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Any input on Tikka T3 Light / CZ 557

5.5K views 14 replies 12 participants last post by  woodchuckTN  
#1 ·
I've got a wild pig problem at my place. Took 5 years, but pigs finally found their way down the mountain to where I built.

I don't have anything in my meager arsenal to deal with pigs effectively (AR15, 20 gauge, .22lr lever action).

I'm thinking of getting something in 6.5 Creedmoor.

Based upon some online research, both the Tikka T3 Light and the CZ 557 are quality bolt action rifles. While I'm a fledgling at guns, I wanna buy good quality so that I don't need to upgrade as I get more serious about a firearm type.

Anyone here have any experience, personal or 2nd hand?
 
#5 ·
If it weren't insane right now, I'd suggest getting an upper for your AR in 6.5G or 6.8, .350 Legend or even .450 whatever, and calling it good. But since you will pay dearly for the upper and be lucky to find ammo at a decent price, the bolt gun makes sense.
I'm a CZ fanboy, there is nothing wrong with them, and I love wood and steel; but I would look seriously at the Tikka.
 
#7 ·
Look into a Ruger American Vortex package. ~ 550 OTD scope already installed and bore sighted. One of the best values in bolt actions. Plenty good enough to get the job done and good enough that you don't feel a need to get rid of it because you want to get something nicer. Or you may decide it's everything you need without dropping a $1K on a Tikka or Bergara which is what it will cost by the time you put a decent scope on it.
P.S. I bought both in 308, Ruger and Bergara and have no regrets.
 
#9 · (Edited)
I would use a cheap Savage or even Remington .243 for varmints like pigs. Really impressed with that cheap little gun. Tikka is a premium gun that while nice to have, is not necessary for taking out some pigs. My cheap Remington is very accurate. It surprised me. I thought it would be just average.

And even Tikka is not without quality risks. When I bought my Remington, I had actually ordered a Tikka, then cancelled the order when I read that their barrels were blowing up. They had a bad run of barrels and had to do a big recall.


 
#10 ·
I’ve got 3 Tikka’s and 1CZ and in my opinion they are a toss up as far as quality. They are all accurate and reliable guns. The reason for more Tikka’s was strictly price. A few years back they upgraded the T3 to a T3X and wholesalers offered deep discounts on the T3.

My favorite field gun is a T3 Lite in 6.5 Swede. Very lightweight and with the composite stock I don't have to worry about dinging it. On the other hand the CZ in walnut to me looks and feels more expensive/nicer than the wood stocked Tikka’s. Strictly perception.

The Tikka barrel issue was 16 years ago and repaired by Tikka. Not an issue with me. CZ uses a different dimension on the mount dovetail but most of the majors make rings/bases that fit. I would recommend CZ or Warne. The are very good quality.
 
#12 ·
Appreciate all the ongoing input.

So I'm re-thinking the 6.5 Creedmoor. All of my shooting will be 100 - 200 yards. And it will limited shooting (i.e. a few practice sessions a year plus taking down 1-2 pigs). Wind is a big factor. We usually have 15-30 mph. I'm not an experienced shooter and not overly large (5'8/150lbs). So I don't want to go too large a cartridge, but thinking perhaps a 30-30 or .270 might be a better selection for me. Note, I realize neither rifle comes in 30-30.
 
#13 · (Edited)
The recoil from a 270 will be more than that from a 6.5CM.

The recoil from a 6.5CM is only modestly more than that for a 243 - which many choose as an entry level deer cartridge for women and children.....

I have a few Tikkas - they are among the most accurate factory made rifles from any manufacturer in the world.

Sako may make the most accurate mass produced rifles - and the Tikkas are made in the same factory.

While both Tikka and CZ are good brands, the Tikka is most likely to be the more accurate rifle.

There is no such thing as a rifle that has too long a range capability - you never know what you might need to do with your rifle at some time during it's service life - and 6.5mm 140 grained bullets have excellent penetration on tough animals (the Finns shoot Reindeer and Moose with the 6.5x55 which is very similar to 6.5CM).
 
#15 ·
I have a LH version of a Tikka T3 Lite in 30-06 that is very accurate which I use for whitetail deer hunting. It is overkill (pun intended!) for deer, but when I bought it I was planning an elk hunt out west that never ended up materializing about 10 years ago. The only thing I don't like about it is how light the plastic stock is, as it makes the gun pretty muzzle heavy. I'm thinking about filling the stock with some bondo to add some weight and stiffness to it.