Tikka Turn-Key F-TR platform
Readers enjoyed our recent “Poor Man’s Tactical” item featuring the Tikka model 595. Well here’s a followup for F-TR shooters. The Tikka “Master Sporter” features an adjustable cheekpiece, adjustable buttpad, accessory rail, and 5-round detachable magazine. Remarkably, these originally sold for about U.S. $650.00, yet it was not unusual for them to shoot close to 1/2-MOA with handloads. Master Sporters also feature the fine m595 action, and they are blessed with a very good stock design for shooting prone from bipod–just what you need for F-TR. Tikka notes the factory trigger adjusts to 2 pounds, but Mac Tilton of MT Guns can get it down to one pound. The bolt throw is a quick 70°, the bolt handle is stainless, and, in .308, the barrel twist rate is 1:11″ — a good choice for the 155gr match bullets.
These Master Sporters are getting hard to find. It’s even more difficult to find one unfired, new in the box. But just such a specimen, chambered in .308 Winchester, was auctioned this week on Gunbroker.com, item 87063398. It even came with two (2) 5-round magazines. The auction closed at $975.00. We’ve seen them go for less, but also for more.
Skim-bed the action, maybe apply a couple sealer coats to the walnut stock, attach a Harris bipod to the accessory rail and you’re good to go for F-TR. (You’ll also need a scope and rings of course.) You could probably acquire this rifle, shoot it for a couple seasons, then get your full investment out of it. Or hang on to it and eventually add a longer custom barrel (factory tube is a bit short at 23 3/8″).
CLICK to DOWNLOAD TIKKA Master Sporter SPEC SHEET
Sorry to not agree with you, but the Savage F-Class T/R gun is a much better value as it comes with a 30″ match barrel and the excellant Savage Target action for about the same price as the Gunbroker item. Oh, by the way, you’ll need more than just a bipod. You’ll need a scope mount, rings and a scope as well.
EDITOR: Mark, your points are well-taken, and I edited the story to clarify that a scope and rings are required (no mount is necessary as rings are made to fit the receiver dovetail). In spotlighting the Tikka, we didn’t intend to suggest that this was the ONLY turn-key solution for F-TR. You are 100% right, the Savage is a great choice too. The Tikka does offer a detachable magazine and accessory rail, two nice features if you want to use the rifle for tactical matches as well as F-TR. Tikka 595s have also been successfully converted into Highpower rifles, but that usually entails a new barrel in a chambering such a .260 Remington or 6XC.
I think it makes a very versatile tactical and or F-class rifle.
While the savage target in .308 is a great rifle, I would suggest that an unmodified Savage target vs. an unmodified Tikka Master Sporter would be an interesting test. Personally I think the Tikka would win most of the time.
Advantage of the Savage is parts, ease of changing barrel, and lighter trigger.
Advantage of the Tikka is scary accurate, single feeding for a great tactical rifle. Better “feeling” stock.
I don’t think you could wrong either way. However if you depend on a gunsmith and use a gunsmith for services go with a TIkka. However, if your a do-it-yourselfer, I think you would find the Savage more to your liking.
I have owned both Savage customs and Tikka’s. Tikka is my favorite non-custom rifle hands down. And yes I have owned a Remington custom and hated it!
RHINOUT!
I hear what you are saying and I shot an accurized Win M70 last year with a 24″ setback barrel in .308. It can be very accurate and I was able to set the NRA record for F-T/R @ 300 yrds, and the gun works great out to 600yrds, but 1000 yrds didn’t work out for an unexpected problem. Even with a 20MOA rail, my nightforce 12-42 br ran out of adjustment for the load I was shooting, and it was about as hot as I could get away with. I doubt if you could get a 155ish bullet going fast enough with a 24″ barrel to get to 1000 super sonic. That’s why those Palma guys shoot the 30″ tight bore barrels. The only bullets that might work out would be the 175/177 Sierra/Hornady’s I think you might be able to get them going fast enough to stay supersonic at 1K and still shoot flat enough to scope it. IMHO
I know exactly what your saying. Its tough, but not impossible.
Yes the 30 inch tube makes life getting to 1k much easier.
However send your rifle to Pac-nor and or have a smith install a 3 groove 1-11 twist barrel and shoot the 155’s fast. Now if your shooting tactical you would want a shorter barrel, but f-class longer.
I think 27 would be a compromise that would work nicely.
RHINOUT!
WELL, HOW MUCH AND WHERE CAN ONE BE PURCHASED?