I haven’t had centerfire bolt gun since I was 24 (.222 Sako), so after 40 years I thought it was about time I got back in the game. Just got a Tikka T3 Lite in .308 last week. While waiting for some parts to arrive I took it to the range to see what a .308 feels like. I had a cheap Leapers 3-9x40 scope I was hoping to blow up (in the Tikka rings), but after 40 rounds it was still OK (to my surprise). My shoulder is a bit sore but since then the EGW picatinny base, Limbsaver buttpad, Tac-Ops cheek pad & Huntsling arrived so I put the Bushnell 6500 Elite 2.5-16x42 scope on it & can’t wait to shoot it again.
I love the trigger & bolt so much I’m thinking of another one in .223 already.
Thanks - My social security check couldn’t handle a Sako right now, but I am so surprised by the quality of this Tikka that I can see the stainless version in .223 in the near future. Along with learning hand loading this comming winter.
Tikkas are my favorite reasonably priced rifles. My coyote/any other annoying animal rifle is a Tikka in 223. It shoots great, sub moa with the right loads.
Im sure you’ll like the bushy better than the leapers, l have a 4200 its a good scope for the money, have fun.
Well now I’ve done it - went back to the LGS for a .223 and they found me a NOS CZ 527 Varmint Kevlar for $750, so I decided to go ahead & order it. Now, I know at this price range there are some good guns out there, but my thoughts were that with the HS Precision kevlar stock (no upgrades needed here) the single set trigger, mini-mauser action with a 24" 1-9 twist barrel, the only thing I need is a full picatinny rail & I’d be gtg.
Hope I made the right decision since the stainless Tikka was the same price (& the one I went in to order). They did show me some Savages, Remingtons & a Weatherby but none of them jumped into my arms, so I’m going with a CZ mail order bride instead.
Photos will be comming soon…
Nice rifle. Do you know the total weight as pictured?
I am considering picking-up the same in stainless or the varmint model. I found several postings on other forums and U tube raving about the Tikkas accuracy.
I use ADM mounts and considered for my next bolt gun as well. Can you elaborate why selected the QR mounted versus standard (lighter rings).
Just took it off the scale and it weighs a bit over 8 1/2 lbs as pictured.
I went with the straight-up ADM mount so I could move the Bushnell scope between my LMT AR, the Tikka & now, my new CZ 527. If I had the money, each gun would have it’s own scope & dedicated rings, but I have expensive (Nikon Camera trained) taste in glass, so for now I have to settle with adjusting the scope between the guns. When I first put the EGW HD rail on the T3 with the ADM mount, I thought the scope looked too high, but after shouldering it, it feels nice not to be crunched-up & hunkered down behind the action so much - especially with the .308 kick of a light rifle. The Tac-Ops cheek pad helps too.
If my LGS hadn’t found the CZ 527 for me, I would have bought another T3 in .223 in a second. Unless you really like project guns, the Tikkas are so good to go out of the box, all you really need is some good glass & ammo. I just love the feel of the bolt & the trigger - no adjustments necessary.
The T3 in .223 would have been an excellent choice. With the 1 in 8" twist it shoots a wide range of bullet weights. I love mine and is one gun I own that isn’t going anywhere. What is the twist rate on that CZ ?
I figured the QD mount was in order to interchange with other rifles. Yeah, the price of good glass is painful. I am looking at picking-up a Leupold VXR 3X9X40 Patrol w/ TMR reticle for my .308 bolt gun.
It looks decent for the money and has been getting good reviews.
mwc4, nice tikka heard nothin but good things about them rifles. but once you posted the cz 527…gettin some serious flasbacks when i had mine which i seriously miss, had no choice at the time but to sell it for personal reasons. now after seeing yours i might just pick one up again:) heres a pic a while back when i first got mine, and like you said the single set trigger is awesome
bm176 - Thanks man & I know how it feels to sacrifice a gun for financial (poor, starving artist) reasons. I was lucky in finding the kevlar 527, since I believe CZ USA stopped importing them over 2 years ago. The Laminated Varmint 527 has what looks like to me to be the same stock design as the HS Precision Kevlar & I would have picked that one over the more traditional wood stocks CZ offers if I hadn’t found this one. I’ve got 8 CZ rimfires in all their different walnut & beech styles anyway, so this one will be a nice addition to the tribe.
Did a CZ 527 search here but there wasn’t much to go on. Seems like a lot of guys would rather up-grade their Savages & Remingtons. I’m very happy with the out-of-the-box quality of both the Tikka & the CZ & have no plans on changing the barrels, triggers, bolts, stocks etc. I think I just saved myself enough money to put it into re-loading equipment this winter…
Unless you are trying to engage multiple targets under a time constraint.
I have a strong dislike for set triggers for this very reason. They don’t have a place on a tactical rifle. Prairie dogs and paper… sure, they work. However, a properly set single stage is quite a lot better as you lose nothing in any department.
ook thats good to know, but i dont shoot under a time constraint. when you mentioned “they dont have a place on a tactical rifle” are you refering to the 527 with kevlar stock? if so, its sold as advertised " cz527 varmint w/kevlar stock" no where in there they mentioned “tactical” did i mention also the 527 varmint has both set trigger and single set, with the set trigger some where around 4lbs is plus if those like yourself who dont like single set triggers;)
Set triggers don’t have a place on ANY tactical rifle of ANY brand or model.
Yet I don’t have them on any rifle for any purpose. What’s the point of them? You can get a single stage on any rem700 clone down to about 6 ounces…
It’s a european fad that happened to make its way over here on imported rifles for the simple reason that their rifle smiths seemed incapable of making a safe yet light and reliable trigger. The fact that CZ continues to use them doesn’t make them the best, or even second best option. A 2-stage would be a much better choice.
All this being my opinion, yet I’d love to hear any intelligent arguments made as to what benefits you are offered in a set trigger.
so you love to hear some intelligent aguments…you aint gonna get any here…go look somwhere else, or howzabout startin you own thread and leave this clean thread alone. my next rifle wont be a remington 700 it will be a european fad as you call it, a cz527 varmint target…kapow. and like FPR says Have a Nice Day
orkan - I suppose that if I wanted to engage multiple targets, I’d just bring my LMT along for that job, but this old man isn’t going to be runnin-n-gunnin any tactical sniper courses in the near future.
My first s/s trigger came with a CZ 453 Varmint in .17HMR & it was perfect for teaching me how to settle in behind & hold the rifle on target. With the 8oz final pull of the second stage I didn’t have to think about the trigger at all - I just “thought” the gun to fire, and anyway, the 3 1/2 lb pull of the 1st stage was good enough to use straight through as a regular single stage, so in the end you have 2 options on 1 trigger for how you want to set up your shots. As far as I’m concerned, s/s triggers are perfect for bench/prone target or varmint situations. Even from the factory the single stage trigger on my .308 Tikka T3 feels like the 2nd stage of the CZ 527, so I’m very happy to leave them as they are.
bm176 - I should be getting my picatinny rail from CZ this week, so I’ll be taking my bolt babes to the range next week for some sighting-in work & will post some targets here for sure.
As far as re-loading, I’m totally new to this art form, but I’ve been seriously considering the Hornady LNL Progressive Press & will have lots of help & support from some of the older guys at my LGS who know their stuff.
Munroe
