I assembled my first FrankenTikka today out of parts I had. Wanted to relay a few things:
1. Using a stainless .223 T3x Lite as a donor rifle, removing the barrel was a piece of cake. I was actually disappointed when the thing came off without any problems. Had my eye and ear protection on, 4 pound hammer in hand and was ready to give the action wrench a good smack. I did a half-assed test hit and the thing spun right off.
2. The threads were thoughtfully coated in some kind of anti-seize grease.
3. I spun on a spare 20" 7mm-08 Tikka barrel I had laying around. It tightened up with the caliber lettering landing in exactly the right spot. Checked witih Forster headspace gauges-- perfect. Bolt closed on the GO, wouldn't close on the NO-GO.
4. Dropped it in a CTR stock and torqued it up. Feeds and ejects perfectly.
This shit is Legos for adults. Stuff just snaps together and works great.
Below is how I remove the barrel. I grab the barrel where the taper flattens out and then support it with a 1x1. That takes the flex out of the system. Using a Wheeler #1 action wrench clamped on the flats,
90 degrees perpendicular to the 1x1, give a good whack (or half assed whack) with the hammer and it's done. Three sheets of copy paper grip the barrel and leave zero markings.
Build away, ladies and gents! It's fun!
(Anyone want the barrel?)
ETA: Yes, I had a spare 308 bolt as well. I'll keep the 223 one incase I want to make another 6.8 SPC Tikka.
-Stooxie