Function:
Loading- Bolt travel with no binding at any point during cycling in snow, ice, sand, and excess debris, when cycled rapidly. Magazine feeding smoothly and positively in snow, ice, sand, and with excess debris.
Firing- Reliability of FCS when dealing with snow, ice, sand, and excess debris. Trigger reliability in all weather conditions, trigger being drop safe.
Extraction- bolt cycle positively and with no binding in adverse conditions. Consistent and reliable extraction in snow, ice, sand, and with excess debris.
Ejection- Consistent and reliable ejection in snow, ice, sand, and debris.
Shooting Performance:
Precision- Consistent and known precision from rifle to rifle with little to no variation- I.E., good barrels with excellent QC.
Trigger- Easily adjustable weight, no creep, clean and consistent break.
Action- smooth and anti-binding. Short bolt throw (less than 90°). Positive and consistent travel.
Stock- Stiff forend to resident contact and torque on the barrel and action from field positions. Vertical grip for increased trigger and recoil control. Negative comb and no drop at heel for straight line recoil and spotting impacts.
The only point that the T3x is weak on is the buttstock (drop at heel). Everything else was purposely designed for, or it’s lineage was, function and shooter feel in adverse conditions. Of all the the mainstream rifles, having seen lots used heavily, they are the most consistent and trouble free. That’s not to say that they never have problems, but the rate of issues is way lower than almost any other. One can take 10 T3x’s, mount good scopes in good bases/rings, and be very confident that none of those rifles will give any trouble or hassle, and the shooters performance/perception behind the rifle will be excellent. They will shoot, function and work as they should. One can not say the same of Remingtons, Savages, Ruger Americans, etc. This isn’t about what I like or think. I’m not a fan of anything but performance. I did not “like” Tikkas a decade ago. I personally like Pre 64 Winchester’s and old world Mausers. But I couldn’t say with a straight face that they are better performers in backpack hunting and shooting use than Tikkas.
That’s the gist. I would greatly like to be able to say that an American made hunting rifle is better at those things. It is ridiculous that a US company hasn’t done it, but at this point- no, there is not an American made rifle that is equal to the Scandinavian or European guns, Tikka included.
We may have more total hunters, but as the quote went “No country has finer sportsmen than America. And no country is more enamored with cheap junk”... or something to that effect.