The Tikka T3x needs no introduction. In the past 10 years, the Finnish brand has gone from a relative niche player in the bolt-action market to a veritable powerhouse of price-to-performance ratio. Named after the Tikkakoski district in the city of Jyväskylä, where it was founded, Tikka now belongs to parent brand Sako, where components of both Tikka rifles and rifles like the Sako 90 and S20 come together on the same assembly lines.
Tikka represents the budget-friendly spectrum of Sako’s offerings, and they do this through manufacturing efficiencies and economies of scale. For example, with Tikka rifles, there is no dimensional difference between a “long action” or a “short action.” All T3x actions are the same size, regardless of caliber selection. Tikka uses differently sized bolt stops, bolt faces and magazines to account for different cartridges.This same idea showed up in Sako’s own relatively affordable S20 and the A7 before it.
Over time, Tikka adjusted characteristics of the T3x line to account for market feedback. One example is replacing the smooth black polymer stock with the newer RoughTech model. The RoughTech stock has a textured paint on it that feels more quality and outdoor appropriate—even if it is structurally identical to the previous stock version. Another example is introducing larger bolt handle knobs reminiscent of 'tactical' teardrop styles.
Earlier in 2024, Tikka released the RoughTech Superlite model. By all accounts, it’s a product improved version of the T3x RoughTech Lite model. So what’s the difference? The short answer is that it’s nearly a pound lighter at 5.88 lbs for the Superlite versus the 6.6 lbs. of the standard T3x Lite model.
My test sample provided by Tikka is the T3x RoughTech Superlite Coyote chambered in .308 Winchester. It features a 20” stainless steel barrel with a four-groove right-hand 1:10” twist. The barrel tapers down to 0.656” just behind the knurled steel threaded muzzle protector. The muzzle threads are M15x1, and Tikka included a converter for transitioning to 5/8x24 TPI. The barrel features flutes running along the length of the barrel, ending 1.5” behind the thread protector.
The action itself is also stainless steel, and appears otherwise to be a standard Tikka T3x action. It sports a dovetail mounting system along the top, for those who wish to use it, or mounting holes for a scope base. The bolt-release button is on the left side, and two-position safety along the right.
Both the action and barrel of the test sample have a Coyote Tan Cerakote finish applied to the exterior. The inside of the action is unfinished. The finish seems nice, though not terribly durable. By the end of testing, the space behind the receiver’s ejection port picked up several dings from spent brass. Nothing egregious, but it is there.
Like the barrel and action, the bolt is stainless steel and fluted with an attractive spiral pattern. The bolt handle is detachable and ends with a large polymer ball. Manipulating the bolt during testing proved smooth and easy, with no looseness noted whatsoever.
The rear of the bolt body has a polymer bolt shroud at the rear and cocking indicator poking out from the bottom. If you don’t care for the polymer bolt shroud, which contributes to weight savings, there are many affordable aluminum aftermarket options available.
The action nestles into the RoughTech stock. For this coyote edition, the stock is black with Coyote Tan "splatter." The RoughTech stock feels much nicer than previous smooth black models, like something you’d expect to deal with outdoors conditions. The upper edges of the stock, where it meets the action, have some rough spots that could stand some sanding down for aesthetics and fit. Along the bottom you’ll find two sling attachment swivel points, one fore and one aft under the buttstock. Tikka included two 1” sling swivels in the box, as well. The grip panel is replaceable for different shapes, such as a more vertical option if you wanted, but only the back-swept version was included.
The trigger guard and bottom plate are both polymer. As expected for Tikka rifles, the single-stage trigger is excellent, averaging 2 lbs., 11.6 ozs. over 10 pulls with a Wheeler Engineering digital trigger gauge. The trigger is adjustable, but I didn’t bother adjusting it for testing.
The .308 Win.-chambered T3x RoughTech Superlite features a detachable magazine system, and includes one polymer three-round magazine. The magazine body protrudes a scant 0.3” below the stock at the lowest point, then tapers back up to meet the stock body at the front of the magazine. Releasing the magazine requires pressing a small button located just in front of the magazine well and behind the front action screw. I found this to be tucked up and out of the way enough to not snag on anything but still easy to actuate even with a gloved hand.
To set up for testing, I mounted an Evolution Gun Works (EGW) 20-m.o.a. scope base to the top of the action. To that, I mounted a Steiner P4xi 4-16X 56 mm riflescope with Hawkins Precision Ultra Light Tactical Scope Rings. This is not a small scope, and likely not the most appropriate for the style of backwoods hunting the T3x Superlite is geared for, but it certainly performs well for testing.
The combination of large objective scope, appropriate height rings, and EGW scope base meant that the ocular of the scope was high enough to require a cheek rest attached to the stock. For that, we used an SKD Tactical PIG Rifle Stock Pack.
With the rifle setup, I set off for live-fire testing with three different .308 Win. loadings. Hornady Outfitter 150-grain CX, Federal Terminal Ascent 175 grain, and Nosler 165-grain Ballistic Tip. I measured each load’s velocity by firing 10 rounds in front of a Garmin Xero C1 chronograph. For accuracy testing, I fired five five-shot groups for each load at 100 yards with the rifle nestled in a Caldwell Tack Driver bag.
The top performer of the day was the Federal Terminal Ascent 175-grain load, which had both the lowest velocity deviation and the highest accuracy at an average 1.54” at 100 yards. The smallest group came in at 0.9”, and that was only because the fifth shot landed just a half inch to the left of the other four, which were all touching with a group 0.46”. That said, averages are averages, and the t3x Superlite appears to be about a 1- to 1.5-m.o.a. gun with the right load—perhaps better with handloads.
In contrast, the worst-performing load with an average of 2.44” was the 150-grain Hornady Outfitter CX. It struggled to produce consistent groups to the point that I wondered if the riflescope became loose. It didn’t, and the Federal Terminal Ascent results that I shot right after the Hornady load showed it. Sometimes you come across a load that a rifle just doesn’t agree with.
Given that the T3x Superlite has such a lightweight fluted barrel, and I was shooting strings with a relatively high rate of fire, I think 1- to 1.5-m.o.a. groups are perfectly acceptable for a non-match rifle. With a slower rate of fire and continued testing of loads, or handloading, I bet accuracy could be brought down under 1 m.o.a., which is more than “good enough” for a backwoods hunting rifle.
Function through testing was 100 percent, with no failures of any kind noted over approximately 100 rounds fired.
The T3x RoughTech Superlite comes with an MSRP of $1,599, with a street price just a little bit below that. If you aim to have the lightest rifle possible, then this seems like a fantastic option. For a few hundred dollars less, and about 12 ozs. more weight, the T3x RoughTech Lite is also a viable option.
In all, Tikka continues to be one of my favorite bolt-action rifle platforms for most people. They’re affordable, accurate (even more so with heavier barrels), have nice design features, and there is immense aftermarket support these days.
Tikka T3x RoughTech Superlite Specifications
Importer: Beretta USA
Action Type: bolt-action, centerfire, repeating rifle
Chambering: .308 Win.
Receiver: stainless steel, Coyote Tan Cerakote finish
Barrel: 20" cold-hammer-forged stainless steel; threaded M15x1; Coyote Tan Cerakote finish
Rifling: four groove, 1:10" RH-twist
Magazine: three-round detachable box
Sights: none; drilled-and-tapped receiver; 16.5 mm dovetail
Stock: RoughTech synthetic, Coyote Tan texturing
Trigger: single-stage, adjustable; 2-lb., 11.6-oz. pull
Overall Length: 40.2"
Weight: 5 lbs., 14 ozs.
Accessories: owner’s manual, two sling swivels, 5/8x24 TPI muzzle thread adapater, lock
MSRP: $1,599
