurate, just like yours. lightweight, simple, and extremely effective. You'll like the results.

Time to change your screen name to Scottikka, though... LOL

 

[SavageScott]

Great report. Thanks much.

Please share the ammo you were using.

I was using Hornady 140 grain Match Ammo. I could try feeding it something else, but just no reason to yet....

 

[localdirt]

I was using Hornady 140 grain Match Ammo. I could try feeding it something else, but just no reason to yet....

Have heard the Hornady Match ammo was good stuff. Be interested to hear how it handles hunting rounds.

 

[SavageScott]

Have heard the Hornady Match ammo was good stuff. Be interested to hear how it handles hunting rounds.

I have been toying with the idea of taking it out this upcoming deer season, so it would be a good idea to test something else out!

 

[johnlittletree]

Tikka's have always been good rifles. Even when they where nothing more than a lightly warmed over "commercial" version of the Mauser 98 action they where every bit as good as anything being made by Remington, Winchester, Savage etc.....As time went one they found ways of reducing cost with out really making the action less than it was. People do not like what they do not know or understand just like the mechanical fuel injection on the early Corvettes. Gunsmiths that where not really machinist using old gear and not knowing how to cut metric threads witht he gear they had talked them down and bad mouthed them.

Then we started to see factory rifles start to close the gap in terms of accuracy with a lot of smi-custom rifles. Today you can get some cheaply made really ugly guns that are very accurate. You also have far fewer gunsmiths but the ones that are still in the game and or barrel makers that re-barrel in house have stepped up their game and metric threads are not seen as much of a hurdle to over come.

With the advent of CHF barrels industry wide we have the most accurate OEM mass produced rifles in history! In fact if accuracy and long barrel life are a must than CHF is the only way to go if you are an OEM and can afford a radial hammer forging machine.

Button rifling is cheaper and faster but you can not profile the barrel and do the chambering all at the same time in one operation. All of the US ARMY's Remington based sniper rifles use CHF barrels because nothing else can meet the requirement of 20K rounds of life at the required level of accuracy.

All of your European OEM barrels are CHF. American rifle snobs do not like CHF barrels. If someone actually sold true "match grade" CHF barrels especially if the chambers where hammed in as well and you could spec things like SAAMI minimum or various match chamber's I would give them a try in a mad minute. Sadly the only CHF barrels we can get in the USA are mass produced with miltary rifles or OEM mass produced rifles in mind.



Everyone thinks CHF is the fastest cheapest way t make a barrel but that is not true button rifling is faster and cheaper if not doing cambering as well in the CHF. The CHF reduces total machine time and a lot of variability and waste when looking at all the operation after rifling. If your goal is not bench rest levels of accuracy the CHF process is vastly superior from a manufacturing standpoint both in consistency and waste! Sadly to have any hope of making a match grade barrel you have to maintain those mandrels and they have to be kept very very clean not exactly what mass production is known for.

To give you some idea of how large OEM's tend to think the reason their is so much orange peel in your OEM paint especially on the bed of a pick-up truck is to hide flaws. General Motors learned they could get a lot more stamping out of their dies at the truck plant if they just shot a lot of orange peel into the paint to cover the stretch marks and wrinkles from dies that needed to be sent out for maintenance. Remember it just has to be more accurate than barrels from 20 years ago. I can not even imagine how much money you save if you also hammer the chamber in at the same time and profile. This is why a $269 Ruger American in Centerfire Cartridge of your choice can shoot as well or better than Winchester Super Grade or Remington 700 from 20 years ago. It is not a better rifle but it is more consistent from end to end from lot to lot. Remington and Savage where historically known for making some some terrible barrels that had tool marks, charter marks galore and even smearing of the rifling.

For the record I have not seen anyone put up a bore scope of any of the modern rifle barrels from OEM's that we know are using CHF today. You only ever see the 20 year old videos back when everyone was button rifling.

A lot of the most Accurate Mauser's in the past and today had CHF barrels or have CHF.

Tikka's and Sako's some of the above is me mixing the two up since I consider Sako and Tikka to be one big happy family like Toyota and Lexus or Ford and Mercury and Chevy and GMC etc....Fantastic Rifles. I had a FinnBear and I wish I had not sold it! Not as pretty as my Winchester Model 70 Super Grade but she was a shooter and made like a "Brick Out House". It had Maple Stock but the Winchester had more figure even though it was Walnut.

Another rifle that is put-down and not appreciated is the Howa. The bottom metal is alloy wish it was steel and they put some nasty stocks on them the Hogue stocks are terrible but most of the Howa's you see at a store not custom ordered have even worse. Luckily Richards Microfit Stocks makes some nice stocks for them!

I have considered sand casting bottom metal for it. I thought about trying brass first since brass is far easier to work with. That said Howa's are accurate enough for hunting, forged receiver and bolt! You really get a lot for your money.

 

[woodnut]

From all the reports I've followed, the T3s are the most accurate factory rifles out there. But, I will also say the cartridge is a BIG part of it's accuracy. I shoot the cheap American Gunner and it too will shine! Not one holers, but sub 1/2 MOA. Several friends have the 6.5 Creed and all will do that. Only thing that kept me from buying the T3 was the cost of mags. I went with a Bergara B14 as it has a Rem 700 top and mags are inexpensive. Shoots good too. But again, you have a fantastic rifle and I'm very happy for ya!

 

[localdirt]

Tikka's have always been good rifles. Even when they where nothing more than a lightly warmed over "commercial" version of the Mauser 98 action they where every bit as good as anything being made by Remington, Winchester, Savage etc.....As time went one they found ways of reducing cost with out really making the action less than it was. People do not like what they do not know or understand just like the mechanical fuel injection on the early Corvettes. Gunsmiths that where not really machinist using old gear and not knowing how to cut metric threads witht he gear they had talked them down and bad mouthed them.

Then we started to see factory rifles start to close the gap in terms of accuracy with a lot of smi-custom rifles. Today you can get some cheaply made really ugly guns that are very accurate. You also have far fewer gunsmiths but the ones that are still in the game and or barrel makers that re-barrel in house have stepped up their game and metric threads are not seen as much of a hurdle to over come.

With the advent of CHF barrels industry wide we have the most accurate OEM mass produced rifles in history! In fact if accuracy and long barrel life are a must than CHF is the only way to go if you are an OEM and can afford a radial hammer forging machine.

Button rifling is cheaper and faster but you can not profile the barrel and do the chambering all at the same time in one operation. All of the US ARMY's Remington based sniper rifles use CHF barrels because nothing else can meet the requirement of 20K rounds of life at the required level of accuracy.

All of your European OEM barrels are CHF. American rifle snobs do not like CHF barrels. If someone actually sold true "match grade" CHF barrels especially if the chambers where hammed in as well and you could spec things like SAAMI minimum or various match chamber's I would give them a try in a mad minute. Sadly the only CHF barrels we can get in the USA are mass produced with miltary rifles or OEM mass produced rifles in mind.



Everyone thinks CHF is the fastest cheapest way t make a barrel but that is not true button rifling is faster and cheaper if not doing cambering as well in the CHF. The CHF reduces total machine time and a lot of variability and waste when looking at all the operation after rifling. If your goal is not bench rest levels of accuracy the CHF process is vastly superior from a manufacturing standpoint both in consistency and waste! Sadly to have any hope of making a match grade barrel you have to maintain those mandrels and they have to be kept very very clean not exactly what mass production is known for.

To give you some idea of how large OEM's tend to think the reason their is so much orange peel in your OEM paint especially on the bed of a pick-up truck is to hide flaws. General Motors learned they could get a lot more stamping out of their dies at the truck plant if they just shot a lot of orange peel into the paint to cover the stretch marks and wrinkles from dies that needed to be sent out for maintenance. Remember it just has to be more accurate than barrels from 20 years ago. I can not even imagine how much money you save if you also hammer the chamber in at the same time and profile. This is why a $269 Ruger American in Centerfire Cartridge of your choice can shoot as well or better than Winchester Super Grade or Remington 700 from 20 years ago. It is not a better rifle but it is more consistent from end to end from lot to lot. Remington and Savage where historically known for making some some terrible barrels that had tool marks, charter marks galore and even smearing of the rifling.

For the record I have not seen anyone put up a bore scope of any of the modern rifle barrels from OEM's that we know are using CHF today. You only ever see the 20 year old videos back when everyone was button rifling.

A lot of the most Accurate Mauser's in the past and today had CHF barrels or have CHF.

Tikka's and Sako's some of the above is me mixing the two up since I consider Sako and Tikka to be one big happy family like Toyota and Lexus or Ford and Mercury and Chevy and GMC etc....Fantastic Rifles. I had a FinnBear and I wish I had not sold it! Not as pretty as my Winchester Model 70 Super Grade but she was a shooter and made like a "Brick Out House". It had Maple Stock but the Winchester had more figure even though it was Walnut.

Another rifle that is put-down and not appreciated is the Howa. The bottom metal is alloy wish it was steel and they put some nasty stocks on them the Hogue stocks are terrible but most of the Howa's you see at a store not custom ordered have even worse. Luckily Richards Microfit Stocks makes some nice stocks for them!

I have considered sand casting bottom metal for it. I thought about trying brass first since brass is far easier to work with. That said Howa's are accurate enough for hunting, forged receiver and bolt! You really get a lot for your money.

I've always looked at Tikkas as a poor man's Sako.

 

[DartonJager]

Not at all surprised. I had wanted to buy a T3 Lite for years but couldn't justify the cost as I had more than enough rifles as it were. Stumbled onto a unbelievable deal on a 300wsm NIB T3 Lite that was to good to pass up. My biggest group so far was right at 1.13" with Federal Blue box ammo, and best reload I've shot so far makes one hole groups under 1/2". Hands down most accurate rifle I've ever owned or shot.
Made reloads using RL-17, H4831, IMR4451, and IMR4831 all gave sub MOA accuracy. But IMR4831 is best over all.
Kinda sad though as I doubt I will ever use any of my other rifles now.