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Just wondering how the older Tikka M65 compares to the new Tikka t3? This would be before Tikka was owned by Sako. I just got a Tikka M65 Deluxe in 338 wm. It seems a little heavy but feels good. The action is smooth, it shoulders well. It's my first time really dealing with Tikka.
Great guns. More metal than the current T3's that have a lot of plastic. Tikka made quality firearms before Sako got a hold of them. I'd buy any older Tikka in a heartbeat if the price is right....
I find the newer ones are lighter but which brand isn't? Same guarantee and I load for older as well as newer Tikka's and the newer ones shoot every bit as good if not better.
New or old they shoot well every time!
The T3 was brought in as a "price point" rifle. To cut costs it's only offered in one action length and the synthetic stock is fairly basic. The other Tikkas are much higher grade rifles. Older Tikkas were comparable to Sakos.
Almost like comparing an older plain 870 Wingmaster to a newer 870 Express.
Very similar in design and concept, different materials.
I prefer the older M65 as it uses no plastic.
They have excellent triggers, always have, no creep or sponge at all.
The rifling is very sharp and deep, take a look down the barrel with a bore light, you will be surprised.
The wood stocks are very ergonomic with nice Palm swell.
The safety is quick and easy to use even when not looking at it with gloves on.
The barrels are free floated.
The bolt action has been and will always be as smooth as ice and with a short bolt throw. As mentioned the actions are usually long for the cartridge, but they work well and have no feeding issues.
If you like a rifle with a removable magazine, you will be a Tikka fan....p.s. Start a search for a spare magazine and pay whatever the asking price is. I have one 3 shot mag and two 5 shot extended mags for mine....the extended mags are real sweet! The 3 shot flush mags I am not a huge fan of, 3 shots...not enough for me...
You will notice one thing about all Tikka's, accuracy.
Tikka has always had rifles priced to compete with the Remington crowd, they are awesome rifles but are not Sako's whether new or old.
I think Tikka has been owned by Sako since about 1985. They were co-operating on rifle designs as early as 1981. I'd say your rifle was likely built under the auspices of Sako.
Tikka rifles were always good guns, but not slick and sleek like Sakos, and rather plain-looking, much like older base-model Savage 110's. So they just weren't really popular here until the introduction of the T3 and a marketing campaign that relied on the Sako name. When I lived in Alberta in the 1990's I knew a couple of Tikka users; one has a .308 and the other a 7mm Remington Magnum. Good, solid, accurate hunting rifles and both owners were sold on them. I fired the .308, and both I and the owner noted it had noticeably less perceived recoil than my .280 A-Bolt, when recoil should have been about equal.