Tikka T3 Lite Barrel Length Shorter than the Specified 22 7/16"

[Sigma]

Hi Guys,

Just received a new T3 Lite Stainless, 6.5x55 and thought I'd check the barrel more closely. I came up with 22 4/16", not 22 7/16" as shown in the technical specs for this rifle. I'm puzzled!  My Sakos come out EXACTLY at 22 7/8" as per specification.

Who has a T3 with a non-magnum length barrel specified for 22 7/16" and what barrel length do you actually measure?

Regards

[wareagleguy]

Good question.

Would the part threaded in the reciever count??   

[Sigma]

Yes,

Check by inserting a cleaning rod precisely flush with the end of the barrel threaded in the receiver and then remove it and measure the rod.

[Sigma]

Guys,

Went to the local gunshop and found out that ALL of their Tikka T3's were short as well. Barrel lengths came out pretty much to 22 4/16". Holding a tape measure at the crown, a barrel length of 22 7/16" as specified by Tikka would cover the venting port in the receiver!

This is probably not a big impact on rifle performance but still not a good thing. If you're going to specify a barrel length - it should be EXACTLY per spec, not shorter! 

Any feedback?

Regards

[Sigma]

Guys,

Here's Beretta's response on this issue - albeit not that satisfying:

"Thank you for contacting Beretta Customer Support and bringing this issue to our attention.
At this time we do not have a valid explanation for the difference in length.  I suspect it was listed as a misprint or a change in specification was done without updating the website. We are in contact with Tikka for clarification and will post the correct dimensions upon confirmation.
If you have follow up questions or need further assistance with this issue, please update this incident.

Best regards,

Beretta Customer Support

Personally, I think that the change in barrel length is no coincidence -  i.e. there must be a good reason for this. I'm wondering whether the change in specs applies to all new rifles along the lines of allowing more space for better gas venting following their incidents with barrel blow-ups....  Or perhaps this allows for positive identification of old barrels vs. new. Either way, the response was weak, IMO.

Regards

[Grubbs]

Sigma, who cares?  It'll still outshoot anything close to it's price range, and I doubt if 3/16 will make any difference at all.

[wareagleguy]

I must agree about the "who cares"

I own one and WILL own another.  Best bang for the buck on any rifle out there.  If you are really tore up over the issue don't buy it.  I can see a thing like this happening where a importer has some spec wrong.  I wish Berretta was out of the picture completely.  What counts in my book is will it shoot and the Tikkas will flat out shoot.

I know several on the board try and find anything to talk bad about Tikkas but I stand by what I have said before.  Everyone I know that OWNS A TIKKA loves them.

[BUSTER51]

+1 on who cares.there only 2 bad things about Tikka's (1) the damn plastic trigger guard and (2) being owned by Beretta. every thing else is as good as can be expected for the price. for $5.00 more the could make the trigger guard out of steel .

[victorcharlie]

Why is being owned by Berretta a bad thing?  I've heard several people say this.....is it customer service?  Attitude?  The fact they dominate the gun business?    I've only owned a couple of Beretta's and found them to be great guns but I will admit that with the number of people starting to go negative on them I might be missing something.

[Sigma]

Guys,

I care. I've got to admit, I'm kind of taken back by your casual attitudes about this. I'm thinking along the lines of QC. We're not talking about pocket knives here, right? I'm sure you will agree that when it comes to firearms, any defect in material or unknown change in dimension has the potential to be life threatening. When published specs deviate from actual, does that not make you wonder what care goes into quality control?

I does for me.

Don't get me wrong, I still think the T3 is a great rifle for the money, but things like this make you wonder what other areas of QC have been lacking attention in the past and present. With barrel blowups on stainless Tikka's and Sako's  in recent memory - anything, including dimensions out of line - raises a flag.

Respectfully,
Peter
 

[Grubbs]

3/16 of an inch wouldn't mean a hill of beans to me.  You need to relax and not sweat it.  Enjoy the rifle, it's a keeper.

[Brithunter]

It's funny that all the problems with Tikkas and Sako started after Berretta got control  and every time I hear of it I think back the Berretta 92's which blew slides and barrels years ago and for a long time Berretta denied their was a problem  it put me permantly off them there and then. Luckily I didn't really like the feel of the 92 prefering the CZ and Tanfolgio as they were much more comfortable for me  .

[wareagleguy]

I will be willing to buy that out of spec piece of crap Tikka.

[g8r]

I wouldn't worry about quality control, it seems as if it's just a spec change. Everyone seems to be getting the SAME 22 1/4" measurement. I would take issue if everyone was getting different lenghts but that doesn't seem to be the situation.  

[Sigma]

BRDavis,

Thanks for your offer, but I'll hang on to this one despite the spec issues.

I should probably let you know that I'm a German engineer. Being anal about things such as this is what we're known for.

I think I'll get a Sako 85 next. 1 piece 3 lug bolt, no plastic, etc. But as a "go to" rifle, Tikka's only skimp where they can and represent a great value. That makes them hard to beat in that specific category.

mit freundlichen Gruessen,
Peter