The Tikka T3 is Sako's low cost rifle that they developed to compete in the lower price range of the market. They have made quite a few concessions in manufacturing these rifles in order to get the cost of the gun down.
The T3 Lite is the worst model of them all when chambered in a powerful caliber like 30-06, due to its super light weight, its cheap stock design, and mediocre recoil pad. These rifles really have a bad kick to them.
The old Tikka rifles made by the original Tikka company were fantastic rifles. But they were taken over by Sako, who was then later purchased by Beretta. Sako closed the old Tikka factory and let most of the workers go. The new Tikka rifles are now made at the Sako factory, and their design is nothing at all like the old Tikkas.
The current Sako Model 85 rifles, though, are now extremely expensive, with list prices from $1,550 to $1,950 Sako does have a new Model A7, though, that is much more reasonable, with a list price of $850 And it is even better than the Weatherby Vanguard sub MOA rifles in terms of guaranteed accuracy. For Sako guarantees the A7 will shoot 5 shoot groups at sub MOA, while the Weatherby Vanguard sub MOA guarantee is only for 3 shot sub MOA groups.
If you want a true quality rifle from Sako, the new A7 is really the best gun to get, and not the Tikka T3.
See:
http://www.sakoa7.net/
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