ON TEST THIS MONTH Tikka T3X Cerakote in .243 RIFLE mInI tEst In-depth, independent reviews every month rrp Tikka T3X £1,445 CerakoTe in .243 Chris Parkin revisits a rifle that has rightly become a modern classic now available with a Cerakote finish to add that final finishing touch o start with, the Tikka T3 and where it followed the highly regarded The rifle and scope weighing at its T3X successor are hard 595 and 695 models. Initial suspicion 3.7kg, balances under the front action rifles to ‘test’; this is more of a of cheapening manufacturing bridge for neutral handling, becoming review because it’s hard to standards is often confused with slightly nose biased after the 347gr Tchange a winning formula. In Tikka’s advancing manufacturing capability, so moderator is added. case, they have taken another step it sometimes takes a few years to see 20" barrels on a .243 rifle can hint forward with the addition of a Cerakote both sides of an advancing marque’s towards lost muzzle velocity and energy finish to their regular T3X Lite rifle to strategy, which the T3 and T3X have from what has to be considered a give greater corrosion resistance, a now firmly established. ‘speed calibre’, rather than one new look and, more subtly, some The rifle is the epitome of the throwing a heavy bullet, but with 100gr benefits to mechanical operation. hunting culture in Finland, combined bullets, the muzzle velocity of 2824 fps Will this rifle still rate highly when with 21st century engineering to lead to assured legality with 1771 ft/ you give it to Critical Me?! I think a lot streamline century old ergonomics and lbs for the clinically minded. of shooters will have seen or heard below: 1771 ft-lbs mechanical design. Starting with a from that muzzle rave reports on the T3 family from velocity, great news slight dish to the crisply crowned .243 Tried & TesTed fellow riflemen over the last decade in a .243 barrel barrel, it carries a 14x1 thread for a I have visited the Sako/Tikka factory sound moderator and 1-in-10 twist rate and seen every rifle tested on their common to most .243 rifles. indoor range to confirm the MOA The taper runs straight from its guarantee that’s always reassuring on 16.6mm diameter beginnings along its own, but many of the workers are the 510mm/20" tube to the bolt-face. also hunters and have real-world This makes for a handy rifle well suited knowledge of hunting needs and how to nighttime foxing or close in buyers across the world appreciate the woodland stalking. GMK supplied one Finnish brand’s reliability in real use – of their excellent aluminium Stalon it isn’t simply a boxed item with a sort X-Series sound moderators to code crossing borders for profit from complement the rifle along with a their perspective. Steiner Ranger scope and Federal Sling studs are mounted under the chris parkin chris ammunition, giving credence to their fore-end and butt for accessories. The Pictures: Pictures: ties to the Beretta group’s portfolio. barrel free-floats at the fore-end’s tip 60 www.rifleshootermagazine.co.uk ONTEST Technical SpecificaTionS Overall length: 1,020mm / 40" Barrel length: 510mm / 20" (cold-hammer-forged and threaded 14x1") Weight: 2.9kg / 6.4lb trigger: Single-stage adjustable 1-2kg Magazine capacity: 4+1 detachable magazine ScOpe mounting: Dovetails with threaded holes for additional rail StOck Material: Injection-moulded polymer length Of pull: 353mm / 13.9" with optional recoil pad thickness finiSh: Black Cerakote barrel and action with a slight encroachment nearer the stock is familiar in shape with a good above left: Mr sling and makes that swooping transfer reinforce but all is central and size compromise for svelte looks yet Parkin is clearly very from walking to support on the Quad happy behind the balanced. This diminishing gap seems decent hand filling size in the fore-end Cerakote-clad t3x sticks, intuitive and fluid. I always test to concern some shooters, but I have close to the barrel. accuracy and ballistics form the bench, never found a Tikka to perform any It carries moulded-in chequering, above right: the though here the 100gr Federal less than desired with its stiff polymer more heavily on the grip, which, like the famous t3x bolt is a Powershock ammo was grouping at stock design. Reliable accuracy is rest of the T3X and T1X ranges, allows simple solution with 22mm for three shots centre to centre. assured from bipod, sticks or any other modular exchange of grip and recoil flawless capability I tried some lighter 58gr Federal with rest opportunities. pad elements to tailor preference and the V-Max bullet for my local foxing A steel recoil lug pins the action in fit. Here, the black Cerakote of the grounds and these were ragged its precisely moulded inlet with twin steel work is complemented by a flat below: 100gr soft clusters proving the rifle’s capability, screws spanning the lag well to lock it mid green hue on the polymer stock point federal regardless of ammo supplier at both Powershock worked all in position. If you remove the action that’s designed to prevent hollow well in the rifle’s 10" extremes of the chambering’s bullet and refit it, it goes back in the same knocking noises when bumped or fired. twist rate weight and speed range. place with the barrel central in its It remains tactile when damp without channel without any fuss. stealing the heat from ungloved hands Cerakote means you can be lazier when icy cold – which we’ve all than normal with cleaning regimes, but experienced recently, but is obviously a wet gun will always benefit from far more common in Finland. being stripped and dried out, even if just to stop moisture retaining dust Finnish excellence particles, so it’s nice to see it all goes The rifle is light, compact and a back in place with reliable ease. The pleasure to carry, it holds well on the \\ a wet gun will always benefit from being stripped and dried out // » www.rifleshootermagazine.co.uk 61 ONTEST Tikka T3X Cerakote in .243 ONTEST » Chris liked the polymer tip – less cold to the hands prOs also used in winter scope mounts Tikka build Tikka Optilock scope mounts, quality, £89 rings, £48 bases accuracy guarantee and moderator T3X modularity stalon sound moderator, £335 Mechanical excellence in scope every aspect, steiner ranger 4-16x56 riflescope with subtle additions 4a-i reticle, £ 1,135 like polymer bolt cover The cerakote free floating at the finish improves fore-end’s tip and the looks closes in slightly and weather towards the resistance, with reinforce, but not to even smoother the detriment of accuracy bolt operation cOns nothing at all verdicT Weight on the crisp single stage three-lug bolts with a 60° lift, but but a spare or replacement is not hard trigger ranges from 1,000-3,000gr and mechanical effort is lower and when to come by, the operational silence it the test gun had a trustworthy 1250gr the mechanics are well balanced, this General allows is very much appreciated. straight from the box. Weight is is a very fast gun to shoot if the conversation Single rounds can be loaded directly secondary to trigger feel in my opinion situation demands. I rank it alongside with shooters onto the follower through the large right and with cold winter fingers this felt the Mauser M18 and Sauer 100 indicates the side opening of the enclosed action T3 and later perfect with no need to tinker. The Keeper for its bolt operation speed and and these will feed directly for a X model have tactile blade is 8mm wide with that is a very solid compliment as become well backup shot in a hurry. The action top vertical ribs and a spacious regular readers will know! known and shows threaded locations for trigger guard allowing gloved cOnTacT The single-column mag respected. it’s aftermarket mounts but the Tikka fingers to address it with no holds three rounds plus not hard to see Optilock ring set is one of the best unwanted surprises. GMk one in the chamber and why because it proprietary systems on the market, I’m Tikka have retained a slim www.gmk.co.uk there is a two position, is an excellent more than happy to use it but you have rifle both comb shape for great head 01489 579999 tactile and silently operable the option to go Picatinny if night vision mechanically alignment toward the scope safety catch that locks the and is a requirement. and used a polymer cap on the bolt closed when set rearward ergonomically Finally, .243 can be a dirty round end of the spherical bolt handle to for safe. The slightly peaked shape that just got with copper and powder residue and stop it feeling cold. This push-feeding and serrated finish give excellent grip a bit better one of the cartridges I tend to minimise bolt with twin locking lugs was already and feel with or without gloves. The with modern round count on when testing. Well the mechanically excellent in operation and shroud shows a cocked action cerakote cold-hammer-forged barrel proved easy the Cerakote has made it even slicker. indicator appearing from it’s base and finishing touch to clean, partly thanks to clean burning A 75mm length to the handle versus the bolt release catch is clearly ammunition used. 103mm stroke, leaves an ideal operable to the left side of the rear Rounding up the experience… this is leverage ratio to prevent stuttering in action bridge.