Does custom action make this much difference?

[NewsShooter]

Tikkas are an outstanding action. Once you get the action blueprinted, custom barrel, bedded, ect, there is no difference. The features on a custom action can be much nicer though. Several years ago I had my PRS rifle built off of a Win Model 70 action. It shoots just as well as if I had it built off of a Defiance but the integrated 20MOA base, smoother feeding, and other features would have been nice to have. If you are tight on cash, blueprint a factory action and go from there. But if you can afford it, I would recommend a custom action.

No need to blueprint the action, tolerances are good enough you can order shouldered prefits for them. I have a few, all are smoother than everything but my impact. Factory triggers don't need to be changed unless you really want to do so. Change the spring and you can have it about 1LB too.

 

[Bourbon_and_Bullets]

I really like my Tikka but it isn't as nice as my rifles with custom actions.

There have been several times that I have shot a Savage and while they shoot well, I feel like I'm making love to a good sturdy woman from Wisconsin

“sturdy woman from wisconsin” has me fkin dying.

 

[Steel head]

I have a real hard time believing this, except most of the time we make these comparisons with 3 shot groups or a couple 5 shot groups. Somehow I think a season of benchrest groups would show you different.

Savage is a great action and the most likely to achieve this. I think a Rem 700 wouldn’t even be close.


Still, it is not just accuracy. A factory action isn’t accurate enough to put Triggertech’s best trigger on it. Also, factory actions are so poorly machined that barrel tenons must be custom fit where all of the customs can be built to print and mailed to you for install....handy. Also, factory actions tend to have a fair amount of timing issues, extraction issues, firing pin fall issues.....you pay the gunsmith to correct those or live with the results. Then there is feeding....

Custom actions like Bighorn, GAP, Defiance, ARC, etc tend to have none of the above issues. That said, a “Fred” action would be custom too....who knows what a Fred action is. Go with a big name and you will have a big smile.

I shot probably 1000 rounds through barrel on paper and steel then put it in my nucleus.
Absolutely nothing changed except for the vastly better feel and functioning with the nuke.
That barrel consistently stacked 10 in 5/8’s and smacked steel happily all its life.
That barrel got me into the mile club.

 

[viking78]

I have 4 Tikka T3 rifles.
Action is smooth, factory triggers are great, and you can find all kind of aftermarket stocks and chassis for Tikka action.
But, im not able to say, go for custom or stay on Tikka, because i have not even handled those custom actions.
I would love to try few brands that has come up on this talk.
For custom action, that uses Rem 700 blueprint, there are endles on chassis and triggers, but the price is also higher.
Think of the money you are willing to use, calculate, and do it one more time.
You will need ammo too, and a scope etc.
Let us see, what you did end up in the game .

My kids like to shoot with these rifles too.

 

[nksmfamjp]

I shot probably 1000 rounds through barrel on paper and steel then put it in my nucleus.
Absolutely nothing changed except for the vastly better feel and functioning with the nuke.
That barrel consistently stacked 10 in 5/8’s and smacked steel happily all its life.
That barrel got me into the mile club.

Well, sounds like your Rem was true,
- Did it cock on close or open at all?
- Was extraction 100%?
-Was primary extraction correct?
- firing pin fall and protrusion correct?
- firing pin fit to bolt face?
- how much bolt tilt when action closed?
-feeding ok?

 

[mmlook]

I can almost guarantee that if you need any type of CS from a custom manufacturer it will be better than Tikka or any firearm company owned by Beretta.

I had one blow up on factory 90gr 243 loads. The bolt failed and I'm 100% certain it was flawed from the factory. They gave me the finger and sent the rifle back without even looking at it other than a basic visual inspection. Fuck Tikka.

yup

things that suck about Tikka's
1. CS, warranty, and spare parts
- shit CS, shit warranty, no spare parts,
and the ones that are available are more expensive than custom parts
2. Long bolt throw(front to back)
- all Tikka's are technically medium actions
3. The stupid bolt stop pin will break on you
- look at it wrong and it will break

other wise, Tikka's are great.

 

[spife7980]

Well, sounds like your Rem was true,
- Did it cock on close or open at all?
- Was extraction 100%?
-Was primary extraction correct?
- firing pin fall and protrusion correct?
- firing pin fit to bolt face?
- how much bolt tilt when action closed?
-feeding ok?

Yeah... we get that you’re trying to make a point but I think it would be better if you just shut the fuck up and go try to pontificate elsewhere.

 

[Steel head]

Yeah... we get that you’re trying to make a point but I think it would be better if you just shut the fuck up and go try to pontificate elsewhere.

 

[BuildingConceptsllc]

“sturdy woman from wisconsin” has me fkin dying.

Yeah I laughed out loud on that one too. This thread has been fun for me to watch everyone bitch and fight so much. Yet still, there isn't even agreement on what is even being discussed!!!

Ha ha. This thread made my morning. Thanks to all involved!

 

[NewsShooter]

yup

things that suck about Tikka's
1. CS, warranty, and spare parts
- shit CS, shit warranty, no spare parts,
and the ones that are available are more expensive than custom parts
2. Long bolt throw(front to back)
- all Tikka's are technically medium actions
3. The stupid bolt stop pin will break on you
- look at it wrong and it will break

other wise, Tikka's are great.

I've got one in 6.5 that's been through two barrels so far, no issues, including bolt stops. Three others have worked without a hiccup, I've put them in a chassis and aftermarket stocks as well. The fact that they're a "medium" action is one of the things I like, perfect for a 7 saum.

 

[Ndbowhunter]

Tikka bolt stops are not prone to breaking. Stop that nonsense.

 

[GrumpyOleFart]

yup

things that suck about Tikka's
1. CS, warranty, and spare parts
- shit CS, shit warranty, no spare parts,
and the ones that are available are more expensive than custom parts
2. Long bolt throw(front to back)
- all Tikka's are technically medium actions
3. The stupid bolt stop pin will break on you
- look at it wrong and it will break

other wise, Tikka's are great.

Can't please everyone all the time.
Surprised that Tikka didn't just replace the rifle.

 

[mmlook]

Can't please everyone all the time.
Surprised that Tikka didn't just replace the rifle.

tikka/barretta won’t warranty anything unless you are the original owner and have proof of purchase from a tikka dealer

they also won’t sell bolt assemblies

so, if you break a bolt, and you can’t find your receipt. you’re out of luck.

this is the main reason I sold 3 Tikka’s

 

[mmlook]

Tikka bolt stops are not prone to breaking. Stop that nonsense.

yes they are, the bolt stop is not supported by the action, and the pin is way too small.

there’s also not enough metal to increase the hole size, to use a larger pin

 

[GrumpyOleFart]

Okay, so it's a second hand rifle.
I honestly haven't heard of any failures with Tikkas, Doesn't meant it doesn't happen, have seen pics on SH of busted bolts, so its legit.
Pretty sure the new T3x have improved bolts over the T3.
My Super Varmint is a fucken rail gun.
Consistently shoots tight groups, and smacks ferals and steel at good distances.
My evil sense of humour has been relishing the fact that the high rollers with
extremely pricey rigs, at the local gun club, are cracking the shits over the performance of "cheap nasty" factory rifles.
Even to the stage they don't want non custom rifles in their comps.
Much like what @lowlight was chatting about in the podcast.
Half the reason I rarely attend.
Too much politics.
I'd rather smash ferals, and drive pills into steel at a distance with a few likeminded mates, than argue how price alone should justify a guys position on the scoreboard.
End of the day, if you find a decent rifle regardless of make, shoot the fuck out of it and enjoy!

 

[nksmfamjp]

Yeah... we get that you’re trying to make a point but I think it would be better if you just shut the fuck up and go try to pontificate elsewhere.

Wow! I’m just pointing out the layers of fucked that all Rem 700’s are and then you decide to get all fucking personal and show us your ass.....well take your super duper Rem 700 and fuck off!

BTW, if you cannot hear me sarcastically laughing as I type this, I don’t know what the fuck to do!

 

[Tokay444]

Action stiffness also has relatively little to do with rifle accuracy. Look at the record setting BR actions that are aluminum. Ex: Panda

Aluminum pandas are also a great deal larger than “standard” steel/stainless, “Remington style” actions, and have steel inserts in stressed areas. Rigidity matters and aluminum pandas have it spades.

 

[R_Swanson]

tikka/barretta won’t warranty anything unless you are the original owner and have proof of purchase from a tikka dealer

they also won’t sell bolt assemblies

so, if you break a bolt, and you can’t find your receipt. you’re out of luck.

this is the main reason I sold 3 Tikka’s

Not anymore...

LRI Direct Replacement Tikka T3 bolts

The title says it all. This has been overdue for a long time and we are happy to finally be able to offer this. Details: Stainless bolt body and handle Complete fire control Bar stock machined bolt shroud. -No plastic or Zinc casting .480 and .545 diameter bolt faces available We might do a...

www.snipershide.com

yes they are, the bolt stop is not supported by the action, and the pin is way too small.

there’s also not enough metal to increase the hole size, to use a larger pin

I mean, I love my Tikkas but everyone knows this is true. Not sure why people are debating it.

That being said obviously you're being dramatic AF saying "look at it wrong and it will break". More like, if you run it hard on a competition gun you'll break one.

 

[mmlook]

if you had these a year ago

i might still have my tikka’s

 

[Jrb572]

Not anymore...

LRI Direct Replacement Tikka T3 bolts

The title says it all. This has been overdue for a long time and we are happy to finally be able to offer this. Details: Stainless bolt body and handle Complete fire control Bar stock machined bolt shroud. -No plastic or Zinc casting .480 and .545 diameter bolt faces available We might do a...

www.snipershide.com

I mean, I love my Tikkas but everyone knows this is true. Not sure why people are debating it.

That being said obviously you're being dramatic AF saying "look at it wrong and it will break". More like, if you run it hard on a competition gun you'll break one.

is it the bolt stop that breaks or the pin that holds it in? I might purchase an extra to keep in my hunting bag.

 

[918v]

yes they are, the bolt stop is not supported by the action, and the pin is way too small.

there’s also not enough metal to increase the hole size, to use a larger pin

It’s a non issue for 99.9% of Tikka owners

 

[R_Swanson]

is it the bolt stop that breaks or the pin that holds it in? I might purchase an extra to keep in my hunting bag.

Its the pin, not the bolt stop itself.

 

[Jrb572]

Its the pin, not the bolt stop itself.

thanks I appreciate it. I will have to see if I can buy an extra pin.

 

[candyx]

Buy a suit off the rack is not like wearing a custom made suit.......The fit and feel is much different.......

 

[R_Swanson]

How hard are you slamming the bolt into the stop? I have 5 tikkas and have broke one stop, it broke because I modded a SA stop into a LA stop, it wasn't a pin failure and I have thousands of rounds through my Tikkas.

Known issue with competition shooters. They are shooting more than most of us and running their bolts hard.

Some(many?) have speculated(stated?) its the main reason you dont see many Tikkas in competition. Pretty sure its commonly accepted the rest of the action is up to it, they headspace super consistently so its easy to source barrels, and theres multiple competition chassis for them now...

 

[GrumpyOleFart]

View attachment 7513056









Buy a suit off the rack is not like wearing a custom made suit.......The fit and feel is much different.......

"You sure got a purty rifle, boy"
*banjo playing in the background*

 

[NewsShooter]

Not anymore...

LRI Direct Replacement Tikka T3 bolts

The title says it all. This has been overdue for a long time and we are happy to finally be able to offer this. Details: Stainless bolt body and handle Complete fire control Bar stock machined bolt shroud. -No plastic or Zinc casting .480 and .545 diameter bolt faces available We might do a...

www.snipershide.com

I mean, I love my Tikkas but everyone knows this is true. Not sure why people are debating it.

That being said obviously you're being dramatic AF saying "look at it wrong and it will break". More like, if you run it hard on a competition gun you'll break one.

I've ran mine for a couple years in club matches that were as tough as PRS matches, never managed to break anything. Guess I'm doing something wrong.

 

[Tokay444]

I've ran mine for a couple years in club matches that were as tough as PRS matches, never managed to break anything. Guess I'm doing something wrong.

Are you winning?

 

[Zane1844]

I’m new to precision rifle and have only shot one bolt gun, and it’s my Bergara HMR in 6.5CM.

It does everything I need and is sub-moa. I am, however, still planning on getting a custom because I can appreciate the machining and quality. Buying prefits will be nice as well. Plus, my Bergara sometimes doesn’t feed well.

Overall, I don’t think the custom gun will make me better (maybe I can squeeze out smaller groups) but I’m an enthusiast so I’ll appreciate the workmanship.

Not sure if this helps the OP, but that’s my reasoning for wanting one.

 

[JLP83]

You’re joking right

No

 

[Ndbowhunter]

Bullshit on the bolt stop breaking myth. 165 on it and good as gold

 

[hkmp5s]

I'm not impressed, post a video of you jumping on it.

 

[Ndbowhunter]

had a crazy overpressure round onetime running ppu 300 win mag on my old superlite. Culling a shit ton of goats down on the south end of the sound island of New Zealand (blue mountains if ur familiar) Bolt was stuck as fuck.

Held the barrel and it took a hell of a stomp from the heel to get it open. The little throw lever on the swfa 3-15 gashed my calf pretty good. The bolt stop got hammered

I’ve had tikka’s buried in mud and run.

And Survive pretty gnarly fall down mountains. The first slam was straight onto the rifle when it was strapped on my pack.

They take a lickin and keep tickin.

 

[MikeRTacOps]

I'm not impressed, post a video of you jumping on it.

I was going to ask the same but on the other hand do they make those shoes for guys too ? I'm sucking down MGD's and just spit my Beer all over my Roche Bobois sofa when I saw that picture WTF is going on in this thread ? LMAO

Mike R.

 

[LeftyJason]

If you're slamming your bolt back hard enough to break something you're doing it wrong. I know it happens. It happened before PRS existed, it's happened with many other actions, it does happen. But running your bolt like that is pretty shitty technique. I would agree that the Tikka bolt stop could be improved a little, but it's not a major flaw that justifies paying 3x as much for a custom action. I think there's a lot of confirmation bias in that idea.

I would also agree that Tikka's customer service and retail parts could be improved. In fact, I just got linked up with the new head of rifles for North America for Beretta. Former 160th guy. Ive been showing him my Tikka, all the KRG aftermarket support, and invited him out to a PRS match. Unfortunately the parent company are Europeans. Old dudes. Typical of Europeans and a very old company they are just rigid. It will be a slow process. I'm trying to talk him into a KRG edition for a modern tactical/ competition rifle.

Talk him into getting better support for leftys or more importantly a way to order anything off of the choose.tikka.fi/usa site.

 

[NewsShooter]

Are you winning?

Nope, I'm usually a mid packer and on a good day I might make the top ten. But then there's more than a couple in the club that capable of winning a PRS match so the competition is pretty good. Not sure how placement matters in this instance, in fact I'd suggest that less experienced shooters are harder on equipment. While they may run the bolts fast, from what I've seen the best shooters are smooth and controlled in their movements

 

[Tokay444]

Nope, I'm usually a mid packer and on a good day I might make the top ten. But then there's more than a couple in the club that capable of winning a PRS match so the competition is pretty good. Not sure how placement matters in this instance, in fact I'd suggest that less experienced shooters are harder on equipment. While they may run the bolts fast, from what I've seen the best shooters are smooth and controlled in their movements

My line of thought was, if you’re not winning, perhaps the answer to your question is yes.

 

[DocRDS]

Followed this but finally got to a computer where I can log in.
@Oldmauser The action itself probably has one of the smallest impacts on overall accuracy. Even a 'cheap' (aka Savage) action mated with an top notch barrel can produce fantastic results. This is NOT a statement of "Just as good"

The difference in actions lies in other areas of the rifle's function:
Easy of Bolt Cycling
Bolt Motion
Robustness of bolt
Feeding
Ejection
Built in Rails
Ease of Barrel Replacement
and a host of other options.

As for the "sturdyness" of an acttion--all metal is subject to fatigue, wear, creep and a host of other issues. Certain designs hold up better than others, but it isn't the action itself that usually fails--its the small pins/spirings/etc.. that are more common to bite you. But given enough people something weird will happen.

I blew up a perfectly good shotgun barrel shooting clays (< 25 rounds into life). No obstruction, no explanation, something just wasn't right. I have never seen, heard, anything like it. Sometimes luck is a bitch. Wrecking a bolt handle is probably like that. Now springs and slidestops on things like a CZ handgun? Carry spares. We know it breaks. put 40,000 rounds through a gun, shit is gonna break. Different issue though. Mag Springs wear out. Slides and frames eventually crack. Price of "using" a gun.

 

[NewsShooter]

My line of thought was, if you’re not winning, perhaps the answer to your question is yes.

The rifle is certainly capable, even on my best day I'm not likely to beat someone that is regularly in the top 5 of a national match. The equipment doesn't matter that much, all my rifles shoot well enough to win a match, it isn't the equipment. You chose poorly.

 

[Tokay444]

The rifle is certainly capable, even on my best day I'm not likely to beat someone that is regularly in the top 5 of a national match. The equipment doesn't matter that much, all my rifles shoot well enough to win a match, it isn't the equipment. You chose poorly.

But did I?

 

[BallisticPrimate]

Smooth is subjective. Some people refer to sliding the bolt in the raceways, some to bolt lift and close. Tikka are notably smooth in every regard beside lift. It's that short throw. No way to get around it, just basic cocking ramp geometry. A two lug, 90 like an Impact is going to have a much, much lighter lift and if the trigger is timed, a much lighter close.

I bought a T3 for $400, cannibalized the action, sold the stock, BM, and mag for $120, barrel is still in my safe. Guy that sold it already put the Yo Dave trigger in it. $280 for one of the best production actions that has a unique look, has a wide availability of shouldered prefits(indication of quality of production?), and a trigger that beats a $400 AI trigger. Not really sure how you beat that...

View attachment 7511399

I have a Surgeon action so I'm well positioned to say conclusively that Tikka's suck

 

[NewsShooter]

I have a Surgeon action so I'm well positioned to say conclusively that Tikka's suck

I have an Impact action which I like better than Surgeon actions and I still like my Tikka's

 

[Oldmauser]

Thank you for your insight on custom actions. I think I will try one. Just wondering which one offers the best money/quality ratio.

 

[spife7980]

Thank you for your insight on custom actions. I think I will try one. Just wondering which one offers the best money/quality ratio.

I’m a fan of what I have and what I’ve played with but I like the bighorn origin myself but the arc nucleus is close.

 

[Oldmauser]

The problem with all these companies is that they are focuses on the US market. They don't have dealers in the EU or if they have the price is like 170% of the US price. I find it odd that there is no premium custom action maker in the EU, so I have to import custom action from US. I know NC Rado, but think that the US made custom action are way cooler.

 

[spife7980]

Oh, yeah. That changes things. I’m not sure if pay more that much mark up when a sako or something will do just as well.
The trg trigger is a beauty to behold.

 

[Tokay444]

EU has a few Rem700 based custom actions available.