Tikka T3X Upgrade By Snowy Mountain Rifles Review

In 2016 I read the Tikka T3x Superlite introduction press release and decided I had to have one.  In 300 Winchester Magnum no less!  I have shot quite a few heavier recoiling rifles, but a 6 pound 5 ounce measured weight magnum rifle accelerates with some alacrity.  To make matters more interesting at the range the barrel is not threaded for a break or suppressor and the recoil pad seemed designed for a .22 Hornet.  But it did shoot.  With quality factory ammo and a Limbsaver recoil pad it would print groups well under an inch at 100 yards.  Read on for my Tikka T3x review after the Snowy Mountain Rifles upgrade!

Over the next few years I shot many whitetails with that rifle and took it for a few backpack rides through the Colorado Rockies.  The lightweight rifle paired with a Leupold VX Freedom 2.5x10 scope came in under 8 pounds loaded and and was a joy to carry.  I enjoyed it so much that it was a regular range rifle as well and in 2020 there had been so many rounds sent downrange that my groups had opened up slightly.  Still less than an inch but I kind of had the itch to do something with it and had always wanted a brake on the rifle.  This rifle came with a very thin and wispy barrel, so to thread it for a brake would require giving up 4 or more inches of barrel length.  That was not acceptable to me, I was not looking for a 20" barrelled .300, so I set out to find the perfect barrel.

I had hoped to stay with steel for durability but if I wanted to have enough length to take advantage of the full powder column I could see that it was going to be heavy.  Carbon barrels are cool, but I'd listened to too many stories of people saying they are not durable so initially didn't consider one.  Then I watched this video from Proof Research and decided to look a little closer.  Snowy Mountain Rifles is a custom builder that came up in a lot of my searches and they have a very consumer friendly website with great descriptions of gunsmithing options and pricing right on the website.  I reached out via their Contact page and I received a phone call from Paul, the owner, within 24 hours.

He was very helpful, explaining what each step involved, what to expect and what my options were.  Finally I settled on a 26" Proof Research carbon fiber barrel with a 1:9" twist rate, Stage 1 action trueing, full length bedding without pillars (I'd already purchased a stock with pillars), and their Titanium Snowflake muzzle brake. 

Due to supply chain issues in 2020 it took almost 2 months for the barrel to become available.  When it finally arrived my gunsmith Tal called me to discuss what I was really looking for in my rifle and gave me the option of waiting an extra week for the upgraded CNC machine to be calibrated or have him use the older model.  He called me 6 times with updates, suggestions and clarifying questions before the rifle was shipped.  I appreciated being in the loop.  The last call was about aethstetics.  After reassembling the rifle he called and told me that in his opinion the faceted Tikka receiver doesn't match very well with a round barrel, he offered to machine the end of the receiver to match the barrel.  He did this for me and his smooth, graduated work gives the rifle a much more custom appearance.  It was made even sweeter when I realized he did this for me as a no charge custom upgrade.

I am clearly very satisfied with the service I received, but am I happy with the rifle?  It is a beautiful upgrade that looks like it was performed by an artisan rather than a technician with all parts perfectly matched and fitted with care.  Since coming home it has accounted for 1 mule deer and 3 whitetails.  So, does it shoot?  Look at the featured photos of two 6 shot groups and see for yourself!

This review is in progress, the rifle also has a Mesa Precision Arms stock and Maven scope that I'll have lots to say about soon so check back!