Poll: Tikka/Sako Scope Mountings

[sandcritter]

With many firearms, a guy can pick whatever scope mounting system strikes his fancy. But the choices for a Tikka/Sako's milled receiver introduce a few wrinkles. What do you like? Please include your "write-in votes". Please share why - design considerations/observations, aesthetic/color-match issues, brand loyalty, etc.

[379 Peterbilt]

Warnes, with Talleys a close second.

[ccoker]

happy with Warnes on both tikka and sakos
solid, hold zero, reasonably priced

[4MUL8R]

Personal experience:

Lynx integral mounts -- fit Tikka receiver dovetails -- OK, but not robust.

Millett Angle-Loc -- great fit and finish, look good, require some fiddling to get the scope centered with screws on both sides, clamps smaller than most and may not hold heavy boomer recoil.  Must get special mount with integral Tikka recoil lug.

Warne Maxima Integral -- has recoil lug for Tikka forward mount, a bit persnickety to install with the vertical split design. But, the vertically split design is perfect.  It cannot and never will be out of line with the receiver.  A bit blocky in appearance, especially in comparison to the Millett, but no wider than the widest part of the Tikka receiver.

Talley -- ideal if your scope fits the tapped hole spacing.  That is the biggest problem with the tapped holes and added bases...you have to have a long scope so that the rings fit in between the scope bells, and then you have to make sure your eye relief is correct.  Very svelte product.  Great personal customer support.  No "extended" bases for the Tikka 595 action, so the tapped holes are the only location for the rings.

I would not ever put a base and ring on the Tikka with integral dovetail as there are so many better integral mounts out there.  That's my personal preference.

Let me know if you are interested in the Millett product.  I have both 1 inch and 30 mm and would like somehow to find a home for them.

[Old English]

DedNutz one piece mounts, screw into the receiver and solid as a rock. Spend $50, fit them once and you're done.

[lilabner]

My Tikka came with the Optilock rings so I used them. So far, so good. I put the calipers on them and the scope has not moved since installation. The rifle isn't a magnum and I doubt there will be a problem with these rings.

[Daniel]

My comments pertain to Sako 75's only. I have no experience with Tikkas.

Optilocks - I like 'em for the most part, but they're not my favorite. The ring screws are awfully soft and Beretta wants $4+ per screw to replace them. They also tend to be a little tall for my liking. On the plus side, they were designed specifically for this action. As a result they match perfectly and are very solid. I like the polymer insert which eliminates alignment issues and doesn't leave marks on your scope.

Millets - the worst mounts I've ever used. I'll leave it at that.

Leupold - I like Leupold rings in general, but not the ones designed for the Sako. The way they fasten to the receiver's dovetails is their weak point.

Conetrol - Very nice looking and very stout. Also, they're the lowest scope mounts I've found for a Sako. Medium Conetrols are lower than just about everyone else's lows. On the down side, they're pretty expensive and pretty hard to work with. You almost need 3 hands to mount a scope in them.  This is a good choice if you don't plan on changing scopes often.

Talley - At this time I guess these are my favorites rings for a Sako (and just about any other rifle). I use the QD model and appreciate how easy it is to mount a scope in them. They're solid, well made and have good quality Torx screws instead of those soft hex head screws that Sako uses for some reason. They're not quite a low as I'd like, but this hasn't resulted in any problems so far. One thing you have to be careful of with these rings is not to torque the top screws too much. You can pinch your scope easily and leave marks if you tighten them too much. BTDT.

[no guns here]

     I've been trying and trying to find someone who can tell me the part numbers I need for this.  All I want is a weaver style rail and some quick release weaver style rings.  Even Weaver replied back with an ambiguous answer.  "If the receiver is drilled and tapped uses the weaver 61 base front and rear. With the Tapered Dovetail the bases slide onto the dovetail. With the dovetail use the 67 on the rear and the 65 on the front. all of  the bases mentioned have the cross slot milled in them to accept the cross bolt on t he bottom of the rings."  My rifle has BOTH and then which dovetail?  I have seen references to two kinds.  This is for a T3 with the dovetail (is it the "sporter" dovetail or the "normal" dovetail?) that is also drilled and tapped for a set of bases.  Funny how everyone say's "use the 'normal' rail" but each manufacturer seems to have weaver bases or rails with different part numbers for every rifle... What's "normal"? 
     That being said, I "have" to take this rifle to the range this weekend.  I tried my Vari-X III 3.5-1-x50 with the Tikka rings but they were too low.  So I tried a Nikon 2-7xx32 that fit fine.  I thought that this would solve the problem for a range session on Saturday.  I finally got everything tightened up but as has been noted here and other places... those stupid, weak, shiny screw heads are so soft that I rounded out one that holds on the front ring and one of the ring screws on the back ring.  I even made sure to use a brand new hex wrench for this.  Why would anyone put this cheap crap out.  Now I'll be able to shoot it this weekend but if I ever find the right combo of parts to make the 50mm loopy work then I'll have to drill it out to get it loose.


ngh

[quickdtoo]

EGW makes a picatinny rail for the T3.

Tim

http://egw-guns.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=39&products_id=221

[BeanMan]

The tikka rings that came with my rifle, 3006,  gave me problems.  The scope would scoot forward after a few rounds and I tried a few methods to stop it. Finally I put Talley lightweights on it and am very happy with them.  I wouldn't mess with the stock rings if repeatability is a goal.

Beanman

[KenGarth]

I have T3 Lite 6.5x55 with Warne QD (quick detachable) mounts. Very sturdy and easily removed. They aren't the nicest looking things I've ever seen, but they are 1/2 the price of Tikka Optilock.

[sholling]

I went with Warne Permanent-Attachable on my T3 Lite. My Super Varmint came with a Picatinny rail installed do it got Burris Tactical rings. 

[Tikkabuck]

I have Burris on all my Tikkas.