Rifle review: Tikka’s T3x Ace Game is customizable for the hunting stand and the range

At heart I’m a rifle traditionalist, so my transition from wood and chromoly steel to synthetic and stainless steel was fraught with misgivings. It was a resounding success, however, and my go-to hunting rifles are now an iteration of synthetic stocks and Cerakote-treated or carbon-fibre-wrapped stainless steel barrels. As for tackling the trending chassis build, that opportunity came with the Tikka T3x Ace Game.

Built on the same modular chassis as the T3x Ace Target, this is a true crossover rifle designed for both hunting and sport shooting. The only difference between the two models is the Game’s fluted, semi-heavy, sporter-weight barrel. Free floated and cold-hammer forged, it’s threaded 5/8×24 for a muzzle brake, but ships with a simple thread protector.

The Game also boasts a 20 MOA Picatinny rail, fluted bolt with dual locking lugs, adjustable trigger, and a bolt shroud (and knob) made of high-impact polymer. The traditional single-stack magazine holds five rounds, while the unique magazine well is designed to accommodate various magazine types.

As with the Ace Target, it’s the chassis that truly characterizes this rifle—machined from lightweight aircraft-grade aluminum, it’s about as adjustable as one might envision. The cheek rest height, length of pull and recoil pad angle/height can all be customized, as can the angle and position of the standard pistol grip.

The stock itself is compatible with all T3, T3x and T1x barreled actions. It comes equipped with M-Lok, and an Arca-Swiss RRS rail offering compatibility with a wide range of accessories, from bipods to stabilizing weights.

TEST RESULTS

Not only was my test rifle built like a tank, it also weighed in at eight pounds 15 ounces on my postal scale, making it a tad lighter than the advertised weight. Adding the Burris Veracity test scope and mounts brought it to10 pounds 12 ounces, heavier than I would consider ideal for a backcountry or mountain hunt, but more than suitable for a stand.

At three pounds four ounces, the trigger pull weight was a bit heavier than I would have liked, but it was so consistent I left it at that weight. I also installed a side-ported muzzle brake that, when combined with the weight of the rifle, reduced both recoil and muzzle jump. It certainly enhanced on-target follow-up shots.

The action was as smooth as I’ve come to expect from a Tikka rifle, while the stock was completely adjustable as advertised. My only minor complaint was the cheek piece had to be lowered to remove the bolt. Since the cheek piece is spring-loaded, at least all I had to do was push the release button and it instantly returned to its preset height.

Using Weaver Tactical four-hole rings, mounting the Veracity scope was a snap. Note that if you’re considering using the Ace Game as a crossover rifle, you may want to up the scope’s magnification to 4-20x.

During my test on the range with 14 factory and six handloads, both the rifle and scope functioned flawlessly. While the overall average accuracy of 1.297 (handloads) and 1.073 (factory) was not as tight as I expected, there were several highlights. In total, seven loads bettered MOA while two factory loads topped the entire lot : Sako Powerhead Blade 162-grain Tipped Expanding Copper (at 0.495) and Norma Oryx 165-grain Premium Bonded Core (at 0.470). Both would be excellent choices for hunting most big game.

THE RIFLE SPECS

• Calibre: .308 Winchester
• Weight: 9.3 lb
• Barrel length: 24.4”
• Total length: 44.3”
• Twist rate: 1/10”
• Magazine capacity: 5
• Trigger: Single stage adjustable 2-4 lb
• Length of pull: Adjustable
• Drop at comb: Adjustable

BURRIS VERACITY

My Tikka test rifle was accompanied by a Burris Veracity PH 3-15×44 front focal plane scope that was simply loaded with innovative features. Here are just some of the highlights

• Mechanical/Digital Click-Less PEK Elevation Knob: This click-less design uses a digital position sensor that offers 1/10 of MOA adjustments.
• Heads-Up Display (HUD): It shows elevation and turret position in yards, metres or MOA, as well as the rifle cant, distance-accurate wind holdover, and battery level.
• Buetooth: Allows pairing to the BurrisConnect App for creating custom ballistic profiles.
• Rapid Cross MOA Reticle: It features “Progressively Thick Crosshairs,” numbered wind hold-offs, numbered holdovers for manual bullet drop compensation, and an illuminated crosshair.
• Extra-Low Dispersion Glass: This glass reduces chromatic aberrations and enhances light transmission.
• Zero Turn Stop Adjustment Knobs: They allow for a quick and easy return to the original sight-in setting.
• Miscellaneous: Other features include Dex-Matched Hi-Lume Multicoating; five-times Zoom System; Double Internal Spring Tension system; Ergonomic Side Focus; a solid one-piece tube that’s nitrogen filled and waterproof; and the Burris Forever Warranty.

TEST SCOPE SPECS

• Magnification: 3-15x
• Objective lens: 44 mm
• Tube size:30 mm
• Length: 13.1”
• Weight: 27.3 oz
• Field of view: 36-7.5’
• Eye relief: 92.7-92 mm
• Elevation adjustment: 100 MOA
• Windage adjustment: 60 MOA
• Parallax: 25 yards to infinity