I agree with everything you said. I have a 20" .308, and it is a truly excellent rifle. I can shoot sub 3/4 in groups all day with multiple different manufacturers factory offerings and average .4 m.o.a. with Fed GMM 175's. Most jack of all traids don't do anything well. The UPR, all be it not perfect, does everything I want it to exceptionally well.

Damn right brother... I have some fancy and expensive 168gr and 172grs that I have yet to try out but I need to get it out there and see what she can do! Thanks again

impressive write-up dude. I have a question between the Sako S20 and Tikka UPR. I saw all the features of the S20 online and I was impressed with it (being able to take it down, 60 degree pull on the bolt, qd slots, the chassie, the 3 position safety). I went and checked the hunter version (I'm much more used to the pistol grip) but when I tried it I was not too impressed with it - it felt plastic-ie... I tried the action on the Tikka CTR and it felt smoother and more solid than on the Sako. But either the CTR or the Sako felt like they lacked character. There's more feeling of that in my Mauser 98 than either. Can you speak on the feel of the UPR at all. I have to find a store in town here that has but anyway it seems like you have a bit of experience with different rifles. Thanks.

@@cristache Hey thank you very much brother! I'm currently going through some shit and not only did you make me feel better , you've given me something to do for a while to distract myself! So thanks! - Starting with the S20 ... I have to admit fully - I did NOT know it existed when I bought the UPR ... I was momentarily upset because it was almost the same exact price- in fact I think EuroOptic had one model of the S20 actually a little cheaper ... so I was kind of like, "FML, I could have just gotten a Sako for the same price!!" - think of it like saying "Well I got a fully-loaded Honda Accord, but I COULD have got the Lexus for the same price!" - Lexus is made by Honda, back in the day, their models came down the same assembly line, same people building them, but the Lexus got some different "options" and different stickers & numbers and badging , and a higher, 'luxury' price. - BUT ... I then watched a video, where a dude did a tour of the Sako/Tikka factory in Finland. One dude was assembling barreled actions, taking barrels from a box and assembling them, then putting them into two bins ... the tour-dude asks the gun-builder, "What are you doing here ..." ... 'Oh I'm assembling the barreled-actions, then I bin them, one of these bins will be Sako rifles and one will be Tikka..." ... 'But you're taking the same actions and same barrels and doing the exact same thing...' "Right..." ... "So you're saying a Tikka is basically the same exact thing as a Sako, just as good, same materials, same parts, same people building them..." ... and the guy looks up, smiles, and just goes back to work. So that should be pretty telling ... you get a Tikka, you're basically getting as-good-if-not-same-as-Sako. --- Now as far as the feel of my Tika, it's SILKY-SMOOTH and Dead-Sexy. I have a Benelli SuperNova shotgun that just *feels* better than my American counterparts, and if it's a beautiful Italian brunette woman in a black dress and high-heels, My Tikka T3X UPR is a smoking-hot Finnish chich with blonde hair and blue eyes lol! Super smooth & sexy. And again - I happen to love the stock ... I like the style - admittedly I do love thumbholes , I had a Manners MCS T5A DBM once and loved it, but had to sell it and I don't have that kind of money these days. Getting the UPR is like getting a top-quality stock upgrade but basically 'for free', out of the box. Anyway I hope that helps, if you have any other questions please let me know, I'll do my best to answer! Good luck and hope you get a great rifle regardless of your choice!

@cristache you didn't ask for my two cents, but I have a UPR, and so I thought I'd throw in my opinion. The stock doesn't feel like any other Tikka stock I've felt. Other Tikka stocks like the CTR and Superlite all have that plasticky feel. The UPR is a full fiberglass stock. It does not feel plasticy at all! It is surprisingly solid and stiff. It has a uniform texture throughout that is rough enough to get a solid positive grip, but not so aggressive it's uncomfortable. The bottom of the front end has a flat section which aids when shooting off baracades. The distance between the barrel and stock is big enough that the barrel will never touch the stock no matter how hot or cold, but not so big you have to worry about debris getting in there. The sling cups are locking, so your sling won't get all spun around. I replaced the sling studs at the front with a small picatinny rail to attach my bipod and replaced the rear sling stud with a screw I picked up from Home Depot. I added some length to the stock using Sako spacers. The butt stock is well padded without being overly squishy. The vertical grip is wide, and by wide, I mean wide... in the most awesome way. It fills my hand and allows for a 90-degree trigger pull without being bulky. The adjustable cheek riser and the screw that holds it in place doesn't feel plasticky, but it does feel different than the rest of the stock, but it feels more composit and I haven't had any problems with mine. It's no light weight, but no fiberglass stocks are. All in all, it's an extremely well thought out and manufactured stock. All in all, it's an exceptional rifle. Everyone that has sot mine falls in love with it. It's an outstanding bang for the buck.

*BIG FACTS* 💯💚🏴‍☠

I've had it in my hands...not impressed. The CTR stock isn't great...but it is ok. Given that the UPR is significantly more expensive than the CTR (here in NZ anyway) I''d rather just get a CTR and spend the money I saved on ammo. Just my opinion...each to their own. If you want one, get one. I doubt you'll regret it. I just expected more given the name. I agree, not everyone wants a chassis...but many do, especially if the PRS/NRL style of shooter is their target.

@@TacticalClassroom you can't shoot the CTR properly with out switching the stock man. Otherwise you're so limited to your scope. If you go with a larger bell then you won't be able to mount on the rifle as you are supposed to. You're rifle has to fit you perfectly. You can't be floating your head behind your glass. Thats why the CTR stock always has to go. Would make a good hunting stock with a small scope sure but if you want to get into long range. Changing that stock is a MUST. These days more long-range scope bells are 56mm. Good luck with that on a CTR stock.

@@TacticalClassroom and about the chassis vs stock. First of all they already have the tac a1 so why would they come up with another. Second of all if you watch any prs nrl competitions 75 pf the guys switch back to traditions style stocks. Chassis are slowly disappearing so they want future proof in a new design. I would be very surprised if they new stock many from premium materials with adjustable cheek height is not impressive.

No...the A1 with an arca rail isn't "it" either. I compared the UPR stock to the TRG stock because when I contacted Tikka, THEY told me that the UPR stock was "inspired" by the TRG from Sako, their parent company I.e. from the horses mouth. Also, I'm not saying the UPR won't be a great rifle or that it won't be accurate. I'm sure it will, and I love Tikka rifle and own many of them. All I'm saying is that IMO it doesn't meet MY definition of "Ultimate Precision Rifle". If they paired with MDT or KRG like other manufacturers have to secure a "competition" chassis, used a heavier barrel contour, and supplied a muzzle brake as standard it would be a lot more of a UPR than what they've produced.

☝🏼 Saw a couple of your reviews. I’m leaning toward the UPR

Got the tikka upr in 6.5. Absolutely love it. .25" group out of the box with factory berger match ammo. Insanity!

Joseph, in short your shoulder "pocket" I.e. that indentation where your collarbone meets your shoulder socket. I know some guys like Phil Velayo and Scott Satherlee recommend using your collarbone directly under your master eye. I found Phil's technique to work fine for some stuff (PRS/NRL type shooting) but not so good for sling shooting in field positions which is why I still use the tried and true shoulder pocket. Inconsistencies can be caused by many factors but a common one with guys/gals that are "doing everything else right" is having tension in their shoulders, especially the non master side. This often causes the crosshairs to move off target (often up and left for r/h shooters) under recoil and not return to (or close to) where they were when the shot broke. Try holding the rifle into the pocket with a small amount of rearward pressure using the bicep only on your master side while relaxing the rest of your body. With your non master hand, hold your arm out parallel with the rifle and relax your arm and non master shoulder. Ensure you have NPA, exhale, squeeze the trigger, and follow through. If unnoticed tension, particularly in your non master shoulder is present, this techique will identify it as the problem (or part of it) as the crosshairs will return to (or close to) where they were when the shot broke. If this technique improves things it doesn't mean shoot that way all the time, it just means you need to be more aware of body tension and practice removing it. Hope that makes sense? All the best...

Thanks so much for the reply and insightful and in-depth instruction. I wish New Zealand 🇳🇿 and the US where closer together lol. Because I would like to thank you in person and shake your hand. ( from 6” away with a mask on of course lol)

It does make since and I have noticed tension in my shoulders while shooting and shots going hi and right. Thanks 😊

The Bergara are way superior rifle than a Tikka.

I have a Bergara also and although it's not as smooth as the Tikka, I often find myself questioning whether the Tikka is worth the extra $500+ dollars (HMR vs. CTR)

You said it, 500+ dollar more for a very subjective feel... seems too much to me.

@@TacticalClassroom Are bergara as accurate as tikkas? is the bergara trigger as good? With bergara you don't even get anything to attach your scope to and you get a polymer mag.. Granted i live in Finland and the ctr is only 100€ more expensive.. never seen single tikka that didn't shoot extremely well

@@shootingstuffaustralia8977 How?

really enjoying your reviews Chris, keep up the great work mate.

.308 for varminting is great. I use my t3x tac in .308 for that. No need to look for the foxes. They lay down right in the spot.

Squirrel hunting with a 12ga slug.......not my my idea of fun!....and I love shooing 12ga slug gun....

The tikka t3x tac a1 is not heavy barrel but is very accuracy!

Don't forget the god aweful Tac A1. That no one brought because it was $1500 more that the Ruger precision rifle and was no better preforming.

I also love my Tikka's...but I think that they have dropped the ball lately.

How was the T1X release a failure of any kind? They can't produce them fast enough for the demand and it seem to be new standard for NRL22 with CZ457

You're insane if you think the tac a1 is not as good. It's amazing. I've held the ruger and it seems way lower on the quality. Tikka is miles upon miles better.

Totally agree...except for the Ruger recommendation 🤣 I sold my RPR almost immediately as it was rubbish...fit and finish was awful.

@@TacticalClassroom you got the friday gun :P

@@possumtrapper that's the thing.. Tikka doesn't make any of those ;)

Tikka t3x tac a1 is not heavy barrel but is very accurate!

@@adrienbelhumeur5101 for how many shots back to back? a pencil profiled 308 will only allow 2-3 shots to be fired in one minute before the group will open up getting worse the hotter it gets, a heavy barrel takes longer to heat up and you get a lot more rounds downrange in the same hole before the temp becomes a factor.

He sounds more like a New Zealander than Jacinta!

Wow thats insanity cheap howd u build for that price? Do you tune barrels yourself?

@@hamedizzy6441 my grandpa builds rifles so I don't have to pay gunsmith

@@hamedizzy6441 I am very lucky

you base this on what? what is it that compare them to?

Bahahaha in your opinion. All 3 of my Tikka's shoot 1/2 MOA out the box ! lol There JUNK lol...

@@68pitty A Bergara does this too and costs 1/2

800 for a half moa is junk. Ok your story

@@mc-sillix961 I've never seen one for $400 so let me know where your buying your guns