Thread: Is it worth putting a rail on a tikka t3x

There's 60grams difference between optilocks and talleys approx

Originally Posted by SamRoche

What does lapped mean?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Running a straight bar back and forwards through the two mounted rings at once with a bit of lapping compound.
It’s basically takes off any excess metal and ensures the rings are lined up precisely so when torquing up your scope everything is straight and there’s no undue stress placed on the scope.
Opti lock rings do not need to be lapped as they have a plastic inner that provides a little give and accounts for any misalignment.
Any decent shop where you purchase your scope or rifle from will be able to mount and lap your rings for you.

If you've got a decent rifle and rings lapping rings is becoming obsolete.
Some manufacturers recommend not to.
I have the gear myself but havnt used it for ten years or more and I have mounted a shit ton of scopes.
Perhaps a lemington or a marlin perhaps but any thing that has been machined accurately no need.

Sent from my SM-A226B using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by andyanimal31

If you've got a decent rifle and rings lapping rings is becoming obsolete.
Some manufacturers recommend not to.
I have the gear myself but havnt used it for ten years or more and I have mounted a shit ton of scopes.
Perhaps a lemington or a marlin perhaps but any thing that has been machined accurately no need.

Sent from my SM-A226B using Tapatalk

What rings do you run Andy?

Sent from my CPH2145 using Tapatalk

What does lapping mean?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by SamRoche

What does lapping mean?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ask on the buy sell swap section. Pretty sure there is a couple of sellers who listed 1” Tikka Optilock rings. If you can go with them I would - specifically designed by Sako/Tikka for the rifle.

Optilocks. Bomb proof.

It depends what your trying to achieve - with a hard recoiling rifle and a lightweight scope the rail/base if bedded properly to the action is a much more robust and solid than individual mounts. All the screws can bear together for greater theoretical strength. With the correct parts a rail setup or one piece base can also mount a scope just clearing the barrel or as low as you need... Also you can't bed individual base mounts as easily as the alignment isn't as easy to maintain. A rail gives you more chances for forward and rearward movement but does weigh more.

Another point, depending on the scope and stock you can mount a scope too low leading to an uncomfortable or unnaturally low sighting position. It needs to fit you as the shooter.

I would personally avoid anything that needs lapping, as it can lead to issues such as not being able to reuse the rings if your setup changes or a sliding scope. I also like the option of being able to flog them off later if I change the setup, lapped rings are usually much harder to sell.

Im a fan of a rail but i do like my scope a little higher than most

Originally Posted by SamRoche

It’s more about is one more rugged than the other

Sam.
Using quality components, there is no difference in durability.
It’s more of a European vs America thing.
Rails have just gained in popularity.

Originally Posted by Moutere

Sam.
Using quality components, there is no difference in durability.
It’s more of a European vs America thing.
Rails have just gained in popularity.

Fixed rings give you compact and lightweight

Rail gives more flexibility if you have quality attachments and optics you can swap scopes without having to re zero
I have a mate that does just that he has two scopes which are zeroed on his rifle and he just chops and charges depending on location
Sometimes he even carries the other scope in his pack to change mid hunt say if he goes from bush to tops

They also give alot more flexibility on mounting location to suit your eyes and body shooting position etc

I think in my personal opinion rails are slightly more durable I never really liked the idea of dovetails on Centerfires even with the locking lugs like on factory tikka/sako set ups

If i was going to go for fixed rings id go for a screw on type like tellys for example

Originally Posted by rambo-6mmrem

Fixed rings give you compact and lightweight

Rail gives more flexibility if you have quality attachments and optics you can swap scopes without having to re zero
I have a mate that does just that he has two scopes which are zeroed on his rifle and he just chops and charges depending on location
Sometimes he even carries the other scope in his pack to change mid hunt say if he goes from bush to tops

They also give alot more flexibility on mounting location to suit your eyes and body shooting position etc

I think in my personal opinion rails are slightly more durable I never really liked the idea of dovetails on Centerfires even with the locking lugs like on factory tikka/sako set ups

If i was going to go for fixed rings id go for a screw on type like tellys for example

You’ll see my post is in direct response to the OPs question about which is more ‘rugged’, not modular.
The fact the original AWs and TRGs have dovetails makes durability a non issue. Albeit usually with a one piece, rather than two piece mount.

Personally I think it comes down to what type of shooter are you .
If it is purely a hunting rig then Talley’s are the way to go .
If you like to punch paper at extended ranges then a rail does add some advantages ( 20moa rail helps when distances get long ) .
The weight difference and robustness is “ neither here nor there” in my opinion , both options do a great job ( note the rail rings combo does add more components and as such more things that can loosen/move or fail )
I have four Tikka’s , three of them wear Talley’s and one has a rail .
What ever you decide upon, just make sure you don’t “ cheap out “ on what you get .
Buy quality and you won’t have a problem.

Sorry folks a bit off topic but rather than start a new thread....

Can anyone tell me what height tallys or optilocks I will need to mount a vx5 firedot on a tikka t3 ??

Cheers

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk