The TIKKA Thread ~ Pre T3 for something different

[KWhorenet]

G'day,

Edit:

Found what I was looking for. Ended up with a deal on nice old Tikka M55 in 17rem. Final decision on Saturday.

Should tame my retail therapy hunger for a week or two

Jez

[RDobber]

Q. Is paying a few bucks more for a Sako action worth it in any practical sense, or holding resale value, or just a nicety?

With the accuracy the Tikka are capable of I'd say there is no practical benefit.

Sako is obviously great quality, but IMO spending the extra on one is a pride of ownership thing. Not a practical shooting thing.

2c.

[KWhorenet]

Thanks RD,

Initially I was looking for and found an M595 to use before being the donor till I started seeing wood stocked metal mag M55 models.
Research soon put a dampener on the M55 due to lack of reasonably priced magazines unless someone was to make them.

If you know anyone who would part with an M55 5 shot or two I'd be interested...

[buster]

Sako is obviously great quality, but IMO spending the extra on one is a pride of ownership thing. Not a practical shooting thing.

The quality is definitely obvious, they're so nice to hold.

A bit too much of a premium for it for me at the moment though

Definitely like them though.

[Seconds]

Found what I was looking for. Ended up with a nice old Tikka M55 in 17rem.

Nice

Broken it in yet?

[RDobber]

If you know anyone who would part with an M55 5 shot or two I'd be interested...

Not off the top of my head but if I somehow stumble across one...

[KWhorenet]

Nice Broken it in yet?

It's on hold for me till Saturday when I get to inspect and have a G'smith bore scope it before handing over cash. Received some good advice that makes total sense on this used old hot 17 particularly as far as barrel wear goes. (thanks Scott aka Westy's prodigy).

Thanks RDobber,
I've found there is a guy in South Gippsland not far from me who makes the Tikka M55 mags for 17,222,223,204 but at a premium at $200 for a 5 shot :/
He also makes Tikka M55 (5+10) shot mags for 22-250,243,308
- Might try and sway him with some grass fed venison 'premium cuts' to do me a deal on a couple of 5's and maybe a ten shot

Better yet, pay him in meat or firewood to assist/teach me while making my own with his set up.

[Noisydad]

Tikka model 55's are great rifles! Got one in.222 that I bought in 1981. Needs a new extractor hook spring now.

[KWhorenet]

Tikka model 55's are great rifles! Got one in.222 that I bought in 1981. Needs a new extractor hook spring now.

I was and still am tempted by a nice looking deluxe model M55 222rem

" Needs a new extractor hook spring" Are parts like that difficult to make or reform from something else?

[bigfellascott]

With a bit of luck that barrel will be smick - its good ol mate is happy to let it get the once over that gives some comfort in knowing it will more than likely be a good rifle.

[KWhorenet]

Hope so Scott. Don't expect it to be 100% but not poo either.

Does anyone have info on pre Sakoretta model Tikka's regarding date of manufacture references? Even unofficial records?

Google hits echo my question with no real answer or reference points.

[melanie]

So barrel wear is still a concern in these small cartridges?

Wouldn't have thought there was much going on in there compared to a big centrefire.

[Pom]

I assume you're thinking of the rimfire cartridge .17 HMR Melanie?

This is .17 Remington, a centrefire cartridge. Not .17 HMR.

With light pills this is nearly a 4,500fps cartridge, nearly double .17 HMR.

Totally different kettle of fish.

[KWhorenet]

heres a comparison 223 rem - 17 rem - 17 hmr

[melanie]

You're right guys, I was thinking of the wrong thing.

[COLLECTOR 1]

Just to let you know I've got a couple of the early M55 Tikka's, ( 17, 223, 308)....they were built by Sako back in the 70"s and 80"s,,,,true story,

The 17's can and often do suffer from worn barrels and a bit of throat erosion so if your getting the gunsmith to check be 100% sure of the mentioned wear levels. They are solid, reliable, and shoot like stink...there were two models back in those days, the M55 which had the plain stock and the LSA55 which had the nice monte-carlo ...both models are mechanically the same. the 65 variants were long actions for bigger calibres

As stated don't loose a mag...they are worth heaps,

If I was having my time over again id still own them, great rifles and defiantly solidly made, unlike todays Tikka's

COLLECTOR 1

[brett1868]

My cousin has a .17 Remington Tikka he bought in the mid 70's to shoot foxes with professionally. He's put maybe 500 rounds or less through it cause he's no fan of shooting paper and mainly used it for foxes but has taken pigs and roos with it, on bigger game he prefers .243 or .308. I've shot it several times over the years and still enjoy it so you're on a winner KW but as mentioned these rifles were barrel burners and finding a good used one is difficult. Finding good brass may be a bit hit and miss though you can resize .223 without much trouble apart from it being a fraction short. Last week we tried resizing some .204 Ruger with mixed results, ended up with a bulge in the shoulder and a little tight in the chamber though they were fine after fire forming. The .17 Remington parent case is the long forgotten .222 magnum same as the .204 Ruger, don't believe the misconception that it's the .223 as the .17 case is longer then the .223. Hornady projectiles can be found without much trouble though I believe the Sierra's were preferred for foxes due to thinner jackets.

[Noisydad]

Tikka model 55's are great rifles! Got one in.222 that I bought in 1981. Needs a new extractor hook spring now.

I was and still am tempted by a nice looking deluxe model M55 222rem

" Needs a new extractor hook spring" Are parts like that difficult to make or reform from something else?

I haven't been seriously looking because of plenty of other toys to play with. The M55 extractor hook springs are little coil jobbies and those suckers are seriously TINY! Think it'll be a smith job to find one for me. It pulls about a third of the cases out - the rest need a section of cleaning rod dropped down the spout to poke them out. Bit of a pain.

[effex]

If I was having my time over again id still own them, great rifles and defiantly solidly made, unlike todays Tikka's

The plastic you're referring too?

[KWhorenet]

Well I met her today,

Once she was out of the dudes boot and the bag he carried her in;

first impression of the rich dark deep complexion from top to toe gave an instant warm n fuzzy, leered her up n down, fondled and checked out all her nooks and crannies along with her ample bonus goodies.

Was able to have a close inspection of deep inside before swiftly handed over the dowry.

* Original tube but surprisingly clean with more life left in it than I had got my hopes up for. Nothing has barely any wear really.
Will oil her up and clean her down tonight before giving her a solid work out. Will post some 'live action' picks tomorrow most likely.

For a cheap used hot 35ishhh year old from near Geelong she will serve me fine !! (Reminds me of my teens-twenties actually)

[bigfellascott]

Noice - I look forward to seeing how she goes mate, should be good I'd say. Don't forget the pics!!!

[jordy]

Well I met her today

Was she as pretty as in her photo

[chacka]

Pics

[bigfellascott]

[KWhorenet]

haha

here you go. haven't done any of my own but the wood work looks nicer in person than this pic. Stripping it down to clean it thoroughly. Will try and get use of a better camera too.

[bigfellascott]

Looks alright mate, it should come up nicely with a bit of a tidy up.

[Chronos]

Looks fantastic for the age mate, well done

I've just finished a rebarrel and a tidy up of an LSA55, even older but mine was an old workhorse, a full strip included some work to recut the checkering then pillar bedding and some danish oil. the bloody trigger is amazing. I gave it all a spray and closed the bolt then wound the adjustment screw all the the trigger broke. Wound it back in half a turn and it's a beautifully crisp 1 1/2lbs.

She was a mess but looks nice now, i'll see how it shoots before i commit to cerrakoting

Chronos

[bigfellascott]

She came up very nicely Steve, well done mate.

[Chronos]

She came up very nicely Steve, well done mate.

Thanks mate, i'll do a proper post when i get a butt pad fitted and finish the buff horn grip cap. Despite telling everyone in the wildcat thread here that there are no wildcats left i ended up doing one

Chronos

[bigfellascott]

She came up very nicely Steve, well done mate.

Thanks mate, i'll do a proper post when i get a butt pad fitted and finish the buff horn grip cap. Despite telling everyone in the wildcat thread here that there are no wildcats left i ended up doing one

Chronos

Yes it will look a lot nicer with a good butt pad on it, did you do the recutting of the Checkering yourself? the buff horn grip cap sounds like a nice touch too.