Tikka and Howa BugNuts

[Bugholes]

The BugNut barrel nut system was announced and released for sale in January of 2017, and has been successfully delivering impressive accuracy from barrel nut style pre-fit barrels since early in its testing phase. The response and acceptance of the system has been excellent, and I’d like to thank everyone who has tried it for your confidence in Southern Precision Rifles.

Today I can proudly announce the introduction of both the Tikka and Howa BugNut. The Howa nut looks exactly like the current production nuts, but with an internal M26x1.5mm thread pattern. These nuts are available now for 1.20” and 1.25” breech barrels and use the same original BugNut wrench. These pre-fits will be available very soon.

The Tikka nut is a 1.0” x 16TPI thread and will work for the Ruger American rifle as well. This nut does not work with the standard 1.20” or 1.25” breech barrels like the original BugNut, but rather I’ve elected to utilize the Savage small shank Varmint and Target contours for this application. Bartlein Varmint and Target blanks are a standard inventory item at Bugholes.com, and Bartlein barrels have a long track record of being consistently outstanding barrels. The cost of the Tikka and Ruger pre-fit will remain the same as the Savage pre-fit at $160 plus the cost of the barrel blank. I have NO intentions of offering anything other than the highest quality barrel that a manufacturer will produce. There are cheaper barrels, cheaper labor, and cheaper parts, but I refuse to stock anything less than the best

The wrench for the Tikka nut is smaller in size than the standard BugNut wrench, and they are not compatible with one another. The distance across the flats had to be made smaller to achieve a clean look, but it still maintains a robust engagement surface. The nuts are also smaller in diameter in order to look nice against the action face chamfer of the Tikka and Ruger actions. The driving flats and full diameter band engaging the action face maintain a similar appearance to the original BugNut, but the Tikka nut tapers down to a smaller size in the front in order to blend with the smaller barrel. All BugNuts are driven by all 6 flats when used with the BugNut wrench, essentially eliminating deformation and damage to the nut or wrench.

Both the Howa and Tikka BugNuts are available now and cost $40ea, the same as the std nut pricing. The wrenches are being run now and should be available before the first run of pre-fits are able to be shipped. Current lead time on pre-fit barrels is about 4 weeks. As an introductory offer, Im going to offer the first 10 Tikka nuts and wrenches for free when ordering a Tikka or Ruger American pre-fit barrel. The nuts will then become available for purchase on the website if you wish to “roll your own”. I have no doubt that you will find this system to be outstanding in form and function, and to exceed your expectations.

I do want to sincerely apologize to all the Tikka pre-fit customers I've turned away over the last 16 months. We’ve had requests for a Tikka BugNut from the very beginning, but I've been honoring my end of a gentleman’s agreement to not produce Tikka/Ruger American barrel nuts, which has recently and abruptly come to an apparent end

SPR has been an industry leader for over 10 years now and genuinely appreciates your patronage and feedback. Its very important to me to carry premium products at reasonable prices, and to produce extreme accuracy rifles on time and on budget. We won’t quote falsely short lead times or sell items we can’t deliver, but we will be worth the wait. I guarantee it...

Tikka BugNuts and our new spiral flat "fluting"

 

[keystoneshooter]

I received a 6.5 creedmoor bug nut setup on a stiller tac 30 from SPR last year and it flat out hammers need to order another barrel to have ready around 2k through it so far.

Great to deal with and delivered on time

Thanks Greg

 

[Potss]

1.) Very glad you folks are jumping into the Tikka arena!

2.) Question for you Bugholes, I've talked to some benchrest guys and they say barrel nuts decrease accuracy potential of a rifle setup. Have you observed with with your bugnut, is it a slight compromise in accuracy in exchange for easier and cheaper barrel swaps?

 

[Carl_Ross]

Glad to see you expanding the offerings!

I ordered a 6 Dasher barrel with a Bugnut the first week you announced them, and have retired that barrel after wearing it out. I’ve been pleased with the system and the service both, and have recommended it numerous times.

I personally loctited my nut on, and have since treated it as a shouldered barrel, just torquing it to the “shoulder” created by the nut. I cannot distinguish a difference between my shouldered barrels and the one with the glued on nut, though admittedly I am not a short range BR competitor.

 

[jLorenzo]

Good call on the Tikka and Howa. Like the looks of that flat spiral flutist as well and I normally can't stand spiral fluting.

 

[XLR308]

Haven't tried the bugnut system out yet but wanted to give you a thumbs up for having the action and Bartlien barrel I wanted in stock both at good prices.
When I toast my 243 win barrel I see a Bugnut and one of your pre fits replacing it.

 

[The Busby]

Potss: there is NO COMPROMISE when going to a Bugnut barrel system. I ran the prototype Bugnut for over 6 months in competition and the rifle was lights-out just as accurate as a shoulder barreled rifle. The advantage for the system is to be able to order any caliber and any Barrel and have it shipped to your door for installation by you with a headspace gauge. You can have multiple caliber barrels for one action, or 2-3 barrels exactly the same for when you burn through them on your match gun.

 

[PFG]

@Bugholes Thank you for bringing our product to Tikka owners! Love seeing more and more of the shooting industry finding ways to accommodate the Tikka.

I hope that someday, I shoot enough to have extra barrels on standby and your product in use.

 

[Bugholes]

Nothing for the mini action, although given its thread size the Tikka/ruger nut could probably be made to work with the Howa Mini

1.) Very glad you folks are jumping into the Tikka arena!

2.) Question for you Bugholes, I've talked to some benchrest guys and they say barrel nuts decrease accuracy potential of a rifle setup. Have you observed with with your bugnut, is it a slight compromise in accuracy in exchange for easier and cheaper barrel swaps?

I haven't seen anybody doing 6PPC barrel nuts or anything like that, but I can say that theres a train of thought that a barrel nut barrel is an inferior system. Ive been seeing 1" groups at 400 yards, and 3-5" groups at 1K with the BugNuts that I am able to stay in close contact with. meaning my team shooters, friends, and my own stuff of course. That meets my accuracy standards, but may not win any 1000Y BR matches

 

[dannySH]

Awesome. I'm going to order one Tikka barrel with bugnut in 6XC. Thanks Greg.

 

[rocketscience]

Could a bugnut system be used with a proof research carbon fiber 7mm barrel blank? Looking at building a tikka in 280AI and would like to be able to use a nut system, but want to use a proof barrel for this build also.

 

[Bugholes]

Could a bugnut system be used with a proof research carbon fiber 7mm barrel blank? Looking at building a tikka in 280AI and would like to be able to use a nut system, but want to use a proof barrel for this build also.

If the blank you have is a savage small shank blank then yes, it can be done (1.05-1.06 breech dia)
If the blank is a standard 1.200 breech diameter sendero, sendero lite, etc then it cannot be used with this new barrel nut

 

[Terry Cross]

I've talked to some benchrest guys and they say barrel nuts decrease accuracy potential of a rifle setup. Have you observed with with your bugnut, is it a slight compromise in accuracy in exchange for easier and cheaper barrel swaps?

I'm not speaking for Bugholes but I would like to throw an opinion in here.

I do not think the "benchrest guys" have any actual data or controlled tests with statistically valid numbers to state this as fact.

The Benchrest crowd has traditionally been very, very conservative in moving away from already established regimens. It usually takes just one person to come into a registered BR match doing something different or using something different to win. . . . .then all of a sudden, "it's OK to accept the new thing".

I am not saying the Bugnut system offers superior accuracy to traditionally shouldered BR barrels but I am questioning if it would offer inferior accuracy either.

"potentially" . . . 5R rifling should offer better gas seal, less jacket trauma, more velocity and clean easier than traditionally profiled 4 groove rifling. Reality shows that when Krieger, Hawk Hill or another top shelf barrel maker produces both profiles, there is no clear benefit actually going to either in real world results.

"potentially" . . . Gain twist barrels should offer a lot of advantages but when dealing with 99% of the bullet/cartridge combinations being shoved down barrels, there is no measurable gain in flight or on the targets.

A lot of things look superior on paper or when viewed through the eye of an engineering / physics expert. Many of those things fail to actually demonstrate any superiority that would put them at the front of the performance curve when executed in the real world.

I do know several shooters that compete at national level competitions using the BugNut system.
I can tell you at least 2 things about those shooters.

#1 - They are competing in a discipline on national levels where accuracy and consistency absolutely HAS to be equal to any other system on the line. Tons of money and time are spent on preparation, training, travel, entry fees, lodging, etc. so nobody in their right mind would cut corners for the sake of convenience, potential sponsorships or overall cost of their rifle package.

#2 - These shooters are talented enough, experienced enough and analytically intelligent enough to see and recognize an accuracy/consistency loss if it existed.

That being said, I give more decision making weight to the fact that these are actually being used successfully among some within our shooting niche versus what some voices in the Benchrest crowd say may "potentially" be an issue.

T.

./

 

[Potss]

All excellent points Terry Cross & Bugholes, and I appreciate the information. You are certainly correct that the benchrest folks (or really anyone) have statistically significant let alone scientifically valid comparison testing on barrel nuts....or much else really. Unfortunately it is hard to come across that kind of data in any segment of the firearms industry given how cost prohibitive such testing it. It was just an opinion, and I'm glad to hear a pretty unfounded one.

 

[Terry Cross]

In my opinion, Benchrest competition in and of itself is probably the closest thing to a lab or scientific test without literally being in a lab.
Given that all of their comps are at the same yardages with the same class restrictions plus....

....Everything they do is designed to isolate the shooter out of the results (short of calling wind).
Heavy rifles, concrete benches, 8 bazillion wind flags, incredibly detailed ammunition, high magnification optics with fine reticles, crazy complicated rests and purpose built bags, Every target/group is measured and certified to on incredibly high precision standard... I am sure there could be additions to this list by someone more knowledgeable about BR than me.

So the above could almost approach some "laboratory" standards.

Then you take the number of BR matches . . . times the number of guns shot in each ....times the number of groups shot by each gun . . . . .which are shot at the same distances across the country. . . . . you get a shit ton of groups being measured.

Shit ton = a bunch = something approaching statistically significant.

No other shooting sport of any kind can come close to this unique combination for data (even that data is within a very narrow scope of usefulness to the rest of the shooting community)

 

[Robert Gradous]

At Gradous Rifles we will definitely push the Bugnut system by Bugholes aka (Greg Young) Southern Precision Rifles.
I feel that this system has been well designed and has the accuracy potential to match any conventional shouldered application or surpass it.
This is something I can offer out of our shop in the near future.

 

[RNWRKNP]

The BugNut barrel nut system was announced and released for sale in January of 2017, and has been successfully delivering impressive accuracy from barrel nut style pre-fit barrels since early in its testing phase. The response and acceptance of the system has been excellent, and I’d like to thank everyone who has tried it for your confidence in Southern Precision Rifles.

Today I can proudly announce the introduction of both the Tikka and Howa BugNut. The Howa nut looks exactly like the current production nuts, but with an internal M26x1.5mm thread pattern. These nuts are available now for 1.20” and 1.25” breech barrels and use the same original BugNut wrench. These pre-fits will be available very soon.

The Tikka nut is a 1.0” x 16TPI thread and will work for the Ruger American rifle as well. This nut does not work with the standard 1.20” or 1.25” breech barrels like the original BugNut, but rather I’ve elected to utilize the Savage small shank Varmint and Target contours for this application. Bartlein Varmint and Target blanks are a standard inventory item at Bugholes.com, and Bartlein barrels have a long track record of being consistently outstanding barrels. The cost of the Tikka and Ruger pre-fit will remain the same as the Savage pre-fit at $160 plus the cost of the barrel blank. I have NO intentions of offering anything other than the highest quality barrel that a manufacturer will produce. There are cheaper barrels, cheaper labor, and cheaper parts, but I refuse to stock anything less than the best

The wrench for the Tikka nut is smaller in size than the standard BugNut wrench, and they are not compatible with one another. The distance across the flats had to be made smaller to achieve a clean look, but it still maintains a robust engagement surface. The nuts are also smaller in diameter in order to look nice against the action face chamfer of the Tikka and Ruger actions. The driving flats and full diameter band engaging the action face maintain a similar appearance to the original BugNut, but the Tikka nut tapers down to a smaller size in the front in order to blend with the smaller barrel. All BugNuts are driven by all 6 flats when used with the BugNut wrench, essentially eliminating deformation and damage to the nut or wrench.

Both the Howa and Tikka BugNuts are available now and cost $40ea, the same as the std nut pricing. The wrenches are being run now and should be available before the first run of pre-fits are able to be shipped. Current lead time on pre-fit barrels is about 4 weeks. As an introductory offer, Im going to offer the first 10 Tikka nuts and wrenches for free when ordering a Tikka or Ruger American pre-fit barrel. The nuts will then become available for purchase on the website if you wish to “roll your own”. I have no doubt that you will find this system to be outstanding in form and function, and to exceed your expectations.

I do want to sincerely apologize to all the Tikka pre-fit customers I've turned away over the last 16 months. We’ve had requests for a Tikka BugNut from the very beginning, but I've been honoring my end of a gentleman’s agreement to not produce Tikka/Ruger American barrel nuts, which has recently and abruptly come to an apparent end

SPR has been an industry leader for over 10 years now and genuinely appreciates your patronage and feedback. Its very important to me to carry premium products at reasonable prices, and to produce extreme accuracy rifles on time and on budget. We won’t quote falsely short lead times or sell items we can’t deliver, but we will be worth the wait. I guarantee it...

Tikka BugNuts and our new spiral flat "fluting"View attachment 6902808View attachment 6902809View attachment 6902810View attachment 6902811View attachment 6902812View attachment 6902813

If this system works for Tikka does it also work for Sako? (?) A7 Roughtech Range specifically?

 

[Prebanpaul]

Will they be available to work on the tikka tac a1

 

[MachoKing]

What are the limitations on chamberings? I know many don't want to turn a fat case based off the Jeff in a Savage small shank.

 

[Bugholes]

If this system works for Tikka does it also work for Sako? (?) A7 Roughtech Range specifically?

I'll be honest I don't know anything about that action. If it's a 1.0 x16 TPI then this's nut will work. If the action face doesn't have a chamfer like th etikka I can likely do something's with a full sized nut

Will they be available to work on the tikka tac a1

Should be the same action, so ye, should work

What are the limitations on chamberings? I know many don't want to turn a fat case based off the Jeff in a Savage small shank.

WSMs will need to be done on a larger barrel, all your standard long action magnums will work fine with the savage contours. A barrel nut does exist to enable the 1.200 breech barrels, please call to discuss

 

[RNWRKNP]

I'll be honest I don't know anything about that action. If it's a 1.0 x16 TPI then this's nut will work. If the action face doesn't have a chamfer like th etikka I can likely do something's with a full sized nut

Should be the same action, so ye, should work

WSMs will need to be done on a larger barrel, all your standard long action magnums will work fine with the savage contours. A barrel nut does exist to enable the 1.200 breech barrels, please call to discuss

Thank you for getting back with my question. You probably already know that Sako makes Tikka and if your fabricating a metric thread BugNut would it also stand to reason that you could metric thread a new barrel? I really appreciate you taking the time?

 

[dannySH]

Thank you for getting back with my question. You probably already know that Sako makes Tikka and if your fabricating a metric thread BugNut would it also stand to reason that you could metric thread a new barrel? I really appreciate you taking the time?

Tikka barrel has a 25mm shank with 1.5mm thread pitch but here in USA smith's use 1.0 x 16 TPI. Tikka custom barrels and nuts are made with 1.0x16 TPI thread. If Sako barrels have the same thread as Tikkas (knowing they are from the same factory) it will be the same.

 

[RNWRKNP]

Tikka barrel has a 25mm shank with 1.5mm thread pitch but here in USA smith's use 1.0 x 16 TPI. Tikka custom barrels and nuts are made with 1.0x16 TPI thread. If Sako barrels have the same thread as Tikkas (knowing they are from the same factory) it will be the same.

Thanks dannySH, I really appreciate the info?

 

[Bugholes]

I have five more free wrench/nut offers remaining

 

[260284]

My Tikka was Greg's prototype and it has been plenty accurate. I shot the attached 5 shot group last night with some 140 ELDM. I had been using the 140 RDF for matches and the 143 ELDX for hunting. This was with Peterson brass, 41.4 gr Re16, and CCI 450's. 2858 fps, 6 SD. I will definately use the BugNut system on my T3 Varmint when it needs a new barrel.

I can swap barrels in 10-15 minutes with an inside wrench and a PMA barrel vise.

Greg has a great system and Bartlein makes great barrels.

 

[dpfelton]

I won a bugnut Bartlein 20 inch threaded .308 barrel at the March 2017 North American Sniper Championship. First, I'm not a benchrest shooter, I usually hit the 1.5 - 2 moa targets at our local rifle matches. To address the accuracy question my bugnut shoots as accurate, for me, as my custom gunsmithed .308 Krieger barrel. I installed this barrel on a factory Remington 700 AAC-SD. That rifle never held zero or shot predictably. The bugnut from day one has held zero for over a year. The velocity is 2630 from the 20 inch barrel with factory 168 Federal Gold Medal match. I've used this rifle in Law Enforcement style matches were the focus is hitting a small dot at one to two hundred yards, this barrel will shoot with a shouldered barrel anyday. This accuracy from a non-true modern Remington action. The factory action and bolt could be the reason others are seeing less accuracy than a shouldered barrel. The attached pics are of my rifle and two 5-shot groups. As you can see the rifle will shoot, I need to work on driving it consistently.

 

[NewsShooter]

Guess I'll have to give you a call tomorrow, I'm interested but I wanted to convert a 7 Rem to a 7 Saum.

 

[Bugholes]

I will be making some of the Magnum nuts within the next couple weeks. this nut can be seen in post #25 in this thread
the Mag nut will use the standard BugNut wrench and 1.200 breech diameter barrels. this should safely enable WSM and other wide body magnums.
this can, of course be used for std chamberings as well, if a guy wants to use any 1.2 breech barrel

all 10 of the free nut/wrench offers have been fulfilled, thanks yall for your interest!

 

[coltm4]

@Bugholes What is the current lead time? I ordered May 16.

 

[Bugholes]

Still looking at about 4 weeks, wrenches are out for plating now

 

[Bugholes]

The first batch of barrels, nuts, and wrenches are coming up and ready to ship
On schedule and on budget
Thank y'all for the business

 

[Mossyoak44]

I have an ARC Nucleus action on order, will the bugnut made for the Mausingfield work for the Nucleus?

 

[dannySH]

That's awesome Greg. That was faster than I thought. Thanks!

 

[SuperSneakySniper]

These Bugnuts are the real deal. Ive had a couple of custom rifles, and to date, the one that used the Bugnut was my most accurate rifle! Unfortunatelt i had to sell it when i moved from Defiance to Bighorn. I plan to get back into a Bugnut for my next action though! Love em!

 

[Bugholes]

I have an ARC Nucleus action on order, will the bugnut made for the Mausingfield work for the Nucleus?

It appears that they will be the same. Haven't handled a nucleus though, seems like very few have

 

[Mossyoak44]

It appears that they will be the same. Haven't handled a nucleus though, seems like very few have

I’ll probably order one soon and we’ll find out. Thank you

 

[dannySH]

Got my Bugnut barrel UPS shipping info today. 4 weeks exactly since I made my order. Thanks Greg.

 

[coltm4]

Got my wrench, now just waiting on the barrel to arrive Monday. The suspense is killing me...

 

[coltm4]

Got mine installed. Very slick setup. Can't wait to shoot it.

 

[dannySH]

After a big ordeal with UPS finally got my barrel yesterday, finish of the nut and wrench is impressive. Awesome job @Bugholes

 

[260284]

Got mine installed. Very slick setup. Can't wait to shoot it.

What outside action wrench is that?

 

[dannySH]

What outside action wrench is that?

Looks like th Universal wrench from Brownell's. I used the Wheeler #1, both have flats sides that can be used on Tikkas

 

[coltm4]

What outside action wrench is that?

Brownells universal

 

[coltm4]

Shoots like a dream! Ammo was made for the Tikka factory barrel and the new barrel shot them very well. The non-groups were for sight in/cleaning. The 5 shot group was after break in shots. Greg did a fabulous job. 260 Rem. Bartlein Marksman contour (hair too large in diameter for Bravo Chassis) Shooting off of a block of wood instead of bipod or bag. I think there are a couple holes caused by a kid crossfiring onto my target :/

 

[dannySH]

Had the time today to test my bugholes Tikka barrelnut. This barrel is awesome .Thanks Greg @Bugholes .
6XC, Bartlein 1-8 twist, 26" Marksman contour. Three shots group at 100 yards. Hornady 105gr BTHP (.02" off the lands), 39.6 gr H4350, Norma brass, CCI 200. Average 3018 fps.