Tikka Firing Pin Issues

[brian01tj]

So I recently picked up a Tikka T3x Varmint in 223. Before working up a hand load I decided to shoot some factory ammo through it. I have Nosler Custom Competition 77gr and Black Hills 77gr. Neither load was showing any real signs of high pressure but they were showing "denting" from the firing pin which was way more than I've seen in either of my other rifles. Several of the Nosler actually pieced the primer (20% of the time). Firing pin protrusion on my custom 700 and Surgeon Scalpel for have right at .060" protrusion, while the Tikka has .071". Thats a big difference.

Anyone seen anything like this before?

 

[Juggerxxx]

I just bought the same rifle and have not seen dented or pierced primers. Since I load my own rounds I have been paying close attention during load development. All I have ever witnessed are the normal signs when I get on the high end of the powder charge such as primer cratering, flattened primers and some ejector marks. I might be able to measure how far the firing pin extends from the face of the bolt for you on mine this weekend?

 

[brian01tj]

Juggerxx - That would be great if you could measure it for me. I'd really appreciate it. Which bullets and velocities are your hand loads?

I'm just about to send it off to get the firing pin hole bushed and taken down to a small firing pin size. I hate to do that on a brand new rifle.

 

[Juggerxxx]

I have a few that I have been messing around with:
55gr Vmax, 25.6gr Varget 3135fps
62gr Hornady FMG, 24.5gr Varget 2900fps
73gr ELD, 23.2gr H4895 2938fps
73gr ELD, 24.3gr Varget 2909fps
75gr to be continued
i will try and measure the firing pin in the next day or so.

 

[jlow]

So I recently picked up a Tikka T3x Varmint in 223. Before working up a hand load I decided to shoot some factory ammo through it. I have Nosler Custom Competition 77gr and Black Hills 77gr. Neither load was showing any real signs of high pressure but they were showing "denting" from the firing pin which was way more than I've seen in either of my other rifles. Several of the Nosler actually pieced the primer (20% of the time). Firing pin protrusion on my custom 700 and Surgeon Scalpel for have right at .060" protrusion, while the Tikka has .071". Thats a big difference.

Anyone seen anything like this before?

If you are seeing ANY pierced primers, you need to stop immediately and figure out what the problem is. Even if you are not worried about safety issues, the plasma coming out from the pierced primers will start to etch you bolt face, damaging and weakening it. It’s hard to tell how deep your primer strikes are but here is a bunch from my own Tikka T3x Varmint in .223 – Lapua brass and Wolf SRM primers. Pretty hot loads but have never seen any pierced primers.

 

[Juggerxxx]

I measured 0.069" from the top of the firing pin to the face of the bolt ( where the face of the case head rests). I do hope you solve the issue because these Tikka Varmints are very accurate and fun rifles.

 

[ICU22250]

I got one of these Tikkas coming in the next week or so, what bullet and powder combo are you guys having the most success with? I'm excited to finally snag one of these up, I've heard they are tac drivers..

 

[Juggerxxx]

I got one of these Tikkas coming in the next week or so, what bullet and powder combo are you guys having the most success with? I'm excited to finally snag one of these up, I've heard they are tac drivers..

You are going to love this rifle!!!!!!

 

[Rockhurr]

Are the factory firing pin all the same size? Or are there size difference between say a .223 and a 6.5 creedmoor? So i m going to be testing out SRP on new brass but I heard the factory firing pin will cause some issues on small rifle primers. Is this true and can we change out to smaller firing pin?

 

[BurnOut]

Are the factory firing pin all the same size? Or are there size difference between say a .223 and a 6.5 creedmoor? So i m going to be testing out SRP on new brass but I heard the factory firing pin will cause some issues on small rifle primers. Is this true and can we change out to smaller firing pin?

Yes, they're all the same size (and offer the same clearance* between the pin and pin bore). After playing around with a T3 in .204 Ruger, I have come to appreciate Small Rifle Magnum primers; they have a thicker cup and resist piercing much better than standard small rifle primers.






*Within production tolerances/variances

 

[Rockhurr]

Yes, they're all the same size (and offer the same clearance* between the pin and pin bore). After playing around with a T3 in .204 Ruger, I have come to appreciate Small Rifle Magnum primers; they have a thicker cup and resist piercing much better than standard small rifle primers.






*Within production tolerances/variances

Which primer you using or recommend... is BR4 good or would you say CCI 450?

 

[BurnOut]

Which primer you using or recommend... is BR4 good or would you say CCI 450?

I've been running CCI 450s, but that's because I bought them prior to really doing much in the way of research. As I recall, Winchester small rifle primers are the most consistent in terms of energy output, but they lack the thicker cup that I was after. I have settled on Remington 7 1/2s, as they have thick cups and evidently quite high energy output.

 

[Rockhurr]

I've been running CCI 450s, but that's because I bought them prior to really doing much in the way of research. As I recall, Winchester small rifle primers are the most consistent in terms of energy output, but they lack the thicker cup that I was after. I have settled on Remington 7 1/2s, as they have thick cups and evidently quite high energy output.

What are you shooting? Load data?

 

[BurnOut]

What are you shooting? Load data?

Here's a thread tracking my findings so far.

 

[Rockhurr]

Do you do 6.5cm?

 

[BurnOut]

Do you do 6.5cm?

Yes and no (mostly no). I have a 6.5 CM barrel for one of my rifles, but I have yet to start down the path of doing load development, etc...

 

[Friar]

I got one of these Tikkas coming in the next week or so, what bullet and powder combo are you guys having the most success with? I'm excited to finally snag one of these up, I've heard they are tac drivers..

Win Brass
Rem 7.5 primer
SMK tipped 77 gr. .020 jump
22.2 gr of TAC

I haven't had it past 100 yards and need to get on the 300 yard bench to see how it shakes out.