Which Tikka

[Dimitri A.]

I've been searching for a lightweight hunting rifle, and after researching many brands, I've decided to go with Tikka. I'm looking at the "Lite" and "Superlite" models in stainless with synthetic stocks. I'm just confused on which one to get. On the Tikka website, with 22" bbls, both the Lite and Superlite are advertised as weighing 6.5 lbs. I called Beretta this morning (they own Sako/Tikka) and the inform me the Superlite is only 2 oz. lighter than the Lite. A couple of forums I've been on seem to state 6 lbs for the SL, and 6.3 for the Lite, which is about 1/5 lbs difference between the two; 3 oz., if I'm doing my math right. For only 3 oz., I'm thinking it's probably better to go with the more robust non-fluted bbl.

Also, which bbl length would you go with? 22" or 24"? I'm leaning toward 22" but the more I look, it looks like the 24" is the one that's most commonly available.

What say all of you?

[Catch]

What caliber are you considering?
For 2-3oz I passed on the superlite, look at kimbers for real feather weights.
My t3x wears a swaro z3 and weighs 7lb 6oz.

[Dimitri A.]

What caliber are you considering?
For 2-3oz I passed on the superlite, look at kimbers for real feather weights.
My t3x wears a swaro z3 and weighs 7lb 6oz.

6.5 creedmoor. I have a Bergara in 6.5. Used it for hunting in D14 last weekend climbing up some gnarly terrain and it killed me. Weighs almost 11 lbs all set up. Great rifle, but it’s for the plains. I considered Kimber, but a little too light for my taste. Also, the one that I handled at Turner’s in signal hill last week had a lot of rust on the bbl.

[Calif Hunter]

I would go with the 24 inch.

i have a .243 T3 Lite with the shorter barrel and T3 Lite .300 mag with the longer barrel, and I don't notice any real difference in toting them. I don't think you can go wrong with a Tikka. Both of mine are excellent shooters with great triggers out of the box. (I did add a Libsaver recoil pad to the .300 and went with Talley rings on that as well. Everything stayed stock on the .243.)

[Intimid8tor]

22 in 6.5 is fine. No need for the extra weight. I have a superlite in 6.5. It was on sale and I intend to rebarrel anyway. It was $200 cheaper than my lite in 7mm RM.

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[Boarhuntor]

For hunting 22" is more than enough. Regular light for me. Easy to carry, easy to manuver.
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[Dimitri A.]

22 in 6.5 is fine. No need for the extra weight.

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For hunting 22" is more than enough. Regular light for me. Easy to carry, easy to manuver.
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[JackEllis]

I have a T3 Lite in .223 and a T3 Lite in .243, both with 22" barrels. Both are fine shooters.

A fluted barrel has one small advantage, and that's heat dissipation. Not as important in a hunting rifle because you're not going to me making lots of consecutive shots with it. There should be no difference in strength.

There is, however, one thing you should be aware of with Tikkas if you buy a large capacity (5 round) magazine. They're polymer and mine tend to hang up so that the third round in the magazine doesn't feed unless you push the front of the case down before you close the bolt. An Australian firm used to make aluminum aftermarket mags that probably performed better, but they cost a fortune. I haven't looked for others recently.

[Tere_Hanges]

The T3 is an awesome hunting gun. Kicks like a gawd dang mule tho.

It was the first rifle I ever bought. A T3 lite in .3006. I stupidly sold it. Regretted it so much that I vowed to replace it one day. Got super lucky and found a used stainless in .270. They are insanely accurate for factory guns.