LSA 55 6MMRem

[Bill Suter]

I found one in a local shop that's in pretty nice condition except.......front and rear sights are missing. The factory recoil pad has been replaced with a pachmeyer but they did a nice job and it looks like the metal cover on the mag is missing. The metal, bore and stock are nice and looks to have been some what taken care of. But looks can be deceiving. Any idea of real world value?

Thanks

 

[Bill Suter]

I can't give much more info than what I have already gave. I did see an older picture of a replacement mag that icebear had posted and it looked the same as the one that is in the rifle now so I guess there is no missing cover. The sights and the recoil pad are the only things missing or replaced. Other than that the rifle is very nice.

 

[icebear]

The missing sights are very common on standard grade M55/M65 (LSA) Tikkas. For some reason most owners seem to have removed them. The Deluxe grade models for the US market were made without sights. Correct sights are hard to find; maybe the owners just threw them away.

I wouldn't let the lack of sights keep you from buying an otherwise desirable rifle. The recoil pad is a matter of taste. Of course it's best if the stock has not been cut. Check the length of pull - if the stock hasn't been cut the LOP will be a bit longer than normal. I believe repro buttplates are available, if you want to replace the pad.

Recent sales of LSA-65 rifles on Gunbroker have been in the $500-700 range. The higher number sometimes includes a scope. The caliber might add a little value but there's not a lot of collector interest in the LSA models. The sights and pad are, of course, negative factors. A pair of original Tikka scope rings would add some value. Condition is everything.

 

[Bill Suter]

Thanks icebear. I'm not per se a collector, I just like nice rifles. They were asking $599 for the rifle. Then he knocked of $60 making it $539. I get 5% military discount dropping it to $517 and tax. It does have a Simmons scope on it but that would be scraped ASAP. Buying a used rifle is always a flip of the coin on what you get. But that is the risk we take. I may take another trip to the store and give the LSA another look.

 

[Bill Suter]

I went back and looked the rifle over again. I offered $500 and tax and they accepted my offer so I now have an LSA 55 in 6mm Remington. Hope it shoots good.

 

[icebear]

Sounds like a good deal to me - a fair price for a shooter grade LSA-65 in a rare caliber. Please post some photos - I'm sure I'm not the only one who is curious about it!

 

[clovis]

Good for you. Let's see some photos. I have the deluxe Ithaca marked version in 270 and find it a very good shooter. Like you I'm not a per se collector but think the older Tikka LSA's are well made and under appreciated and always on lookout for them in my travels.

 

[Bill Suter]

I was trying to find out when it was made and got a little confused. The serial number is 555-120xxx. When looking it showed the 555 and beside it said prototype. Now I'm not sure what I have or when it was made.

 

[paulsonconstruction]

If you just enjoy the rifle & go shoot & have fun with it, when it was made & what it's worth will fade to irrelevance. You got a very nice rifle @ a very good price. Everything else is just fluff!

 

[icebear]

I was trying to find out when it was made and got a little confused. The serial number is 555-120xxx. When looking it showed the 555 and beside it said prototype. Now I'm not sure what I have or when it was made.

IF Tikka, unlike Sako, actually ran its numbers in sequence, and IF the timeline in Arma Fennica is correct, your rifle was made in or around 1972.

Are you saying the rifle is stamped "prototype" or that there was some kind of paperwork describing it as a prototype? Need more info and photos.

 

[Bill Suter]

I was just trying to find year of manufactured. When I saw the 555 all that was there was prototype. It was just a Google search. Can't even remember the site now. I doubt its anything special as it looks like ll the rest of them.