Between the two Finnish brands Sako and Tikka, both part of Beretta Holding, there is a reasonable and appropriate diversification to take advantage of two distinct fronts of the long rifled barrel market. We would dare to say that the kinship stops at the barrel where for both the cold roto-hammering process, in which the company has decades of experience and a well-deserved reputation for quality, delivers to the production products of high perfection and high performance for precision and duration. In the many models proposed there will be burnished or stainless steel barrels, with round or fluted section, with a length of 51, 57, 60 or 62 cm according to the basic fittings. The Tikka detaches itself from the Sako for function-oriented choices, without concessions to refined technical details, adhering to a dry and almost severe aesthetic, to a general approach where function and moderate cost create the design and construction methodology. Thus we see the castle obtained by milling from a solid alloy steel with flattened faces, less expensive to make, an equally flat bottom and with a force discharge prism as wide as the maximum section of the castle, which now rests on a non-deformable steel dowel. even with large calibers and therefore an improvement over the aluminum previously used.
The characteristics of extreme rigidity of the assembly remain, making it a coveted base also for long-range shooting rifles: in the T3x model the ejection window has been slightly modified to facilitate the chambering of the cartridge directly with the fingers, and the slide for the attachment of the optics bases has been improved, obtaining a higher stability of the complex. The shutter maintains the excellent characteristics provided by the cylindrical body and the two protruding fins on the head, with a sturdy extraction claw and an ejection spring ratchet; change the tail cap now made of metal to increase impact resistance.
The stock
A molding in synthetic material creates the stock in its essential and basic form to which a pair of replacement elements are added in the pistol grip and in the base of the forend, interlocking and fixed with a screw or just snap, with to modify the arching of the gun itself and therefore the posture of the hand and the finger that activates the trigger, having a more tapered handle for the weak hand suitable for tightening favoring the shot of the arm, or wider, especially in the bottom plane , having a firm and stable support in the aimed shot. The parts can be replaced without tools and are supplied separately with the shotgun. Still in the stock, but only for those with a fixed and non-adjustable back, a sound-absorbing foam is inserted that avoids that particular noise of the synthetic when it hits a hard object such as wood or stone: it is known that in the woods such an event can mean escape. of the wild. As mentioned, this insert is not intended for models where the stock with adjustable back is a function of the specialty for long-distance shooting. There is also a new soft rubber buttplate with high energy absorption to relieve the shooter from this annoyance which becomes, in this way, of minimal entity allowing to fully concentrate on the shot. Always keep in mind that, in addition to the usual synthetic stock you can have varmint ones with adjustable cheek rest, wooden ones and one in multi-colored stratified wood called Sporter. The detachable magazine can hold 3, 4, 5, 6 or 10 cartridges, the weight from 2,7 to 4,4 kg where of course in the traditional hunting versions there will be 3,0 or 3,2 kg, therefore perfectly in line with current expectations. Finally, some models are also produced in a left-handed version.
A few final notes
Maneuverability and balance are characteristic features of the Tikka rifles and this latest version has nineteen different models with the many purposes for which this rifle can be destined: in common there will always be the magnificent smoothness of the bolt, the setting suitable for shot for which we have prepared ourselves and we have chosen our specific weapon, the trigger with single trigger and French stecher, adjustable around 300 g with full safety, of great reliability and promptness in that moment when the thought must not be there, on the trigger, but already there on the target because, as a shooting champion taught, the “10” or the point to be drawn on the game is first in our mind, then in reality.
I just signed up and connected. Very interesting. I think I will frequent him often. Well done . Well done. Good luck. Dino
Thanks for the compliments and consideration. Good luck. Federico Cusimano