to tikka or not to tikka???
 

Ive been shooting my Savage 270 for the last five yrs and im deffinately not happy with it! Bolt locks up and no matter how much i clean it the problems remains, im just waitin on the day when a good buck comes chasin a doe across one of our cutovers and if i happen to miss on the first shot i cant get a second shot off because of faulty equipment... Im very impressed with the look and feel of the Tikka brand, are they worth the money???

Which model Savage is that ?

Why don't you send it back to Savage ?

Most people don't have a problem with Savage rifles............................??

BTW - I like Tikka; Proud owner of a Sako A7 Stainless (big brother of Tikka).

I also like Savage; Proud owner of Savage Weather Warrior 16FCSS in .204

I'd take it to a gunsmith or send it to Savage. They have some pretty quality stuff. I have a couple Savage's and like them quite a bit.

my coyote hunting partner has a tikka. he LOVES it... just like i LOVE my winchester model 70.

i will say that his tikka holds the same if not better groups at 100 yards (given the performance of both rifles, it's hard to tell who's cloverleaf of stacked up shots is tighter)

both our rifles have wood stocks. but the tikka with a synthetic stock is quite a bit cheaper than a winchester model 70 featherweight.

it's not the rifle, it's they guy holdng it that puts stuff on the ground... but only when the rifle works properly.

i ended up with winchester because i too used to own bargain rifles. but never again!

i think you'd be happy with either tikka or winchester. even a remington 700 would be a good choice.

Do you hand load? Because it sounds like your rifle is building up two much presser, after your first shot. (If you keep on shooting a rifle that is building up to much presser, one day it’s going to blow up in your face.)
If you hand load go to a milder load. If you do not hand load, GET THE RIFLE BACK TO SAVAGE. The head spacing could be off.
As for tikka, I had one sold it, Very accurate. Just don’t like tikka.

Ah Tikkas. I've had / sold three over the years. Some folks love them, some not. I'd rather have and older Sako75 or even a newer 85. Course they are way more expensive!

Cooper, I do not load my own bullets. i shoot remington core loks. Its been doin this for a few yrs now, But yeah its just one shot then my bolt wont up back up. How would i go about telling if that were the problem before i send it back?

Just describe the issue to Savage and tell them you need it fixed.

I am sorry to say this but your rifle is dangers it need to go back to Savage. There is smoothing causing too much presser to build up in your rifle after the first shot.
Most of the time this is caused by too hot of a load or headspace being too tight.
But where you said it started about two years ago, and you said you have owned this gun for about 5 years now. That makes me think it’s not the headspace. In less savages locking ring has came loose.
Without being able to see your rifle or being able to fire your rifle I cannot tell you 100% what is going on. And I will never tell you to fire this rifle.
Here is information on how to send you rifle back to savage http://www.savagearms.com/customerse...antyandrepair/

I'm with bugs. I've owned and sold 3 tikka's in the last few years. The all shot very well and had good triggers on them, I just don't care for the way they feel. I think the straight stock they have increases felt recoil a BUNCH and I don't care for them. Had one in 338 fed, it's gone, replaced by a sako 85, the 6.5 x 55 has been replaced by the howa with a mcgowen barrel on it, the 270 probably will never be replaced but who knows, I might run across a real deal one of these days. I really like the way a ruger hawkeye feels and shoots, it's american made and they feel good to my shoulder.

I bought my first Tikka less than a year ago...I was leery at first as I didn't like the feel of the bolt, along with the poly mags and the plastic trigger guard were all turn-offs, as well as the cheap feeling of the stock. That being said, I bought it anyway...why? Well for one I am a left handed shooter (which limits my options) and the rifle was in a caliber that I had been looking for (270 WSM)...even tougher to locate in left handed rifles.

One trip to the range and I was sold...first 3 shot group @ 100 yards with Federal Premium ammo (140g Nosler Ballistic tips) could be covered with a quarter, holding up to their MOA guarantee. After break in, hand-loaded 130g Nosler Accubonds with H4831sc maintain sub-MOA accuracy any day of the week. I love the rifle and would buy another one in a heartbeat. I love the trigger (adjustable down to 2#), the action runs smoothly in all weather...for the $ I would say that the Tikka has been the best bang for my buck in ages...and it filled all 4 deer tags I had last year with 1 shot kills. I'll hunt with it again this year in 2 states...possibly 4...for deer and on an Oregon elk hunt. It is quickly becoming my rifle in a crowded safe.

:fighting0007:

My feelings as well. I had a T3 Lite in 25-06 and wound up selling it. I loved the slick bolt, the great trigger, and the excellent accuracy but it just did not feel quite right in my hands. If Tikka would cut down on the use of polymer, I could probably live with it. I almost picked up a stainless T3 Lite in 270 but decided to pass because I knew, in my own mind that I would not be happy with the feel of the rifle.

HEADSPACE!

you can start relaoding your own stuff and clear that up. i thought about it today while i was at work. and if you use a case trimmer and shave a bit off the case, it'll clear up, i hope!

First off, likeI said before, contact Savage and tell them the problem. A sticky bolt is nothing to fool with. Something is causing it to bind. Either something mechanical or overpressure from the ammo you are using.
Don't go trading it without at least having it looked at. Someone else may buy it and it might blow up in their face. I would not shoot this rifle any more until it is looked at by a professional gunsmith or the manufacturer.
As for the Tikkas, each rifle is shot at the factory and must shoot 3 shots in 1 MOA or it goes back for troubleshooting.

Deepsouth,
When your Savage "locks up", how do you unlock it?

X2. Have a Tikka t3 lite stainless in 22-250. Great shooter, butter smooth bolt but when hunting coyotes in the snow that composite stock is very slippery and hard to grip not to mention colder than wood.

Done a bit of searching for an aftermarket replacement stock but have not had much luck to date. Guessing tikkas aren't available in the usa.

Willy

keyshunter,
after a while it will become unlocked... i shot a deer last yr at somewhere close to 300 yrds and didnt put the most desireable shot on it, it took close to ten mins for me to be able to open my bolt and get another shot in him. I was not planning on celling it if it can be fixed,,, but i was still lookn into getting a tikka anyways, however some of these posts have got me worried, what is the deal with the stocks on these things??

To Tikka or not to Tikka??

My vote. Not to Tikka. Tom.

Tikka is a step up from your Savage. It's a great gun. Especialy if you like cheap plastic. There are a lot better choices for the same money.

I'm with Tom! Not to Tikka but get rid of the Savage and get a real gun.

Edit- Just kidding on the Savage but Savage or Tikka would never be my choice.

I bought my Tikka in the USA....they are readily available...look here for aftermarket stocks http://www.robertsoncomposites.com/ I also agree...love my Tikka...except for the stock, unfortunately left handed after market stocks are even less available...LOL

Sounds like over pressure however it is possible you need to have the bolt face polished and or a chamber reamed to remove a burr. Brass expands quickly and holds heat, therefor even the slights of imperfections from tooling can cause restriction or extraction problems. I would take it to a respected compenent gunsmith, should be able to tell you if it's a simple fix &/or if savage should get involved. A call to savage isn't a bad option. Either way it needs to be addressed before you use or sell it.

As far the tikka if it feels and fits you good go for it. I personally don't like the fit or feel of the tikka T3, so will not buy one on that account alone. However they are good shooters and have a loyal following.

I have a handful of Savage rifles and every one of them are shooters and I have no problems with them. That being said however, I just ordered my first Tikka. I opted for the T3 lite, stainless, in 30-06.
Handling them, the T3 has one of the slickest actions around. Every one I felt was like glass on glass. Absolutely zero drag, no binding or wobble. From butt to muzzle, the company seems to have its act together and backs it with an accuracy guarantee.

Tikka without polymer is a Sako (maybe that's a stretch). I looked at the Tikka and didn't really like all of the plastic. I have an old Sako L691 (pre-Beretta) and I would spend extra money for a Sako, but that's just me. I'm sure the polymer holds up OK, I just don't like it when it comes to mags and trigger guards.

My vote would be not to Tikka.

+1, it does sound like a head space problem, You can go to savageshooters.com, and post your question there. Those guys eat, sleep and breathe savage rifles, Most of them build their own rifles so telling you what's wrong should be a snap.

What 'plastic' are you guys talking about. The magazine is made of a polymer. Very similar to the stuff a lot of handgun frames are made of - so its plenty tough. I've seen way too many metal magazines get dropped and become virtually useless or get rusted from poor maintenance. The stock is a fiberglass re-enforced copolymer. Better than most synthetic stocks and definately stronger than wood. If you like the fit of a Tikka, it won't let you down.

I recently bought a T3 Hunter (can't stand plastic stocks) and could not be anymore pleased. Rifle shoots amazing and quality is unmatched. I have a good friend that swears by his Rem 700 and we shoot same sized groups. 1 thing I have found is it does shoot better with premium ammo than the walmart stuff. I don't know what the big hipe over Savage rifles are I wouldn't own one after seeing a good friend of mine dropping $400+ on one and having pie plate sized groups at 200 yards. He sent the gun back numerous times and they said nothing is wrong with it. I paid a little over $400 for my Tikka and love it, yes the clip and trigger guard are poly but otherwise what would be different between the Sako and Tikka?

Check your primers and see if they look normal, or better yet post a close up picture of the case after firing.

Chas - Actually there are some differences between the Sako and the Tikka. First off, the Sako 85 and A7 guarantee 5 shots in an inch at 100 yds whereas the Tikka only 3. The Sako has a square receiver which fits into a matching bedding surface in the stock. And finally, the Sako has controlled round feeding but not the Tikka.
But for the money, the Tikka is a great rifle.

This points out quit a few of the other differences.

http://www.biggamehunt.net/reviews/sako-a7-review


Proud owner of a Sako A7 stainless in 7 MM Rem. Mag.

I like Tikka for the money !!!

In a word, "absolutely". With a quality scope mounted, properly torqued and quality ammo, Tikka T3 lives up to it's guarantee, in my experience.

step it up to a sako a7...

same caliber 270win? or what are you thinking? Lots of great options...