Author Topic: is it true about tikkas (Read 1419 times)

j.trevor123 · « **on:** February 07, 2004, 07:46:30 PM »

so is tikka whitetails gone forever. I heard they are going to discontinue them. Im sure this is old news but thats a bummer. I would rather have a whitetail hunter instead of a t3 just because people talk about the plastic parts. But i have also heard the t3 shoots great also.

cz4me · « **Reply #1 on:** February 08, 2004, 04:16:37 AM »

You can still find the Whittails in shops but can't order one. Not sure when production was discontinued. Internet auctions are one source if you have a particular caliber you're looking for. Both are great guns, but personally the weight factor would steer me toward the T3.

longwinters · « **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2004, 07:57:19 AM »

Actually the Whitetail Hunters do have some plastic parts. The trigger guard and the bold shroud. But my WH in 243 is a great rifle and an excellent shooter.

long

Iowegan · « **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2004, 02:36:05 PM »

Tikkas were pretty scarce in the US untill Beretta bought out Sako who owned Tikka. Thier previous models were quite good, just not popular. The new T-3 has the same bolt throw no matter what the cartrigde. No more short action or long action. Doesn't bother me as long as they work, and they do. As for the plastic, it's really a polycarbon material like Glocks are made from. When I first got mt Tikka, I scorned the plastic magazine. Turns out it's much better than a metal one. No rust problems and it guides the cartridges without scratching the brass. Tikka are a basic gun but the shoot extreemly well and are very smooth. The trigger is exceptional (adjustable too). They even come with scope mounts similar to Ruger rifles. I have a feeling Tikka is going to give Remington, Winchester, and Savage a run for the money.

Muddyboots · « **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2004, 07:23:09 AM »

Actually, I feel the opposite about the T-3's. They will not give Remington, Savage or anyone else a run for the money if they continue to ream their chambers longer than anyone else. My T-3 300 WSM is 0.200 longer than Savage 16FSS which completely affects your reloading ability for lighter bullets less than 180 gr. They may shoot as well as them but if you are a serious reloader, then I would shy away from them. You lose velocity and pressure when you cannot seat bullets near the lands and try to keep one bullet diameter within the case mouth. I am in discussion with Tikka or at least I am trying to get a discussion with BerrettaUSA to explain why the chamber has an elongated throat. So far, no answer. If you reload, I would not buy a Tikka until this gets resolved. There is an article in Feb. 2004 Shooting times that even confirms my measurements that the rifle they tested was a 270 WSM and had elongated throat. The velocity was 150-200 fps less than a Savage tested along side it in same caliber. There is no doubt the throat caused this difference. What burns me is I like the rifle but it can never be maximized for performance due to the throat. I bought the rifle for 150-165 gr bullets but cannot reload them with basic reloading parameters to get the most of the rifle. For some of you that buy factory ammo this is not a big deal which is OK by me but if you reload and want max performance out of your rifle you may want to reconsider. Hopefully once the Shot Show is over this weekend, I will get an answer. Anyway, my 0.02.
Muddyboots

longwinters · « **Reply #5 on:** February 14, 2004, 08:31:36 AM »

I really like Sako and Tikka rifles, but I would not call/email Beretta. I tried several times and finally after 2 months got an answer . . . the cust rep did not know squat. E-mail Tikka/Sako direct and you will get (at least I did) an answer in a week or so and they did know what they were talking about.

long

longwinters · « **Reply #6 on:** February 14, 2004, 02:05:17 PM »

My buddy (Big Tom) just ordered a Tikka Whitetail Delux in 7m-08 today. The dealer said it should be in within the week. Dont know if this helps but just thought I'd throw it out.

long

SHW · « **Reply #7 on:** February 14, 2004, 04:15:16 PM »

I have never dealt with these people, but they have some whitetail hunters still listed.
www.ozarkguns.com

Muddyboots · « **Reply #8 on:** February 15, 2004, 05:31:45 AM »

Longwinters,
Thanks for the suggestion, I sent an EMAIL to Tikka.fi so we will see how they respond. I will post up what they have to say about the chamber specifications for thos who reload.
Muddyboots

Iowegan · « **Reply #9 on:** February 16, 2004, 09:41:11 AM »

Muddy, I manufacture and sell chamber tools that are designed to enhance accuracy, especially in guns with deep free bore. Based on customer input, most of my sales are going to Ruger, Remington, and Winchester owners (in that order). Their chamber quality has gone from bad to worse in most American made rifles. I think SAAMI has a lot to do with this. In some calibers, there's a host of ammo manufacturers, both domestic and foreign. Because foreign ammo makers don't subscribe to SAAMI, there are some pretty loose standards out there. As a firearms manufacturer, what do you do? You cut the free bore deeper so that foreign ammo will shoot. In addition, there's an occasional gun that leaves the factory "out of spec". For most hunters, they probably don't care about 1 MOA accuracy. For us perfectionists, "out of spec" conditions drive us nuts. Either way, deep free bore takes its toll on accuracy.

If you hand load, you can compensate for deep free bore by doing some basic things. Measure your chamber depth and don't trim your cases to SAAMI standards (the measurements in your reloading manual). Wait until they are .005 short of bottoming out. Load your bullets out to .010 from the lands. Increase your powder charge until "normal" velocity is achieved. This will bring things back to full velocity, best accuracy, and won't increase chamber pressures above SAAMI standards.

I have tested many Tikkas and found the chambers to be much tighter (free bore) than most American made guns. I'm sure there are exceptions but what about the Ruger #1's & 77's, Winchester 70's or the Remington 700's where all their chambers are cut too deep. Their "out of spec" guns are even worse. Check this web site: http://www.cactustactical.com/reloading/reloading.html

Muddyboots · « **Reply #10 on:** February 16, 2004, 01:56:54 PM »

Iowagen,
I understand what you said but as you also stated for us "anal" perfectionist, the free bore presents a problem that I can never fix. I can reload it with the method you indicated but I can never maximize its full potential for accuracy since I cannot get the maximum bullet stabilization in case mouth and still get 0.010 off lands. Therein lies the crux of the problem for me. It absolutely grates me that I have a rifle that I can never get to full potential. Can I get it to shoot? Yes, but not to its maximum capability. That is what sticks in my craw. Having a rifle that will never be as good as I know it should be. The 300 WSM should be simple to ream since it is a new caliber and ammo will be primarily US based. I find it absolutely ridiculous being 0.200 over bored. I've owned Rugers, Winny's, Remingtons and Savages and none have them have ever been this far off in chamber. Some have been a tweak on the long side but not to this extreme. Maybe 0.030-0.050 over but not 0.200 over. My Ruger No. 1 in 7 RM is a bit long but I understand that it is for the 175's which I shoot a lot anyway so no big deal. Plus the rest of the bullet lengths 140's and up still are long enough anyway to get one diameter in case and still get within 0.010 off lands. This rifle is a dilemma for me so I have to play it out with Tikka to see what they have to say. I know, if it shoots good don't worry but I consider reloading part of my passion for accuracy so it just like having a burdock in my shorts....Anyway, we'll see what the response will be.
Muddyboots

Iowegan · « **Reply #11 on:** February 16, 2004, 04:11:05 PM »

Sounds like you got one of those "Friday at quittin' time" guns. Yes, you do have a significant free bore problem. This is very unusual with Tikkas or Sakos. I'd see about a replacement or refund.