| TilleyMan |
| (.333 member) |
| 10/07/08 09:35 PM |
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Tikka M55/M65
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NakiHunter's post on the BSA thread jogged my memory...
"Just to digress a bit.....I have a Tikka LSA 55 (same as the Ithaca LSA 55 in the US) in 222 Rem & it is a fantastic rifle. This is my first center fire rifle which I bought on Christmas eve in 1993. I shoot 5 shot groups of 0.5 to 0.8 inch at 100 meters very often - not just once in a while. My best was a 200 meter group of 1.32 inches for 5 shots followed by 1.65 inches & a 2.5 inch group with a flier in a Deer Stalkers' Club competition! I am sure that a better shot than I could do better with that rifle. I had another in 308 which I got on a trade for a Rem 660 Mohawke 243. I traded it again for a Sako hunter 308....
The triggers on those Tikkas are the best factory triggers I have seen so far in my limited experience."
A couple of mates in the early 1980's had Tikka M55's in .222 and they were outstandingly accurate... half MOA straight out of the box using Norma factory ammo.
The palm-swell stock was very comfortable and the triggers were indeed excellent!
Drop forged alloy steel, fully machined (no investment castings!), fully floating barrel with individually cut and lapped rifling and the M65 long action featured not one rear safety lug but TWO!
I bought a box of old shooting magazines and brochures at a garage sale recently, and lo... a 1979 Tikka Catalogue, from back when they were a serious competitor to Sako...
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/TilleyMan/TikkaM55.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/TilleyMan/TikkaM55exploded.jpg
Edited: Brochure Cover, M65 links added:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/TilleyMan/Tikka1979BrochureCover.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/TilleyMan/TikkaM65.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/TilleyMan/TikkaM65exploded.jpg
M77 U/O shotgun and M07 Combination rifle/shotgun added:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/TilleyMan/TikkaM77-M07.jpg
Edited again:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/TilleyMan/Tikka-M-Series-Mounts-web.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/TilleyMan/Tikka-M-Series-Scopes-web.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/TilleyMan/Finlander-Ad-1971.jpg
Australian Sporting Shooter Tikka M55 Review April 1972:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/TilleyMan/Tikka-Finlander-Page-1.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/TilleyMan/Tikka-Finlander-Page-2.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/TilleyMan/Tikka-Finlander-Page-3.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/TilleyMan/Tikka-Finlander-Page-4.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/TilleyMan/TikkaCentrefireRifles.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/TilleyMan/TikkaAccessories2.jpg
| Nakihunter |
| (.375 member) |
| 11/07/08 12:52 PM |
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Re: Tikka M55/M65
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Yes they are very good rifles. The free floated barrel is actually bedded on a steel "U" channel piece & seems to work almost like a bedding block. I know a few people here who like them so much that they own a 222, 243 & 308 or 270 in the same action. The palm swell in the pistol grip is great too!
| simonsaorsa |
| (.300 member) |
| 12/07/08 05:48 AM |
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Re: Tikka M55/M65
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jyri jalonen in finland makes actions that, from his website, look very similar to the old Tikkas. Have a look at www.jalonen.fi
| TilleyMan |
| (.333 member) |
| 12/07/08 03:36 PM |
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Re: Tikka M55/M65
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Hmmm... they DO look very similar!
Particularly the M65 Sporter vs JJ-91, note the Optilock mounts which must mean a tapered Sako or more likely a straight Tikka dovetail on the receiver:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/TilleyMan/TikkaM65.jpg
http://www.jalonen.fi/index.php?mid=5&pid=16
| 375RugerNo1 |
| (.275 member) |
| 18/07/08 03:54 AM |
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Re: Tikka M55/M65
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What is a M65 in .30-06 in good condition worth these days?
Pat
| TilleyMan |
| (.333 member) |
| 18/07/08 12:54 PM |
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Re: Tikka M55/M65
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In Australia about $650-$850 depending on model and condition... the equivalent era Sako L61R would be around $950-$1200.
| 375RugerNo1 |
| (.275 member) |
| 20/07/08 02:17 PM |
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Re: Tikka M55/M65
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Are these actions (M55 and M65) as strong as modern bolt action rifle actions (by modern I mean remington 700, savage 110 etc....I realize they are in fact "modern" actions but am curious as to how they compare with more recent production rifle actions)? They appear to have quite solid construction and I would think that they could handle full house loads? Unless they had poor metallurgy or some other problem??
| kamilaroi |
| (.400 member) |
| 20/07/08 03:20 PM |
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Re: Tikka M55/M65
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By a fair margin.
| Nakihunter |
| (.375 member) |
| 21/07/08 02:31 AM |
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Re: Tikka M55/M65
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I feel that the Tikka action is as strong as the Rem or Win or Ruger actions.
| 375RugerNo1 |
| (.275 member) |
| 21/07/08 05:53 AM |
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Re: Tikka M55/M65
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Yea I have a M65 in 30-06 and it feels like it locks up like a tank.
Thanks gents.
| TilleyMan |
| (.333 member) |
| 21/07/08 09:02 PM |
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Re: Tikka M55/M65
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I think I need to clarify that OY Tikkakoski AB was a completely separate competitor company to Sako until they were bought up by the bigger Riihimaki concern around the late 1980's.
They were every bit as good as a Sako, with a machined drop forged alloy steel receiver, one piece forged bolt (with double rear safety lugs on the M65) and an adjustable all steel trigger with an excellent release. The receivers gradually age into a nice plum patina just like the older Sako's do!
While they did lack some of the refinements of the contemporary Sako L461, L579 and L61R the barrels featured lapped, individually cut rifling and were among the first free floating barrels offered by a mainstream manufacturer. They were usually superbly accurate straight out of the box, and many still are.
They are now starting to become very sought after (in Australia at least) as people realise what a bargain they are... I have a shot-out M55 in .17 Rem currently in being rebarrelled to a 6x47mm Rem.
Will post pics when completed
| Nakihunter |
| (.375 member) |
| 22/07/08 03:07 PM |
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Re: Tikka M55/M65
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The Tikka LSA55 trigger is the best trigger that I have used including a Timny! I will stick my neck out & say that it is as good as the few set triggers that I have used! At a club shoot over 200 meters off a bench my 222 Rem factory sporter scored 5 shot groups of 1.36", 1.64" & a 2.52" with a flyer ! I am not a great shot & am sure that a better shot would have got even better results with that rifle.
| 1980E26 |
| (.300 member) |
| 23/07/08 01:00 PM |
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Re: Tikka M55/M65
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Tilleyman,
PM sent
Corbin
| TilleyMan |
| (.333 member) |
| 24/07/08 08:51 PM |
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Re: Tikka M55/M65
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Corbin
Links updated above with new info, incl more accessories, scopes and a full review... hope this helps?
Cheers
TM