The Tikka is basically a Valmet made in Itally. It was eventually made by Marochi(sp).The weak point in them is the ejectors break after a while and replacements are next to impossible to get. Replacement chokes are difficult to find also. Jeffs outfitters in MO used to have them, may even have some left.

The Ithaca is a solid gun, part are available, but with short barrel that are choked too open, it is a bad choice for trap. Would be perfect if you were intending on shooting skeet. Only chokes I see fitting it would be of the thin wall variety.

What costs are we talking here? There are most likely better choices unless we are talking clearance type prices for the two mentioned.

 

Quick look online reveled 600s going for $500-$700, the upper range for trap versions and a 20ga. Couldn't find a Tikka that sold, so searched Valmet and most sold around $750. The Valmets usually go for $100-$200 more than the Tikka version.

Fixed choked Citori $600
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =277125797

Fixed IC/Mod old one with box $900
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =278477889

Invector version buy it now of $749
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =278552634

Those were only the ones that stood out. Several more under $1000, depending on condition and chokes.

Latest CDNN catalog has 5 under $1000. Lanbers up to $650, Weatherby $899, S&W and Win 101 $999.

 

I agree with Drig. Unless you're looking at some killer deals, I'd keep looking.

If you're interested in a good-quality used O/U at a decent price, I'd suggest you look on GunBroker for Charles Daly (Miroku), Ithaca/SKB, SKB, and Nikko O/U's. Very well-made Japanese guns with an excellent reputation.

I picked up a like-new Charles Daly Venture trap gun last month on GB for only $600. After Charles Daly, Miroku started making Citori's and other guns for Browning. Nikko made 101's for Winchester. They know how to make quality firearms.

Good luck with your search. You are wise to ask questions.

P.S. The best firearm I've ever owned (and still own) is a Tikka M65 Deluxe in .300 Win. Mag.

 

I wouldn't consider a 26" gun of any kind for shooting Trap, or even Skeet unless it's an older, heavy 26" Skeet gun. I like the old Ithaca SKBs but this isn't the one to get.

The Tikka is a neat thing, with the same lockup as a Krieghoff. I haven't shot one, though, so I'm not sure how they handle. Parts might not be readily available. Somebody else might know.

 

Driggy, that's excellent advice, except that I made a search and found that Tikka still has one importer in the USA in Oregon. I called the number (503)-263-3787 at 7:30 am Pacific time and a man with a thick New York accent picked up immediately. Guess what?

1. They will sell you a brand new Tikka 512SC for $1,350.

2. Choke tubes are $22

3. Ejectors are $40 each.

The man frankly discussed the ejector problem and recommended that you cut two coils off each ejector spring to remedy it. He said the problem is caused by the retainer breaking and the ejector not staying in.

Tikka O/U's are still available in the USA by Marocchi and this guy is the sole US importer:

http://www.marocchiarms.com/index.php?c ... he=0&page=

Marocchi may have quit making them, too. The products page of Marocchi doesn't list the 512SC, but they are still making over and under shotguns of other designs.

I don't own an Italian 412, but I do own an old Savage 333 and a gorgeous Valmet 412S made in Finland. I've never had the slightest trouble from either gun, and I've long considered that a least teh Finnish made 412's were the very best of the middle priced over and unders, ranked in this order:

SKB, RRL, Citori, Beretta 686, Japanese 101, and Valmet 412S

I at least one of all six of those, and consider any quality differences between them to be minor. However, the SKB and now the RRL are no longer being made, but are still available and the RRL apparently enjoys the typical Ruger "we'll fix anything that's our fault for free but we don't have a written warranty so you don't sue us or get any crazy ideas" warranty. The 101's haven't been made in about 25 years, and the new gun being made now in Belgium just shares the name. I don't own one yet, and therefore can't recommend one.

But there is exactly one importer as of today for the Tikka 512SC and he has parts. It's worth calling him to hear the New York accent. I'm sure he thought I had a thick Ozark accent myself, and he'd be right about that. We didn't need interpreters, though. He was very polite and knowledgable about Tikkas, and virtually every part on the Tikka is the same as the Valmet.

 

Thanks SuperXone. I'll add only one thing. I had a Tikka 412, and it had the older Valmet chokes. They switched sometime during the production process. Kinda like my Benelli SS. Got and early one that takes crio sports, not the newer crio plus tubes.

 

Super,

Here's a Tikka story you may enjoy.

Back around 1985 I was planning a moose hunt up in Canada and wanted to get a larger calibre rifle. Found a new Tikka M65 Deluxe in .300 Win. Mag. at a dealer down in TX and the price was right. Straight out of the box, this gun fit me like it had been custom-made for me.

I needed to buy Tikka scope mounts and an extra clip. Couldn't find any U.S. dealers (remember the pre-Internet days?) and had almost given up hope when we had a Finnish exchange student attend one of our Rotary Club meetings. I explained my problem to him and he jotted down what I was looking for. He said he'd mail it to his father who was a policeman in the same town where the Tikka factory was located.

About 3 weeks later I got a nice letter from his father informing me that he had talked to the folks at Tikka and that I could get the parts I needed from a distributor up in Ontario, Canada. He included their name, address, and phone number.

I'm convinced that if I'd never met that Finnish kid, I still be shooting open sights with my M65.

Small world!

 

Sounds like the Tikka would be a decent buy. I may just have to give it a shot.

Thanks for all the info guys.

 

If the Tikka 412's are even half as well made as the Finnish ones, they are excellent guns.

My Valmet 412S has the nicest walnut of any shotgun I own or have ever owned. It has target chambers with some extended choke tubes I bought from Jeff's Outfitters and it's a comfort to know that for now you can buy parts for it. Two coils are coming off each ejector spring tonight!.

 

Just wanted to update the post. I picked up the Tikka yesterday and couldn't be happier. The owner said he bought it about 15yrs ago and put about 20 rounds through it. It looks brand new to me. I just want to find a case for it as well as some extended chokes.

Thanks again for all the help. I'm off to shoot a couple rounds of trap with it this morning.

Here's a crappy pic.

 

Congratulations and good luck with your Woodpecker! (that's what tikka means in Finnish)

Great gun!