Tikka T3X Synthetic - plastic junk or good kit?
- Thread starter Big_Sparky
- Start date
8x57
Distinguished Member
Big Sparky I'm assuming you mean that doesn't have a detachable magazine . After all most bolt action rifles unless a single shot rifle have a magazine of some sort, be that a blind magazine, a hinged floorplate magazine, rotary magazine or even a tubular magazine (old and rare).
As others have already mentioned yes with a push feed bolt action rifle such as the T3 you can usually simply drop a round into ejection port and use the magazine floorplate as a loading platform to chamber the round provided the magazine is empty. Or if the magazine is loaded you will need to hold down the top round so as to prevent a double feed as you push the bolt closed. If the rifle is of what is called a controlled feed design you will usually (but not always) have to feed the bolt from below that is from the magazine.
Confusing isn't it, if you are a newcomer and aren't familiar with the variations of sporting rifle designs!
Big_Sparky
Well-Known Member
To be fair, bar the Tikka I picked up in a shop the other week, which sparked this whole conversation, I’ve never even touched a sporting rifle! With the best part of 15 years in the Forces, including being a qualified RCO for the bulk of that time, I’ve probably chucked more rounds about in an afternoon then lots of folks may have ever fired in an entire lifetime of sport shooting - that’s not meant to be a bold exaggeration but more so you understand where my questions are coming from. If I was to tell you that an LSW will seize up due to heat after about 300 rounds and I’ve had that happen to me numerous time you’ll get where I’m coming from in having fired literally thousands of rounds.Big Sparky I'm assuming you mean that doesn't have a detachable magazine . After all most bolt action rifles unless a single shot rifle have a magazine of some sort, be that a blind magazine, a hinged floorplate magazine, rotary magazine or even a tubular magazine (old and rare).
As others have already mentioned yes with a push feed bolt action rifle such as the T3 you can usually simply drop a round into ejection port and use the magazine floorplate as a loading platform to chamber the round provided the magazine is empty. Or if the magazine is loaded you will need to hold down the top round so as to prevent a double feed as you push the bolt closed. If the rifle is of what is called a controlled feed design you will usually (but not always) have to feed the bolt from below that is from the magazine.
Confusing isn't it, if you are a newcomer and aren't familiar with the variations of sporting rifle designs!
To be fair, that’s why I’ve found this conversation (and others on here) very helpful - it’s an odd feeling being very new to something that you’ve arguably got years of experience of!
So yes, I’m thinking more as in something like a Lee Enfield No 8 when I’m talking about a rifle without a magazine. Equally if you’ve fired a single shot style heavy Enfield style target rifle - you’ll also probably understand why I made the initial question about the “plasticky-ness”
I think this top loading while hunting is totally over rated. If one is really worried about running out of rounds at the driven shoot then just get a T3 CTR with a ten round mag, tape a second 10 round to that and really impress at the shoot. Otherwise put a second T3 plastic mag in the pocket to quickly exchange after a shot or two is fired. Load the used mag in time while the rifle is in a ready to fire position. The only time I am glad to have a ten round mag and have it filled is when lamping foxes. My rifles all have min 5 shot mags. No top loaders as I don't think they are as reliable. The only control round feed I have is an old 98, I reworked the extractor in such a way that she has no issues when I single load from the top.
edi
edi
8x57
Distinguished Member
Edi top loading is more about convenience than about additional rounds in the magazine or increased magazine capacity. I know from what you have said previously that personally you find detachable magazines more convenient for where you stalk. Where as I have generally found detachable magazines a bit of a nuisance if having to continually unload and reload when crossing fences and other obstacles etc associated with small fields and woods. This is where the ability to unload and then reinsert the round taken out of the rifle back into the top of the magazine without removing the magazine from the rifle by top loading far more convenient. Hinged floorplate or rotary magazines then come into their own.
Highlandsjohn
Well-Known Member
You will find when you have to pay for them yourself you may be a wee bit more canny..To be fair, bar the Tikka I picked up in a shop the other week, which sparked this whole conversation, I’ve never even touched a sporting rifle! With the best part of 15 years in the Forces, including being a qualified RCO for the bulk of that time, I’ve probably chucked more rounds about in an afternoon then lots of folks may have ever fired in an entire lifetime of sport shooting - that’s not meant to be a bold exaggeration but more so you understand where my questions are coming from. If I was to tell you that an LSW will seize up due to heat after about 300 rounds and I’ve had that happen to me numerous time you’ll get where I’m coming from in having fired literally thousands of rounds.
To be fair, that’s why I’ve found this conversation (and others on here) very helpful - it’s an odd feeling being very new to something that you’ve arguably got years of experience of!
So yes, I’m thinking more as in something like a Lee Enfield No 8 when I’m talking about a rifle without a magazine. Equally if you’ve fired a single shot style heavy Enfield style target rifle - you’ll also probably understand why I made the initial question about the “plasticky-ness”
alberta boy
Well-Known Member
True enough , they are very similar , but not quite the same . The rifles that Colt Canada built are slightly different , but functionally the same as the Tikka built rifles . Another slightly misleading point is that the T3 beat it's rivals , it didn't . The initial choice was the Ruger , but Ruger wouldn't release manufacturing rights to Colt Canada , in effect , the Tikka was selected by default .
Tikka T3x - The ultimate tool for accuracy
Tikka T3x rifles are built with long-standing gunsmith expertise based on tradition and innovation, allowing you to choose between different models for the given hunting or training purpose.www.tikka.fi
and
AB
Big_Sparky
Well-Known Member
Ha ha - no doubt!!! I was a little shocked when I discovered that your average .308 is about £1!!You will find when you have to pay for them yourself you may be a wee bit more canny..
In complete comparison I’ll never forget the end of a major exercise in Germany - we weren’t allowed to take the ammunition that had been issued in Germany back to the UK (something to do with the terms of passage for the ferry the MOD had hired) - I had my Troop lined up on the training area at sennelager with the best part of 10,000 rounds of 5.56 blank - literally change lever to auto - squeeze - mag off - drop on the floor - mag on - crack on! The worst bit was picking the brass up
Equally bizarre was the looks on the faces of the German car drivers that we were stopping outside of camp giving them free diesel as we weren’t allowed to take full fuel bowsers or Jerry cans back on the ferry either!! And “they” wonder why the Government has a deficit!!
Siggy
Well-Known Member
Push feeding and top loading which returns a round to the magazine are two separate things - to do the later with a tikka you have to detach the magazine eject the round, catch it and transfer it to the magazine and reattach the magazine under a closed bolt. With a top loading magazine your work the bolt, thumb the round back into the magazine and keep it down as you close the bolt. If you load and unload your rifle frequently for safety reasons, it is one of those 1% things that add up over time.
What I mean is that if you have shot two-three rounds out of your ten round mag you do not need to refill the mag vs the 4 round floor plate mag where you might be on the last round.
Every time I unload a drop plate mag a few rounds go flying in the high grass or mud puddle, with a mag fed rifle you only unload the one in the chamber and take the mag out. Same when you arrive at position... got to fiddle each round in instead of shoving the mag in.
This is all still doable but where I draw the line is the reliability of feeding, I have a Sako which never ever fed really well it was converted to AICS, the Howa's I had later in 22-250, 308, 243 were not too bad but also had a few hick-ups, they were all converted to aics. Same was for Remmy which was lousy in 2x 243 1x308 fairly ok in one of two 223's all converted to aics. Mauser in 308 did not feed well either so I made a floorplate for an aics, what a smooth feeding rifle. The Tikkas were ok but I changed them also just out of habit. None of my mags have ever had feed lips bent or adjusted, any aics mag will work in any of my rifles. Depending on use I put a 5 shot or a ten shot plastic mag in when hunting. I have one rifle with a CTR mag, also works reliably so far.
I think it is far easier to get a mag system that central feeds to work reliably than a left right pick up which is always a compromise.
Tikka, Schultz & Larsen, Heym can't all be wrong.
edi
pj1
Well-Known Member
I’m fully prepared to be shot down in flames here but I also find the feel of the tikka a bit toy like. I admit I don’t like plastic stocks so am a little prejudiced but just to throw another spanner in the works it may be worth your while finding a sauer 100 or 101. Having handled and shot a 100 in 6.5x55 that is the closest I have ever come to buying a plastic stocked gun. It just felt better to me than the tikka
Il do the shooting
, i have handled both side by side and shot both in .223, the sauer feed ramp was to steep making it unnecessarily hard to push a round into the chamber, on top of that it was marking the brass, it only fired 3 out of 10 hornady factory rounds due to the firing pin spring been too weak and personally i find the fore end of the sauer too narrow. thats a personal thing though. I completely agree with egj on the sako side stack magazine, iv shot the 75 and 85 in .270 and the 75 jammed a couple of times when cycling the bolt fast, that has never happend in ether my tikka or shultz. Personally i have never felt the need to top load, and found the single stack system more reliable. As a side note to plastic stocks feeling "plasticky" they are designed to deal with bad weather and rough conditions and they do that well, if its not liked get a wood one or an aftermarket one, as far as standard plastic stock go on any factory rifles, tikkas are as good/better than any other of the options. Get one you wont be disappointed 
Cheers
Ali
I fully agree that most plastic stocks feel plasticy or different after using other stock materials, however they do work. I think the Sauer 100/101 or Mauser 12/18 being throw away rifles that are not even available in proper stainless are not in the class of rifles that we are talking about. No matter what they cost, they are in my opinion proper junk.
You can also judge by the trust of aftermarket companies in a product. T3 have huge amount of options available, not because the originals are bad but to offer options as the rifles will be around for some time. Who would change a stock on a "throw away rifle" for 1000 Euro if you know after 2000 shots it will all land in the bin. Like building a house on sand.
edi
Pj1, not shot down. Maybe just a different opinion. I had worked for over 20 years for a German company making car parts... the same type of people who run the Isny outfit . Even some of their rifles look like the inside of an Audi. As an old school engineer it was horrible to design things that were made to fail, I am so glad not to have anything to do with these type of people anymore. If I compare rifle manufacturers you see the same thing, those that make an honest product and even improve year after year vs those that go the opposite direction, flashy on the outside inside made to fail.
edi
edi
jthyttin
Well-Known Member
Your logic is flawed, since flagship Sako 85 uses double column / staggered feed.
Also if you don't topload don't criticize those who do it and base their choice of rifle on that. I usually don't, but in some cases it's the superior way like demonstrated. You'd run the 5rd or 10rd mag dry crossing a couple of fields and also risk losing the rounds in the mud (regarding the example given).
Also I'm quite sure this has been discussed before, I do understand how Sauer 101 may be considered disposable, but Sauer 100 has traditional threaded barrel (to the action I mean).
Just to be clear
When I posted this I didn't say you could top load the magazine.
However t3x have widened the ejection port to load a bullet from the top rather than pull the mag out
Talk about Chinese whispers
Not really flawed, just look at the sales figures of the 85, nobody wants them compared to the T3.
I was told by Sauer staff that the 100 as well as the Mauser m18 have pressed in barrels. Maybe they did not know.
I don't criticize those who prefer to top load, I just think overall that removeable magazines lead to a better rifle overall because they offer the central feed. On top for some it is an advantage not needing to handle 5 loose rounds when unloading/loading. Loading the mag can be done at home or in the car without dropping one in the mud.
edi
jthyttin
Well-Known Member
Original argument was "Tikka can't be wrong" and you imply that indeed they're wrong pouring the R&D to flagship model that customers don't want...
And there's also recent quotes where representatives (and customers with first hand experience) claim they're threaded. All it would take is a quick peek, if the locking lugs are in the receiver it's threaded, if in the barrel it's press-fit.
But they don't. I think there's lot more rifles sold with staggered feed detachable mag like Rem 700, Savage, Sako etc. Here again the market has spoken, at least rifle designers think customers want flush fit and decent capacity. You can have top load AND detachable magazine if you want, but you were referring first single stack single feed and then staggered stack single feed as the only reasonable choice.
Big_Sparky
Well-Known Member
One thing that springs to mind is that there’s a lot more to consider than how plasticky the stock is or isn’t!! At least the army were kind enough to issue me a weapon and not make me go shopping and have to check my own
I don’t know what experiences many of you had when first starting out but I think the thing I’ve found so far is the few RFD’s I’ve called into seem reticent to let you stand and have a good look and play with one rifle let alone a whole rake to get an idea of what different manufacturers/models offer. Maybe that’s because they are the sort of business that naturally would attract a “tyre kicker” who has no intention of ever buying anyway. Maybe standing clutching a crisp new FAC with big shiny spaces will help the process!
At least the army were kind enough to issue me a weapon and not make me go shopping and have to check my ownI don’t know what experiences many of you had when first starting out but I think the thing I’ve found so far is the few RFD’s I’ve called into seem reticent to let you stand and have a good look and play with one rifle let alone a whole rake to get an idea of what different manufacturers/models offer. Maybe that’s because they are the sort of business that naturally would attract a “tyre kicker” who has no intention of ever buying anyway. Maybe standing clutching a crisp new FAC with big shiny spaces will help the process!
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