Author Topic: What are good, reasonably priced rings for Tikkas?  (Read 1455 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline A.J.

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 103
What are good, reasonably priced rings for Tikkas?
« on: June 20, 2007, 09:29:20 AM »
I recently bought a slightly used Tikka T3 Lite in .308 with a nice Pentax scope on it. I've noticed the rings on it are pretty cheap, and the screws are nearly wallowed out. From what I understand, these are the cheaper rings supplied with some of the Tikkas. I understand the Sako Optilocks are very good (and fairly expensive). Does anybody have any experience with any other after market rings that work pretty well and a little more moderately priced? If you do, where did you find the best deal for them? I'd really appreciate some help guys...
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.  Thomas Jefferson

Offline 379 Peterbilt

  • Moderator
  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1070
Re: What are good, reasonably priced rings for Tikkas?
« Reply #1 on: June 20, 2007, 10:35:20 AM »
I'd toss those in the trash, then get some Warnes, or Talleys. Both should run about $40 ish.

I feel the same as you about the Tikka factory rings. They just feel cheap, and worst of all the screws are soft strippable metal with allen heads. With Warnes and Talleys, they both have the Torx heads. Far better IMO

You're smart to make the swap - if you are gonna marry up a nice rifle with a good scope, why have a week link in the rings?

Offline 379 Peterbilt

  • Moderator
  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1070
Re: What are good, reasonably priced rings for Tikkas?
« Reply #2 on: June 20, 2007, 10:48:39 AM »
Talley lows with a 40mm loopy (although this is a Remington)


Warne mediums (dovetail style mount) with a 40mm Zeiss on my Tikka


The Talleys to me have a better cosmetic look, and the Warnes are quite stout weight wise compared to the Tikka factory ones.

Offline A.J.

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 103
Re: What are good, reasonably priced rings for Tikkas?
« Reply #3 on: June 21, 2007, 04:51:25 PM »
Thank you, Peterbuilt. Browsing through these forums I saw about every scope ring both praised and cussed. With you recommending rings that you're actually using, and showing me pictures of them, it made it a lot easier for me. Couldn't seem to find any dove-tail style Talleys for my Tikka, but I located some Warne rings at Midway, and ordered a set of them. Thanks again...aj
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.  Thomas Jefferson

Offline klt1986

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 84
  • Gender: Male
Re: What are good, reasonably priced rings for Tikkas?
« Reply #4 on: June 21, 2007, 06:14:15 PM »
I think you will like the Warne rings.  Here is a pic of my T3 25-06, 3x9x40 Nikon Monarch and Warne rings:


Offline A.J.

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 103
Re: What are good, reasonably priced rings for Tikkas?
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2007, 06:43:49 AM »
My half-brother is a shade-tree gunsmith, and when I got the rifle he took it home to true up the scope mounted on it before I sighted it in. He has a metal dowel-looking thing that trues up scope rings to keep from putting your scope in a bind, and he has a set of levels for leveling up the cross-hairs before tightening the scope down. He found the last owner had simply slapped the new scope in there and tightened her down. The cheap scope rings did not begin to line up, and the scope has a pretty severe dent in it. I hope it's not ruined. It's a nice Pentax scope with multiple reticles. He also said the set screws on the rings were all wallowed out. That's when I decided just to get new scope rings.
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.  Thomas Jefferson

Offline Old English

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 370
  • Gender: Male
Re: What are good, reasonably priced rings for Tikkas?
« Reply #6 on: June 27, 2007, 02:22:29 AM »
My first Tikka, 223 Varmint, shoots like a champ and uses the factory rings. My second Tikka, 308 lite.....nothing but problems. I sent it back to Beretta last Dec 11th and it got back in mid May. They had to fit a new stock and accuracy test it, only took 6 months? I shot it when it came back, still shot like a dog. 6 months waiting for nothing until..........
I bought a set of the Talley lightweight rings which screw directly onto the top of the receiver. What a difference!!!!! These rings are $40 a set and I think, well worth it. Talley Lightweight Aluminum 1" Scopemount ,SKU: 930714 from SWFA. My last 3 shot group was .8" with the Talleys.  With the factory rings it was between 2-3".  My only problem was that there are the little screws in the top of the receiver. They turn OK and start to come out, then they just turn. With trepidation I had to drill them out, thankfully all was good and no threads were damaged.  I actually have a Simmons AETEC 2.8/10 on the rifle which is a great scope. I took it off my 17HMR which now has the 4.5/14 AETEC. That scope spent a year on my HMR and did a lot of hunting, sliding down steep hills etc and never lost zero. A great feature is the fact that eye relief remains constant at all magnification and is around 3.5" ideal for the 308. Anyone looking for a good quality, bullet proof scope for under $200 should look no further, not at all like the old Simmons Walmart scopes. At last, the 308 is fixed and I have a lightweight, accurate and reliable deer rifle.
 

Offline klt1986

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 84
  • Gender: Male
Re: What are good, reasonably priced rings for Tikkas?
« Reply #7 on: July 06, 2007, 04:49:38 PM »
You know I had the same problem with those screws on my T3.  When I finally got them out I realised mine were plastic.

Offline Racklover

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 7
Re: What are good, reasonably priced rings for Tikkas?
« Reply #8 on: July 13, 2007, 04:55:23 AM »
Guys, a tip with those factory plastic screws, screw them into the rifle and they will fall out into the receiver.  I too could not get them out by screwing them upward.  Then I went the opposite way and they came out.  Now to get the Talleys.

Offline ccoker

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 590
  • Gender: Male
    • www.tacticalgunreview.com
Re: What are good, reasonably priced rings for Tikkas?
« Reply #9 on: July 13, 2007, 08:53:40 AM »
I like the Warne rings for Tikkas
haven't tried the Talleys but hear good things

Offline Tikkabuck

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 89
Re: What are good, reasonably priced rings for Tikkas?
« Reply #10 on: July 14, 2007, 04:10:10 PM »
 I'm weird I always use Burris,base's and turn-in rings,even on my Tikka Whitetails.