Rare Tikka

[ChrisF]

Hi guys ,

Just got in a rare Tikka , its the M65A , it least thats what is stamped on the side of it , some have called it the Father of the Sako TRG series sniper rifles , was made in the late 80s , alot went into service into Police service in the UK etc .

Has some unusual features , has a alloy chassis block that stuff bolts to , uses wood & not plastic as the cladding , and uses a stock that looks a little like the old WWII Sten gun .
The stock has a lot of adjustment features , making it a nice handling stock , that can be fitted to most shooters , it is a long action , only made in 308 as far as I know , uses a center , 5rd single stack mag , 10rd is optional ( and very long ) .

The action uses a special synthetic sleeve at the rear of the bolt race way , this makes it a super smooth traveling bolt , as very little wobble side to side etc .

Here,s some pics of it .

 

[Jester308]

'Where does he get those wonderful toys'.... Mate that's a nice find, looks like a great setup indeed. You can definitely see the linage of the TRG in it.

How's it shoot?

JJ

 

[Crosshair]

The Finns make rifles that I like to refer to as "ballistic sex".
Beautiful find. Looks like the cool grandpa of the Tikka Sporter.

 

[Massoud]

Very Nice! Is that the first chassis style rifle stock I wonder? You can definitely see the TRG lineage. You are lucky.
Justin

 

[ChrisF]

Yeap , Its a very interesting rifle , down side is their are only a few made , and spare mags are almost rarer than the rifles , as to shooting , abit of a road block at moment , as the Sako Optilock mounts for old Tikka's does not quite work with this rare Tikka model , will work with all other Tikka's , ie 55 & 65 etc , just not the special limited M65A model.

The recoil stop on the mount does not line up on the correct place , and as such does not work , need to modifiy the ring or make a different recoil stop , so will not get to shoot until then .

About the only mod , I will do , is have the barrel threaded for a suppressor , so I will not be chopping it up too much .

The older Tikka's like this and the 55s etc , had cut rifled Tikka barrels , the steel used was Bofors from sweden , I think , they all have reps as very good shooters .

This old M65A was found in UK , my Parker Hale M85 came from Holland , and my Parker Hale M87 from the UK ,

Cheers Chris

 

[jbell]

Very cool. How about a group picture of your fine treasures?

 

[Bubb]

Yes would love to see your tikka collection.

 

[ChrisF]

I have no big Tikka collection , just two M65As , one has been mutilated , & will have to be restored a bit , it has had a set of iron sights off a target rifle fitted , so they machined the scope rail thinner at the rear to fit it , and drilled two holes in front of barrel to mount front sight as well , its the chopping of the rear dovetail that is most concerning .
I do want to add a nice M55 to my rifles at some point .
At this stage I have 3 Parker Hales , M85,M87 & a shot out TX1200 , and a M85 in bits , so I am on the look out for a Parker Hale rifle to turn into a M82 with kahles scope etc , and that will round out my Parker Hale sniper rifles very nicely .

Once I get a M82 done up , i will post a pic of all 3 Parker Hale sniper rifles etc .

Cheers Chris

 

[TorF]

Chris,

You can make new mags from 5 round M55 mags. They are a litte short and go flush with the bottom on the m65a. This is solved by gluing on a rubber basepad ala 1911 mags. Then you have to modyfie the cuts for magrelease, etc.The base raw metal stamping for mags is the same on M55 and M65A.

 

[jwSubMOA]

Hello ChrisF. Beautiful rifle there bud! I have been trying to find one of these in the UK for some time. I know a dealer had bought several when they were surplused by law enforcement,but I cannot find the dealer. Would you be willing to PM me whom you bought yours from? I have a beautiful M55 Supersporter in .308 and love it. I also have an M86 and M87 PH along with all the parts to build two M85s and several 86/87s.

 

[ChrisF]

Thanks guys , and thanks TorF for the info on the M55 mags , I was thinking maybe a AI AE MKI mag would be able to be fitted ?

Jwsub , have PMed you .

Cheers Chris

heres a pic of my M87 / C3A1 clone .