For years Finland has carried a strong reputation as a country of rifleman. When many hunters and shooters think of Finnish rifles it brings to mind Sako with premium rifles and premium price tags. However, Tikka has been quietly manufacturing quality hunting rifles at prices most avid sportsman can afford. Read on to get a closer look at the Tikka T3X.
History
Tikka has been making hunting rifles for a long time, with their first sporter being the Tikka M65 in 1968. In 2003 the company modernized their bolt action rifle production and released the Tikka T3 which featured a synthetic stock. In 2015 Tikka improved the T3 and gave the modified rifle the designation T3X.
The changes between the T3 and the T3X are minor. They include putting foam inside the stock to make quieter when bumped, changing the recoil lug from aluminum to steel, enlarged ejection port, and making the bolt shroud out of metal instead of plastic. Having shot and hunted with both the T3 and the T3X, one would be hard-pressed to detect a practical difference between the two rifles.
Specifications
The Tikka T3X Lite is about average weight for a bolt action hunting rifle, coming in at 6.4bs for the long action cartridges. In standard calibers they feature a 22 inch free floated barrel and come without iron sights from the factory. The rifle feeds from a single stack 3 round detachable box magazine.
The action is a two-lug bolt with a 70 degree bolt throw. Like most rifles in the price range, the T3X is a push feed system with a spring loaded plunger ejector. There is a safety located at the rear right hand side of the receiver which locks the bolt when on safe. As an aside from the technical specifications, each Tikka T3X rifle leaves the factory with a 1 MOA guarantee.
Strengths
Straight from the factory the Tikka delivers on its promise of attention to detail. The action is very smooth and feels slick in the hand when worked. The 70 degree bolt throw makes the action faster than on a traditional Mauser based action, which has a 90 degree bolt throw. There is little resistance when picking up a cartridge, with smooth feeding, extraction and ejection throughout the loading cycle. Through hundreds of rounds throw four different T3/T3X rifles I have yet to encounter a malfunction.
While many rifles feed well from the magazine, The T3X also feeds smoothly and reliably while single loading. Some push-feed bolt action designs hang up if the cartridge is not well-centered in the action. Not so with the T3X. This is a welcome attribute at the range when shooting groups or handloading as it provides the shooter the opportunity to examine the spent brass and each cartridge before sending it downrange.
Another strength of the T3X is the accuracy. The T3X rifles deliver on their accuracy guarantee and then some. Most T3X rifles will shoot sub-MOA with cheap hunting ammo and the accuracy will only improve as the quality of ammunition increases. A T3X will consistently shoot 0.8-1 MOA with factory ammunition and with quality handloads this can be reduced to 0.5-0.6 MOA. This is more than adequate for a hunting rifle and serves to give confidence to the hunter in the field that the T3X will do its part.
In addition, the T3X comes equipped with a quality trigger from the factory. The T3X factory trigger comes out of the box with a trigger adjustable down to 3lbs. The trigger is a single stage trigger that is very crisp with almost no take-up or creep. While 3lbs is entirely appropriate for a hunting rifle, some owners may wish for a lighter trigger. This is easily and affordably accomplished by changing out the trigger return swing for an aftermarket one, which reduces the trigger pull to 1-2lbs. YoDave sells an excellent one for only 13 dollars.
Finally, ergonomics are quite good. The magazine release works well and the magazine pushes straight into the magwell without a fuss. The safety locks the bolt which can be a point of debate but is my preference. The rifles have interchangeable grips although this feature usually goes unused. Regardless, the T3X has a thriving aftermarket if there is anything the owner wishes to add or modify.
Weaknesses
However, Tikkas are not without their shortcomings. First of all, the stock is a cheap-feeling polymer affair. In fact, on one of the author’s rifles the stock contacted the barrel and needed to be sanded down to achieve a free float. For the 1100-1200 dollar price tag that the T3X commands it would be nice to have stiffer and better finished polymer stock such as the ones that come on similar priced options like the Browning X-Bolt and the Bergara B-14.
Furthermore, softening the recoil pad and raising the comb of the stock to accommodate larger optics. The recoil pad of the Tikka T3X is stiff and absorbs less recoil than those of much cheaper rifles like the Ruger American. Also, while there are many cheap DIY cheek rest solutions, the rifle ships without iron sights and as such is clearly going to be outfitted with a scope. Adding a Monte Carlo style stock with an improved recoil pad would significantly improve the handling characteristics of the gun.
Finally, although the magazine functions flawlessly, the polymer construction feels flimsy, especially considering they charge $100 dollars for replacement magazines. A stamped steel magazine would feel more durable if nothing else. This remains a minor gripe considering function is excellent.
Competition
The market for bolt action hunting rifles costing 1000-1500 dollars is full of excellent options. Other popular options in the price range are the Browning X-Bolt, Bergara B-14, and Weatherby Vanguard. Certain models of Savage 110 and Remington 700 also reach up into this price range.
The Tikka T3X stacks up favorably to the competition for out of the box accuracy. The polish on the Tikka action is also very competitive, although not markedly better than the Bergara or the Browning. The magazine systems in the competitive options are personal preference. Depending on the shooter’s thoughts on fixed internal magazines and the importance of true flush fit magazines any of the competitive options may be the most desirable.
As far as triggers go the Tikka trigger is superior to the Browning and the Weatherby from the factory, where the Bergara ships with a slightly nicer trigger. The stocks on the Bergara and Browning seem sturdier than the Tikka’s.
Closing Thoughts
The Tikka T3X Lite provides a quality rifle that will satisfy all but the most discerning hunters and shooters. Fantastic reliability, accuracy, and simplicity of operation make this a smart purchase. While the use of polymers may detract from the overall feel of the rifle, function remains exceptional. When comparing the key features of accuracy, reliability, and trigger pull the Tikka matches or exceeds the competition in its price range. There’s no question why the Tikka T3X enjoys widespread popularity.