When I began my search for a new hunting rifle, the Tikka brand wasn’t on my radar. As an owner of Ruger, Savage, and Remington rifles, I wasn’t tied to any one brand but needed a dependable, lightweight, and versatile rifle for the upcoming bear season. The requirement? It had to be left-handed. My search led me to the Tikka T3X Hunter, a stunning rifle with a walnut stock and blued barrel chambered in .308 caliber. From the first time I shouldered it at Myers Sportsman’s Connection to its flawless performance in the field, this rifle exceeded my expectations. Here’s my in-depth review of the Tikka T3X Hunter, a game-changer for hunters looking for reliability and precision. I am not a rifle guru or a brand fanboy! I currently own rifles from several other reputable companies. These rifles have served me well, but I wanted a new one for the upcoming bear season. I needed a light, solid-shooting, and reliable multipurpose rifle. A rifle I could use for multiple species of game. A limiting factor in selection is that the gun had to be left-handed. That shouldn’t be much to ask today, as many companies offer left-handed options. Turns out the search for my new rifle was a breeze. I visited my trusted local gun shop, Myers Sportsman’s Connection, and carefully examined their selection of left-handed rifles. After a few tries, I shouldered a gun that was light, comfortable, and easy to handle. If you’ve been through this process, you know the relief of finding the perfect fit, and I can assure you it’s not as daunting as it may seem. It’s a reassuring process that leads to the perfect choice. You know when you know!
Tikka left hand rifles
I was surprised by the Tikka T3X Hunter because the brand never crossed my mind. The T3X Hunter I was holding had a beautiful walnut wood stock, blued barrel, and was in a .308 caliber. I was surprised at how light the rifle was with the wood stock. The gun weighs in at 6.8 pounds, but it feels lighter than that. Besides being light, the gun stock is etched to make it look sexy. Two other features stand out: the thick rubber recoil pad and the two sling swivel studs.
Holding the gun in my hand, I opened the bolt. The action was short and smooth. I worked the bolt repeatedly and found it to be one of my favorite aspects of the rifle. The short action allows me to reload and shoot again quickly if needed. I was impressed! I needed to purchase this gun.
I asked the owner, Tom, if he could put my Hawke Vantage 30 WA IR scope on the rifle. Tom checked to see if he had scope rings that would work with the Tikka scope mounting system. He pulled out the rings I needed and told me he could have the scope mounted and bore sighted in a few days. I thanked Tom for the help and looked forward to his call, saying the gun was ready to be picked up.
First Shots – Tikka T3X
I didn’t have to wait long for Tom to call. It took him one evening to mount the Hawke scope and bore sight the gun for me. I drove back to the store, filled out all the appropriate paperwork for my background check, and then paid for the rifle. To say I was excited was an understatement!
It didn’t take me long to get my Lead Sled, bullets, and targets. I ensured the target was 100 yards using my Hawke LRF 800 Endurance range finder. The Tikka T3X Hunter clip holds a maximum of three shells. I placed three 150-grain Winchester XP bullets in the clip and readied for the first shot. I turned the Hawke scope to 10 power and switched on the red-lighted reticle. The sight picture was crystal clear, and I focused on the target’s bullseye. Slowly exhaling, I squeezed the trigger, and the gun erupted. There was little noticeable recoil, even though the rifle was light. I turned off the Hawke scope, ejected the shell, and engaged the two position safety before walking to the target.
Sighting in the Tikka T3X
The first shot was four inches low and six inches to the left. I figured the shot would be a little wild since the gun was new and probably had excess oil in the barrel. I returned to the rifle and made adjustments to bring the scope right. I loaded another round and repeated the process.
Again, the Tikka barked, and I walked down to examine the second shot. My second shot was still four inches low but was an inch and a half left. Back at the shooting bench, I adjusted the up-and-down and left-to-right windage. I really enjoyed the single-stage trigger pull on the Tikka and racked another shell for my third shot.
Holding steady on the target, I slowly squeezed the trigger for the third shot. The smell of gunpowder filled my nostrils, and I smiled. The third shot was half an inch low, but I accidentally adjusted the left to right in the wrong direction—a rookie mistake I have made numerous times.
I adjusted the scope and loaded another Winchester XP shell. Shouldering the Tikka T3X Hunter, I focused on the bullseye and lightly squeezed the trigger. Looking through the Hawke scope, I saw that the shot was spot on. My final shot was half an inch high and directly in the center of the target. The rifle’s precision was awe-inspiring, giving me a strong sense of confidence in its accuracy. After firing four shells, I was thoroughly impressed with the Tikka T3X Hunter’s performance. Its consistent accuracy and ability to handle recoil were clear indicators of its reliability and durability. This gave me a sense of confidence in the rifle’s ability to perform consistently in any hunting situation.
Hunting with the Tikka T3X
I spent two days in central Pennsylvania, walking up and down mountains, searching for bears. I lost track of how many drives we took through clear-cuts and timber. The gun’s weight never slowed me down or made me second-guess my choice. At the end of the two-day hunt, I walked over sixteen miles with the Tikka T3X Hunter over my shoulder. My legs were tired, but my upper body felt great. The rifle was a joy to carry on my hunt.
The Pennsylvania deer season was my second opportunity to carry the Tikka T3X Hunter. On opening morning, the weather was cold and snowy. I put my daughter in a ground blind on our property before I started still-hunting. I aimed to push deer by the blind my daughter was sitting in.
I held the T3X in the ready position as I walked through pine thickets and thick cover. I bumped a few deer and could easily shoulder the gun and get them in the scope. I never squeezed off a shot, hoping the deer would run past the blind. After still hunting throughout the morning, I stopped by the blind to get my daughter for lunch.
After eating lunch, I walked back to the blind with my daughter. We sat together in the blind, watching out the open windows. I noticed movement in the pines and told Abby to get ready. The large doe stopped in an opening, and Abby dropped her with a perfect shot. We celebrated quietly, knowing there may be more deer nearby.
We sat quietly for about half an hour before Abby saw movement. One, two, three, and four deer appeared from the swamp. They were easy to see in the snow, so I picked out the biggest doe in the group and focused on making a clean shot. The group of does walked closer to the blind and stopped sixty yards away. I adjusted the Hawke scope to seven power and turned on the red reticle. I needed the large doe to walk into an opening.
Finally, the doe picked her head up and took three steps. I placed the crosshairs on her front shoulder and slowly squeezed the trigger. The Tikka T3X Hunter barked, and the doe dropped. Abby and I celebrated the success and the two perfect shots. I was pleased that the Tikka T3X .308 dropped the large doe where she stood. I was falling in love with my new rifle.
Pros/Cons of The Tikka T3X Hunter
Pros
- Light at 6.8 pounds
- Smooth Bolt Action
- Short Bolt Action
- Pair of Sling Swivel Studs
- Beautiful Walnut Wood Stock
- Two-Stage Safety
- Single Stage Trigger
- 1:11′ Barrel Twist
- Left and Right-Handed Models
- Numerous Calibers available (.223, .243, .270, .300, .308, .30-06, .350, 6.5, 6.5×55, 7mm, and 7mm-08)
- Cocking Indicator
Cons
- Price (over $1,000)
- Hard Plastic Trigger Guard
- Plastic Clip
- The clip only holds three rounds
- No iron sights
As you can see, the Pros outnumber the Cons significantly. I have always believed the phrase, “You get what you pay for!” You will pay a little more for the Tikka T3X Hunter, but it is worth every penny.
Tikka T3X – Five Stars
When I began the search for my new rifle, the Tikka brand wasn’t on my radar. Thanks to Myers Sportsman’s Connection and their selection of left-handed guns, I found the Tikka T3X Hunter in a .308 caliber. After mounting a Hawke scope on it and sighting it in, I knew I had chosen wisely.
The more I handle the gun, the happier I become. After carrying the Tikka T3X for many miles on my bear hunt, and it still feeling like a feather, I am confident others will love the lightweight rifle. I never even noticed I was carrying it on my shoulder.
Lastly, the accuracy, precision, and knockdown power I experienced on my deer hunt impressed me. The minimal recoil, the light trigger pull, and how well the gun fits my frame are encouraging. I can confidently give the Tikka T3X Hunter 5 Stars and recommend people check them out. I found the perfect rifle for how I hunt, and I love how it looks and feels.
