Tikka M65

Lore & Background

The Tikka M65 was introduced in 1969 as the LSA65, following the short-action Tikka M55 (1968). Tikkakoski designed the M65 to handle cartridges with cases up to 65 mm long, from which the rifle took its name. In 1972 the rifle was renamed M65. The company was bought by Nokia in 1974 and by Sako in 1983; Sako also acquired Valmet in 1986. After the Tikka M55's success as a sniper rifle, Sako introduced the purpose-built Tikka M65A in 1988, incorporating design features from the Valmet Sniper M86, such as an aluminium bedding block. Production of Tikka rifles moved to Sako's Riihimäki factory after the Tikkakoski factory was run down and its machinery destroyed in 1987. The last M55 and M65 were assembled in 1989, and the M65 was superseded by the Tikka M658 in 1990. Design work from the M65A and Valmet Sniper M86 contributed to the development of the Sako TRG in the early 1990s.

The M65 action is based on the M55, which itself is loosely based on the Mauser action. It features a milled receiver made from special steel, a 90° rotating two-lug cylindrical bolt, two additional safety lugs at the rear, and two vent holes in the bolt body. Unlike the M55, the M65 has an integral recoil lug milled into the receiver. The receiver has 17 mm dovetail rails for mounting optical sights. Later model bolts have a large handle with a plastic ball-shaped end. The M65A includes a polyacrylamide bushing as a bolt guide. Barrels are cut rifled with six grooves and available in four lengths. Some models have iron sights: an open notch rear and hooded post front. The barrel is free-floating, even in the Fullstock variant. The trigger is adjustable via a screw inside the magazine well, with a pull range of 0.8–1 kg to 3 kg; setting it too light can cause unintentional discharges. Standard versions use a double-stack stamped steel magazine holding 4, 5, 7, 8, or 10 rounds, with the catch inside the trigger guard. The M65A uses a single-stack single-feed magazine holding 5 or 10 rounds, with catches on both sides of the magazine. Sporter variants have heavy walnut stocks with UIT rails; the M65A has an aluminium bedded stock with an aluminium chassis, an adjustable walnut cheekpiece, and an UIT accessory rail on the underside.

Reader's Guide

The Tikka M65 represents a significant step in Finnish rifle design, bridging the short-action M55 and the later M88 series. Its development into the M65A sniper variant in 1988 directly influenced the Sako TRG, a rifle that became widely adopted by military and law enforcement. The M65's legacy is tied to the consolidation of Finnish firearms manufacturing: after Tikkakoski was acquired by Sako, production moved to Riihimäki, and the M65 was succeeded by the Tikka M658 in 1990. The rifle's design features—such as the integral recoil lug, free-floating barrel, and adjustable trigger—were carried forward in later Tikka and Sako models. The M65A's aluminium bedding block, borrowed from the Valmet Sniper M86, foreshadowed the chassis-style stocks common in modern precision rifles. Though production ended in 1989, the M65 remains a notable example of Finnish engineering and a precursor to the Tikka T3 and Sako TRG lines.

Did You Know?

• The Tikka M65 was originally called LSA65, named for its ability to handle cartridges with cases up to 65 mm long.
• The M65A sniper variant introduced in 1988 incorporated an aluminium bedding block from the Valmet Sniper M86.
• The M65's trigger can be adjusted between 0.8–1 kg and 3 kg, but setting it too light may cause unintentional discharges.