Tikka T3xTAC A1

[Alsone 789]

Another new rifle from Tikka.

This one is definitely going to appeal to those who like the AR15 look but in an EU compliant bolt action format:



http://www.tikka.fi/rifles/tikka-t3x/t3x-tac-a1

There are lots of reviews on youtube. Many are reporting amazing accuracy. Marc and Sam after work, an Australian Channel that specialises in long range, have already shot this gun in 6.5 Creedmoor at almost 1 mile with great accuracy - the groupings at 1 mile look pretty amazing to me:
 

Many other channels are reporting tack driving accuracy at shorter ranges. No first hand experience, but looks like a really great gun if you like the tactical look, and if looks are your thing, looks great with a scope and bipod. Also, available in .223, .308 and others from memory.

 

Edited October 26, 2018 by Alsone

[Alsone 789]

Just thought I'd add this one in:

American review but very good look at various aspects and demonstrates the gun delivering just under 1/3rd MOA accuracy at 850yds with factory ammo!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmdjT0UdrZE

[silverstoat 2]

The look of this rifle really suits my eye, but it weighs 4.9kg. Since I was looking at the 6.5 creedmoor for stalking, i,m a bit concerned that at that weight it is pretty much exclusively a target rifle. What do think?

 

[Baldcoot 2,352]

Only a pound more than my old L1A1 in 7.62 that the goverment let me carry around Germany a while back so not that heavy imho.Just get a ghillie to carry your sticks and bino,s you,l be fine 

[silverstoat 2]

yeah but this is supposed to be fun! Next time I win the lottery I'll get a sako carbon wolf instead. 2.8kgs. I've never had the luxury of a ghillie, and I hunt in rough hill terrain. Every Kg counts!

 

[Baldcoot 2,352]

Try the Tikka T3 lite then as then name suggests a lightweight version ,easy to carry but no tac fittings i,m afraid 

[Born Hunter 17,841]

19 hours ago, silverstoat said:

yeah but this is supposed to be fun! Next time I win the lottery I'll get a sako carbon wolf instead. 2.8kgs. I've never had the luxury of a ghillie, and I hunt in rough hill terrain. Every Kg counts!

 

They look really smart. Be at the top of my list too.

[Alsone 789]

The Sako CW is a nice gun although you could achieve the same look by dipping a T3 Lite.

I guess there's some penalty to be paid for the tactical look with the T3, although that has to be balanced against what appears to be target rifle accuracy.

[Born Hunter 17,841]

16 hours ago, Alsone said:

The Sako CW is a nice gun although you could achieve the same look by dipping a T3 Lite.
 

Not really about aesthetics. Sakos are better made rifles. I'd take a Sako over my Tikka any day and their new Carbon Wolf looks real smart. My only reservation would be the grip, not sure if I would get on with it over a TH.

[Alsone 789]

11 minutes ago, Born Hunter said:

Not really about aesthetics. Sakos are better made rifles. I'd take a Sako over my Tikka any day and their new Carbon Wolf looks real smart. My only reservation would be the grip, not sure if I would get on with it over a TH.

Same company. Tikka the slightly more budget brand range, so yes Sako potentially better made. That said, the accuracy shown by the TAC A1 is 1st class. It's almost 0.3 MOA at 850yds in the US Test with factory ammo.

You'd do well to find a Sako field rifle that matches that out of the box (or any brand of field weapon TBH).

Edited November 6, 2018 by Alsone

[Born Hunter 17,841]

2 minutes ago, Alsone said:

Same company. Tikka the slightly more budget brand range, so yes Sako potentially better made. That said, the accuracy shown by the TAC A1 is 1st class. It's almost 0.3 MOA at 850yds in the US Test with factory ammo.

You'd do well to find a Sako field rifle that matches that out of the box (or any brand of field weapon TBH).

Mate, the rifle is hideous and weighs a ton, lol. I'd have the Sako over any Tikka any day, same parent company or not, they're different levels of quality and you realise it when you use them in the field.

It sounds like the sort of rifle one of those airsofters would buy.

[Alsone 789]

It's a matter of taste. Personally I'd rather have the AR15 look and adjust-ability, over a plain looking plastic stock any day. Weight wise it's only 0.8kg more than a comparable Sako 85 Varmint in medium action (3.9kg vs 4.7kg). If you're that bothered by weight, the same gun is available without the AR15 embellishments as a T3 TAC: http://www.tikka.fi/rifles/tikka-t3x/t3x-tac. Weight 3.6kg.

So far as quality is concerned, neither of us have seen either rifle so can't make comment beyond what's been said by 3rd parties. However, no rifle that shoots 0.3 MOA is going to be low quality. In fact with those results, I'd say it probably out shoots most of the Sako range out of the box. 


 

[Born Hunter 17,841]

27 minutes ago, Alsone said:

It's a matter of taste. Personally I'd rather have the AR15 look and adjust-ability, over a plain looking plastic stock any day. Weight wise it's only 0.8kg more than a comparable Sako 85 Varmint in medium action (3.9kg vs 4.7kg). If you're that bothered by weight, the same gun is available without the AR15 embellishments as a T3 TAC: http://www.tikka.fi/rifles/tikka-t3x/t3x-tac. Weight 3.6kg.

But we're not talking about a 85 Varmint. I wouldn't have one of those either. The comment was made about preferring the Carbon Wolf over that and I agreed. Alleged 0.3moa doesn't mean shit really in the field. Plenty of 85s doing half inch and when you look at it like that there's no real world difference.

27 minutes ago, Alsone said:

So far as quality is concerned, neither of us have seen either rifle so can't make comment beyond what's been said by 3rd parties. However, no rifle that shoots 0.3 MOA is going to be low quality. In fact with those results, I'd say it probably out shoots most of the Sako range out of the box. 

It's a Tikka T3! LOL. If it was overhauled enough to put it on par with a Sako then it wouldn't carry the T3 pedigree. Has it been?

I've shot T3 (current rifle) and 75/85s. The Sako pedigree is superior. They feel a better tool to me. So I'd prefer the premium piece of the 85 range over that of the T3 range any day.

T3s are fine and functional, but they're not a Sako. You buy whatever you want mate. But that steel bashing gun doesn't interest me for field work.

Edited November 6, 2018 by Born Hunter

[Stavross 16,792]

Dam that’s an ugly rifle, I shoot a tikka T3 lite in .243 now and that is a very nice rifle but would swap it tomorrow for a sako finnlite 2 or a carbon wolf if they did away with that horrible pistol grip

[Alsone 789]

19 hours ago, Born Hunter said:

But we're not talking about a 85 Varmint. I wouldn't have one of those either. The comment was made about preferring the Carbon Wolf over that and I agreed. Alleged 0.3moa doesn't mean shit really in the field. Plenty of 85s doing half inch and when you look at it like that there's no real world difference.

It's a Tikka T3! LOL. If it was overhauled enough to put it on par with a Sako then it wouldn't carry the T3 pedigree. Has it been?

I've shot T3 (current rifle) and 75/85s. The Sako pedigree is superior. They feel a better tool to me. So I'd prefer the premium piece of the 85 range over that of the T3 range any day.

T3s are fine and functional, but they're not a Sako. You buy whatever you want mate. But that steel bashing gun doesn't interest me for field work.

It's all personal opinion.

I've shot a Sako Finnfire, my mate had one, and didn't rate it. Nothing wrong with it per se, but it didn't feel in anyway special. The stock was cheap looking dull brown wood, the action worked, nothing more to say beyond that and accuracy was average in my experience. I'd have bought a T-Bolt or Howa in preference any day or even a CZ with a Boyds. It just seemed a very expensive but average gun for what it was. No real obvious quality in it's appearance or construction, and in my opinion, the T-bolt, howa and even CZ look nicer quality than the Finnfire. Some might say it's in the engineering, but I've only heard praise for the latter guns and they're a lot cheaper to buy and most have a good reputation for accuracy. Of course we talking rimmy vs CF, but each manufacturer has CF models and again, Howa, Browning and CZ are all well respected and even the CZ stock can be swapped out for a Boyds for less than the equivalent off the shelf Sako can be bought for. In fact the Sako 85 6.5 is twice the price of the 6.5 Howa and 3 times the CZ!

The looks on the TAC are all down to whether you like the tactical look and purely personal preference. As for Sako being being better quality than Tikka, yes Sako are the more premium arm of Berreta rifles. However, it's hard to argue with 0.3 moa and it looks quality, although again it's hard to say without going hands on. I do think it's unfair to call it poor quality compared with a Sako unless you've actually tried i though, especially as that appears to fly in the face of the opinions of everyone who has.

 

Edited November 7, 2018 by Alsone