Sako Finnlight versus Tikka T3 Lite
- Thread starter Clevinger
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trg42wraglefragle
New member
Tikka's are more or less a cheaper more mass produced rifle than their Sako counterparts. They are buy no means a cheap budget rifle though.
Tikka's are only produced in one action length which would be a massive cost saving during production, they also use plastic part's where as a Sako will have metal part's which also is a lot easier and cheaper to produce.
I don't know if Sako's have different triggers, but I know the Tikka ones are excellent and wouldn't complain at all if the same trigger was on a Sako. Tikka's also use the same barrels as Sako's. In many ways it is hard to see why you would spend the extra money on a Sako as on paper they should be much the same.
If you held both in a store and thought for your use, they felt exactly the same, then I wouldn't spend the extra money, as Tikka's are still excellent rifles, well built and accurate. But if you held them and though the difference in quality was a lot and the Sako felt way better, then I'd start considering it.
Tikka's are only produced in one action length which would be a massive cost saving during production, they also use plastic part's where as a Sako will have metal part's which also is a lot easier and cheaper to produce.
I don't know if Sako's have different triggers, but I know the Tikka ones are excellent and wouldn't complain at all if the same trigger was on a Sako. Tikka's also use the same barrels as Sako's. In many ways it is hard to see why you would spend the extra money on a Sako as on paper they should be much the same.
If you held both in a store and thought for your use, they felt exactly the same, then I wouldn't spend the extra money, as Tikka's are still excellent rifles, well built and accurate. But if you held them and though the difference in quality was a lot and the Sako felt way better, then I'd start considering it.
PHEASANTPETE
New member
Tikka is No Sako, Salesman Myth Busted
The connection between Sako and Tikka is they are both owned by Berreta and are made in Finland. That has not been good for either. According to Chuck Hawks the Tikka T3 is an exercise in how to cheaply produce a rifle and give the appearance of a well made rifle. See following for details about T3 construction: http://www.chuckhawks.com/critical_look.htm
There is no comparison to the Sako. The Sako uses a cold hammered forged barrel on a mandrel and then is optically checked and diamond honed. That barrel is worth more than the whole Tikka. They are not the same barrels albeit made in the same factory. Myth busted!
Triggers are very important to accuracy and the Sako trigger is worth at least 3 or 4 times the cheap Tikka setup. They work fine for shooting deer in the woods but are no marksman's dream trigger. The T3 is the result of Berreta making Tikka the redheaded cheap stepchild of Sako. Tikka did make better rifles in the past. They are still good enough rifles if you do not mind pulling out the magazine to reload. The action is bored out from bar stock while the Sako is forged and easy to drop an extra round from the top.
Tikkas have a small ejection port which keeps cost down on the cheap receiver. Sakos are conventional with a large opening which makes extracting stuck rounds easier and much quicker. Sako's have a superior extractor that many Custom Remington 700 makers use. Sako's come in 4 different action lengths that are appropriate for the caliber. Sako guarantees 1 MOA out of the box. Sako's wood is fine grade wood with fine checkering and their other stocks are of high quality as well. Tikka T3 uses small patch checkering.
Is the T3 accurrate? Yes for a hunting rifle but I would not put up against a Sako. The T3 has a place but to compare it to a Sako is like comparing a Mercedes to a Chevy grocery getter. They both get the job done but the Mercedes has certain improvements albeit at much greater cost. The T3 is the VW of the gun world while the Sako is the Mercedes.
At $700 bills I believe the Tikka T3 to be overpriced. $350 to $400 would be the value I would place on a new one. There are many better choices for that kind of money. And many just as good and better for much less. The Ruger American and Savage Axis will give you much better value if you like ejection port bolt actions. Any Savage 11 or 111 will be a superior design. A Savage with an Accu-Trigger and Accu-stock will shoot as well and likely better. A basic Remington 700 will cost less and also be a superior design. For a little more one can get a very nice Remington 700 or Savage bolt of much better construction.
Tikka's are a entirely different rifle despite what salesmen state. Myth Busted!
The connection between Sako and Tikka is they are both owned by Berreta and are made in Finland. That has not been good for either. According to Chuck Hawks the Tikka T3 is an exercise in how to cheaply produce a rifle and give the appearance of a well made rifle. See following for details about T3 construction: http://www.chuckhawks.com/critical_look.htm
There is no comparison to the Sako. The Sako uses a cold hammered forged barrel on a mandrel and then is optically checked and diamond honed. That barrel is worth more than the whole Tikka. They are not the same barrels albeit made in the same factory. Myth busted!
Triggers are very important to accuracy and the Sako trigger is worth at least 3 or 4 times the cheap Tikka setup. They work fine for shooting deer in the woods but are no marksman's dream trigger. The T3 is the result of Berreta making Tikka the redheaded cheap stepchild of Sako. Tikka did make better rifles in the past. They are still good enough rifles if you do not mind pulling out the magazine to reload. The action is bored out from bar stock while the Sako is forged and easy to drop an extra round from the top.
Tikkas have a small ejection port which keeps cost down on the cheap receiver. Sakos are conventional with a large opening which makes extracting stuck rounds easier and much quicker. Sako's have a superior extractor that many Custom Remington 700 makers use. Sako's come in 4 different action lengths that are appropriate for the caliber. Sako guarantees 1 MOA out of the box. Sako's wood is fine grade wood with fine checkering and their other stocks are of high quality as well. Tikka T3 uses small patch checkering.
Is the T3 accurrate? Yes for a hunting rifle but I would not put up against a Sako. The T3 has a place but to compare it to a Sako is like comparing a Mercedes to a Chevy grocery getter. They both get the job done but the Mercedes has certain improvements albeit at much greater cost. The T3 is the VW of the gun world while the Sako is the Mercedes.
At $700 bills I believe the Tikka T3 to be overpriced. $350 to $400 would be the value I would place on a new one. There are many better choices for that kind of money. And many just as good and better for much less. The Ruger American and Savage Axis will give you much better value if you like ejection port bolt actions. Any Savage 11 or 111 will be a superior design. A Savage with an Accu-Trigger and Accu-stock will shoot as well and likely better. A basic Remington 700 will cost less and also be a superior design. For a little more one can get a very nice Remington 700 or Savage bolt of much better construction.
Tikka's are a entirely different rifle despite what salesmen state. Myth Busted!
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"T3 and Whitetail Hunter bolt action rifles is an out of the box accuracy guarantee of MOA groups at 100 yards."
http://www.chuckhawks.com/tikka_rifles.htm
Same website, opposite view of the same rifle.
While you seem quite happy to bash the Tikka, do/have you own/ed one and/or had any amount of experience with any?
I have Rugers, Remingtons, Savages, and Tikkas currently in my rifle safe. Both of my Tikka T3 lites are sub-MOA shooters with factory ammo, and pretty much one ragged hole hand loaded ammo shooters, and a joy to carry and shoot.
I have target rifles. And when I want to get into the .2s and .3s I use them. When I want to shoot for fun or hunt, and start walking for miles up and down and through, then the Tikkas come out; and still manage sub-MOA with aplomb.
YMMV
PHEASANTPETE
New member
Stated the reality about a $700 dollar rifle
Never would own a Tikka T3. Bought a Sako in 89' so years later when a sales guy tried convincing me a Tikka T3 was a low cost Sako I knew better. Stating the difference between the 2 is bashing??? Come on you got a Tikka and you like it. It works for you but the article is about the differences and I pointed them out. Owned over 100 rifles but never a Tikka T3. Shot competively and still no T3. Older Tikkas are fine rifles but we are comparing the T3 to a Sako. Not in the same league.
Never seen many at the range either so maybe there is a lot more hype than substance. Best thing about a T3 is the barrel. The worst thing is everything else especially the stock and receiver. I tried a friends 30-06 and it kicked like mule and it felt cheap. They are light and pleasant to carry but so is a Sako Hunter Lightweight. If it works for someone then it is the right rifle for them. It is no $700 rifle IMO. Maybe $400. So considering the cost I believe it is fair to be more critical than of a $300-$400 rifle.
Never would own a Tikka T3. Bought a Sako in 89' so years later when a sales guy tried convincing me a Tikka T3 was a low cost Sako I knew better. Stating the difference between the 2 is bashing??? Come on you got a Tikka and you like it. It works for you but the article is about the differences and I pointed them out. Owned over 100 rifles but never a Tikka T3. Shot competively and still no T3. Older Tikkas are fine rifles but we are comparing the T3 to a Sako. Not in the same league.
Never seen many at the range either so maybe there is a lot more hype than substance. Best thing about a T3 is the barrel. The worst thing is everything else especially the stock and receiver. I tried a friends 30-06 and it kicked like mule and it felt cheap. They are light and pleasant to carry but so is a Sako Hunter Lightweight. If it works for someone then it is the right rifle for them. It is no $700 rifle IMO. Maybe $400. So considering the cost I believe it is fair to be more critical than of a $300-$400 rifle.
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PHEASANTPETE
New member
Dress a Tikka up with a custom stock and trigger and it would certainly be better but it would still have a cheap receiver and still not be close to a Sako. Why not just get a Sako instead of trying to convince someone that something that cost less than half is nearly as good? Or better yet spend less on a better rifle. They even cleared them out of a local chain of stores because they were not the best value.
Are they bad rifles. Nope, are they great rifles? Not in my Opinion. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I love my wife but not my guns but I do appreciate a fine specimen of a rifle of which Sako is and Tikka T3 is not. If I never owned a Sako I may believe differently.
I friend asked me to be on the lookout for a 243 for his wife about a dozen years ago. I found an older Sako in 243 for under $600. He loved it and so does his wife. I would consider looking for a good used one for around the Tikka price but they are rare finds. Sako's seem to be held on to. Used Tikka T3's are much easier to find for sale.
Are they bad rifles. Nope, are they great rifles? Not in my Opinion. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I love my wife but not my guns but I do appreciate a fine specimen of a rifle of which Sako is and Tikka T3 is not. If I never owned a Sako I may believe differently.
I friend asked me to be on the lookout for a 243 for his wife about a dozen years ago. I found an older Sako in 243 for under $600. He loved it and so does his wife. I would consider looking for a good used one for around the Tikka price but they are rare finds. Sako's seem to be held on to. Used Tikka T3's are much easier to find for sale.
Rattlehead
New member
"Both of my Tikka T3 lites are sub-MOA shooters with factory ammo, and pretty much one ragged hole hand loaded ammo shooters, and a joy to carry and shoot."
Same here; out of the box (only "mods" being a bipod, scope, and recoil pad), mine will easily produce sub-MOA groups (~3/4" at 100 yards) using $15/box Federal ammo...
Same here; out of the box (only "mods" being a bipod, scope, and recoil pad), mine will easily produce sub-MOA groups (~3/4" at 100 yards) using $15/box Federal ammo...
PHEASANTPETE
New member
Bought a Remington 243 ADL at Kmart over 20 years ago and it shot sub MOA consistently with some ammo. Federal premium boat-tails in 100 gn. Sold it to a friend for his daughters use. Bought a Rem 243 BDL about 10 years ago from Gander MTn brand new. It never shot sub MOA except on rare occassions as a matter of chance. Because it was not consistent it was not a sub MOA rifle.
Many rifles will occasionally produce sub MOA groups. Comparing a 223 to a 30-06 is different. Bigger wholes=bigger diameter pattern. Some rounds also shoot more accurately. Some rifles are shooters while others are not even if the same factory made them. Why did a BDL shoot less accurate than a ADL? Human error somewhere. Worn equipment, sloppy tolerances, etc. However many T3 owners report accuracy and the barrel seems to be well made. The stock and receiver are not of good design.
Many rifles will occasionally produce sub MOA groups. Comparing a 223 to a 30-06 is different. Bigger wholes=bigger diameter pattern. Some rounds also shoot more accurately. Some rifles are shooters while others are not even if the same factory made them. Why did a BDL shoot less accurate than a ADL? Human error somewhere. Worn equipment, sloppy tolerances, etc. However many T3 owners report accuracy and the barrel seems to be well made. The stock and receiver are not of good design.
603Country
New member
I've got a Sako and I've got a Tikka. The Sako, in my opinion, is a notch (or two) above the Tikka T3. That said, my Tikka is an excellent rifle. I'd buy a Tikka before I'd spend money on another Remington or Savage. As for other rifles I have, I'm very fond of the Ruger Hawkeye I have, and I sure wouldn't mind having a new Winchester FN Model 70.
The Tikka I have has the synthetic stock, and I hear people grumping about it but I like it just fine. Maybe if I hung a bipod on it, I'd be less happy with the stock, but I'm not into bipods.
Accuracy...the Tikka is the better shooter, but that's probably because it has a heavier custom barrel on it now. That said, the Sako (in 270) is a great shooter with the stock barrel.
So yes, I think the Sako is the finer made rifle, but love the Tikka too. And maybe I should mention that for the last two deer seasons, I've parked the Sako in the gunsafe. What does that tell ya?
The Tikka I have has the synthetic stock, and I hear people grumping about it but I like it just fine. Maybe if I hung a bipod on it, I'd be less happy with the stock, but I'm not into bipods.
Accuracy...the Tikka is the better shooter, but that's probably because it has a heavier custom barrel on it now. That said, the Sako (in 270) is a great shooter with the stock barrel.
So yes, I think the Sako is the finer made rifle, but love the Tikka too. And maybe I should mention that for the last two deer seasons, I've parked the Sako in the gunsafe. What does that tell ya?
hoghunting
New member
And according to Chuck Hawks the Remington 700 is a great rifle, you only need to replace the trigger, glass bed the action and free float the barrel. Yes, great rifle, just spend $700 for the 700 then add another $300 - $400 to make it shoot. That's the man I would listen to for advice.
Rather than cheap, I think the terms for the Tika Lower cost, less expensive, more affordable are better terms.
Most people who have them seem to like them.
It may not be some peoples cup of tea but bashing it because its not a Sako or its not priced the same as a Rugar or Savage seems excessive.
Most people who have them seem to like them.
It may not be some peoples cup of tea but bashing it because its not a Sako or its not priced the same as a Rugar or Savage seems excessive.
Tikka uses same barrels as Sako according to Tikka site and made same plant
http://www.tikka.fi/features.php
http://www.tikka.fi/features.php
I've never heard of an inaccurate or mediocre accurate T3. Consistency of manufacturing precision is what I think the T3 brings to sub-$1,000 rifles. And a blue T3 can easily be had for $556.
I don't own a T3. But I do have a Sako A7 which is some mule hybrid of a Sako 75, 85 and Tikka. I love it. Light, balanced, super smooth and tight bolt, and sub-moa all day long (200 test loads without cleaning and fairly hot barrel). I have friends with several T3s and they are all sub-moa, easily. If I get another woods rifle it is likely to be a T3.
The T3 feels far superior in precision machining and smooth operation than any $550 US rifle. I like Savage too but would prefer Tikka to Savage, Remington, Ruger. Then when you get into $1,200 Winchesters I would rather have the Sako.
Lots of fine rifles out there. I would go by the experience of those who shoot them.
I don't own a T3. But I do have a Sako A7 which is some mule hybrid of a Sako 75, 85 and Tikka. I love it. Light, balanced, super smooth and tight bolt, and sub-moa all day long (200 test loads without cleaning and fairly hot barrel). I have friends with several T3s and they are all sub-moa, easily. If I get another woods rifle it is likely to be a T3.
The T3 feels far superior in precision machining and smooth operation than any $550 US rifle. I like Savage too but would prefer Tikka to Savage, Remington, Ruger. Then when you get into $1,200 Winchesters I would rather have the Sako.
Lots of fine rifles out there. I would go by the experience of those who shoot them.
I handled a bunch of Tikka T-3s in stores before finally buying one. At first, I didn't like the lightness and the molded stock, but it felt much better to me than the Ruger American. I was in the market for a light, tough .243 Win for the grandkids to hunt with and for me to carry on walkabouts in the fields and forests behind the house.
Last year, I bought the T-3 and have fallen in love with it. It shoots 3/8" groups at 100 yards with my handloads and is a joy to carry. Just yesterday, I slung it over my shoulder and trudged a mile or so, shot my gong twice offhand at 150 yards, and trudged back to the house.
The rifle fulfills its role wonderfully! Is it my favorite range rifle? No, but so far, it's my favorite CF carry rifle.
Last year, I bought the T-3 and have fallen in love with it. It shoots 3/8" groups at 100 yards with my handloads and is a joy to carry. Just yesterday, I slung it over my shoulder and trudged a mile or so, shot my gong twice offhand at 150 yards, and trudged back to the house.
The rifle fulfills its role wonderfully! Is it my favorite range rifle? No, but so far, it's my favorite CF carry rifle.
Build quality and materials used. I will say that even Sako' s plastic stock is lacking for a rifle in that price range. I didn't mind it with my Sako 75 but now days with kevlar/carbon fiber stocks used on other guns form companies like Kimber, Sako needs to drop the rubber infused tupperware.
I own a lot of nice rifles..but after hearing about the Tikka T3..I decided to check them out.... I ended up purchasing one and very impressed with it....
Chuck Hawks completely missed the boat on this one.... Awesome trigger..very light..and very accurate.... The best inexpensive rifle out there....
Chuck Hawks completely missed the boat on this one.... Awesome trigger..very light..and very accurate.... The best inexpensive rifle out there....
Unlicensed Dremel
Moderator
Well the Tikka is hammer-forged too, so that's not a difference. The optically checked and diamond-honed, on the other hand....
And I totally agree with that Chuck Hawks article! 'Bout time all that was said. I mean, Tikkas are good, without a doubt. But everything he said generally, is right on the head!
In fact, look what happened when T/C tried to reverse that trend with the Icon - fantastic rifles but they flopped, even at a price point the same as a mid- to middle-upper BrownRemChester. Glad I got mine before they discontinued the "Classic" Icon.
Maybe it's the name - maybe the people confuses the Icon with that short-lived I-bolt, which both the public and Chuck consider to be the junk that it is. Not 710/715/770/Whitetail Hunter-level junk, but junk.
Man, I'm so glad Chuck told it like it is in that article - that the great thing about 'geezers' - at some point, they don't give a spit, and tell the truth!!
And I totally agree with that Chuck Hawks article! 'Bout time all that was said. I mean, Tikkas are good, without a doubt. But everything he said generally, is right on the head!
In fact, look what happened when T/C tried to reverse that trend with the Icon - fantastic rifles but they flopped, even at a price point the same as a mid- to middle-upper BrownRemChester. Glad I got mine before they discontinued the "Classic" Icon.
Maybe it's the name - maybe the people confuses the Icon with that short-lived I-bolt, which both the public and Chuck consider to be the junk that it is. Not 710/715/770/Whitetail Hunter-level junk, but junk.
Man, I'm so glad Chuck told it like it is in that article - that the great thing about 'geezers' - at some point, they don't give a spit, and tell the truth!!
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