Tikka action build

tow2atm · Dec 1, 2024

I’m looking to build off a Tikka action. Would I be further ahead to just buy a new rifle and take the action out or try to find and buy the action only?
I only found J&A to sell Tikka actions. Anyone else out there?
And when you find an individual selling a Tikka action, they are gone in a blink of an eye.
I would need the magnum bolt face as I’m building a .300WSM.
Is there another decent company out there where I can get an action for $800ish. The closest I found was Origin (closer to$1000)by Zermatt and I already have the TL3 in a 6.5 PRC which is great, but looking to go lighter in weight and cheaper$$$ build.

Any input, suggestions, information or criticism is appreciated. Thanks!

lonestar1845 · Dec 1, 2024

Yes, I've built many this way. I just buy a tikka lite and you're getting a good action and trigger for about $650. If you don't care about the look, you can put a tikka nut barrel (even though you can use a prefit) from Crown Ridge and have a tack driver barreled action for a little over a grand.

Keep in mind, this will stop making sense if you need to buy the tools to take it apart and put it back together. You need a really good barrel vice, an outside action wrench and some know how to get a tikka barrel off. Also buying whatever rings or rails you intend to use. Most custom actions they're included, tikka lite won't have them. If you don't already have the tools and are having to pay a smith to put everything together, you might as well just go with a custom action unless weight is a concern.

You can get a Mac Bros evo II for $775

308pirate · Dec 1, 2024

lonestar1845 said:
Keep in mind, this will stop making sense if you need to buy the tools to take it apart and put it back together

Wrong

The tools are a one time expense that are amortized over the rest of your shooting life and will more than pay for themselves the first time you figure in the cost and lead time of paying someone to replace the barrel for you.

joetuono · Dec 1, 2024

Eurooptic has the 300 wsm lite on sale for $650 right now. I think the $75 dollar rebate just ended.

joetuono · Dec 1, 2024

If you worried about getting the factory barrel off a relief cut on the barrel right in front of the action works great. I had an older T3 in 30-06 that I wanted to use as a donor action and could not get the barrel off, instead of risking bending the action I made the relief cut with a cutoff disc. Barrel spun off the hand pressure.

The Lite barrels don’t have much resale value anyway.

powdahound76 · Dec 1, 2024

I love a tikka.

For a good factory rifle.

If you are going to go all aftermarket, I would go Origin.
I say that having both of them.

Look at Front Range Precision.
Excellent dealer and has a lot of prefits in stock usually.
I use a proof CF prefit for my SA Origin 300 wSM. Very accurate.

Have heard more than once that Tikka barrels come off easier new than fired a lot.
Good vice on the barre and a couple raps from a hammer on a breaker bar works pretty darn great

K80/6.5 · Dec 1, 2024

Buy new from euro and buy tools and learn how to do it. Its not that hard to take a barrel off, worse case you have to relief cut the barrel. Sell everything off on rokslide for a couple bucks you will be money ahead.

LeftyJason · Dec 3, 2024

If you buy a complete Tikka at least you have a shoot able rifle the entire time you are upgrading it.

Tikka buying guide
T3 thread #3268
Page 66. https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/tikka-t3-thread.6252615/post-7301418

JR1200W3 · Dec 3, 2024

I built off a Tikka action and I really like the gun but in this day and age I would build off a Mack Bro's EVO or Aero Solus for a similar price range. But I would still pay more for an Origin

Rodney65 · Dec 19, 2024

lonestar1845 said:
You need ... some know how to get a tikka barrel off.

Not necessarily, I did it.

I would advise using a very long (4-5') wrench extension on the action wrench.

ColbyJack308 · Dec 19, 2024

I’ve been wanting to do the same in terms of using a Tikka action for a custom build. I just love the feel of the action itself and I’m a fan of the CTR mags over AICS for just how damn smooth they are

FuhQ · Dec 19, 2024

Why did you start 2 different threads on the same subject in 2 different sections of the forum?

@Rob01

CaptNemo · Dec 20, 2024

I used my barrel vice and internal action wrench to swap barrels on two different actions on Wednesday.
6.5 CM barrel off my CTR action -> .284 Winchester carbon wrapped barrel on
26" 6mm CM barrel off Karen's T3X -> OEM 20" 7mm-08 threaded barrel from J & A Outdoors on for deer hunting

If you have the tools, you'll use the tools.

brazz04 · Dec 21, 2024

FuhQ said:
Why did you start 2 different threads on the same subject in 2 different sections of the forum?

@Rob01

Tattletale

FuhQ · Dec 21, 2024

brazz04 said:
Tattletale

Cry some more.

brazz04 · Dec 21, 2024

it was a joke dude, calm yourself

carbonbased · Dec 21, 2024

As a guy who went through a factory Tikka barrel removal saga, you might want to just pay a smith to remove the thing.

Otherwise, if you use an external action wrench (as recommended), do NOT tighten it much on the sides. Like not much at all, as the action is real thin there.

I made that mistake despite fairly extensively researching how to do this (never removed a barrel on anything before). It was a super bitch to get a grip on a sporter barrel, let me tell ya.

Tore the threads right off the barrel! Roughed up the action threads too, but knowledgable folks have told me it’s salvageable if I run a large Brownells tap through it to clean it up.

I’ve got a few posts on the matter if you care to search.

Heck, I might sell the thing for cheap as I have no room for another rifle anyway.

brazz04 · Sunday at 12:14 AM

Any of the new Tikkas are really easy to get broken down. Barrels must not be nearly as tight as older ones where people have these issues. I've pulled 6 now and never had to use a mallet on the external action wrench more than twice.

roosterpig · Sunday at 12:30 AM

If you go the full rifle route, euro optic has your stick for a hell of a deal. 600 bones is awesome. Must… RESIST!

Tikka T3x Lite .300 WSM Rifle JRTXE341

Tikka T3x Lite .300 WSM Rifle JRTXE341 | Only at EuroOptic.com!

www.eurooptic.com

powdahound76 · Sunday at 8:32 AM

Just buy it!!

300 wsm is a sledghammer

My elk this year made it 12 yds.
Not the best kill shot on my part either.
200 gr eldx dumped all it’s energy. Bullet in offside hide.

Mattig · Sunday at 1:47 PM

I agree that the barrel removal isn't too bad. Barrel vise with leather. External action wrench. And a couple of blows with a big rubber mallet.

Great service and products from Northland on the external action wrench and Southern Precision (bugholes.com) on an internal action wrench (preferred for reinstallation from what I could gather).

MountainBum_ · Monday at 12:34 AM

FuhQ said:
Cry some more.

FuhQ said:
Why did you start 2 different threads on the same subject in 2 different sections of the forum?

@Rob01

FuhQ · Monday at 12:36 AM

MountainBum_ said:

Hey New Jack, why don't you get some more posts before you talk shit.

MountainBum_ · Monday at 12:39 AM

FuhQ said:
Hey New Jack, why don't you get some more posts before you talk shit.

bro thinks he’s the sheriff of snipers hide.

FuhQ · Monday at 12:41 AM

MountainBum_ said:
bro thinks he’s the sheriff of snipers hide.

Nope, I just think you might want to calm your tits.

MountainBum_ · Monday at 12:47 AM

FuhQ said:
Nope, I just think you might want to calm your tits.

I’ll calm mine if you calm yours from Interrogating OP on why he made two posts. Seems kind of immature when he’s simply looking for advice/insight? Love you, merry Christmas.

FuhQ · Monday at 12:53 AM

MountainBum_ said:
I’ll calm mine if you calm yours from Interrogating OP on why he made two posts. Seems kind of immature when he’s simply looking for advice/insight? Love you, merry Christmas.

MountainBum_ · Monday at 12:58 AM

OP, coming from someone that has built off of a few premium 700 clone actions and chased the lighter is better scam for years - I want to console you that outside of aesthetics and talking points with friends, custom clone actions, especially Ti actions, aren’t offering anything over a tikka t3x action.

I built off of the Mack bros and while they are an amazing manufacturer and the action is great, there’s no real world advantage over the tikka. Origins are good actions and I advocate for them, but I’d still take a 650 dollar donor tikka over one for a build.

As for weight, there is a point of diminishing returns especially with magnums. whatever build you do, focus more on a manageable weight that still offers forgiveness. You’d be much better off cutting a few ounces in the pack for a few more in a rifle you’re more comfortable shooting at further distances and spending more time behind during the off season.

MountainBum_ · Monday at 1:00 AM

FuhQ said:
View attachment 8575482

Nice. A South Park gif. Did you have your grandson help you download it from the google machine.

FuhQ · Monday at 1:06 AM

MountainBum_ said:
Nice. A South Park gif. Did you have your grandson help you download it from the google machine.

Your mom said it was past your bedtime.

MountainBum_ · Monday at 1:08 AM

FuhQ said:
Your mom said it was past your bedtime.

to be fair it actually is past my bedtime. Still tired from my date with your dad last night.

FuhQ · Monday at 1:10 AM

MountainBum_ said:
to be fair it actually is past my bedtime. Still tired from my date with your dad last night.

You're a gay necrophiliac? That's nasty...

roosterpig · Monday at 1:15 AM

Did you guys just become best friends?

MountainBum_ · Monday at 1:17 AM

FuhQ said:
You're a gay necrophiliac? That's nasty...

roosterpig said:
Did you guys just become best friends?

He’s actually my uncle he just doesn’t like to admit or talk about it. Due to the whole gay dead people thing. Idk. Seems kind of dramatic to me but family is family.

tow2atm · Thursday at 6:09 AM

FuhQ said:
Why did you start 2 different threads on the same subject in 2 different sections of the forum?

@Rob01

To get more reply’s

tow2atm · Thursday at 6:19 AM

MountainBum_ said:
OP, coming from someone that has built off of a few premium 700 clone actions and chased the lighter is better scam for years - I want to console you that outside of aesthetics and talking points with friends, custom clone actions, especially Ti actions, aren’t offering anything over a tikka t3x action.

I built off of the Mack bros and while they are an amazing manufacturer and the action is great, there’s no real world advantage over the tikka. Origins are good actions and I advocate for them, but I’d still take a 650 dollar donor tikka over one for a build.

As for weight, there is a point of diminishing returns especially with magnums. whatever build you do, focus more on a manageable weight that still offers forgiveness. You’d be much better off cutting a few ounces in the pack for a few more in a rifle you’re more comfortable shooting at further distances and spending more time behind during the off season.

Thanks for the insight! That makes sense.

Evolution 9 · Thursday at 7:27 AM

R700 actions have several shortcomings, which is why there’s a healthy market for custom actions. If you look up the original shortcomings that the customs were trying to solve, you’ll find that Tikka actions solve them all.

Wider stiffer rear tang to prevent flex - check

Stiffer action - check

Smoother action - check

Shorter bolt throw - check

Consistency in manufacturing to allow pre-fit barrels - check

The fact that they come with a very nice trigger (that hasn’t suffered 2.5 recalls) is an often overlooked financial factor when considering your options.

It’s also worth noting, that unlike some of the custom actions, Tikka accomplished all of that while still maintaining a high degree of reliability in adverse conditions.

They aren’t perfect, but there’s nothing that comes even remotely close to offering so much for so little.

That $600 Tikka is actually 400 when you remember that the custom action you’re comparing it to will need a $200 trigger.

FuhQ · 2024-12-27T13:40:00-0500

tow2atm said:
Thanks for the insight! That makes sense.

He can’t see your responses, he got banned because he was the 2nd spam account for the same d-bag who got pissed at me in the other Tikka thread you posted. Even his responses are identical, including his sarcastic “Merry Christmas”. Some people are just really bad at pretending to be someone else.

FuhQ · 2024-12-27T13:43:12-0500

Evolution 9 said:
R700 actions have several shortcomings, which is why there’s a healthy market for custom actions. If you look up the original shortcomings that the customs were trying to solve, you’ll find that Tikka actions solve them all.

Wider stiffer rear tang to prevent flex - check

Stiffer action - check

Smoother action - check

Shorter bolt throw - check

Consistency in manufacturing to allow pre-fit barrels - check

The fact that they come with a very nice trigger (that hasn’t suffered 2.5 recalls) is an often overlooked financial factor when considering your options.

It’s also worth noting, that unlike some of the custom actions, Tikka accomplished all of that while still maintaining a high degree of reliability in adverse conditions.

They aren’t perfect, but there’s nothing that comes even remotely close to offering so much for so little.

That $600 Tikka is actually 400 when you remember that the custom action you’re comparing it to will need a $200 trigger.

Maybe compared to an actual Remington brand 700 action, but those custom aftermarket actions are FAR superior to any Tikka action of the line. You can buy 3-4 entire Tikka rifles for what some of these actions cost by themselves.

JR1200W3 · 2024-12-27T14:11:06-0500

I bought a Tikka rifle for $400 something about 6 years ago. Sold the stock bottom metal and barrel and recouped about a hundred bucks. Spent a little over $200 on a shroud and swept bolt handle from Sterk. Bought a area 419 picatinny base for about a hundred bucks. And then I bought another action for about $500, kept the bolt, and sold the action body. Spent another $200 on a shroud and swept ball handle. And then I had that bolt face opened up to a magnum. Bought a $15 spring which turned the trigger into something like a trigger tech special. All in. I'm probably at about $900 to $1000. And it still doesn't have a quality coating on the action. Someone recently pointed out that unknown Munitions will nitride your entire action and bolt for 150 bucks. I am probably going to do that.

So for what I put into this Tikka T3 over 6 years I probably could have bought a TL3. And I would probably only get about half of what I put into it if I just tried to sell it . But I already have two TL3s and two origins so it's just something different. An itch I wanted to scratch after seeing all of @Viking73 Tikka posts. If you just want a Tikka go for it. It's a fun project. But if you just want a nice action with interchangeable bolt faces and options, it is not a good value anymore.

clark33 · 2024-12-27T14:27:08-0500

The Tikka triggers are more reliable if you plan to shoot in harsh weather or dirty/dusty conditions.

Evolution 9 · 2024-12-27T15:14:19-0500

FuhQ said:
Maybe compared to an actual Remington brand 700 action, but those custom aftermarket actions are FAR superior to any Tikka action of the line. You can buy 3-4 entire Tikka rifles for what some of these actions cost by themselves.

You crack me up. You read without comprehension and then laughed at the version of my comment that you created in your haste/error.

1. Yes, I specifically said that was in comparison to Remington actions

2. Yes, Some customs are superior in some (or several) respects. Some are not. Custom actions initially had a terrible reputation for failing under reasonable use (competition). Some still suffer from this. All the while, Tikka had already solved every initial Remington shortcoming, without sacrificing reliability.

3. You’re making my point: at $400, Tikka actions stand absolutely alone as the deal of the decade for those wanting the improvements over Remington that customs provide.

Now, I’m known to spend a lot for diminishing returns on some of my gear, so I totally get it if someone prefers to spend 3X as much for a small improvement or added feature of a nice custom. I have a GAP I had built on a custom action many years ago. I love it.

clark33 · 2024-12-27T16:19:08-0500

For the price of a used action, Tikka's are tough to beat. The only real downside is stock/chassis options, but many of the big manuf inlet for tikkas. They have reliable triggers ($9 spring gets to below 2 lbs), take prefits, actions are butter smooth. Not dogging 700 clones but I'm switching my hunting rifles to Tikka actions.

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