Tikka T3 Lite...thoughts?

S

Servo77

New member
I am looking for a nice stainless 308 rifle and a couple have recommended these. What do you all think of them? Accurate, durable, reliable?

What say you?
 
I'm only speaking for myself so....

I have the blued T3 Lite with synthetic stock in .308 win. I have a Leupold 4-12x40 scope on it and it is my go-to rifle when going hunting. More accurate than I am, and is not too heavy to carry around the woods for hours at a time. The smoothest action you will find of any rifle out of the box. A good trigger (mine breaks at about 3.5 lbs) which is perfect for a hunting rifle. You will not be disappointed if you got one.
 
I think enough of Tikkas that I own two T3 Lites and a T3 Super Varmint. On the plus side they are super accurate. Easily sub-MOA. The stock is very ridged and the action is super slick. The triggers are perfection. Set it where you like, anywhere from 2-4lbs. They are perfectly balanced and weigh a whole 6.2-6.3lbs.

On the minus side they weigh 6.2-6.3lbs which means there isn't much mass to absorb recoil and a Limbsaver recoil pad becomes a must. The only other minus is finding replacement magazines - don't lose it!

I also have to agree with Omaha-BeenGlockin. Unless you have a specific reason to pick 308 over 30-06 I'd go with the 30-06 because all Tikkas use the same length receiver whether you chose 223 or 308 or 30-06. I also recommend finding a good quality light weight scope to compliment the light weight of the rifle. The scope that I chose for my 30-06 weighs in at 13oz and with Talley Lightweight rings the whole package weighs in at just about 7.1lb.

T3 Lite in 30-06
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T3 Lite in 300WM (bipod for photo purposes only)
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I also have to agree with Omaha-BeenGlockin. Unless you have a specific reason to pick 308 over 30-06 I'd go with the 30-06 because all Tikkas use the same length receiver
Click to expand...

I just don't understand....We are talking about a 6-7.5 pound rifle with the scope. As you already stated, a Limbsaver is a must due to the light weight. Why would you subject yourself to more recoil with the 30-06 when the lighter (not much but still less) recoiling .308 will take any game that the 30-06 will and some will argue with better accuracy? Just doesn't make any sense to me.
 
I love my Tikka T3... as noted above, the action and trigger are excellent for a rifle in this price range. I'm not going to get into the argument about calibers, except to note that I don't understand why it seems that everyone who asks about the T3 wants the Lite and then frets about the recoil. Mine is the Hunter, with a very nice walnut stock, which weighs -- I forget, maybe half a pound more -- in .270 Win. The additional weight, along with that of the scope, seems to make the recoil entirely manageable; hardly noticeable with reduced-recoil loads.

And I like the looks of the wood stock -- it's what a bolt-action rifle is sposta look like... :)
 
I don't "fret" about recoil because they're hunting rifles. I'd rather deal with recoil for the few rounds that I shoot them than deal with carrying an extra pound of rifle. But at the same time the OP wanted the pluses and minus and deserves all of them.
 
I know you asked about the Tikka, but you may also want to consider the Sako A7 Stainless .308 the finish on it is much smoother than the Tikka and the Magazine has metal feed lips. Also Sako guarantees a 5 shot MOA.

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I have a lefty T3 Lite in .30-06 and absolutely love it. The trigger, accuracy, slick bolt, light weight....... what's not to love?
Oh......the replacement magazines at loan-shark prices. :(

A couple of things you may want to do though if you get one.

First, you'll probably want to swap out the factory butt pad for a Limbsaver. The Tikka's light weight can make it a meat tenderizer after a few rounds from the bench. I honestly don't see how the guys that get them in magnum calibers shoot them as is without having some orthopedic readjustments done.

Second, is to swap out the factory rings for a set of Talleys. I haven't had any issues with mine, but several people have and I'm not taking the chance.
 
I have two T3 Lites blue, one .308 and the other .270. I love both of these guns use my .308 for moose and the other for deer. Both shot sub-1" groups if I do my part. I've only had the .308 since April and only put 35 rounds thru it, took about 20 rounds before I got the sub-1" groups with it. Got the .270 used so didn't have the chance to break it in.

Buy the Tikka Lite you cannot go wrong after all it's made by Sako.

Jerry:)
 
What everyone said

Mine is blued in .308. Everybody talked about the good stuff already and brought in the recoil and expensive magazine.

1. Recoil is a perceived reality. You can get used to it or you can deal with it (Limbsaver or go with less recoil caliber).

2. Why in the world would you need an extra magazine when hunting? This is not an AR that you need to have ten magazines (I have 12 :D).

3. I have one other to add, the plastic stock is well plastic. It's not the warmest feeling on a cold day. I should have bought in wood stock but I didn't so I have to deal with it. :o

If you do decide to buy the Tikka, it will be accurate, durable, and reliable, and I hope you enjoy shooting it.
 
I didn't buy a T3 because of the detachable box magazine. I don't like them. Just put a fixed magazine with a door on the bottom and keep it simple. Otherwise they're great rifles.

And if you get an A7 over a T3 you might just as well go all the way and get an 85!! :D
 
My Tikka T3 Stainless is the 7mm-08 topped with burris fullfield ii ballistic plex. I've wasted many rounds shooting the 400yd metal sheep ( at the range ) just for fun.

There are some things that I don't care for though. The plastic mag, the plastic in general, and everyone has found out about Tikka - I'm no longer the odd ball mixed in with the Remington crowd. After all, I like being the odd ball!

If I purchased another Tikka, it would be in wood. Since I haven't seen many of them around. And it would be in .338 Federal:D

Shop around because deals can be had
 
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