Tikka proves itself on first day out of the box.

[CapitalCop]

On Sept. 4 I bought a Tikka T3 stainless/synthetic in 30-06.  On Sept. 9, I mounded a scope, took it to the range for a few sight-in shots and then straight to the hunt club.  An hour and a half later, Mr. 8 point walked out about 150 yards away.  The impact was exactly at the point of aim and down he went.  I think that's a pretty good first day for a brand new rifle. 

[Rev Buck]

Wow that is great, congratulations!  That is better than my record: last year I bought my .30-06 (T3 Hunter) October 20th and killed a buck with it on December 15th.  Way to go!    Rev

[Old English]

You'd get locked up for doing that on September 9th in Tennessee!! Glad the Tikka worked well for you. I fitted a Limbsaver recoil pad to my synthetic 308 and it's much more comfortable at the range now. Beautiful thing about these rifles is that they mantain POI in any weather, light to carry and I still haven't found a rifle with a better trigger. 

[CapitalCop]

I expected some eyebrows raise over killing a deer in September.  However, in the lower half of South Carolina, hunting season starts August 15 and runs through January 1.  This year the heat is as bad as ever, but it's been so dry that the mosquitoes have not been bad at all.

I considered about buying a Limbsaver at the same time I bought the rifle.  I'm glad I didn't because I don't think the recoil is too bad with the stock pad.  The only thing that bothers me, and it's not that big a deal, is the hollow sound the butt makes when my wedding ring taps it.  I filled the butt with Great Stuff foam and it may have help a little but not much.  I would not recommend it.  It made a Great mess that was hard to clean up.

[Old English]

South Carolina has some great deer season. I thought TN was pretty good but man, we don't even start bow season till next Saturday. I wouldn't worry about the hollow sound of the stock. The Tikka stocks are extremely rigid and durable. Some people knock the "plastic" but in 2007 synthetic materials have moved on. I have a Savage with a genuine plastic stock, now that is plastic. When putting the action into the stock, you have to carefully torque the screws or the bolt gets stuck. The stock bends enough to move the action!!! You won't find that with a Tikka.
Great job CapitalCop, that's an impressive start to the life of any hunting rifle.