The two Tikka’s I own have been 5-shot sub-MOA out of the box with good factory ammo.
I own/have owned a couple AI’s, an older R700 varmint, four CZ 527, two Bergara Premiers, and a pre-64 Mod 70.
The Tikka’s bolt throw is easily as smooth and effortless as any of those, and maybe has even less friction. It’s eerie.
Tikka’s bolt lift is about like my Bergara Premiers (not the cheaper B14!) or my slightly worked over R700. Pretty darn nice…tied to the best I own. The AI is way heavier (I don’t mind).
Now, the lift not like what I’ve heard a Lone Peak or similar is like (near effortless) but that 70° bolt throw has got me hooked. Buy a Sterk bolt handle and it feels like an AI!
You can buy prefits for both an origin and Tikka. You can buy Tikka compatible bolts now.
KRG is reworking their excellently-reviewed two-stage Midas trigger. People say that the Tikka trigger design is less prone to fouling than the R700 pattern…I have no opinion. Changing a Tikka trigger is screw-out, screw in affair (no R700 punch pins). Single stage Tikka triggers become awesome with a $10 spring.
The bolt stop pin can fail on a Tikka, I guess.
As mainly a small caliber guy (223/204) I’ve found the Tikka CTR mags totally rock compared to AICS. Much shorter and I don’t have to mod them for 204 optimization. I’ve heard 6br feeds from Tikka mags no problem (can’t remember if that’s reg mags, CTR, or both).
Tikka/Beretta’s CS can be spotty, I read. They sure don’t push the platform on us as much as they should.
The Tikka action is a little lighter and more svelte than the R700, is that matters one way or the other. I like it.
If you want a Tikka CTR KRG Whiskey 3 chassis, buy a Bravo CTR chassis and then buy their TRG rear-end (in their TRG section only, oddly). The Bravo is such a great chassis.
Full disclosure: I’ve had issues with one of my Tikka’s having light strikes, but I buy many of my guns at my LGS and they are having their local Tikka rep step in and solve it. But I’ve had problems with guns from other brands too.
I’m still stunned that the Finns out out such a gun at the price they do. It’s amazing.
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W3 cheekpiece on a CTR Bravo.
I think you need to feel the rifles first, ideally.