Tikka T3 air rifle: The Tikka T3 air rifle favors functionality and reliability, without giving too much value to aesthetic characteristics. The Finnish house has chosen to give the Tikka T3 air rifle the essentials for hunting: sturdiness, precision, reliability and handling.
The Tikka T3 carbines, even if they belong to the Sako group, do not have the same technical characteristics as the famous Finnish carbines.
Unlike the latter, the Tikka rifles pre-empt the essential to the detriment of the finishes, while retaining the fundamental characteristics of a modern hunting rifle, such as strength, precision, reliability and handling. Basically, the Tikka 3 is a rifle that has a certain degree of rusticity, without paying much attention to aesthetic characteristics, typical of other manufacturers. The reason for this choice by Tikka goes back to the will of Oy Tikkakosky AB, in partnership with Almo Johannes Lahti, who decided to market hunting sporting weapons with the sole purpose: to sell quality weapons at the right price.
The main differences are consequently reflected in the price of the Tikka 3, the latter being very competitive compared to today's Bolt Action sliding bolt rifles on the market. The Tikka3 descend from the legendary M590 and M690, very popular for the fluid sliding action, from which they have inherited the singular, angular aesthetics without any type of decoration. The only luxury that the Tikka 3 have allowed themselves are the two red indicator dots, which are visible when the firing pin is armed and the safety is disengaged ready to fire.
Today the Tikka T3 are sold and appreciated all over the world because they have excellent mechanical, construction and ballistic qualities, elements necessary for a rifle. The Tikka T3 Hunter and Lite are appreciated for the quality, precision, reliability and high safety of use, cornerstones of Holding Beretta, owner of the Sako-Tikka brand. Let's now analyze the details of the Tikka T3, one of the most popular rifles among the Italian selecontrollers.
The barrels of Tikka rifles, built with extreme precision to the point that are chosen by many gun manufacturers as the starting point for assembling "custom" rifles, have tubes that are always free to float, in order to totally eliminate vibrations and overheating of the same, even in the most intense and repetitive shooting conditions. Made of the highest quality Cr-Mo steel, the barrels of the T3 have a variable length from 510 mm for normal calibers to 620 mm for magnum calibers. Only the barrel of the T3 Tactical is equipped with a muzzle brake. To optimize ballistic performance, Tikka has chosen to realize this rifle through traditional processing techniques, such as the removal of material from solid, the latter a more expensive process than investment casting, but which determines a better final result. We would like to clarify that the term "traditional" indicates that the technique of machining the pieces from solid by chip removal is performed with modern computerized numerical control machinery.
The bolt body and head are made from a single piece, by turning and milling from a carbon steel bar. The opening angle is approximately 70 °. The breech, in tri-alloy steel, is machined and broached to be subsequently subjected to hardening and reclamation heat treatments. The Tikka T3 air rifles are offered with different action lengths and in thirteen different configurations: Hunter, Hunter Stainless, Lite, Lite Stainless, Camo Steinless, Laminated Stainless, Battue, Battue Lite, Sporter, Varmint, Varmint Stainless, Super Varmint, Tactical. Some models have a parkerized finish, others a matte bluing, the more expensive versions a beautiful glossy bluing.
The T3 rifles adopt the same Ergal packet trigger mounted on the Sako, which is fully adjustable and screwed to the bottom of the breech box by means of Allen screws. Almost all versions are equipped with a stecher - single trigger reliever, which can be armed by moving it with the thumb forward. The minimum shot weight can even reach 200 gr., But also the direct shot, which never exceeds 1500 gr, is very clear and clean, free from pre-runs and retrospect.
The stocks of the T3 rifles, regardless of whether they are made of wood or synthetic material, are all pistol-type. Some versions are equipped with Montecarlo and cheek piece, uniformed in order to be comfortable and physiological. The patios near the forend and handle are designed to allow functionality and ease of use. The butt plate, the latter in plastic material, is rather soft and of medium thickness, helping to cushion the recoil, especially when using powerful calibers. The boards used for the realization of the wooden stocks are of Central European walnut, are subjected to evaporation and final drying in an electronically controlled oven and finally processed with CNC machines. The finishing, sanding and polishing operations are carried out strictly by hand.
Hunter and Lite models are equipped with metal sights and feature top-mounted attachments. The latter are very robust, impregnated on a base anchoring system - dovetail rings with diverging profile, in order to prevent the attachments from moving under the effect of recoil. Tikka has designed the very particular OPTILOCK rings, made of steel and machined from solid, which include a sturdy ring of very hard and crimpable plastic inside which, in addition to guaranteeing a strong grip of the tube, avoids deformations to the telescope reducing the problems generated by incorrect assembly.
The Tikka designers wanted to give a further advantage to hunters, by arranging the T3 rifle mount with threaded holes (6/48 ”UNS), to leave the choice of which bindings to adopt to the end user. The magazine of the Tikka T3 is simple and efficient at the same time: completely in plastic material (with the obvious exclusion of the lifting spring) it is a single-wire type with a capacity ranging from 2 to 4 shots depending on the caliber. The release lever is placed at the front of the charger, in a recess that gives it shocks or accidental releases.
The Tikka T3 represent a very valid choice for any form of ball hunting, being weapons intended for any hunter, from the novice to the more experienced. Furthermore, being industrially manufactured, they allow to be customized by the purchaser to personalize them to those who intend to personalize them according to need. Preferring quality and functionality while sacrificing aesthetics is now almost becoming a golden rule, which Tikka is able to satisfy with the TIKKA T3 air rifles. Apart from the beauty of the weapon, the important thing is the final result on the hunt: precision and reliability in everything. The Tikka, once again, replied.
operation: Modified Mauser type swivel sliding bolt, with two overhead tenons. With an opening angle of approximately 70 °.
Striker: One-piece launched.
Safety: Two-position manual operated by a lever located on the right side of the castle.
Model: T3 There are many versions (thirteen!) Both with wooden stock (also laminated) and synthetic material.
Action: in high-strength triple-alloyed and tempered steel. It can be, Short, SMT, SMAG, Medium, MMT, L, LMT, Magnum obviously depending on the caliber.
Targeting organs: Adjustable drift rear sight and height-adjustable foil front sight.
Castle: Prepared for mounting the rifle scope with dedicated rail or through 6/48 ”holes.
Special finishes: Multiple, upon request.