I read in KRG's essay on the T3 that AICS .223 mags have to be modded to work. Anyone know what, exactly has to be done or how to do it? Does it compromise the structural integrity of the mag or keep it from working in a Remington 700, etc? Thinking about going the T3 in an XLR route. . .
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AICS .223 Magazines in Tikka T3?
- Thread starter Honky
- Start date
You have to either sand/file the angle of the feed lips on the AI .223 Poly mags down so that it 'clicks' into the bottom metal (I'm using CDI on mine). The other option is to mill the magazine opening on the action, you match the angle of the AI magazine, and mill the bottom of the action at that angle so the magazine sits higher in the action (and 'clicks' in the bottom metal) and feeds rounds.
If you slide the AI poly mag in the rifle and press it up into the action, when you take it out you should see a line either size on the plastic feed lips showing where it's interferring. Some people use pen, chalk, powder, carbon to see the interference - all the same.
Hope that was clear enough. I opted to have my action milled to match the magazine angle (didn't do it myself). That way I can use any AI poly mag and not worry about modifying it (or selling them later).
The metal AI mags could be 'modded' to fit .223 rounds, and because the feed lips aren't so thick, the magazine fits in with no further modifications apart from making the mag work for .223 rounds (bending the feed lips in, adding internal plastic strips to ensure stacking). There is a mod on here about making AI steel magazines work for .223 rounds.
John.
If you slide the AI poly mag in the rifle and press it up into the action, when you take it out you should see a line either size on the plastic feed lips showing where it's interferring. Some people use pen, chalk, powder, carbon to see the interference - all the same.
Hope that was clear enough. I opted to have my action milled to match the magazine angle (didn't do it myself). That way I can use any AI poly mag and not worry about modifying it (or selling them later).
The metal AI mags could be 'modded' to fit .223 rounds, and because the feed lips aren't so thick, the magazine fits in with no further modifications apart from making the mag work for .223 rounds (bending the feed lips in, adding internal plastic strips to ensure stacking). There is a mod on here about making AI steel magazines work for .223 rounds.
John.
Thank you. Do you know if the action mod makes it unusable with factory magazines? I don't think I would ever go back to the factory setup, but its nice to have options, especially if I decide to sell it down the road. . .
Very good question, short answer is I haven't tried it.
I've upgraded the stock, DBM and magazines so I don't even have the ability to put the factory stock back on to check... I'd say yes it'll work, but due to the removed metal from the magazine inlet on the action, there may be open space which the magazine could move up into. There is an anti rattle spring held on by the trigger unit which would help, and the magazine lever would stop it from falling out obviously, so it's just down to the bolt which would be pushing the magazine downward as it moves back and forth chambering and ejecting rounds.
I've upgraded the stock, DBM and magazines so I don't even have the ability to put the factory stock back on to check... I'd say yes it'll work, but due to the removed metal from the magazine inlet on the action, there may be open space which the magazine could move up into. There is an anti rattle spring held on by the trigger unit which would help, and the magazine lever would stop it from falling out obviously, so it's just down to the bolt which would be pushing the magazine downward as it moves back and forth chambering and ejecting rounds.
Hmmm. . . see, I wonder if it would be better to go with a Manners T4 (which can use the factory "metal"). The only complaint I hear about the factory mags is that the OAL is relatively short, but I don't plan on reloading for a .223, as I don't really see the need (it should take any factory ammunition, I assume?). I like the feel of the XLR and the T4 equally, with the T4 getting a slight nod for looks, so maybe that would be better. And I don't have plasticophobia: its just a matter of what works.
I have a T4 on my Tikka 308, and a PSE carbon fibre stock on my .223 Tikka. Both are using CDI bottom metal. The T4 is a pleasure to use, and in regards to the .223 ammo being too long for the factory mags, you won't have the problem if you use factory ammo of course. The longer pills should only be used in the 1 in 8 twist .223's, and there are modifications that can be made to the factory mag which allow longer ammo to be used. The block in the back of the magazine is what people usually change/modify to allow for longer ammo.
The XLR would of course require AI mags, so you're then deciding to - a) Modify poly AI magazine lips and file/sand them down to fit. b) Modify metal AI magazines to work with .223 rounds. c) milling the Tikka magazine opening on the action to allow for the poly AI mags to fit properly.
The XLR would of course require AI mags, so you're then deciding to - a) Modify poly AI magazine lips and file/sand them down to fit. b) Modify metal AI magazines to work with .223 rounds. c) milling the Tikka magazine opening on the action to allow for the poly AI mags to fit properly.
