Tikka T3X Lite Roughtech Review

Like all good relationships, the one between hunter and rifle is constructed on belief. Few manufacturing facility rifles have achieved the status for accuracy and reliability just like the Tikka T3 line. They are identified for being off the shelf tack drivers with easy actions. That’s why I took one on an epic ten day hunt in British Columbia the place I put the rifle by hell. When I bought residence, I continued the check on the vary. Here’s the way it carried out.

• Weight: 6.8 kilos 
• Barrel Length: 24.3 inches
• Barrel Twist: 1:10 inches
• Overall Length: 44.5 inches
• Integral 17mm rail and accepts Tikka T3/T3X scope bases 
• Threaded ⅝x24
• Trigger is adjustable from 2 to 4 kilos

Barrel 

The Tikka T3X Lite Roughtech has a fluted, chilly hammer-forged barrel in a medium-heavy profile. It’s threaded ⅝X24 to just accept muzzle breaks or suppressors. I discovered the included muzzle break is efficient at lowering recoil, whereas not producing extreme concussion.

Action

The receiver has an integral 17mm scope rail and is drilled and tapped to mount a scope base. The fluted, two-lug bolt has an outsized bolt knob and a 75-degree raise. The bolt shroud is steel, not plastic. 

Stock 

The artificial Roughtech inventory is foam stuffed in key areas to scale back noise and has a mushy, rubber recoil pad. It has a sling swivel stud on the buttstock and fore-end. The inventory is aggressively textured on the pistol grip and fore-end. 

Trigger 

The single-stage set off is adjustable from two to 4 kilos. To regulate the set off it’s important to take away the inventory to entry the adjustment screw.

Testing the T3X Lite Roughtech within the Field

I bought the T3X Lite for a ten day hunt in British Columbia. I had a pocket stuffed with tags together with elk, bear, wolf, and mountain goat. I wanted a rifle that I may carry up mountains, however nonetheless may take a 500-yard shot on an elk. Even although I didn’t realize it earlier than I left, the rifle additionally wanted to proceed to perform by falling into creeks, sliding down shale partitions, and normal abuse that comes with two weeks of backcountry looking. 

At about 7 kilos the Tikka T3X Lite isn’t a featherweight however I feel it’s the best weight for a .300 Win. Mag. While mountaineering 6 to 10 miles per day for ten days, I didn’t really feel just like the rifle was weighing me down. The weight additionally made the recoil very manageable and the gun straightforward to shoot precisely. The rifle’s stability level—positioned proper in entrance of the magazine effectively—aided within the ease of carry, each slung and in-hand. The T3X Lite solely has one sling swivel stud on the fore-end and one on the buttstock. I utilized these swivel studs to hold my rifle on a sling and used a tripod with a Hog Saddle to help the rifle for lengthy pictures. The rifle’s stability made it straightforward and quick to get setup on the tripod. 

I didn’t clear or lubricate my T3X Lite by rain, mud, and dusty side-by-side rides. After a treacherous climb above treeline, I made a 20-yard shot on an elk and rapidly cycled a second spherical for a follow-up shot. The bolt cycled easily and fed a dwell spherical reliably after I wanted it most. This was additionally grizzly nation and when one snuck up inside 30 yards whereas we have been having lunch sooner or later, it was good to know I had a dependable rifle. 

The outsized bolt knob that’s normal on the Roughtech mannequin was an enormous profit to rapidly rack the second shot. You can purchase the identical bolt knob as an aftermarket half for T3X rifles that don’t include it. The bolt has some play when pulled to the rear, however as soon as it’s closed, it locks up tight. The T3X cocks on opening so that you’ll discover it takes extra effort to raise the bolt when the hammer is down. But I had no points staying within the scope whereas operating the bolt within the discipline or on the vary. 

On that off-hand shot, the T3X’s American traditional looking rifle ergonomics with a straight comb, slim fore-end, and swept grip have been implausible. If you favor a extra vertical grip you should purchase one for $25 and simply swap it onto the rifle. I discovered the cheek peak was good for my Vortex Razor HD LHT with medium Vortex rings. Tikka additionally sells a cheek riser, which is able to set you again $80. 

The security locks the bolt closed, which is a characteristic that’s ideally suited for mountaineering by thick vegetation. To load the rifle you’ll take the security off, chamber a spherical, after which put the security again on. What is sweet is that the security is straightforward to flick off by pushing it ahead along with your thumb. 

At the vary my .300 Win. Mag. shot .8 to 1.2-inch, five-shot teams at 100 yards with 180-grain Barnes Vor-Tx masses. Through my Lab Radar chronograph that ammo shot a mean of 2975 fps with a 25 fps normal deviation. 

Tyler Freel, employees author, lately examined the T3X Lite in .308 Winchester throughout his greatest mid-priced rifle check. He shot 11 several types of ammo and recorded five-shot teams. His rifle averaged 1.33 inches with the ten greatest grouping ammos. With the tightest teams coming from 150-grain Hornady Superperformance SST. 

Read Next: The Final Climb: A Steep Lesson in Elk Hunt Hunting

What the T3X Lite Does Best

You can decide up Tikka T3X Lite fashions for $680 to $1,300 making them an reasonably priced mountain rifle with respectable accuracy, a easy motion, and traditional looking rifle ergonomics. A Tikka T3X Lite is a secure wager within the manufacturing facility rifle market, the place lemons can, and do happen. Most individuals who purchase a Tikka T3X Lite might be pleased with the accuracy and reliability.

What the T3X Lite Does Worse

One of the largest tendencies in rifles is with the ability to simply adapt the rifle to the shooter. While Tikka has some choices to customise the T3X’s match, the elements are bought individually. Also an adjustable size of pull—even with easy spacers—would assist the rifle match a wider vary of hunters. Along the identical strains, it’s nice you could regulate the set off, however having to take away the inventory to make these changes just isn’t ideally suited.

Final Thoughts

Tikka’s status for off the shelf efficiency didn’t occur due to some huge advertising and marketing marketing campaign. That belief was earned by years of trouble-free rifles hitting the woods with hunters. If you need a gentle rifle that can shoot effectively and feed whenever you want it most with traditional ergonomics, the Tikka T3X Lite is actually price a glance.