Tikka Accuracy

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The Second Target in the photos I provided were from a 20 year old Ruger 300 Winmag. Shot on the same day and on the same sled. (Sub MOA). I believe I have therefore eliminated the sled as a potential issue.
As I will say again, I am clearly an outlier. Even though I'm 2 for 2. The 2 videos posted on this thread do better to suggest that my case, though rare, is not unique. I would accept another Tikka. If Tikka/BUSA go through the diligence of testing their gun first before I spent the time/money "again" to make this right. It's pretty common place in the gun industry to have a 1 MOA warranty. But what I don't see a lot of is targets that prove it. Do any of you?
 
I have plenty of sub-MOA targets from the four Tikka's I've owned. That's all the proof I need. Sorry yours sounds like the exception to that standard.
 
I have very limited experience. The only Tikka I have shot is the T3X Lite SS .30-06 that I own. I'm not very good with rifles. The 150gr Fiocchi I tried only got about 3" groups at 100yds. That may have been me, or it may have been that the bullet weight was too light. The 180gr Remington Cor-Lokt, on the other hand, gave me a couple groups at about 1" at 100yds. I would expect it could do better with a more consistent shooter.
 
It's pretty common place in the gun industry to have a 1 MOA warranty. But what I don't see a lot of is targets that prove it. Do any of you?

Not sure what you're asking here, do I have targets that I made that back up Tikkas 1 MOA claim on rifles I've owned? Yes.

.270 Superlite
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.308 CTR
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Do I see targets coming from the manufacturer to prove the 1 MOA guarantee? No, not unless you send it in with complaints, nor would I expect to on cheaper budget rifles. Cooper's and Fierce come with test targets, but there is a bit of a price bump over something like a Tikka.
 

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When I got my 308 I picked a load out of the book based on bullet weight and powder I had the most of. It shot so well I didn’t even bother trying to improve it. My left handed T3 lightweight is amazingly accurate for a production hunting rifle.
 
My T3 Lite in .270 Win is extremely accurate with " a bunch" of IMR 4831 behind a 130 Nosler Accubond (3019fps). Killed a deer and a coyote with it. Kicks like a mule though, it's a legit 3/4 MOA load at worst and factory Federal Fusions shoot under MOA too.

I'm now working up a reduced recoil load to save my jacked up shoulder and a 110 Accubond and H4895 is showing real promise. Not done with load development yet.

That's the downside of a Tikka, the lightweight increased recoil. Unless you're walking miles during hunts I don't see the point.
 
That's the downside of a Tikka, the lightweight increased recoil. Unless you're walking miles during hunts I don't see the point.
I like light rifles for hunting regardless of whether I'm walking in miles for an elk hunt, or just wandering around the 200-ac lease. I grew up hunting with a Winchester 94 30-30, so anything that weighs more than 7 lbs. to me just isn't very pleasant to carry. Add to that I spend more time carrying a traditional bow, which is about 3 lbs. quiver and all. Heavier rifles shoot softer on the shoulder and some folks don't mind carrying them. It's good we have choices.
 
Oh all Tikkas suck and you should send them to me for disposal. I won't even charge you the disposal fee but you'll have to pay shipping and handling :evil:
 
How much noise to you hear and recoil you feel taking game?

Very little noise and drastically attenuated recoil ;).

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I like light rifles as well, great to carry around, and still not too much of a burden after you attach... accessories.
 
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Not sure how that question is relevant.

From my experience: One post spoke of a heavier rifle yielding less recoil. The light weight rifle gave more recoil. Many people, when taking game do not sense recoil or report from the firearm. If that's the case, recoil is not an issue. The point was well made that we carry firearms more than we shoot. I suspect this recoil concern comes from shooting from the bench. YMMV. Another point that has come up indirectly is that one has to make no sacrifices with a light weight rifle. If there is no sacrifice with a light weight rifle what's the point of lugging around a rifle where you need wheels. The topic, I think, is accuracy of the Tikka rifle. The weight is light and the accuracy is excellent.
 
Oryx 002.JPG '16 Cow Elk 001.JPG
I like light rifles for hunting regardless of whether I'm walking in miles for an elk hunt, or just wandering around the 200-ac lease. I grew up hunting with a Winchester 94 30-30, so anything that weighs more than 7 lbs. to me just isn't very pleasant to carry. Add to that I spend more time carrying a traditional bow, which is about 3 lbs. quiver and all. Heavier rifles shoot softer on the shoulder and some folks don't mind carrying them. It's good we have choices.

Sounds like you're definitely one of those who do walk a lot so light rifles make sense for you. Seems like my hunting is mainly from a blind for hogs or riding around in a pickup on a 100,000+ acre Western ranch. There's a difference between getting good groups from a bench and duplicating said groups in a real life hunting stance. One gun rag did a study and found that from hunting situations people shot groups about a third smaller with a heavier rifle.

My preferred rifle these days is a Sako Finnbear in .30-'06, which is related to Tikka I guess.
 
From my experience: One post spoke of a heavier rifle yielding less recoil. The light weight rifle gave more recoil. Many people, when taking game do not sense recoil or report from the firearm. If that's the case, recoil is not an issue. The point was well made that we carry firearms more than we shoot. I suspect this recoil concern comes from shooting from the bench. YMMV. Another point that has come up indirectly is that one has to make no sacrifices with a light weight rifle. If there is no sacrifice with a light weight rifle what's the point of lugging around a rifle where you need wheels. The topic, I think, is accuracy of the Tikka rifle. The weight is light and the accuracy is excellent.

For many, the more rifle recoil the less they practice with it, which obviously for hunting skills isn't good. This is supposed to be fun.
 
For many, the more rifle recoil the less they practice with it

Sounds like a bad pick from the start. You can go all directions with this one. Is the shooter over gunned? Could he have picked a more reasonable caliber for this needs. For example, would he have been better off with a 7mm-08 than a 7mm Magnum. I don't find my T3 to be hard to handle from the bench. I do not use on of those contraptions to shoot. I have to go into these things knowing my own limitations. If I am recoil sensitive I do not need to get a seven pound 300 WSM or similar. Also, I cannot buy enough rifle to make me a better shot! Or as the mans says,"if your going to be stupid you better be tough."

Addendum: My SAKO is an old three lug L61R-Finnbear-in 338 Magnum. Bought it in a Rod&Gun club in Germany in the late 1960's for $60.00 brand new.
 
If you do a search on this you'll find some background. I personally had a .243 that shot a group about the size of a 5 gallon bucket no matter what I tried. There was another poster with the same problem. Got called everything but a child of God for even suggesting it but that's how it was and still is. Gave it to a relative. Tikka was absolutely positively NO help. That was my last one. Others results apparently vary.
 
Sounds like a bad pick from the start. You can go all directions with this one. Is the shooter over gunned? Could he have picked a more reasonable caliber for this needs. For example, would he have been better off with a 7mm-08 than a 7mm Magnum. I don't find my T3 to be hard to handle from the bench. I do not use on of those contraptions to shoot. I have to go into these things knowing my own limitations. If I am recoil sensitive I do not need to get a seven pound 300 WSM or similar. Also, I cannot buy enough rifle to make me a better shot! Or as the mans says,"if your going to be stupid you better be tough."

I agree completely, there is way too much over gunning today. For someone hunting nothing larger than deer-sized game or black bear a 7mm-08 is all they need, or I would suggest a 6.5x55 or similar, kicks like a .243 but hits like a .308. Have taken several cow elk with my Sako Finnlight 6.5x55.

Addendum: My SAKO is an old three lug L61R-Finnbear-in 338 Magnum. Bought it in a Rod&Gun club in Germany in the late 1960's for $60.00 brand new.

Nice, can you post a photo? They don't make them like that anymore.
 
If you do a search on this you'll find some background. I personally had a .243 that shot a group about the size of a 5 gallon bucket no matter what I tried. There was another poster with the same problem. Got called everything but a child of God for even suggesting it but that's how it was and still is. Gave it to a relative. Tikka was absolutely positively NO help. That was my last one. Others results apparently vary.

I don't doubt an occasional Tikka shoots this bad, I've heard of a few Sakos that didn't shoot either.
 
Nice, can you post a photo?

Sorry, I'm technically challenged as to pictures. The 1960's goop was recently removed and the checkering was cleaned up.The stock looks a thousand times better with that old finish gone. I have owned and shot several other SAKO's. . Those rifles are good performers. I have cut back on loading the magnum. Being on a fixed income makes shooting the magnums pricey. Recently, I did get several part boxes of 338 bullets. The Magnum did very well with the 215gr. GK. The 338 Magnum now has an 3x Leupold scope in SAKO low rings. The factory peep sight is safely stored away. Like I said, if somebody cannot handle the recoil it's time to examine the choices.
 
Well, I'll toss in my 2 cents just because....
I have 3 Tikka rifles, two of them are set up for Metallic Silhouettes. The t-3 Lite .270 Win. shoots 2-3/4" 5 round groups at 500 meters, off a sand bag bench rest. The 6.5x55 Swede shoots 0.782" (avg.) 5 round groups at 200 meters. (Haven't been able to test it at 500 meters yet.)
My .T3 Hunter in .30-06 is quickly becoming my favorite hunting rifle. Less than 1" groups are the norm with most 150-165 grain bullets. Last year I hunted with the Speer 150 grain HotCor load that tested at 0.844" at 100 yards for 5 rounds.

I regularly shoot at Ben Avery (most Sundays) with the same bunch of guys. All have at least one Tikka and one old timer (older than me by 18 years!) has eight Tikkas. I have never seen one that shot badly. I heard of one, but never saw it.

Does that mean anything? Not really. But I'm not giving up my Tikkas. And my Tikka T1X has been marvelously accurate with a variety of .22 rf ammo.

My rifles wear a variety of scopes. The silhouette gus have Vortex Viper 6.5-20x50 30mm tube scopes. The .30-06 has a 3-9x40 1" tube Leupold VXII and the T1X has an older Nikon 5.5-16.5 x 44MM Monarch with a 1" tube.

Not that it really matters, but I find I can shoot better of the bench with a higher power and good, clear glass than any other asset. All my Tikka triggers are adjusted to 2 lbs., too.

I hope this post helps a little.
 
Here is my experience with four Tikka rifles:

1) my first - a brand new off the shelf stainless T3x in 30-06. It shot absurdly well with Superformance powder and any bullet I put over it. This image is from my initial load workup!

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2) My "lifetime" rifle - a stainless T3 in 7mm-08. It shoots everything from 120 to 162 into boring little groups. My son shot this group at 200 yards.

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3) A T3 .243 I picked up at a great price. My friend now owns it but I worked up this load for him.

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4) Finally, my buddy's T3x in .270. This was testing out factory ELD-X Precision Hunter ammo for him before I started working up loads.

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As you can see, I've had nothing but good experiences. Not saying they can't or haven't made a bad one. I just haven't shot a bad one yet.
 
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