I have a tikka t3x superlite .308 win that is just kicking around my safe. I’m from CA and it does not seem to like any lead free projectiles. I reload and can’t get it to shoot under an inch at 100. Been looking at 6.5 Creedmoor long range target rifles and started thinking about putting one together with my tikka action. I’ve never done anything like this and I would like advice on how to get started. I live in a rural part of the state and don’t have access to any smith’s I would trust. Is this worth doing or should I just buy a Blackrock south fork? Plan on upgrading the stock to either a bravo or a lower end chassis. Any advice would be appreciated.
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Gunsmithing Tikka T3x action build
- Thread starter Slab74
- Start date
Tikka has a super smooth action I had my first one rebarreled to 6.5 cm. Since you don’t have any smiths you can pick up prefit barrel from a lot of different places but you will need a good vise and action wrench to get the old one off. I had the bravo on a tikka also it’s a great budget stock. I would talk to Greg at bugholes and get a barrel not sure I would go with 6.5 there are so many other offerings.
Fedex and UPS is your friend, ship the barreled action off for a new barrel in a cartridge you like. There are several Smith's with professional and reasonable turn around times, study this. I like Tikka's, running several of them, all different.
Out of curiosity, can you get that SL to shoot with lead projectiles?
Good luck.
Out of curiosity, can you get that SL to shoot with lead projectiles?
Good luck.
The Tikka actions are great for building rifles.
There's a few companies out there that do prefits, but because you are removing the factory barrel, I would send it to a smith and have him remove the barrel and install a shouldered one. The factory barrel can be a PITA to remove.
Patriot Valley Arms, X-Caliber, Solid Accuracy, and Carbon 6 are all making prefits if you prefer to go that route.
If you're already set up for loading 6.5 Creed, I would stick with it. Components are everywhere and it's a fairly easy caliber to load for.
The Bravo is a pretty good chassis for the price. I think you would be pretty happy with the end result.
There's a few companies out there that do prefits, but because you are removing the factory barrel, I would send it to a smith and have him remove the barrel and install a shouldered one. The factory barrel can be a PITA to remove.
Patriot Valley Arms, X-Caliber, Solid Accuracy, and Carbon 6 are all making prefits if you prefer to go that route.
If you're already set up for loading 6.5 Creed, I would stick with it. Components are everywhere and it's a fairly easy caliber to load for.
The Bravo is a pretty good chassis for the price. I think you would be pretty happy with the end result.
I normally hunt locally with a 6.8 spc. Great black tail round. Where I hunt, every shot is under 100 yards. The tikka was an impulse buy. Bought it to hunt public land, so game wardens would not give me a hard time about my AR. don’t like having to educate people while I’m trying to hunt. I have a several other bolt guns to hunt with, so after load development, just don’t shoot it. The thin, light, fluted barrel is not for shooting groups. Two touching and the third is always a flyer. Good enough for hunting. Nothing wrong with the gun, I just don’t shoot it.
I would recommend Proof Research prefit barrels, you don't even need a gunsmith, just a vise and 80 ft-lb torque wrench. Most other prefits use barrel nuts, which I'm not a fan of. Not sure about lite barrel but the CTR I had was a nightmare to get the barrel off.. Talking about 5 heat cycles and sledge hammers.
Sometimes the factory barrel is so tight it needs to be relief cut on a lathe, that's how I got mine off. The factory barrel is toast at that point unless a 700 style recoil lug is made to take up the space on the shoulder. I put a McGowan short .308 barrel on mine first and then I retro fit a 700 barrel in .243 that I got off ebay for 50 bucks and it shoots awesome. Bottom line Tikkas are fun and I would not hesitate to do a custom build off one. As far a the factory barrel goes for non lead bullets I used Barnes bullets and had to seat them deep and put a light crimp on them for the best results.
Since you’re in California, you may want to look up Shaen rifles. He’s a Cali kid too and does great work...
I have a superlite that shoots Barnes 168 ttsx 1/2 to 3/4 moa out to 400 yards. My wifes t3 timber shoots the same Barnes 168 TTSX 1/2 to 3/4 moa. If you have not tried them, they are worth a shot.
It's so sad that it has to be a PIA for you to hunt with your AR if you choose to. I'm here as well and feel your pain on that. Lots of red tape and BS to wade through.
Anyways, as a hunter that loves bolt guns (especially tikkas) I definitely say rebarrel. I would be very hard pressed to say you would regret it. Also, there are options to do this with out shipping the barreled action off. Not that, that would be a bad route, just don't dismiss it and take it off the table.
Anyways, as a hunter that loves bolt guns (especially tikkas) I definitely say rebarrel. I would be very hard pressed to say you would regret it. Also, there are options to do this with out shipping the barreled action off. Not that, that would be a bad route, just don't dismiss it and take it off the table.
If you don’t mind shipping your action out, Mike at Hell’s Canyon Armory in Idaho has worked with numerous tikka actions and does some work to improve them slightly as well. If you want one of his carbon barrels as well he uses strictly benchmark blacks for the cores and has tennon sizes made to match the smaller tikka action face.
Have you tried hammer bullets in your current setup? Their claim to fame and as others have vouched for is they are not sensitive to bullet seating depth. Maybe minute changes but most people must load may length and run with it after they find a powder node. Contact the owners with any questions!
Have you tried hammer bullets in your current setup? Their claim to fame and as others have vouched for is they are not sensitive to bullet seating depth. Maybe minute changes but most people must load may length and run with it after they find a powder node. Contact the owners with any questions!
New AG composite stock for my mountain rifle build chambered in 30-06
She's gonna have some kick! Like my tikka T3x Lite 7mm RemMag in a Manners MCS stock.
I just sent you a PM about it. The Tikka is a really nice rifle to start rebuilding a project on. The actions are smooth, accurate and reliable.
I just looked, we have a couple 6mm and 6.5mm flavors available for Tikka T3's on the shelf ready to ship.
I just looked, we have a couple 6mm and 6.5mm flavors available for Tikka T3's on the shelf ready to ship.
Thanks for all the info. I’m new here and just starting to get into rifle target shooting. I also have a t3 lite in 7mm mag, no brake, but I only use it for out of state hunts. It’s a bit much for our 90# black tails. With an a good recoil pad, it’s not too bad, but you never feel the recoil when you’re shooting at food.
Looks awesome! What model is that? I can't find anything offered for Tikka's on their page.
Privateer stock, they dont advertise them for some reason aor maybe havent updated their website but I orderrd the stock thru OMrifles in oregon
If you don't mind me asking what's the cost of that stock? Do you know if they offer it in LH?
Im almost sure they do, but IG them they respond pretty quick price was 600-640 cant remember exactly
OP, Tikka is worth the build. For a factory offering, they are impressive for their QC and features (extractor, bolt release, adjustable trigger, action accepts LA and SA bolts, and some might even argue for their integrated rail) . Here are a few current build projects, some of which will run switch lugs for variously chambered barrels. GL
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