Author Topic: new Tikka T-3 Laminated SS Mag....very very niice (Read 1246 times)

Big Tom · « **on:** December 09, 2005, 06:41:48 PM »

:shock: I popped into the local gun shop yesterday and noticed a new Tikka Laminated SS on the shelf. After several moments of appropriate fondling I must say this one is exceptional.
Balance, fit, finish, incredibly smooth action, 24" bbl...and Ohhh what a sweet trigger(factory set!). This one is in .270 WSM. To say the least I am just about ready to grab this beauty at $550.

Anyone have one of these? :-)

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 09, 2005, 06:51:35 PM »

There is only one thing wrong with the T3 laminated stainless. The recoil lug setup is quite pathetic and can lead to the stock splitting. I had a 338 WM on the laminated stainless tikka. I was very pleased with it also until the stock split. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw what they called a recoil lug. Shallow groove in the action with small 1" square of steel that sits loosely both in the stock and the groove on the action. This allows it to easily bounce around and eventually split the stock. The only long term fix for this is to sandwich a tubs, remington style, recoil lug between the barrel and action and rebed the action.

Another happy note, don't mess with it in any way, no trigger work, no muzzle break, nothing. If you do they won't do any repair work to it. I found that out the hard way. I had a muzzle break on mine. I ended up angrily dumping it on a local smith for a considerable loss. Its a shame because it was an attractive and accurate rifle, until the stock split. I have heard from several other people about the laminated stocks cracking. It seems the synthetic stocks are more flexible and handle the setup better.

Buckfever · « **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2005, 02:44:26 AM »

It is one of the most accurate guns I have with a Barnes TSX 180gr. Balanced just perfect for me. Hey Bear thanks for the heads up. Buckfever

geoman15 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 10, 2005, 05:53:57 AM »

That's a great price. I would jump on that if I saw it and I already have a T3 hunter in 270 WSM.

My T3 is the most accurate out-of-the-box rifle I have ever had barely ahead of my A-bolt 25-06. My T3 with the Sierra 130 gameking will group .3 to .6 throughout the entire load range with Reloader 19.

That trigger is so sweet.

So far, after about 100 rounds, I have not seen any stock problems with my walnut stock. I do not want to mess with anything yet because it is shooting so good.

Good luck if you pick it up.

George

Zachary · « **Reply #4 on:** December 10, 2005, 05:58:22 AM »

I have a Tikka (NON-T3, but rather the WH) Laminated Stainless in .25-06 and it is also a very sweet rifle (just like my other Tikkas).

Is the new laminated stock on the T3s thinner and slimmer than the WHs?

As for the Tikka triggers, I have been saying all along that these triggers (which are also on the Sakos) are arguably the finest single stage factory triggers anywhere. Heck, I purchased a $230 Jewel trigger for my Remington BDL SS DM in 7mm-08, and the Tikka/Sako trigger is just as sweet!

Zachary

Big Tom · « **Reply #5 on:** December 10, 2005, 01:26:18 PM »

Quote from: Thebear_78

Another happy note, don't mess with it in any way, no trigger work, no muzzle break, nothing. If you do they won't do any repair work to it. I found that out the hard way. I had a muzzle break on mine. I ended up angrily dumping it on a local smith for a considerable loss. Its a shame because it was an attractive and accurate rifle, until the stock split. I have heard from several other people about the laminated stocks cracking. It seems the synthetic stocks are more flexible and handle the setup better.

I contacted the Tikka rep through my dealer and although he denies knowlwdge any large number of problems with Lam stocks splitting...he did say there have been efforts to beef up the heavy magnums.... :lol:

I don't think a .270 WSM is close to the thunder of a .338 Win Mag....the .270 WSM is one of their most populars calibers so there are going to be several out there. I will use this rifle on Muleys/Whitetails with 130gr Partitions or TSXs so hopefullty I won't be having recoil lug problems.

Thanks for your input!

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 10, 2005, 02:52:43 PM »

I know of 3 with split stocks, two laminated and one a standard wood stock. My 338, another guys 300 win, and the standard wood stock was a 9.3x62. All cracked in the same way, just a inherent weakness in the recoil lug/stock setup. I talked to a guy at Extreme rifle works here in alaska were I am having a 375 lightened up about it. He told me that they have done several of the T3s with stock problems. One of the main things Extreme rifle works does is custom lightweight kevlar stocks, he was the one that told me the fairly easy fix to the tikka problem. THey just sandwich a tubs, rem 700 style, recoil lug between the barerl and action and rebed.

Other than the stock problems I was actually pretty pleased with the rifle. I would have never thought to look at the recoil lug and had it not split would probably never known of any inherrent weaknes. My main problems came with berretta usa not wanting to fix it due to my having it "altered". Since it had a muzzle break they wouldn't do any repair work to it, I guess it voids any warrantee. Thats what really pissed me off. All I wanted was a new stock. I don't see myself ever having one again but to thier credit they are usually pretty accurate. I was a little gun shy about getting one at first due to thier explosing barrels problem they had for a while there on stainless models. Before you get one make sure they call in the serial number so its not one of the recalls. I guess they had a bad batch of stainless steel that was exploding.

Big Tom · « **Reply #7 on:** December 10, 2005, 03:12:59 PM »

Will do Bear...
Now you got me thinking about getting a prefit Syn stock for this .270 WSM..... :?

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 10, 2005, 03:16:21 PM »

One other thing I"m not to impressed with berretta USA is how they have handled this recall of sako/tikka stainless firearms. I would have thought there would be more effert into getting the word out about them. Here is a website that has the hotline number on it so you can check it out. Even thought mine wasn't one of the effected by the recall I was still a little apprehensive the first few times I pulled the trigger.

http://www.thegunzone.com/rifles-kb.html

THe number is 1-800-503-8869

here are some pictures of two sako's that blew up. THe hotline says any rifle shipped after 2004 must call the recall hotline.

Big Tom · « **Reply #9 on:** December 10, 2005, 03:46:35 PM »

I had a 2004 Sako FinnLite 300 WSM...it wasn't one of the recalled batch. I have had several Sakos and Tikkas. Never had a reason to deal with customer service....all my rifles(probably 11 ot 12) performed flawlessly and were without problems.

I either traded/sold them to friends or still have them. I would have to say between this website, 24 Campfire, and others your experiences are pretty rare. But I do understand your feelings.

Actually Sako/Tikka have few problems compared to the other main line rifle manufacturers...little consolation to you who happened to be one of the few. :wink:

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 10, 2005, 05:04:50 PM »

I'm sure that your probably right. I'm sure that most people never have a problem with them. I agree that they are usually very accurate and are at the very least as good as a run of the mill Rem 700. I think they way they handled thier recall left something to be desired and I was left out in the cold as to how they handled my problem. I'm sure there are similar stories out there with every other manufacturer. Don't get me wrong, I"m not out to get tikka or sako, I was just trying to help him out with his desicion.

I'm not saying I wouldn't ever own a sako again, just some problems I have seen. There is just no way around the inherent weakness of the recoil lug system, even thought it works most of the time its still weaker than any other rifle I have seen. I don't know if the tikka and sako have the same recoil lug setup either. If I did ever own another tikka or sako I would surely have a different recoil lug set up.

Another thing worth mentioning is that I am notoriously picky, I'm sure I am much harder to please than the average consumer when it comes to guns. I have very few stock firearms.

Big Tom · « **Reply #11 on:** December 11, 2005, 04:08:36 AM »

Living in Alaska would probably cause me to shoot some heavier calibers...I routinely hunt whitetails and Black Bear...they dont require anything more than your regular mid range calibers.

I am a reloader & benchrest shooter and feel that with quality bullets my .280 Rem and/or 30.06 will take most everything I will hunt (excluding the BIG Bears) nere in the USA.(Muleys, Antelope, Elk, Moose etc...)...although I have shot Mags up to .375 Win I have never owned anything above a 300 WSM.

I too am picky....my rifles have to shoot .050 MOA or they don't stay

The new .325 intrigues me.../but I don't know what I'd use it for? :lol:

Kotupod · « **Reply #12 on:** December 11, 2005, 02:11:01 PM »

Should I cancel my order on my tikka? The recall thing has spooked me, even if my gun isn't on the list should i still cancel?

mjbgalt · « **Reply #13 on:** December 11, 2005, 02:20:10 PM »

no. does the gun you ordered have any more or less chance of blowing up now that you know about the recall, as opposed to when you didnt know?

forget it. every gun maker has had problems.

-Matt

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 11, 2005, 02:38:26 PM »

I'm pretty sure that the recall only effected a rather small number of rifles. Its just worth making the call once you get it. Of the few tikkas and Sakos that people I know have none have been on the recall list. I still bought a tikka knowing full well about the recall. I was just sure to make the call, just like I would if remington or browning had a recall. I just think that berettausa, tikka and sako importer, had been a little more public about the recall. It was more public in europe, where most of the recalled guns were.

Grubbs · « **Reply #15 on:** December 12, 2005, 05:33:57 AM »

Kotupod, I bought the 2 T-3's I have between 1 1/2 -2 years ago during the time they had the barrel problem. They (Beretta) issued the serial #'s affected and mine were not. I've never had any problems with them, both stainless/synthetic. You're worrying about a non-issue. It will be one of the sweetest rifles you'll ever own.

Kotupod · « **Reply #16 on:** December 12, 2005, 05:43:05 PM »

Yeah, thanks, I just got worked up reading old threads about people vowing to never buy one again. I think ill be ok. Ill just see if my # is in the range and if its not, i wont worry about it. Im not telling my mom, who is buying the gun because she'll get real worked up.