Older Tikka vs Newer Tikka

[Dirt Nap]

     I had a older model Tikka, I believe it was a M695 (could be wrong on that one), around about 5 years ago. It had a black plastic stock with a palm swell, either plastic trigger guard, plastic bottom to magazine or both. Trigger was real nice and it was chambered in 25-06.

     My question is how the new Tikka's differ? Do they have a short action available? Still plastic on the bottom? Any deluxe version that doesn't have the plastic on the bottom, (if it still does). Do they still have a palm swell on their sythetic stocks?

     I read a lot of good things about the new Tikka's trigger plus tremendous accuracy...just looking for an update on the new guns.

[Zachary]

Dirt Nap,

The newer Tikkas (the T3), still have a plastic magazine and trigger guard.  However, the T3s do NOT have the palm swell.  While the T3s ARE chambered in short-action cartridges, like the .223, .243, 7mm-08, and .308, the action itself is a long-action.  What Tikka did with the T3s is that, while the magazines are also long action, the magazines have a "stop" design whereby short-action cartridges can fit in the magazine.  The result is that you may still pull the bolt back all the way for short-action cartriges although it won't be necessary.  Some people call the T3 a "one-size-fits-all" rifle.

Oh and, BTW, the newers Tikkas are just as accurate as the older ones!

Zachary