How difficult is the pre-fit swap on a Tikka or Savage rifle? What gauges needed, go and no go?
Thanks.
Thanks.
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How difficult is a pre-fit swap on a Tikka and Savage?
- Thread starter WT1
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If it's a shouldered pre fit made by a reputable company then you shouldn't have to do anything other than screw it on.
If it's the barrel nut style you'll need gauges to check headspace.
If it's the barrel nut style you'll need gauges to check headspace.
For nutted barrel, minimum tooling is action wrench, barrel nut wrench, and go gauge.
In my experience, a barrel vise is needed but it can be done without. With both barrel vise and action wrench, you can immobilize the barrel as you tighten the barrel nut. Without it, I find the barrel tends to rotate with the nut (changing headspace) making it more difficult to get it precisely where you want it.
You don't really need a no-go gauge. Just add a layer of cellophane packing tape to the back of the back of the gauge (trimmed to fit), this adds about .003 and your bolt handle shouldn't fall with that in place. Make sure you do this with the bolt stripped- no FP spring, ejector that would add resistance to feeling the bolt.
You'd need to buy the barrel vise, but you can rent other tooling if you prefer from places like 4D Rentals.
In my experience, a barrel vise is needed but it can be done without. With both barrel vise and action wrench, you can immobilize the barrel as you tighten the barrel nut. Without it, I find the barrel tends to rotate with the nut (changing headspace) making it more difficult to get it precisely where you want it.
You don't really need a no-go gauge. Just add a layer of cellophane packing tape to the back of the back of the gauge (trimmed to fit), this adds about .003 and your bolt handle shouldn't fall with that in place. Make sure you do this with the bolt stripped- no FP spring, ejector that would add resistance to feeling the bolt.
You'd need to buy the barrel vise, but you can rent other tooling if you prefer from places like 4D Rentals.
Who generally makes shouldered prefits? I'm guessing they are a bit more in cost than nutted barrels.
I just found these: https://patriotvalleyarms.com/rock-creek-prefits-centerfire/
straightjacketarmory.com
Tikka Shouldered Stainless Pre-fit Barrels - Straight Jacket Armory
Tikka Prefit shouldered barrels for Tikka T3, T3x and CTR. Shouldered match grade prefits by Straight Jacket armory LLC.
straightjacketarmory.com
Carbon 6 has a number of options that are interesting now just need to figure out how to change the bolt stop on the Tikka action if I decide to go with something that uses a bolt length other than 308. McGowen has some deals on prefits but not carbon barrel weight so heavier.
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I know my brother had a hell of a time getting two Tikka barrels off.. broke two barrel vises!
I've heard it can be difficult and I've heard there is nothing to it. I think it depends on your action and whether it has been in the elements or not, such as rained on and so forth, which might cause some oxidation. I have heard that a good whack with your hand on the action wrench brings them right off or a rubber mallet, too.
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I've heard that, too, about a relief groove. I'd like to save the 308 barrel that is on it for future use, though, and don't want to destroy it or mark it up. It is already very accurate. I'd just like to increase the range on it.
Thanks. I was just watching this video on youtube where the guy had to have his .243 bolt face enlarged
I'm not set up to enlarge a bolt face so wondering who does that on Tikka's and for what price because the BC's on 7mm bullets improve by 20 percent or more so it is probably worth it for long range shooting.
Talk to LRI, I think they even make tikka parts now
7 saum is amazing!
Love mine, so capable for such a small cartridge.
7 saum is amazing!
Love mine, so capable for such a small cartridge.
I have done a Savage and if you are reasonably precise, mechanically inclined with a reasonble IQ and are at least 10 years old ....it is easy peasy.
A few things I used for the job:
- Action wrench from Northland supply
- Nut wrench that will accept a torque wrench
- Torque wrench that will work with the action wrench
- Never-seize for barrel threads under nut and action
- Go-gauge (you can use scotch tape on back of “go” for no go)
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I heard back from LRI and they said they make new bolts but due to the extractor size don't widen the bolt face like in the video I added above. My next question is going to be "You guys have a Black Friday discount?" ;-) Because they are $375. I'm sure they are worth it but don't know if switching to 7SAUM is worth it in that action.
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These guys have actions and parts coming in all the time, but they sell quickly.
jaoutdoors.com
Tikka Actions for sale - Bolts - Stocks - Pre fits - Barrels
Tikka Actions, bolts, trigger, rings & Accessories - J&A Outdoors Firearms solutions offers it all! Get your tikka accessories here!
jaoutdoors.com
Haha. Yeah, it's not like I'm poor. I am just a single working stiff with no kids or property so I don't get any of the big socialist stimulus checks that everybody is throwing around right now, buying new cars, making down payments on dachas, or the $1500 a month until December for having spawned five times. Like someone who is in my bargaining unit who has five kids got a stimulus check equal to almost half what I make in a year and we make the same money per hour and work the same hours and he is also getting over $1000 a month for those kids until December (From July to December, that's more than $7,000!).
Yet I being single don't take home as much on each pay check because he has withholding for his kids so he takes home over $100 more per check (multiply that by 26) and the government has been giving him several thousand dollars in tax refunds per year during the time we have worked together (16 years so it approaches $200,000) whereas I might get $600 (around $10,000 during that same time).
You starting to do the math, yet? Yeah. Not poor. Just paying for others to fuck and suck.
So it is not like I'm poor, it is more like family people are getting big fat socialist stimulus checks to toss around and lots of tax refund money while I and others like me, single people in particular, languish paying to raise the children of others who are the ones using all of the services, you know, sending their kids to public schools (at $15,000 a year) and using more of the roads, occasionally public medical, to the tune of thousands and thousands of dollars more than I per year yet they are getting the big fat government money. Not poor. Conscientious. You see, it is my money I'm spending. Not many American families, though. They are spending my money and that of other single people, too. So when you say, if you are poor, stop being poor, I say so if you are a socialist, stop being a socialist. Pffffft! It is easy to toss money around when someone, the socialist government in this case, is giving it to you like that.
That's why the price of things is going up rapidly lately. Tell me you haven't noticed.
Nothing wrong with watching your money, people. But if it's not your money, it's easy to say things about people who watch theirs.
So if you are a socialist, stop being a socialist.
In the time that I have worked with my co-worker the government has not only given him close to a quarter of a million dollars more than it has given me in tax refunds and stimulus and withholding on his check, but it has also spent close to a $1 million dollars educating his children. The government just on tax refunds and stimulus and educating his children has given him $1.1 million dollars more than it has given me. But he's the one who uses all the services! Fucking socialism.
And that doesn't even cover a single woman having that many children out of wedlock sending them to public schools. Double that amount! double it!
So again, if you are a socialist, stop being a socialist.
30 to 50 percent of children are now born to single mothers depending on the year, by the way. 30 to 50 percent! Ever wonder why? You doing the math, yet?
People who don't even work, they don't even pay taxes are getting $10,000 and $20,000 stimulus checks because they have numerous children. Do you get that? They don't even fucking work and they are getting almost as much as I make a year in one lump sum check! Then they are getting over a grand a month since July until December! And they are already getting monthly government checks because they don't work! They even get tax refunds!
Fuck you talk about being poor?
Yet, I digress.
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I found this at Midwest Gun Works though the LRI bolt is less expensive and more custom: https://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/prod/s14113080
So far the only carbon fiber shouldered prefits I can find are Proof and Carbon 6. Are there others that make carbon fiber shouldered prefits?
The 7SS or 7 Sherman Short actually looks like an option yet you still need a magnum bolt face so a new bolt is required. I've been reading the specs at Sherman's web site and the cartridge design actually appears to be better than the 7SAUM, though SAUM sounds better than Sherman Short which is why the public hasn't accept the 7SS as much, or maybe the marketing isn't there. The bullets sits better in the cartridge neck whereas the bullet in the 7SAUM sits down into the powder column. Brass is available at Sherman's web site.
Most barrel makers don't have the reamer so you have to rent it and send it to them.
shermanwildcatcartridges.com
Most barrel makers don't have the reamer so you have to rent it and send it to them.
Sherman Wildcat Cartridges
shermanwildcatcartridges.com
Not like you can buy 7 saum easily, especially with a 180 or 190 bullet.
I went 7 saum over 7SS for multiple reasons
Easier to get brass, dies and reamers
Plenty of reports of people not getting advertised speeds with the SS
R26 negates the case capacity advantage compared to when H1000 was king and 2.96 mags eased OAL concerns.
It’s not like 7 saum has a bad reputation with accuracy or ES issues hence why it’s still popular in competitive shooting
dare I say it?
7 saum is the modern 260!
I just joined the 7SS group on FB to get some background.
Not like you can buy 7 saum easily, especially with a 180 or 190 bullet.
I went 7 saum over 7SS for multiple reasons
Easier to get brass, dies and reamers
Plenty of reports of people not getting advertised speeds with the SS
R26 negates the case capacity advantage compared to when H1000 was king and 2.96 mags eased OAL concerns.
It’s not like 7 saum has a bad reputation with accuracy or ES issues hence why it’s still popular in competitive shooting
dare I say it?
7 saum is the modern 260!
You mention you have a .308 and want to extend your reach. What is the intended use of the rifle, and how far do you shoot, or intend too shoot?
I apologize for saying you have a little... Sorry about that.
When someone takes my money, even if in the form of taxes, especially, and also wants to talk shit, I just start smacking the shit out of them if I can. That's all. Sorry.
The unfair tax code is serious business to me.
I keep thinking bitches whispering "yer a good provider" to their husbands when the government is giving them their mortgage payment in the form of tax refunds and stimulus payments are just breeding more idiots, socialist idiots who think they are good providers.
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Look at the SST if you're going to be shooting out of a AICS binderless 2.950/2.960 magazine. The longer bullets will do slightly better in that variant. If I were building a 7mm magnum in a short action, that's the direction I'd likely go, but I handload everything and am no stranger to wildcats. I may yet build one when I'm bored, but not today.
I don't want to get rid of the chassis it is in, now, a McRee, which after removing the bag rider, the opposite side face plate, and the picatinny bipod mount rail, is a little over 3 pounds and it quite handy, takes the Tikka mags which I believe are excellent. May just forego the 7mm SS or SAUM and go 6GT but looking at all options.
Try choosing a projectile first - run some different bullets through calculators, or quick and easy, just do BC x Velocity for each cartridge/projectile. You can also figure barrel life and cost of powder per round, in order to see the cons that go along with the nice ballistics of the 28 Nosler
I think you were on the right track with the SS (assuming you're moving to a magnum boltface), but the 6.5 is better suited to that case. Depends how far you want to shoot, and if animals will be in the flight path.
If you're staying under 1K yards, though, learn to shoot that 308 really well, and you'll be a beast when you step up to a cartridge with better ballistics.
I think you were on the right track with the SS (assuming you're moving to a magnum boltface), but the 6.5 is better suited to that case. Depends how far you want to shoot, and if animals will be in the flight path.
If you're staying under 1K yards, though, learn to shoot that 308 really well, and you'll be a beast when you step up to a cartridge with better ballistics.
I appreciate you pointing out these economic facts. Childless singles and couples have to earn a great deal more to realize the same real income as that of the politically favored groups. There is nothing remotely fair with the U.S. Tax system. It is a massive tool of political power and social engineering.
Yet, I digress.
To get back on topic, if you can swing it, you may want to consider the AT-X. The versatility, utility, and user maintainability of the platform is unparalleled. You won't be outgrowing it any time soon.
Scott
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