Zero lure ......to Tika here! Just me
the lure of tikka
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Helped a friend and worked up load his Tikka T3 lightweight in 308 Win. Changed the bolt stop and used the longer mag box. Chose a midrange velocity with a 150 gr Nosler ballistic tip so his petite 4' 10" wife didn't get hammered with excessive recoil. She has killed some very impressive desert mule deer with it. He carries it for varmints. Just over a week ago he was helping on a youth hunt and got to shoot two coyotes, one at 500 yds, AND a bobcat!
As to junking the barrel, if you do take it off I want it! Those barrels are hammer forged. When they are in their finalized shape, unlike Remingtons, there are no reamer marks left the inside the bore! I have inspected two of these Tikka barrel with my borescope. They are smooth and worthy of keeping. Of course, if you do intend to remove the barrel don't shoot it before rebarreling, it will change your mind. I found a new unfired Tikka in 25-06. With minor machining to the shank it was rechambered to 257 Weatherby. It is on an old M77 Tang safety. Currently shoots the 85 gr Nosler BT @ 3818 fps very accurately and cleans up easily.
As to junking the barrel, if you do take it off I want it! Those barrels are hammer forged. When they are in their finalized shape, unlike Remingtons, there are no reamer marks left the inside the bore! I have inspected two of these Tikka barrel with my borescope. They are smooth and worthy of keeping. Of course, if you do intend to remove the barrel don't shoot it before rebarreling, it will change your mind. I found a new unfired Tikka in 25-06. With minor machining to the shank it was rechambered to 257 Weatherby. It is on an old M77 Tang safety. Currently shoots the 85 gr Nosler BT @ 3818 fps very accurately and cleans up easily.
Leaf Litter
Well-Known Member
Don't assume that just because it's a tikka barrel that it's perfect. I bought one a couple years ago with significant machining damage in the first 2" of the rifling.
Tikka tends to be excellent, but nobody is perfect all the time.
Idaho Lefty
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I've Had 4, lightly Modified* ( * Kydex Cheek Riser, LimbSaver Recoil Pad, Careful Bbl Break In and after Mkt., Trigger Springs ), Tikka's and the Worst One I've shot was, 3/4 MOA, All Day / Every Day and the Best 2, can shoot in, the High 2's to 3's @ 100 Yds Bench rested, WITH, Handloads.
I Carefully Polish the Barrels with some JB's Slathered on a Patch over a Bronze Brush ( 8-10 Passes, ONE Way ) Clean Thoroughly, then shoot 5 then, Clean,. DONE ! The Bore and Throat, shines like, a Mirror ( and Cleans, Easily ! ).
As stated by, AZ Shooter, Tikka Barrels,. ARE "Top's" for, Factory Barrels,. IMO also.
Unless, I want to Spend, $3 - $4 Grand for, a Custom Rifle,. WHICH IS, practically,.. Never
Sadly, I've heard that, a VERY Few, "Bad One's" HAVE,. escaped, the Factory recently.
Most Hunters, LOVE Tikka's, a very, VERY Few,.. Not, so much.
I Carefully Polish the Barrels with some JB's Slathered on a Patch over a Bronze Brush ( 8-10 Passes, ONE Way ) Clean Thoroughly, then shoot 5 then, Clean,. DONE ! The Bore and Throat, shines like, a Mirror ( and Cleans, Easily ! ).
As stated by, AZ Shooter, Tikka Barrels,. ARE "Top's" for, Factory Barrels,. IMO also.
Unless, I want to Spend, $3 - $4 Grand for, a Custom Rifle,. WHICH IS, practically,.. Never
Sadly, I've heard that, a VERY Few, "Bad One's" HAVE,. escaped, the Factory recently.
Most Hunters, LOVE Tikka's, a very, VERY Few,.. Not, so much.
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For me, the lure of Tikka is "do it yourself". You can buy a basic Tikka rifle and work on it yourself. Hardest part is removing the original factory barrel (plenty of "how to" videos).
I saw a deal on a local used but like new Tikka T3X in 300 Win Mag and I jumped on for the Tikka action but especially the Magnum bolt. Put in the back of the safe but recently picked up a 25 SAUM barrel to start the build.
I saw a deal on a local used but like new Tikka T3X in 300 Win Mag and I jumped on for the Tikka action but especially the Magnum bolt. Put in the back of the safe but recently picked up a 25 SAUM barrel to start the build.
Idaho Lefty
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Yup,. This ^^^
My Son put, a 24" Proof, 7mm PRC Barrel with, a PVA Back Country Brake, on His magnum TIKKA Action and has shot, a 5 Shot, .314 Ctr / Ctr Group with, 180 gr ELD-M's ( @ 2,987 FPS ) @ 100 yds. We in My Family,. LIKE, em !
My Son put, a 24" Proof, 7mm PRC Barrel with, a PVA Back Country Brake, on His magnum TIKKA Action and has shot, a 5 Shot, .314 Ctr / Ctr Group with, 180 gr ELD-M's ( @ 2,987 FPS ) @ 100 yds. We in My Family,. LIKE, em !
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Idaho Lefty
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There ARE Lots of, good Cartridge, "choices" chambered in Rifles for, Hunting almost every, Big Game animal that, you could imagine.
Sadly, 7 PRC and 6.5- .284 aren't, in the Line-Up. But, the 6.5 PRC is.
Usually, you can Buy, a Whole New Tikka for about, $900 dollars then Add about, $100 - $150 to, Modify
Shoot the Barrel Out FIRST then, "Play with, It" ! There's nothing Wrong with, a .270 - .300 WSM, .30-06 or, 7 MM Rem Mag for, Hunting Big Game !
The "Trick" IS Finding, the correct Bullet, to Match, the Rifle's Twist rate, for,.. best Accuracy !
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I have 2 tikka builds and they shoot sweet but I built them when you could get a used tikka for like $600. I'm not sure what happened but in my area a used tikka is approaching the price of the cheaper custom actions. Right now I don't think I'd build another rifle on a tikka action, I'd spend the couple extra bucks and go for a custom.
@ARlife4me I've got a way to save you some money on a proof pre-fit barrel via a gift certificate that I have and don't need. I will let it go for less than face value, shoot me a PM if a prefit barrel either SS or carbon interests you.
bigngreen
Well-Known Member
Tikka's used to give me the dry heaves but built on a few for other guys and I have nothing but love for them now, if your building a short or medium length round they are hard to beat, just an easy win.
Ua26fitter
Well-Known Member
Had a biuld done on Tikka for the first time this year. 6-7PRC
I've always used Remington 700 actions.
I'm sold on the simplicity of the Tikka. Didn't need to pay extra to have the action worked over by a smith. Didn't need an aftermarket trigger put in.
Only mod to the action was a $6 spring. Love it and am already planning a smaller biuld on one. Probably. 223 or 6ARC for the kids.
No more Remingtons for me if what I want can be biult on a Tikka.
Also soon we will be able to get Tikka clone actions and bolts with changeable bolt faces.
I've always used Remington 700 actions.
I'm sold on the simplicity of the Tikka. Didn't need to pay extra to have the action worked over by a smith. Didn't need an aftermarket trigger put in.
Only mod to the action was a $6 spring. Love it and am already planning a smaller biuld on one. Probably. 223 or 6ARC for the kids.
No more Remingtons for me if what I want can be biult on a Tikka.
Also soon we will be able to get Tikka clone actions and bolts with changeable bolt faces.
Also soon we will be able to get Tikka clone actions and bolts with changeable bolt faces.
The heck you say! Looking forward to that, I hope the tolerances are as tight.
As far as I know Tikka is the only factory action where the tolerances are kept tight enough to purchase a pre-fit SHOULDERED barrel instead of the adjustable headspace barrel nut. They are squared and trued at the factory also.
