Kokenee wrote:Gator,

How did you make your Tikka T3 Sporter fit the NRA Standard Class rifle specs?

You can shoot any hunter rifle in Std class, if it meets hunter rules you can also shoot it in Std.

Kokenee-
In case you hadn't noticed, about two thirds of the responders on this thread never bothered to open the links you provided and look at the rifles you are looking at. The Tikka "Sporter" model you originally referenced is purpose built by a European company for a European target class. While that model MAY be legal to shoot in High Power Silhouette (standard rifle class) it can not be made legal for High Power Hunter Rifle in it's factory configuration due to weight, stock forearm depth, rail,and possibly a couple of other issues. The word "Sporter" seems to be what clouds the issue. Sporter class in Europe is more akin to an Across The Course competition than any sort of Hunter/off the shelf Hunting rifle class like we have in High Power Hunter.
That being said, the Sporter is a cool looking rifle, and I've often thought I'd like to own one, but I can't justify a dedicated standard rifle. The T-3 lites on the other hand, are easily legal in Hunter from a weight and configuration stand point (and therefore standard class as well). They are difficult to impossible to single load thru the top in order to meet the "load from the magazine" rule and the extended 5 round magazine can create a "grey area" depending on the positioning of your support hand. If not for those two things, it would be a near perfect off the shelf Hunter rifle. I have owned 4 of them, all were very accurate right out of the box with little or no work and minimal load work up. I currently have a 6.5x55 for silhouette and really like it.

As per the post above, that most have missed. This is the T3 Sporter



Awesome looking gun, I'd love to have one but I am 99% certain you will have trouble meeting the specs for the standard class, and of course the hunter class. They are too deep in the stock in front of the trigger guard and also weight will be a concern. They are basically the same stock as found on the Sako Finnfire Range, which again isn't legal for silhouette without stock modifications (forearm depth and weight). As a positional stock and for other forms of shooting it would be awesome. I have a Range stock on my Sako and love it.

But as mentioned also, I'd seriously look at the T3 Forest: That's a pretty nice package right there.

Yes, I should have been more clear about what I was referencing and my use of sporter and varmint. Sorry if I caused you some confusion Kokanee.

Thank you for all of the great info. Very educational!