Did MDT drop the ball?

[Chukwithak]

In October I began building a Tikka 7PRC. I was back and forth between chassis as this was my first custom build. Building my 7PRC for hunting, looked at the HNT26 and saw that @MDT_OFFICIAL does not make a polymer magazine in 7PRC for their hunting chassis. I reached out via phone and talked with a couple guys, told them exactly what I was doing and what I was thinking. They told my that a 3rd Polymer magazine was in the works, so I pulled the trigger on the HNT26. I knew I would have to shoot with the 5rd AICS for a while. Finally have my build dialed in. As a hunting rifle (scope mounted) minus my AICS mag I'm ay 7lbs 14oz. Right were I wanted to be.

Today I got the email the magazine was finally available. MDT 7PRC 3rd Polymer mag. $50...does NOT work with the Tikka LA. WTF...

I'm going to have to hunt it this year, but end of the season I'll have to go to another company. I just cant fathom how MDT left the Tikka shooters out on this one. Maybe I'm naive.

 

[b6graham]

no. they brought what will be a more popular product to market first.

 

[wpeach1912]

You’re naive

 

[powdahound76]

No.
AICS Poly mags are a hard thing with Tikkas in most chassis or AICS style bottom metal. (Have not had luck myself, just use metal mags).
Best tikka polymer mag is their DMB and factory mag.

A slick choice would be a Pure Precision stock with factory or Mtn Tactical DBM and factory or aftermarket tikka style mag.
Similar weight.
better looks.

 

[Chukwithak]

No.
AICS Poly mags are a hard thing with Tikkas in most chassis or AICS style bottom metal. (Have not had luck myself, just use metal mags).
Best tikka polymer mag is their DMB and factory mag.

A slick choice would be a Pure Precision stock with factory or Mtn Tactical DBM and factory or aftermarket tikka style mag.
Similar weight.
better looks.

I'll check it out, thanks.

 

[MarinePMI]

What @powdahound76 said. Polymer lipped mags are problematic for Tikkas due to their need for a high presentation of the round to the chamber. Polymer mag lips tend to be too thick.

I suspect that's what drove them to produce the hybrid mags (polymer bottom, and metal top/feed lips).

 

[LeftyJason]

It takes work to make a magpul polymer aics work with a tikka to the point where it weakens the lips. Not worth it.

Picture from here (not mine).

 

[Hennig]

As an aside, after reading all these similar frustrations over the last 15 years …. Why on earth do people persist with trying to make LA tikkas work with anything but factory stocks and mags. Such a waste of effort.

 

[ma smith]

As an aside, after reading all these similar frustrations over the last 15 years …. Why on earth do people persist with trying to make LA tikkas work with anything but factory stocks and mags. Such a waste of effort.

Tikka OEM mags are underated.

 

[LeftyJason]

As an aside, after reading all these similar frustrations over the last 15 years …. Why on earth do people persist with trying to make LA tikkas work with anything but factory stocks and mags. Such a waste of effort.

The biggest issue I have seen is with chassis. Other bottom metals require modification to trigger housing.

Redsnake tactical @RedRooster (hasn't been here since 2022) makes some bottom metal that drops in factory cut stocks and they have a version for aics 3.715" 300 win mag (3.5" oal) and another for trg 42 300 win mag.

 

[4O6shootist]

Perhaps try one these? https://mdttac.com/300wm-mdt-metal-magazine/

3.560 oal, holds 3.480 internal. Which should handle a 7prc just fine. I have used these on my 2 Tikka long action xlr chassis.

If you want it shorter, less capacity, send it to Justin @kinport peak rifles in Idaho, he'll cut and modify it for 3rd.

 

[chevy_man]

I'm just sitting here wondering why they didn't make the hnt26 in a 30-06 mag length.

 

[4O6shootist]

I'm just sitting here wondering why they didn't make the hnt26 in a 30-06 mag length.

Just use a long action? I mean aren't all the -06 family cartridges long action?

https://mdttac.com/30-06-mdt-cip-la-polymer-magazine-3-rnd/

They even make the magazines for it.

 

[chevy_man]

Just use a long action? I mean aren't all the -06 family cartridges long action?

https://mdttac.com/30-06-mdt-cip-la-polymer-magazine-3-rnd/

They even make the magazines for it.

That's new.

They used to only have 30-06 mags at 3.715.

Since the rifle I would buy it for is a 25-06, I didn't want to deal with trying to make a 300 mag work. I was ready to buy one last fall until I realized it was 3.850.

 

[NewsShooter]

Seems like the 3.56 metal mags made for a Tikka would work fine. Waters mags from Australia have worked the best for my 7 saum at just under 3.2 OAL.

 

[7mm-08 Freak]

I think I’m in the same boat with my proof research 7PRC rifle. It has a metallic 3.715 length five round magazine marked 3.715/300 mag that came with and I want a three round so I ordered a three round 7PRC poly mag but it measures 3850. I call MDT and they say they don’t make a three round that’s 3.715 long. I’m like what the hell? They’re saying I have to modify my bottom metal to get the three rounder to fit, but then my five rounder if I ever want to use it won’t fit cause it’ll be too short After the modification. What a mess I just want a short three round mag that doesn’t hang out 4 inches below the bottom of the stock.

 

[7mm-08 Freak]

When I talked to MDT yesterday, he told me that the 30-06, 3.715 mag would not work but yet it’s printed 300 mag 3.715 on the metallic mag that came with my gun that makes no sense to me why it wouldn’t work, but he kept talking about different ways of measuring it using Different acronyms for measurements. I’m more confused now than I’ve ever been. I just want a three round poly mag and not have to modify my bottom metal cause I may want to use that 5 rounder one day.

 

[blackblue]

Could try the hawkins 3rd.

 

[MDT_Josh]

To clear up some confusion here (and provide some background):

1. All Tikka T3/T3x actions are made the same length (from 204 Ruger all the way up to 9.3x62) meaning that they only switch out a few parts here and there to adjust compatibility with their factory stocks and magazines,
2. This is not a problem for CTR/Short Action AICS magazines as the cut-out in the receiver is long enough to correctly align a magazine to the action for consistent feeding (like a Remington or a Savage for example),
3. The Long Action becomes problematic FAST as the cut-out in the receiver is shorter than a standard 3.715" long action magazine (sad ),
4. HOWEVER, because we love Tikka actions and they are super popular, we have been producing a 3.560" specific length magazine that will handle all SAAMI/CIP spec loaded rounds (COAL) that Tikka currently produces a T3 action for (300 WM, 7mm RM, 30-06, 9.3x62, etc.) (yay ),
5. These magazines also happen to fit Savage Axis LA chassis as they took the same approach with their action design,
6. In order to have a standard 3.715" LA magazine, or a CIP 3.850" magazine fit the Tikka receiver you would have to modify the action and stock/bottom metal to run something like a 300 PRC, 300 NM or 338 Lapua!

Now to answer your initial question; Did MDT drop the ball by not producing a 3RD LA polymer magazine that would work for a Tikka? No. We invested in R&D and tooling for the more popular CIP (3.850") length magazines first and can work backwards to create a Tikka variant in the future if there is demand!

Thank you for coming to my TED talk, hope this helps clear up any confusion,

Josh

 

[Trevor300wsm]

Now to answer your initial question; Did MDT drop the ball by not producing a 3RD LA polymer magazine that would work for a Tikka? No. We invested in R&D and tooling for the more popular CIP (3.850") length magazines first and can work backwards to create a Tikka variant in the future if there is demand!

You said it way nicer than I would have.

 

[Chukwithak]

To clear up some confusion here (and provide some background):

1. All Tikka T3/T3x actions are made the same length (from 204 Ruger all the way up to 9.3x62) meaning that they only switch out a few parts here and there to adjust compatibility with their factory stocks and magazines,
2. This is not a problem for CTR/Short Action AICS magazines as the cut-out in the receiver is long enough to correctly align a magazine to the action for consistent feeding (like a Remington or a Savage for example),
3. The Long Action becomes problematic FAST as the cut-out in the receiver is shorter than a standard 3.715" long action magazine (sad ),
4. HOWEVER, because we love Tikka actions and they are super popular, we have been producing a 3.560" specific length magazine that will handle all SAAMI/CIP spec loaded rounds (COAL) that Tikka currently produces a T3 action for (300 WM, 7mm RM, 30-06, 9.3x62, etc.) (yay ),
5. These magazines also happen to fit Savage Axis LA chassis as they took the same approach with their action design,
6. In order to have a standard 3.715" LA magazine, or a CIP 3.850" magazine fit the Tikka receiver you would have to modify the action and stock/bottom metal to run something like a 300 PRC, 300 NM or 338 Lapua!

Now to answer your initial question; Did MDT drop the ball by not producing a 3RD LA polymer magazine that would work for a Tikka? No. We invested in R&D and tooling for the more popular CIP (3.850") length magazines first and can work backwards to create a Tikka variant in the future if there is demand!

Thank you for coming to my TED talk, hope this helps clear up any confusion,

Josh

Thanks for the in depth answer Josh. All I was asking for was an answer and it’s been over a year, almost 2 since I started asking these questions over the phone. I appreciate the time you took to create some clarity.

You said it way nicer than I would have.

My biggest complaint was the gentlemen telling my something is in the works before pulling the trigger on the HNT26. Don’t tell me something is if it isn’t. I didn’t buy a lightweight stock to use a .25lb magazine.

 

[MDT_Josh]

No worries @Trevor300wsm and @Chukwithak ! This is more of a problem on our end for making sure that we all know what's going on in development and understanding the limitations of certain actions and platforms.

Unfortunately there are a lot of nuances in action design and as someone who is involved all day in solving these challenges, it is common knowledge to me, but not always the same for our customer service and marketing guys and gals. They do an incredible job, but transferring knowledge between departments is not always easy.

Hopefully we can do better in the future!
- Josh