Essential accessories for your Sako & Tikka rifles

Pairing your rifle with the right accessories helps take your skills to the next level and makes hunting and shooting more accurate, more enjoyable, and safer. Accessorizing your rifle ensures better ergonomics, as well as optimal performance.

In this blog post, we’ll go over rifle accessories that every hunter and shooter should consider, regardless of whether you are a beginner or a seasoned expert. Investing in these essentials is a good way to make your Sako or Tikka rifle truly your own.

Scope

One of the most important accessories for any rifle is a quality scope. A proper scope ensures great accuracy, quick target acquisition, and pin-point game identification. When choosing a scope, make sure to pick one designed specifically for your hunting style and needs.

Scopes come in various levels of magnification. Low Powered Variable Optics (LPVO) are meant for shorter distances encountered, for example in driven hunts, and they typically cover magnifications from 1x to 6, 8, or 10x. On the other end of the spectrum are the full-on long-distance scopes, such as the Burris XTR III 3,3-18x50, that are meant to take on even the most challenging of shots from further away. The scopes with magnifications landing between these two options are typically categorized as all-purpose scopes. Think about the shooting distances you are going to encounter and choose a scope magnification that suits your needs best.

Consider the ambient light during your hunts or on the shooting range. Pick a larger 50 or 56 millimeter front lens when using the scope at dusk or in otherwise low-light conditions. If you mainly hunt in daylight, a smaller lens diameter might be a better option since it typically makes the scope lighter.

Choose quality mounting rings and scope bases to connect the scope to your rifle securely. Sturdy scope mounting also helps you achieve reliable accuracy. Optilock bases and rings are precisely machined from a solid block of steel, offering a strong foundation for your rifle scope. Make sure to pick the right height rings or a solid mount based on the size of the front lens of your rifle scope. The bigger the lens, the higher the rings you need to get proper clearance between the scope and the barrel of the rifle.

Sling

A good rifle sling lets you carry your firearm hands-free on the move. It can also help stabilize your aim for better shooting. Adjustable slings allow you to customize the fit for your body size. It’s best to invest in a high-quality sling, since it won’t stretch over time and they stay securely attached even if the going gets rough.

The Tikka 3HGR Light Harness rifle sling can easily be transformed into harness mode, allowing you to keep your hands free. It makes carrying the rifle easier, more comfortable, and balanced. The Tikka 3HGR Light Harness comes with sling swivels, and the design also allows muzzle-down carrying.

Bipods and other supports

Shooting rests, such as bipods, help stabilize your rifle for increased accuracy. They provide a sturdy platform that helps reduce fatigue and human error. A bipod is especially useful when hunting in open country, but can also be useful on a shooting range. Using a bipod improves your accuracy, especially when making shots from longer distances.

A proper bipod for hunting should be height adjustable and light but sturdy. A quick attach and detach operation is preferable, because it makes the bipod easy to use when it is most needed. The Sako/Tikka Lite Bipod by Spartan Precision is a handy, small bipod that attaches to the rifle via a magnetic, sling-stud-mounted adapter. The bipod can be stored in a pocket and taken out and used when needed. The Lite bipod weighs only 140 grams and has a cant feature. The bipod legs have durable tungsten carbide tips with synthetic boots to get a good grip on all terrains.

Sako S20 Precision rifle can be equipped with an S20 barricade stop and monopod. The barricade stop mounts to the handguard M-LOK slots, and helps you take advantage of external supports and steady the rifle against fences, barriers, and branches without pushing against and damaging the magazine. The monopod can be used under the rear end of the rifle stock to set the height of the barrel for accurate aiming.

Customizing your rifle ergonomics

Enhancing the ergonomics of your rifle by upgrading its parts is an important step in making the firearm fit your individual body measurements. The Tikka line of rifles offers modularity in the form of interchangeable pistol grips and fore-end pieces as well as adjustable length of pull via spacers. Some Tikka models also have adjustable cheek risers.

Tikka pistol grips and front grip extensions enhance the rifle's ergonomics for better shooting. They are offered in several different colors for you to make your rifle look the way you want, and are compatible with all T3x synthetic stocks. The pistol grip is available both in a traditionally angled model and in a more vertical version. The vertical grip keeps the wrist straight and makes it easier for hunters with smaller hands to reach the trigger properly. It is also a great option when shooting prone. Pistol grips are also offered with a Soft Touch finish, which helps with securely holding the gun even when it’s wet.

In the Sako line of rifles, the S20 offers a completely modular, high-quality solution both for hunting and long-range shooting. The S20 can be equipped with either a Precision or Hunting forend and stock, and the stock is very easily changed depending on the use. While visiting the shooting range, the rifle can be kept in Precision mode, and when it comes time to go hunting, the rifle is changed to Hunter version by just loosening two screws and sliding the new stock on. Sako S20 can also be equipped with a thumb rest to help achieve delicate trigger presses for long-range precision.

Muzzle devices

Felt recoil from a rifle is a very subjective matter. A bigger person might not think the recoil from a .308 Win rifle is bad, but for a smaller person or for a beginner it might be too much and make shooting a little uncomfortable. Attaching a muzzle device to the rifle makes the recoil easier to manage. For hunting purposes, there are typically two devices to choose from: a muzzle brake or a suppressor.

A muzzle brake will generally direct the gases through the sideports of the brake, making the recoil feel a lot softer. The downside of a muzzle brake is that the sound of the shot grows much louder. A suppressor, on the other hand, makes the gun sound quieter, and at the same time makes it also shoot softer, although not as soft as a brake. A muzzle brake is a good accessory, especially when your country or state doesn’t allow suppressors.

Magazines and quality ammunition

It is good to have at least one extra magazine as a backup when out hunting or at the shooting range. A lost or damaged magazine might end the activity altogether. Sometimes an intense hunting situation might also call for a second magazine when shots need to be fired, and there is no time to refill the empty one. Check that you purchase the right magazine for your rifle, since they are usually rifle model, stock, and caliber specific.

Lastly, one of the most important rifle accessories for any hunter is the ammunition. It needs to be high quality, accurate, predictable, and reliable. A high-quality hunting cartridge, such as the lead-free Sako Blade, is especially designed with the demands of hunting in mind. Optimal stopping power, speed, and good ballistics are all very important when designing a cartridge for successful hunts and ethical shots on wild game. For practicing at the shooting range, it is equally important to have reliable ammunition, making the Sako Range and TRG cartridges a perfect pairing for Sako and Tikka rifles.