Tikka t3x Varmint feeding issue

[IdahoSpud]

Anyone else have a .223 varmint? I thought it was just my hand loads, but since the shortage of reloading components I had no other option but to go shoot some cheaper factory loads and it's still doing it. Half of the time the bolt wont strip a round and I have to reach in and jiggle it for the back to pop up enough for it to feed.

I've played with the magazine and it seems like the rounds have way to much movement to rock front to back.


Is this typical, is there a fix?

 

[Mudflap621]

Factory plastic mags? What is stamped on the top of mag for size? I’ve got a varmint and when I ran with factory mags I had no such issues.

 

[IdahoSpud]

Factory plastic mags. The only thing stamped on it is S (short action?)

 

[DeadAss]

No Problems with mine using factory ammo

 

[IdahoSpud]

I imagine it's most likely a defective mag then?

 

[Mudflap621]

Possibly weak spring or follower hanging up? Try taking it apart and see if any weird wear marks or burrs inside.

 

[XTREM HTR16]

I’d say it’s the mag. My 223 varmint doesn’t do that

 

[wade2big]

If the follower can be removed from the magazine, bend the spring to where there is more pressure on the back end. Thats basically the fix for ctr mags. I just dont know anything about the factory lite mags.

 

[mitchellchandler_au]

I know of a few guys here in Australia who use the tikka 223's as their kangaroo shooting rifles. Some might shoot 100 rounds a night if they find large numbers of roo's to harvest and shooting maybe 4 nights a week all year. With obvious down time for holidays and other things.They were wearing out a few factory plastic mags a year. I believe they got the plastic mags with the steel feed lips when they became available. They were experiencing the same issue you are having. The feed lips were wearing away allowing the rounds to sit up at the front which allowed the back to drop down and fail to get picked up by the bolt.