Tikka hardly a cheap Sako

[Warrigul]

Having had a good Browning for years, I've not really had a serious look at other rifles beyond just eyeballing them on the shelf at my local gun store.

After much insistence from a mate that I check out the Tikkas as they are "cheap sakos" I gave them a look.

Can't say I know what all the fuss is about. Admittedly I was handling them in the store, not shooting them in the field, so I've only seen one side of them, but a "cheap sako"? Hardly.

Look and feel are immediately lacking in the Tikka compare to an "equivalent" Sako.

Bit disappointed after all the hype over Tikka. Can't really see what all the fuss is about...

I bought one because I wanted stainless/synthetic, as light as possible and didn't want to have to upgrade anything to get a decent accurate rifle. It gets lent out and used in all weather, the purpose it was bought for would severely damage a wooden stocked/blued SAKO.

I couldn't have cared less that they were a cheap sako or whatever but is a SAKO worth a couple of grand more? Not for what I need it for.

[SendIt]

Buying something nice like a Sako seems like the worst option for some guys.

They buy the thing then spend more time worrying and protecting it against any little scratch or ding than they do shooting it.

I've got a Sako hunter and it gets cared for. But first and foremost it gets used!

[Warrigul]

Buying something nice like a Sako seems like the worst option for some guys.

They buy the thing then spend more time worrying and protecting it against any little scratch or ding than they do shooting it.

I've got a Sako hunter and it gets cared for. But first and foremost it gets used!

Yep ultimately a firearm is a tool and many forget that.

I have art on the walls worth thousands to look at, my rifles(apart from the collectible ones) are, mainly, tools.

[bluehorse]

Can I have 2 bobs worth .Sako has 3 locking lugs and tikka has 2 . I have an m55 tikka. I got it to shoot 1 half inch hole from 4 shots 1 time only . .I dont like the 3 shot detachable mag .. and its a finicky rifle witha tighter chamber than 2 other 243 I have so I have to load to suit tikka inasmuchas each case needs to be put up the spout before I reload the batch. My parker hale 1200 is larger in the chamber and so too winchester .
To be fair they all shoot acceptably and i do prefer the physically larger bolt of the other 2.
Tikka came out in the 60's and was immensely popular . I know many who love them .
Every rifle I ever owned responded to time and effort of bedding and simple trigger adjustments. Then they shoot as well as the ammo we put up the spout.
If u feed quality ammo then u get results usually . If u rush the reloads then your results will reflect that too. It doesnt matter what u shoot then we reap what we sow. Sako have the best reputation I think but they r out of my price range because Ican get average rifles to shoot well usually so why pay so much when I will knock them around when they are in use ..They all get bumps and knocks we dont intend ..

[in2anity]

Let me just say, a rifle's accuracy and consistency largely stems from the quality and uniformity of its barrel.

[bigrich]

Let me just say, a rifle's accuracy and consistency largely stems from the quality and uniformity of its barrel.

And I do believe tikka barrels are the same as Sako’s . Tikka single stack mags have been reliable feeders for me as well. Great trigger and $1000 less than a sako rifle. They suit me just fine.

[in2anity]

And I do believe tikka barrels are the same as Sako’s.

you just gotta look at what the entry target shooters are using, namely Sporter Hunter-Standard. Likely the best accuracy-for-buck, off the shelf. Consistency is king.

[Beno]

I’ve been using tikka 308 CTRs for work and play and they shoot well and are designed for work aka 1000’s of shots at pests in harsh conditions. They only complaint was the early mode, magazines which had feeding issues. Newer mags appear ok but are darn expensive.

I’ve only shot a sako a few times. I didn’t notice much difference in feel or operation but i’m sure the quality is very good.

[Wapiti]

Tikkas are great, accurate rifles from all I've seen, and no I don't own one but mates do. I believe that the rifles are made with the SAME precision that Sakos are, including the hammer-forged barrels, but they are cheaper for a few obvious reasons and are meant to be to fill a market position.
Tikkas have a big, long action, blocked out to suit the cartridge of the rifle, so you have unnecessary length and bulk, so don't have the perfectly scaled action to suit the individual cartridge dimensions like the Sakos all do.
Tikkas have a single-stack, cheaply made magazines that need to be awkwardly long to have a decent number of cartridges. Plastic magazines with silly, short internal dimensions that don't allow you to seat long projectiles into the lands. Sakos have beautifully made stainless steel double-stack boxes that flush-fit, that have plenty of space/length for handloading enthusiasts.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the quality of wood on a Sako "Hunter" (lowest grade of timber stocked Sako 90) is very nice walnut, beautifully figured, I have never seen this on a timber Tikka.
Stocks... the synthetic versions on Tikkas to me are definitely made to a price. And don't compare Sako's carbon fibre, or synthetic stocks with an internal aluminum frame to make them super stiff. Machined-in pic rails on some.
Triggers, Sako has a trigger adjustable externally, and can move forward and back to suit big/small hands. And a 3-lug bolt.
And comparing a Tikka varmint to a Sako varmint, or heaven forbid, a TRG?

Are Sakos better hunting rifles, in that they drop more game easier? Nope.

[bigrich]

Tikkas are great, accurate rifles from all I've seen, and no I don't own one but mates do. I believe that the rifles are made with the SAME precision that Sakos are, including the hammer-forged barrels, but they are cheaper for a few obvious reasons and are meant to be to fill a market position.
Tikkas have a big, long action, blocked out to suit the cartridge of the rifle, so you have unnecessary length and bulk, so don't have the perfectly scaled action to suit the individual cartridge dimensions like the Sakos all do.
Tikkas have a single-stack, cheaply made magazines that need to be awkwardly long to have a decent number of cartridges. Plastic magazines with silly, short internal dimensions that don't allow you to seat long projectiles into the lands. Sakos have beautifully made stainless steel double-stack boxes that flush-fit, that have plenty of space/length for handloading enthusiasts.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the quality of wood on a Sako "Hunter" (lowest grade of timber stocked Sako 90) is very nice walnut, beautifully figured, I have never seen this on a timber Tikka.
Stocks... the synthetic versions on Tikkas to me are definitely made to a price. And don't compare Sako's carbon fibre, or synthetic stocks with an internal aluminum frame to make them super stiff. Machined-in pic rails on some.
Triggers, Sako has a trigger adjustable externally, and can move forward and back to suit big/small hands. And a 3-lug bolt.
And comparing a Tikka varmint to a Sako varmint, or heaven forbid, a TRG?

Are Sakos better hunting rifles, in that they drop more game easier? Nope.

In general I agree with a lot of your views. I’ve owned a few sako 85’s from new, and all had ejection problems due to relocating the mechanical ejector to suit those fancy, unnecessary three lug bolts. The long action length is a non issue for me, I mean how light do people need a rifle to be these days? Tikkas are really light for me in standard form, medium weight rifles for me are steadier for offhand shooting. The mag length for me has been an issue for some cartridges like the 7-08. They make a “M+” 3 inch long magazine for the creedmoor that solves the problem with 308 length cases. Any Mauser based cases work fine in 30-06/270 mags. For the price point tikka are great value

[Billo]

Tikkas are great, accurate rifles from all I've seen, and no I don't own one but mates do. I believe that the rifles are made with the SAME precision that Sakos are, including the hammer-forged barrels, but they are cheaper for a few obvious reasons and are meant to be to fill a market position.
Tikkas have a big, long action, blocked out to suit the cartridge of the rifle, so you have unnecessary length and bulk, so don't have the perfectly scaled action to suit the individual cartridge dimensions like the Sakos all do.
Tikkas have a single-stack, cheaply made magazines that need to be awkwardly long to have a decent number of cartridges. Plastic magazines with silly, short internal dimensions that don't allow you to seat long projectiles into the lands. Sakos have beautifully made stainless steel double-stack boxes that flush-fit, that have plenty of space/length for handloading enthusiasts.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the quality of wood on a Sako "Hunter" (lowest grade of timber stocked Sako 90) is very nice walnut, beautifully figured, I have never seen this on a timber Tikka.
Stocks... the synthetic versions on Tikkas to me are definitely made to a price. And don't compare Sako's carbon fibre, or synthetic stocks with an internal aluminum frame to make them super stiff. Machined-in pic rails on some.
Triggers, Sako has a trigger adjustable externally, and can move forward and back to suit big/small hands. And a 3-lug bolt.
And comparing a Tikka varmint to a Sako varmint, or heaven forbid, a TRG?

Are Sakos better hunting rifles, in that they drop more game easier? Nope.

In general I agree with a lot of your views. I’ve owned a few sako 85’s from new, and all had ejection problems due to relocating the mechanical ejector to suit those fancy, unnecessary three lug bolts. The long action length is a non issue for me, I mean how light do people need a rifle to be these days? Tikkas are really light for me in standard form, medium weight rifles for me are steadier for offhand shooting. The mag length for me has been an issue for some cartridges like the 7-08. They make a “M+” 3 inch long magazine for the creedmoor that solves the problem with 308 length cases. Any Mauser based cases work fine in 30-06/270 mags. For the price point tikka are great value

I run the M+ for the my 7mm-08 Tikka and it does a better job for pointing bullets but this should be in all the short action from Factory, kinda annoying you have to blow another $140 just to get your Tikka working.

I tried to find a 6.5 PRC in a Tikka but the pricing and the potentially poor camming with this high pressure chambering turned me off, so I grabbed a SA Ruger M77 which came with a 2.980in AICS mag from the factory.

[Wapiti]

In general I agree with a lot of your views. I’ve owned a few sako 85’s from new, and all had ejection problems due to relocating the mechanical ejector to suit those fancy, unnecessary three lug bolts. The long action length is a non issue for me, I mean how light do people need a rifle to be these days? Tikkas are really light for me in standard form, medium weight rifles for me are steadier for offhand shooting. The mag length for me has been an issue for some cartridges like the 7-08. They make a “M+” 3 inch long magazine for the creedmoor that solves the problem with 308 length cases. Any Mauser based cases work fine in 30-06/270 mags. For the price point tikka are great value

Yeah we've got a few 85's as well, and to be honest, I preferred these over the 90.
When I was finally in a position to afford an 85 in 300WM, they'd just announced the 90, and Beretta wasn't entertaining getting me in an 85. I was after the Hunter Deluxe... well, as Sakophiles know, there is no such quality blued/wood model in the 90 now, only the Hunter Walnut. So I settled for that, but it's not my first choice.

I've read about the supposed ejection stories, both the one about empties hitting scopes and falling back in, or not ejecting hard enough.
Now, ours have VX3 or Swaro scopes on them, low as possible, and this has never even looked like happening. Ever.
Work the bolt real slow, like at the range I spose, and the case sits there. Tip or pluck it out.
Work the bolt at a hunting-type pace to replace the cartridge, and never has one not thrown out. In a 223 Varmint, and two 308s.
And the semi-controlled round feed DOES work everytime, if you push a cartridge all the way into the chamber (not turning the bolt down at all) and pull the bolt back. The rim is under the extractor and the round ejects everytime. People say that doesn't happen.
Yeah I know it isn't fixed to the boltface at the halfway point like a Mauser action, but it doesn't pretend to.
And some rag on the 3-lug bolt, 60 degree lift to clear the lowest scope and well-designed extracting cams so the BS story about hard bolt lift can stay with the brands where it actually is true.
These things aren't in the current 90.
Look, I'm not trying to be a smart@rse here, no offence intended. These rumours remind me about the one regarding the Chinese 1887 copies in 12ga. The one where empty hulls don't eject but sit on the bolt. That they malfunction and are cr@p. Now if you have pipe cleaner arms like Anthony Albanese using a 22 BLR, and do the short stroke on an 1887, yep. But anyone working the long lever throw all the way forward, that knows that the lifter only flicks out the hull at the very end of the stroke, loves the things. I reckon mines so great I bought a Chiappa version for clays, just to wind up the local country O&U boys.
But enjoy whatever you use.

[zbenga]

tika owners are to sako like Skoda owners are to Audi, yes still a VW group but better finished and so is the Sako, much much better finished product, better stock, better receiver, top feed is easy, yes the barrels might be made on the same line but that's about it, even the triggers are nicer on the Sako so imho they are a different rifle

Both are getting stupidly expensive thou compared to say 5 years ago

[bigrich]

I've read about the supposed ejection stories, both the one about empties hitting scopes and falling back in, or not ejecting hard enough.
Now, ours have VX3 or Swaro scopes on them, low as possible, and this has never even looked like happening. Ever.
Work the bolt real slow, like at the range I spose, and the case sits there. Tip or pluck it out.
Work the bolt at a hunting-type pace to replace the cartridge, and never has one not thrown out. In a 223 Varmint, and two 308s.
And the semi-controlled round feed DOES work everytime, if you push a cartridge all the way into the chamber (not turning the bolt down at all) and pull the bolt back. The rim is under the extractor and the round ejects everytime. People say that doesn't happen.
Yeah I know it isn't fixed to the boltface at the halfway point like a Mauser action, but it doesn't pretend to.
And some rag on the 3-lug bolt, 60 degree lift to clear the lowest scope and well-designed extracting cams so the BS story about hard bolt lift can stay with the brands where it actually is true.
These things aren't in the current 90.
Look, I'm not trying to be a smart@rse here, no offence intended. These rumours remind me about the one regarding the Chinese 1887 copies in 12ga. The one where empty hulls don't eject but sit on the bolt. That they malfunction and are cr@p. Now if you have pipe cleaner arms like Anthony Albanese using a 22 BLR, and do the short stroke on an 1887, yep. But anyone working the long lever throw all the way forward, that knows that the lifter only flicks out the hull at the very end of the stroke, loves the things. I reckon mines so great I bought a Chiappa version for clays, just to wind up the local country O&U boys.
But enjoy whatever you use.

mate , i spent $3300 on a brand new sako 85 in 270win , and the cases hit the scope and fell back in . took it to gunsmiths and found out the truth . moving the mechanical ejector from 3 o'clock position to 6'oclock position to suit the 3 lug bolt changed the ejection angle . on short cases it's less of a issue . also the 308 based cases have a thicker case rim than some of the long action cases , which means the case sits tighter against the bolt face ,which also helps . my 9.3x62 85 grizzly also had this issue , which is why i got it privately really cheap . if your 223 and 308 sako's work fine , great . buy a long action sako and see how you go mate , i've researched this well , and talked to reputable smiths about it . my local gun shop and berreta australia responded with "fit higher scope mounts....." not rumours mate, fact. i won't own another 85 sako , their extremely accurate , well made , beautifully finished . but i won't own another . you can respond however you like , but long action sako's do as described .

[Fester]

I have never really compared my Tikka to a Sako and would never buy a Sako for the Tikka's job.
It is a light accurate, reliable mountain hunting rifle.

I have scratched the plastic and had that slight first sign of rust after a wet hunt but that is well known to happen on Tikka staino barrels.
I also have a Howa and Weatherby S2, great rifles in their own right and even cheaper but I am not going to carry a heavy rifle in the bush on foot.

The cheapest way to set up a long-range rifle would be one of the varmint Tikkas with a stock good enough for the job so the money can be sent towards the scope needed for the job.
I remember a long-range instructor saying that if you just want to buy a factory off-the-shelf rig to start LR shooting, it would be hard to beat a Tikka CRT and a Vortex Viper 6-24 for value.
They just work.

[in2anity]

I remember a long-range instructor saying that if you just want to buy a factory off-the-shelf rig to start LR shooting, it would be hard to beat a Tikka CRT and a Vortex Viper 6-24 for value.
They just work.

sure can my dude Factory-straight Tikka CTR 308 plastic fantastic + the cheap/basic Harris bipod + small rear "squeeze bag" + vortex strike eagle 5-25 chinese glass:

Factory-straight Tikka CTR 308 plastic fantastic + the basic Harris bipod + small rear "squeeze bag" + vortex strike eagle 5-25 chinese glass

sporter.jpg (366.93 KiB) Viewed 4080 times

In the days before sporter-hunter become F-light, 6mmBR, full custom builds

The Tikka will do it just the same as the Sako, if you can...

[markg]

TIKKA. Price great, accuracy great, smoothness great, bang for buck is good. Will kill Deer, Pigs, Goats or anything else for that matter just as effectively as a Blaser R8 Carbon or anything else for that matter. AND, if you hurt it it's not so expensive to replace. Great bush bashing rifle all said. Deer don't know how much the rifle that kills them is worth.

[deye243]

I remember a long-range instructor saying that if you just want to buy a factory off-the-shelf rig to start LR shooting, it would be hard to beat a Tikka CRT and a Vortex Viper 6-24 for value.
They just work.

sure can my dude Factory-straight Tikka CTR 308 plastic fantastic + the cheap/basic Harris bipod + small rear "squeeze bag" + vortex strike eagle 5-25 chinese glass:

sporter.jpg

In the days before sporter-hunter become F-light, 6mmBR, full custom builds

The Tikka will do it just the same as the Sako, if you can...

Very good shooting there sunshine

[in2anity]

Very good shooting there sunshine

It was overcast, if I recall. Point being they shoot. Like the Sakos, they shoot. Just trying to steer clear of the anecdotes.

[deye243]

Very good shooting there sunshine

It was overcast, if I recall. Point being they shoot. Like the Sakos, they shoot. Just trying to steer clear of the anecdotes.

Funny thing is I haven't come across to many sakos after the 75 that shoot as good as tikka

[in2anity]

Funny thing is I haven't come across to many sakos after the 75 that shoot as good as tikka

Oh I have. Same sh1t different smell.

[sbd850]

I haven't actually seen or heard any Tikka owners claim that their cheap Sakos.

The first rifle I ever fired was a Tikka in 22-250 and it was very smooth to operate. With that, I'd assumed this was the norm for rifles The next rifle I fired was a Ruger Precision in .308 and I asked my friend who owned the rifle why it was so rough. This was before I got my own license.

At the time I didn't know what Sako was and had been impressed by the Tikkas feel and smooth action.

When I was deciding what to purchase for my own rifle I tossed up between purchasing a Howa 1500 and the Tikka T3X, as I'd heard nothing but good things about Howas but had never actually fired one.
I ultimately decided on the Tikka T3X Super Varmint due to the nicer finish overall with the cerekote, threaded barrel should I ever decide to equip a brake and I personally love the fluted bolt knob.
The roughtech stock is also quite nice for standard.

None of this had anything to do with Tikka being somewhat related to Sako. It purely had to do with Tikka bring very good quality/value for money. Their prices seem to have gone up since then, but when I purchased my Super Varmint it was around $2300 which I felt was very reasonable.