Thoughts on the Tikka T3X Cabela’s Canada Special Edition Bolt Action Rifle
 

Good Morning Y'all.

I thought I'd see what some opinions are on the "Tikka T3X Cabela’s Canada Special Edition Bolt Action Rifle"

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/10715...t-action-rifle

Its caught my eye and I'm seriously considering "pulling the tripper on it"

I like some of the features of this rifle, the trigger, fluted barrel, larger bolt knob.

I'l looking for feedback and thoughts?
Does anyone have any experience with the Cerakote coating this rifle features?

Appreciate your thoughts & opinions.

I don't own one but I wish I could afford it , it would be in my cabinet today!

She's a beauty

the stock is ugly but the barrel muzzle break and action look great. the 3 caliber selection isn't great either unless you really need a 308 30-06 or 7mm mag. out of experience I know you can get a used tikka buy a new barrel put a break on select any chamber you want and even changed the stock for 1500-2000$. mossy oak is dated its going on 30+ years of age similar to the American M81 pattern I find it just ugly to look at.

Hard to go wrong with a Tikka of any flavour. Mine have all been serious shooters. Most seem to outshoot rifles that cost twice as much. A gunsmith I know says he has never seen such smooth bores, he said the ones he's looked at with a borescope looked like cut glass they were so smooth.

Not available in Left Hand!

I’ll pass........

I just paid hundreds of dollars less for a T-3 with a stainless barreled action, metal floorplate and magazine, and no silly muzzle brake. I have owned Sako/Tikka set triggers, and I rarely found myself using them.

I've found myself looking at that rifle more than once as well. The only thing that has kept me from it is the stock. I generally only shoot 7mm so that's no issue, would love the cerakote action and barrel, but that two toned camo stock urks me something fierce.
I own basically the same rifle in stainless and honestly I shouldn't be such a cheap ***** and just go have it cerakoted.

I'm not crazy about the stock.
I'd say that's the only thing I don't like.
Easy enough to change the stock though.
But for the price I wish it came with a nicer stock.
The muzzle break isn't necessary either but it can be screwed off.

Yet I'm still drawn to it.

Its interesting to hear your different opinions.
Much appreciated.

At that price, they should have gone with a better quality stock, and skipped the muzzle brake. I looked at their special T-3x CTR, but it also has a brake, and a higher price. But brakes are the trendy thing to have for many people.

I like the feel of the stock just not the look. $1600 can get you a used Finnlight, I’d rather have one of those.

I’d like to see a Tikka with a carbon fiber stock, similar to the A7 roughtech only light.

Purpose
 

It depends on what you intend to do with this rifle. I own and have owned several tikka's. All of them shot very very well. There actions are buttery smooth.

I use them as an action to build target rifles. Alot of shooters are choosing tikka actions do theses kinds of builds over the traditional Rem 700 for a variety of reasons.

If its just for hunting I wouldnt worry about the fancy models and just get a regular T3x. You only need minute of moose accuracy anyway. If you are going to be doing alot and I mean 1000 rounds or more a year of target shooting then going with a fancy model might be a good idea. If you plan on doing a target project you will likely be replacing the stock any way.

The standard tikka trigger is excellent and can easily be dropped to about 1Kg pull weight. It breaks very nicely and cleanly. It super easy to adjust by yourself.

I think my recomendation would be buy the standard T3X and then use the money you saved to customize it to how you like it.

PS (Be sure to buy the 308 so you can turn it into a creedmoor later as per all the threads on here lately). LOL http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/image...shakeshout.gif


With all that being said I should mention that the last one I bought was the 308 CTR and I am turning it into a 6.5 of some kind.

I did forget to mention the larger bolt handle is a nice thing that my CTR has over my other build.

Plastic stock.....isn't the original stocks on tikka rifles what most guys complain about?

I was just looking at this yesterday. I like everything about it except the stock but to me that's not deal breaker. If I was looking for a new moose rifle I would get it.

The last rifle that I bought was the Cabela's special edition Tikka T3X CTR in 6.5 cm with the set trigger and I really like it.

I almost bought one in 30-06, but it just didn't shoulder right for me. The cerakote is kindly ugly too, I'm stuck on stainless I suppose

Thanks for all the replies Gentlemen.
You've given me a few things to consider.
That's what makes this forum so great.

I love the tikka will be buying one this winter but didn’t like the Cabela’s edition stock felt cheap and bulky compared to the lite version

I have one in 7mm. Got it in October. I'm not crazy about the camo stock either. I took the black fore grip off and lightened the trigger to ~2lbs. Overall I really like the gun. Very light and nice to pack. I put a Leupold vx5 HD 3-15x44 on it in Tally light weights. I am just working up a load for it, and hope to be ringing steel at 800yds +. Shooting cheap factory 150s just to generate some brass and break it in, but it shoots easy sub MOA with those. The brake is nice, because I plan on shooting lots at the range. It weighs 7.6lbs scoped, and balances nice. I will probably get a Bell and Carlson stock or something similar.

Thanks Koothunter.
Appreciate your feedback.
I don't plan on shooting 700yds but hope to group nicely at 400.

Defintley not worth it. The only practical advantage is perhaps the set trigger. If you handle one you will see the upgrades are cheep and flimsy. If you like the look and features take a gander at the xbolt hells canyon or go with a stainless t3 lite.

Yeah that Hells Canyon X-bolt is on my radar.
The X-Bolt Pro looks quite nice as well.

Browning really needs to put a better trigger on their rifles, the Tikka trigger is far superior.

The main issue I would have is how good is that muzzle brake?
I have shot all kinds of rifles all the way up to 500/416 nitro express and the worst recoiling gun I have ever fired was a fluted barrel t3 in 7 mag.

After shooting a few magnum T-3s, and a Sako Finnlight in 7mmremmag, I would not own either. I like the T-3, but only in small to medium capacity cartridges, preferably with a heavier contour barrel. And I a certainly not going to resort to a brake to make the recoil and muzzle rise tolerable.

Really? I'm considering 7mm Mag or 270.
But now you're concerning me if the recoil is that bad.

If your chasing a tikka look at bashaw sports webpage. They’re running a tikka sale.

Wow some great prices there.
Thanks for the heads up.
Sincerely appreciated.

The recoil was definitely harsher than the same cartridge in most other sporting rifles. The T-3 in 300win mag felt harsher than my custom 300RUM. My friends T-3 in 30-06 felt harsher than many 300win mag rifles. The standard T-3 rifles are very light, the stock design isn't great, and the recoil pads were garbage. On the other hand, a friend installed a McMillan stock with Decellerator on his T-3, and it was much more comfortable to shoot.

I would get the 270 T3 Laminate Stainless from Bashaw and put your savings into glass. Plus the laminates do not kick as much, I put a T3x recoil pad on my T3 and it is much better.

Op what are your intentions for this rifle? Hunting, target or both. If it were my money and wanted a medium range target rifle I would buy a Tikka T3X Varmint in a 6.5x55. If it’s strictly for Hunting a T3X stainless synthetic in 270, 308 or even 30-06.

I'm looking for a hunting rifle for alberta big game.
But of course it will see some range time as well.