Looking at buying a Tikka Hunter or Lite...thoughts, experience from anyone?

Great rifles, excellent accuracy out the box and nice trigger. The new T3 plastic stocks aren't very nice but you can find a nice laminate stock to replace it if necessary. That being said, I would personally try to find an older Tikka, f.e. 595/695.

What is the benefit of the older rifles? How would one compare it to a Savage?

right on, they were imported by Stoeger

Better finish, or should I say Finnish, and smoother action. Depends really what Savage model you're comparing them to but overall much better rifles than Savages. I currently don't own any Tikka's and do own Savages and SAKO's (SAKO makes Tikka).

The older models are more true to the original company model, whereas the current lineup has been greatly influenced by Beretta who now owns SAKO. As a result the rifles have gone through some cost savings, which is a shame.

Do search on here. They get nothing but great press by those who own them. I have a T3 Lite stainless in 25.06 and I love it. There are prettier guns but there are none that shoot better for the price.

I have the Tikka M695 in .270 and it's the smoothest action, best trigger I've ever had on a factory gun. I absolutely love it and thank the guy from this forum who sold it to me everyday!

best buy imo

I have an older Tikka in 243 that I bought off the forum. Great guns and priced right!

Don't get a savage, they have horrible triggers and are ugly

I have both Sako and Tikka lite in .308 cal. Both rifles dead on out the box. The only different Tikka cost $500 less.

My Tikka T3 lite stainless in 6.5 x 55, smooth, nil recoil, tackdriver....spare mags are $60 or more, I may put a wood stock on it, but I love it.

t3 is a great gun smooth action and great adjustable trigger you can get one in just about any caliber and they shoot great

To those that are looking for a decently priced stock replacement for a Tikka:

http://www.rifle-stocks.com/

http://www.rifle-stocks.com/actions_available.htm



If you want to go for big bucks, here's one for around $500, special order only but made to customer specifications. It's at the end of the album, my little brothers custom T3 in 6.5x55: https://picasaweb.google.com/Sami.M.Kallio/Guns?authkey=Gv1sRgCKvJoqbZhsXkWA#

If you buy a T3, I highly recommend a 6.5x55 as it's a very versatile all-around caliber. Hard to find caliber in US made rifles but European rifles usually are more readily available.

A savage is like a trailer park girlfriend. You wont tell your buddies what you do with her.

I am also a Tikka 6.5x55 shooter. nice and accurate, ain't got to hide her behind the couch when friends visit.

I decided to go with the Sako A7 since BPS was selling them at the same price as the Tikka's. It is sitting in the safe waiting on a set of Talley's and Conquest scope! Can't wait to take it to the range.

I have a Tikka Whitetail Hunter M595 in 243 Win...Love it..

Only thing that stopped me on the tikka was the dm.

love my tikka t3 lite in 7mm-08! very nice shooting gun

My Tikka t3 270 great shooting gun.