Anyone using their Tikka as their predator rifle?

[bigjeepman]

I guess I am always a little curious about things and I have been wondering how many of you actually use a Tikka/Sako as their main predator rifle. I am not talking about shooting an ocassional coyote every year or so but those who beat the bushes, hunting hard, and in all kinds of weather. I am interested in the performance of the Tikka in the field and just how tough their stocks hold up. I have been using my Ruger M77 Mark II all weather .243 rifle for several years now and it has performed above my expectations.

And if some of you do use a Tikka rifle as your predator rifle, what calibers are you using?

[tjkanavel]

I USE MY TIKKA T-3 .243 (BLUED/SYNTHETIC) FOR MY MAIN PREDATOR RIFLE.I SHOOT 58gr HORNADY V-MAX AND HAVE A KONUS PRO 6-24X44 MOUNTED TO SEE THEM WITH.ONLY HAD THIS SET-UP FOR A COUPLE MONTHS SO I HAVENT HAD TOO MUCH TIME IN THE FIELD,BUT I HAVE TAKEN A FEW WITH IT

[bigjeepman]

One Tikka predator rifle ? That is surprising.

[Old English]

Well Bigjeepguy, if you're pushing for info I use a Tikka 223 Varmint rifle for predators. I have had this rifle for a year and it has yet to actually shoot a predator with it. I love the rifle, the bull barrel may be a little heavy for a 6 year old but I don't have any problems with the weight of it. The stock is synthetic but has an additional cheek piece which is a big plus over the Tikka light stock, which I have on my 308. It is a very accurate gun and a joy to shoot. It has however only killed squirrels, rabbits and a deer to date. I bought an FX3 for calling, so far no luck on Coyotes, so I probably just suck. However, I haven't had a lot of opportunity to predator hunt. I have to travel a lot for work, I am writing this 2 weeks into a 3 week project in Mexico, just prior to 6 weeks in Vietnam. Thankfully I was home during deer season.
The only DVD I brought with me is "calling in the thick stuff"by Byron South. Really hoping that the Tikka is going to be succesful during the 2 week window of opportunity I get when I get home from here.

[bigjeepman]

Hey Old English ...

I been down to your neck of the woods a time or two. If I remember correctly, Middle Tennessee State is there in your town. We used to come down and party a little in the "old days."

Anyway, thanks for the reply. The shop I frequent has one Tikka and it is the Varmint model in 22-250. I like the stock/barrel and I do not think it would be too heavy to carry either. Keep calling and try to learn something new everytime you go. You just cannot be too quiet in my opinion. When I started, I think I went about 7 or 8 times before I ever saw my first one. If you have a decoy to use, that might help as it can help to focus the 'yote's attention away from you. I use a turkey feather on a stick sometimes that just moves around with the wind.

I asked this question because I haven't bought my first Tikka yet and was curious about one as a predator setup.

[Old English]

You are correct Bigjeep, we have MTSU in the boro. I live outside of city limits where one can freely discharge firearms.
I have the Foxpro decoy as well, which makes plenty of movement and looks pretty enticing to me. As someone who's only lived in the US for less than 4 years, I am behind on the learning curve. 2005 was my first ever deer season and I got 0. This season I got 4. I am anticipating a similar increase in success with predators.
The Tikka VArmint is a fine rilfe, I got mine in 223 as the ammo is cheap and plentiful. I have now started reloading, so another learning curve.
I wish that Tikka would bring out a Varmint model in 204 Ruger, I have it in a Handi, great caliber.   

[bigjeepman]

So you use the Jack-in-the-Box motion decoy? A friend let us use his last week and it has great motion. We thought it was supposed to have sound with it but it couldn't be heard more than 30 feet away. I use my Ruger RFP all weather ss in .243 for my yote setup. I am interested in a Tikka in maybe 7mm-08 as I am selling my Win Model 70 Super Shadow in .300wsm. Another good website for predator info is http://www.predatormastersforums.com/index.shtml ... another great group and very experienced predator hunters.

Good luck and good shooting ....

[REH]

I have a 22-250 that will hold a 3/8 in @ 100 yd all day long. I use 55 SX Hornady behind IMR 4198. I've taken woodchucks in Mich, crows in Fl & Mich. And have nothing but good things about it. I also have a pre 64 mod 70 in 22-250 with the same results. Furthest with the Tikka is a chuck @ 510 yds in alphalpha field off bags. If there a problem with either one it would weight or sound. The caliber wasn't meant to be shot in a closed area. There was also a couple deer taken with 1 shot useing a 70 gr Speer. This wasn't as tight a shooting bullet as the lighter weight but hitting in the correct spot will turn the lights out, though it's light for a long distance in my mind.

[Tikkabuck]

 Hey There
  I been useing my Whitetail Hunter Lite in 22-250 with the syn. stock for a few years now no problems so far,always holds zero,made some shot that I never should have made but it held true.

  Funny thing about the stock,I'm in the middle of having a walnut stock done by Boyds for my other Whitetail Hunter Lite in 7mm-08 and of corse they need my old stock to do the inletting. After I shipped them my old stock I called to  make sure everything was OK and the head guy in sales told me it was one of the best made factory stocks he'd seen in a long time. Good old Sako/Tikka quailty.