Mounting scope on Tikka Tx3

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With rifle and scope (VX-5HD 3x15-44) in hand, I still have a few questions before proceeding to mount (have watched Jim’s tutorial and a bunch of other videos - I’m committed to doing this myself!).

  1. My preference is to mount directly to the dovetail. Do folks here feel strongly about this one way or another?
  2. I think I should be okay with low ring height (per Jim’s cheat sheet). Does anybody have experience with the same equipment I have? I’d hate to buy only to find it’s the wrong height.
  3. I’m going to get the Wheeler torque wrench. Do I really need a tap to clean out the plastic that’s in one of the top holes? Knocking out that plastic piece looks scary to me - like I might damage something. And can somebody explain why they put screws in most of the holes, but two of them are open with the plastic insert?
  4. The videos don’t say anything about removing the screws that aren’t used for the recoil retention pin, but I presume they should be removed. Yes?
  5. If I go with the dovetail mount, I’m leaning towards the UM. It’s not clear if Talley makes a direct, dovetail mount, but I guess that would be an option too. Others I should consider?
  6. On the videos, the guys seem to be using multiple levels. What do I really need??
  7. If I end up choosing the picatilly rail solution, then I’m back to square one on which picatilly rail and rings.

As always, many thanks. You guys have been great.

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1. Direct Mount and using a rail both have their pluses and minuses. Neither one is superior in my opinion. Pick whichever one meets your needs the best.

2. You’ll probably be okay with that height. Personally I don’t always go for the absolute lowest like most people do. I like a little clearance between my bolt handle and the scope and also don’t like having to Crane my neck as much.

3. Not sure what plastic piece you’re talking about

4. I generally remove all of the screws just to make certain that there’s not something High putting any pressure on the mounts. But I don’t think it would matter much either way

5. No experience with um. Tally is good stuff and I’m almost certain they make one, unless they dropped it, which would be very unusual given tikka’s popularity

6 I forget the name of it but I use the system that has the magnetic level as well as a barrel clamp level. You use the magnetic level to get the rifle leveled first, then apply the barrel clamp level and get it set so that it shows level. Now when you remove the magnetic level you’ve got something to confirm that your rifle doesn’t get moved during the process

7. Pretty sure tally makes rails for Tikka also. In terms of rings I typically use night Force but I believe Jim loves area 419

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