Tikka 7mm-08 ss ...

[bigjeepman]

I am getting ready to buy or trade for a Tikka T3 ss in 7mm-08. What kind of price do these rifles command in your areas? I see the internet prices but my gunshop/friend said they are very hard for him to get since he gave up his Beretta deal last year. Just curious ... I was thinking around $530 ... is that pretty close?

Dios mio ....  the first post in this new forum? I am honored .....

[Rev Buck]

Way to go jeepman.  The T3 hunter sells for just under $600 across the counter around here, not sure about the ss.  I know that sounds high but that's about as good as it gets in retail stores in my area.  Rev

[keyway]

Tikka T3 lite in SS sell for $ 529.00 to $599.00 around me in Pa. Dicks sporting goods have 270 cal.
around here for $529.00. Gander Mountain did have most others for $579, I found a local shop that got me the 338Federal for 599.

[tennbuck]

On Point Firearms has the rifle you want for $532. i give them an A+! http://www.onpointsupply.com/cart.php?target=product&product_id=44927&substring=

[YankeeBill]

Hey Guy's,

Glad to see the forum got kicked off

I'd like to give a big hats off to tennbuck & 379 Peterbilt for stepping up to the moderators plate for us. Way to go fella's.

It's kind of ironic this forum got kicked off today, as I just took delivery of my first Tikka this afternoon... T3 hunter in 7/08....shhaaweeet!!


BJM,

Prices around my parts are about like Keyway quotes, if you can even find a gun anywhere.

The best prices I was able to find on the Tikka's was on the net at WWW.BudsGunShop.com my Hunter (wood/blue) cost me $543.00 out the door from them + another $30.00 for the use of my dealers FFL lic. so $573.00 total OTD price.

You can always order from them (or whomever) and use your gunshop freinds FFL for delivery if he'll do it for you, if he's a good freind he may be able to cut you some slack on the FFL charge also.

I think Buds may be a bit low on inventory at the moment as I was just on their site and they didn't have a current listing for a T3 lite stainless in 7mm-08. But they didn't have a listing for my Hunter in '08 either and they had both just a few days ago when I ordered. They did have a s/s in 25-06 that I believe was $565.00 or so, and I beleive a .308 for 25.00 or $30.00 less than that (for comparison). I don't know why, but Tikka prices seem to vary widely amongst calibers, even amongst std. non-mag calibers.

Anyhow, You might want to give Buds a call to see what they have in stock, looks like they're waiting on a shipment now as they always keep their website updated. I had a fast, smooth transaction with them. Very pleased.

Hope this may be of some help to you.

Best wishes with what ever you do.

YB  

[YankeeBill]

Hey there tennbuck, and grats on the mod. position 

Looks like I was typing while you were posting, those are sure nuff some good prices there as well, have you delt w/ those folks before?

YB

[tennbuck]

Hey there tennbuck, and grats on the mod. position 

Looks like I was typing while you were posting, those are sure nuff some good prices there as well, have you delt w/ those folks before?

YB

yes! i just bought a Tikka T3 Big Bore .308. one word, flawless transaction(ok, 2 words)! $11 shipping florida to tenn. i've yet to shoot it because i can't decide on a scope. leaning towards the Leupold VX-I  2-7 X 33 or 1-4 X 20 . this gun will be used in dense woods with no more than a 150 yard shot. any suggestions?

[YankeeBill]

TB (not quite sure how that sounds )

Glad to hear you used that dealer, his prices are about the same as the folks I just used, except his shipping fee's are better, my shipping fee's and ins. came to $31.00 total. I'll put your guy in my favorites.

As far as scope suggestions on that .308, personally, I would go with the 2-7 x 33.

I've got a leupy 1.75 -6 x 32 on a mod. 7 in 7/08 (the one in my avtar actually) that I hunt deep woods / mountains with in Va. and I think it is about perfect for that. Most of my shots are <50 yds. so I keep it set on the 1.75 power setting. But there are many times I find myself cranking the power up to pick out a hole in that thick brush to shoot thru.

Another reason is that should you ever have the opportunity to hunt some fields or powerlines etc., you have plenty of magnification with 7x.

I've got a couple of leverguns with 1-4 x 20's on them and they work great in the thick stuff as well, but on a bolt gun in a flat shooting cal. like the .308 or 7/08 I much prefer having the option of a little more magnification along with the benifit of low power wide field of view. Best of both worlds IMHO.

I've taken deer with my rig from 15 feet in the woods, on out to 280+ yds. in the fields with perfect magnification settings for each situation.

Hope this might be of some help.

YB

[tennbuck]

hmmmmmmmmm........good points, thanks.

[YankeeBill]

No problem.................... let us know what you end up with.

YB

[bigjeepman]

Thank you all for responding so fast. I think this is going to be an "ACE" of a forum. I do not own a Tikka yet but I am working on it as I have been pretty busy this past few months. I have respect for companies that give us great effort toward producing a product that will do what it is supposed to do .... "shoot good out of the box." I bought my first Savage (10FP) last year in .223 HB with the Accu-trigger and it will shoot very small groups with a couple of loads. I have groups less than .200" but it will average about .300" to .500" easily. I do not expect the Tikka to do that but I will be satisfied with sub-MOA in a 7mm-08. It will used for part-time coyote gun (I have two others I use too) and a possible antelope/mule deer hunt in Utah in the near future as I have family out there.

YankeeBill ... did you say you bought a 7mm-08 Hunter (wood/blue) ? There is no listing in any catalog of Beretta's for that model or on any websites I have visited. That is what I wanted to begin with and was settling on a Tikka T3 stainless/synth instead. I would be happy with either one but I really wanted the wood stock in 7mm-08.

Thanks for all involved in getting this forum started ... including Bill.

[YankeeBill]

Yes I did. the product # is JRTA352.

It seems they can be a bit hard to locate at times. As I stated I ordered one just about a week ago from www.BudsGunShop.com and received it at my FFL dealers today. But when I checked their site earlier tonight there were none listed, they may be waiting on a new shipment to arrive as I believe they update their website hourly.

I don't have any catalogs but Beretta has them listed on their website WWW.Berettausa.com go to Rifles then to the Tikka menu, the T3 Hunter in 7/08 is the last rifle listed at the bottom of the T3 Hunter listings.

I would call onpointsupply as tennbuck recommended due to their lower shipping costs and ask if they can get one, if not I'd call Buds and see what is up with their inventory.

A couple of other places that had them listed, but prices were around $600.00 or so last I checked, not including shipping, were D&R Sports www.DNRSPORTS.COM and ABLE Ammo WWW.ABLEAMMO.COM   I've purchased procucts from both these folks and have always had smooth transactions.

Hope this may be of some help to you and keep us posted on your progress.

YB

Update: Looks like Able Ammo has them for $558.00 now and I'm not seeing a listing on D&R's site for the 7/08.

YB

[bigjeepman]

YB ....

Thanks ... I was looking in my Beretta Catalog but it was a 2005 issue. I was at my friend's gunshop Thursday and they even told me it wasn't available. Their catalog didn't show one either. That is going to be my next rifle! I have held the synthetic stock Tikka's but never the walnut stock model. This is a stupid question but ... is the wood beautiful as with other Beretta products? I bet it is nice.

I have written the model number down and the websites are added to my favorites. Ozark Guns  ( http://www.ozarkguns.com/index.htm  ) is another good source I hear a lot about.

Good shooting to all .... after the ice storms and rain have passed anyway...

[YankeeBill]

Unfortunately, the wood on mine isn't anything to write home about. I had asked the dealer if someone in their warehouse could pick me out one w/ nice wood, but he said due to the volume of their business that they couldn't.

I wouldn't try to compare the wood on a Tikka to one of Beretta's higher end guns, I have a 682 gold E (sporting clays gun) for example, that has some excellent wood, but it is also like 4 1/2 - 5 times the price of the Tikka.

I bought the T3 to hunt with, and personally, I don't really care all that much if it has great wood or not. IMHO all the other benefits that the Tikka has to offer in its price range far exceed the fact that it doesn't have the greatest wood. However, I haven't seen very many wood/blue guns personally, so some may very well come with some nicer wood, you might want to research that a bit more if it is very important to you. I don't own any " Safe Queens", I hunt all my guns regardless of the price. That's what I buy 'em for. 

I had checked with Ozark Guns before I bought mine (they were having a sale on them) and they told me they could not get the T3 Hunter in 7/08. They also told me they were closing the buisiness down for a few months, beginning this month, due to Military obligations.

YB

[Rev Buck]

The wood on mine is very decent, maybe not Grade Fancy but I am very pleased with it.  Like YB, mine is a hunting rifle.  I found both the wood and metal quite dry when I brought the rifle home and a little oil rubbed in really helped it a lot.  I'll get the wife to take a pic of mine soon.  She's the photographer in the family    Rev

[YankeeBill]

Hey Revbuck,

Glad to hear you've got some decent wood on your gun

I also found my gun to be a little dry as well, gave the metal a good wipe-down but still need to give the wood a good bath.

I won't complain about the finish on my Tikka though, I bought a new BAR in 30-06 about 20 yrs. ago that had their epoxy type finish on it, and that thing was so shinney it was like walking into the woods w/ a full length mirror .

I finally ended up having to cover it up with one of those cammo gun condoms 

YB

[Grubbs]

Yankee.....congrats on your purchase.  You'll love the Tikka, and the great 7-08!  You done goooood.........

[YankeeBill]

Hi Grubbs,

Appreciate the kind words,

I'm really anxious to get to the range with it, but I'm afraid it's going to be a while yet. Still trying to decide on my scope and mounts. And getting ready to go in for Rotator Cuff surgery in a couple of weeks so I may have to wait til after my rehab period before I can shoot the Tikka 

YB

[Rev Buck]

Hey YB, you can send that 7-08 on down to me if you want me to break it in for you  Rev

[bigjeepman]

YB ...

What is going to be more painful ... not being able to shoot your new Tikka for a while now .... or having your shoulder surgery? That's a tough question ...

Good luck with your surgery ... here's hoping you have a full and complete recovery quickly. Keep us posted.

[Rev Buck]

Same here, best wishes YB.  I was only funnin' ya.  Rev

[YankeeBill]

hi Jeepman & Rev., and thank you both for the kind words as well

Well, I've been getting along w/ the torn Rotator Cuff for the past 6 & 1/2  yrs., so without question, not being able to shoot the new Tikka for a while will be more painful.... I think??

Let's see now... let me think about this for a minute Rev, hmmm, come home from the hospital to a freshly broken in Tikka....NOT!!!  

Appreciate it Guy's,
 
YB

[bigjeepman]

YB ...

Could you tell us a little about that nice deer in your avatar?

[YankeeBill]

Hi Jeepman,

Yes, I shot that deer in Nov. of 2004. It's a 14 point non-typical taken on public land (a WMA that ajoins our hunt club property) up in the Blue Ridge Mtns of VA.

I first saw the deer come sneaking by during the MZ loader season when I was halfway down my tree in my climber, and my gun was on the end of my rope on the ground while I was climbing down the tree during a heavy rainstorm. I didn't see him the rest of the week and had to come back home (I live 250 mi. away from the club)

Went back up a week later during rifle season and saw him at 7:00 A.M. one morning crossing a narrow ridge top. It's REALLY thick where I hunt, he passed by my stand in a half circle and was within 25-30 yds walking for approx. 2 min. and I couldn't get a clear shot. Then he changed direction and was walking away from me in some even thicker stuff. He got out to about 60 yds. and I was able to turn him w/ my grunt call.

He came stiff legging it back looking to lock horns with a rival buck and I was fortunate enough to be able to pick out a hole in the brush and harvest him at 30 yds.. Made a down hill pass thru shot, took out one lung and the top of his heart and he staggered about 15 yds. and piled up.
I was using my Mod. Seven in 7/08 w/ 140 gr. win. Super-X factory fodder.

Gonna TRY to post a couple of pics for ya, not sure how this is gonna work out

[YankeeBill]

Here's a couple more for ya:

[tennbuck]

dang nice deer. looks to be 4 1/2 yo. hard to tell. do you know?

[YankeeBill]

Thanks Tennbuck,

Don't know for sure, we didn't pull his jaw bone. We figure he's between 4 1/2 & 5 1/2 judging from his teeth and amount of gray on his face.

[bigjeepman]

Nice story YB ... that had to be pretty exciting to see him again a week later. I love that rack. It looks like beautiful country in your part of our USA. I hunt rolling hills and lots of wooded area and am going out at first light for coyotes. They get pretty big in this area and now all I hear about are all the bobcats everyone is seeing. My goal this winter is to get a coyote with a nice coat and do a snarling shoulder mount for my reloading/computer room. I got a nice Indiana largemouth bass and a boar from Tennessee hanging in here now. I have seen some coyote mounts and some are awesome.

[YankeeBill]

Good luck in the A.M. Jeepman, hope you get a good 'un. I don't believe I've ever seen a snarling coyote shoulder mount but I bet it would indeed be awsome.

We've just had a few coyotes start to show up where I hunt in the last 4 yrs. or so. No numbers to speak of yet though. Only 1 member of our camp has shot one so far. He got it a couple of yrs. ago in the spring while calling Turkeys.

Appreciate the compliments on my buck. I shot him up on the mountain about 8 miles from our camp (where the picture was taken) and although there are some good bucks up there, we don't see many in his class. They depend solely on the mast crop and natural forage for food source up there, no food plots etc..

I found a place up there that is about a 3/4 mile hike in off the access road, there is a farmers field  off of the WMA about a mile from the ridge I hunt. The deer travel down to feed in that field at night and come back up to the top of the mountain in the morning to bed down in the Laurrel thickets. I try to bust them when they are comming up over the ridge in the A.M. to bed down. It's quite a chore getting one out from up there, it took me 2 1/2 hrs. to get him back to the truck. They only permit foot traffic off the main access rd., no four wheelers etc., so I've let some pretty nice deer walk by that I normally would have harvested anywhere else. But he was worth the backache

Let us know how your Yote hunt turns out!

YB 

[bigjeepman]

No yotes yesterday YB. My brother and I went for almost four hours and made five stands. We used FoxPro's Jack in the box for visual decoy, Johnny Stewart's E caller for audible, and my hand calls. We threw everything at 'em but some home made biscuits. We saw a real nice eight pointer (having already lost on of his racks) running with five does. What a life he has ...  We also saw our first bobcat ever in Southern Indiana and that was pretty exciting. Watched a RedTail hawk circle our decoy and some turkey vultures doing the same but at a much higher elevation. The hawk settled in a tree right behind and watched the decoy for maybe 15 minutes. That was fun to watch. I was going to take along my home made feather on a stick decoy but we used the FoxPro instead.

I was really surprised to not see any as the area is heavily populated with coyotes. The new weather front came through during the night last night too with ice and cold. Oh well ... that is why we call it "hunting."