FYI: All Sako and Tikka rifles are manufactured in the same factory in Finland. BerettaUSA is mearly the U.S. importer and distributor of both brand rifles. BerettaUSA does not, and has not ever had any part in the actual manufacturing of Sako and Tikka brand rifles.

I think it's funny how literally 100's of thousands of law enforcement officers and civilians alike rely of polymer framed semi-automatic handguns for the defense of their lives, yet the same polymer used on a bolt action rifle used almost exclusively for hunting non-dangerous game is a major turnoff and quality issue. What's more is that the frame of a polymer handgun is a high stress item, subjected to the repeated forces of recoil and slide cycling, while the magazine and bolt shroud of a Tikka rifle is placed under almost not stress at all. Oh, and just for s***s and giggles, I removed the bolt shroud of my T-3, simulating a complete breakage, and the rifle still functioned perfectly in its absense. Granted, extra care would have to be excercised to prevent water and dirt from entering the bolt and striker mechanism, but the bolt shroud in the T-3 is only a dust cover, not a load bearing item as on many other bolt-action guns (like its big sister, the Sako 75).

As far as the magazine goes, it seems to be made of the same ultra-tough polymer that handgun frames are made of. It is rigid, reliable, functions perfectly, and most importantly, it's virtually corrosion proof (except for the spring), and is ultra lightweight.

Mike