Rifle Scopes Best mount for Leupold Mark 4, Tikka T3

[lavaspit]

I have a Tikka T3 .308 win, and a brand new Leupold Mark 4 with 30mm diameter tube. Do I need two rings, or a complete integrated mount system like this one:

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/prod...tId=1159797&type=product&WTz_l=YMAL;IK-713610

I guess it just comes down to clearance, but a 40mm bell doesn't need to be that high, right?

i want nice, tactical rings, regardless.

Any advice would be great for those who know the rifle and perhaps the Mark 4.

As an aside, do I need a stronger rail eventually?

 

[hamstur]

Re: Best mount for Leupold Mark 4, Tikka T3

Which T3 model?

- Varmint/Scout/Tactical stocks have combs which change cheek weld height considerably
- Included Scout/Tactical picatinny rails are very low profile & combined with the comb, I find it impossible to use shorter than 1.00" rings
- Varmint/Lite don't come with rails so you need to pick a 1pc or 2pc picatinny rail base -- most common option is probably EGW 1pc

The Tikka is a light-weight rifle and Seekins alloy or Nightforce Ultralite have worked wonderfully on my Scout.

 

[Spuhr]

Re: Best mount for Leupold Mark 4, Tikka T3

One of the great things about the Tikka action is the integrated rail.
And putting a picatinny rail on to a T3 is in my opinion just as smart at putting a screw on picatinny rail onto a Surgeon action!

The orignal optilock rings that grabs directly onto the rail can easaly by any gunsmith be adjusted to a tilted mount.

I run my TRG mount on my Tikka, only drawback is that I had to open the ejectionport due to the fact that it's missplaced.
But here it is, opened 1/10"

Regards Håkan

 

[lavaspit]

Re: Best mount for Leupold Mark 4, Tikka T3

I have a T3 Tactical - the one with the heavy free floatign barrel. its not a Varmit. its the Sako/Howa/Tikka collab I think. Does this ring a bell?

I am not an experienced rifle shooter so a lot of what you guys are saying is going over my head. I just want to know what the best mount system for this rifle and this scope is. Integrated, or two rings. Maybe links would help me out?

I think I understand that an integrated rail is high up and needs to be inclined (or declined?). But my bell is only 40 mm so I should be able to mount pretty low, which is good. Low is good, yes?

I do NOT have the integrated rail you have in your image. I have a Picatiny rail.

Thank you.

 

[Spuhr]

Re: Best mount for Leupold Mark 4, Tikka T3

You do have the integrated rail but the factory have attached a picatinny rail above it.

If I should mount a scope there the best way it could be done, but for pretty low money I would go for the rings from Tikka (ring mounts) or Warne and rip that picatinny of the gun.
Good simple rings.

You can of course use any good set of rings you want on your picatinny rail, and there is loads of good rings out there and I think that probably is Seekings the best value rings you can get.

But personally I would not keep a picatinny rail on the top of a perfect machined steel rail made in one piece, but that is just me......

Håkan

 

[117D-RTO]

Re: Best mount for Leupold Mark 4, Tikka T3

Håkan,

Did your Tikka come from the factory with a picatinny rail? I recently tried to replace mine and found that they had glued or bedded mine to the action, the screws stripped and I had to take it to a gunsmith to get it sorted out. Just wondering if the factory glued/bedded it or if the store I bought it from did something to it.

 

[Chris@InterstateGuns]

Re: Best mount for Leupold Mark 4, Tikka T3

I like the Talley Picatinny base myself.

edit.....i didn't realize you had the tactical model. The base already attached would work great. Just add a set of good quality rings and you are good to go.

 

[hamstur]

Re: Best mount for Leupold Mark 4, Tikka T3

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 117D-RTO</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Did your Tikka come from the factory with a picatinny rail? I recently tried to replace mine and found that they had glued or bedded mine to the action, the screws stripped and I had to take it to a gunsmith to get it sorted out. Just wondering if the factory glued/bedded it or if the store I bought it from did something to it. </div></div>

Sako puts infinite glue & loctite on their bases & action screws. Best trick for both my TRG-22 and T3 was from an old thread I found -- place a hot clothing iron on the rail for ~20 minutes & the screws come out in a cinch.

 

[hamstur]

Re: Best mount for Leupold Mark 4, Tikka T3

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: lavaspit</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have a T3 Tactical...

...I just want to know what the best mount system for this rifle and this scope is. Integrated, or two rings. Maybe links would help me out?

...I just want to know what the best mount system for this rifle and this scope is.</div></div>

As Håkan recommends, Spuhr makes awesome direct-mount bases for the TRG and T3. Choosing a mount like that vs. rings is personal preference and budget driven. Example: I move scopes around a lot to test on different rifles, so using rings allow me to easily move scopes from Sako to non-Sako rifles.

The comb (cheek rest) on the T3 Tactical is high, so lower is not necessarily better for the OEM stock. Per above, I tried lower than 1.00" rings on my T3 and I had to smash my face painfully into the stock to see through the scope. We're all built different, so this may not be the case for you; however, keep in mind you can raise the comb on the T3 Tactical to compensate for high rings.

If I bought a new T3 Tactical with a 30mm tubed scope, I would use Seekins Precision 30mm High (0.97" tall) or Badger Ordnance 30mm Medium High (1.00" tall) rings.

Short summary -- there is no "best mount" for your rifle, only the "best fit" for your intended use of it.

 

[wakeboarder4402]

Re: Best mount for Leupold Mark 4, Tikka T3

Where can I find the Spuhr Unimount for the standard Tikka T3 reciever?

 

[Spuhr]

Re: Best mount for Leupold Mark 4, Tikka T3

TNVC.com and Mile High

But as previously said you need to open up the ejectionport as it's missplaced.

Håkan

 

[LibertyOptics]

Re: Best mount for Leupold Mark 4, Tikka T3

The factory T3 tactical pic rail is just fine. Seekins or Vortex PMR rings will complete the arrangement nicely

Scott

 

[117D-RTO]

Re: Best mount for Leupold Mark 4, Tikka T3

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LibertyOptics</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The factory T3 tactical pic rail is just fine. Seekins or Vortex PMR rings will complete the arrangement nicely

Scott</div></div>

The factory rail is 0MOA, if your scope has lots of elevation then it is not an issue.

 

[Pappasniper]

Re: Best mount for Leupold Mark 4, Tikka T3

I used Warne on my Tikka T3 and found them to be decent quality at a fair price.
Directly on the gun.

 

[lavaspit]

Re: Best mount for Leupold Mark 4, Tikka T3

I did nt know there was a rail beneath the picatiny. That's interesting and raises some issues. Here's what I did: basically, to start out, I went bargain hunting for anything that looked sturdy and tactical. I ended up with Burris "heavy recoil) rings, Medium. They were a bit of a pian to get on with 12 screws total, and the medium height allows be to get a pinky between the bell and the barrel. I guess Im ok with this experiment for $70. I think the over all size and height of the rings is overkill, and they lack the elegance of two-screw tactical rings like Leupold and others. But the scope is on.

They came without any protective material so I lined them with a bit of medical cloth. I did not Lap them obviously, so I had to get some protective material in there. Leveling was difficult only in that with so many screws its hard to keep them all loose enough to adjust the scope before clamping it down.

I will post an image over the weekend so you guys can asses the setup. I dont have a problem paying over $100 for good rings if they are right for the rifle and this scope.

 

[Eppie]

Re: Best mount for Leupold Mark 4, Tikka T3

I have f Burris Extreme rings on my POF and Savage 10 each holding a Swarovski Z6 5-30x50. I only paid about $40 for a set. You can pay more for a set a ring, but you wont get better ones. Here's where I bought mine: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/276452/...um-package-of-1

Look at some of the YouTube videos about mounting a scope before doing it. It's not difficult but it easy to make mistakes. Also get in the habit of periodically checking the all screws on the scope, recoil on a .308 can loosen them.