Successful Tikka T3 . 223 magazine mod!

[boltfluter]

Kind of a do it yourself mod to allow VLD type bullets to be magazine fed. After looking all over the net for something that works well I decided to dream up my own solution. As popular as Tikka rifles are you would think reasonably priced magazines would be common. Not so! Lol. Anyway took a piece of round stock and made the block pictured in my crude drawing. I used a piece of Delrin. Most any nylon or plastic should work. I believe the key to this working is the .400 x 1.060 dimension. This step keeps the bottom of the follower spring in the original position, or it's happy place, if you will. The magazine holds 3 rounds ready to go. Internally everything is moved back .250 . This mod allows me to seat a bullet up to .030 into the rifling. Bullet is the new Hornady 62 ELD-VT scud missile! Hit me up with any questions you may have. Hopefully this makes a little sense. Cartridges feed like milk through a Goose! Good shooting guys!
Paul

 

[boltfluter]

Second pic down shows the gap that is created from moving the wall (back of follower butts up to it) back .250 and is a non-issue. I have .030 clearance in front of bullet by design. Keeps the follower from tilting forward. Follower naturally wants to stay forward where it should be for flawless feeding when coyotes are charging your position! Carry on.
Paul

 

[boltfluter]

Almost forgot. An awkward part to do this mod is taking the magazine apart, namely the bottom part. A sharp screwdriver from the inside of the magazine did the trick for me. Just when you think it's going to break it pops apart. Just Google T3 magazine disassembly for a pic if needed. You need to pry between the walls of top and bottom pieces. Good luck.
Paul

 

[nakneker]

Somebody give this man a medal. I wish I was wired like this. Now market that idea, you’ll sell a bunch of them, I’d be in for a couple! I paid big bucks for a Waterman’s mag, the only one I could find that allowed for a longer OAL in my T3 223 and it didn’t give me that much room!

If you get ambitious make a video of the process….. for simpletons like myself.

Nicely done Paul!

 

[Shotafterdark]

I love a guy like myself ...If you want it done right ! do it yourself ...
Great work .
I just started playing with my new Tikka Super Varmint in 223 as well
I already have Urban Rifleman making me a 26" 223 AI barrel with a
7 twist and I'll unfortunately be buying a different stock (chassis) as the
green factory stock although very nice , will look a bit anemic with this
larger barrel on it ..

I will be selling the original stock and I have 3 new mags like the one
you modified, that I bought ...as I will be forced to buy AIC type mags.

The KRG Bravo with the Enclosed rail front end addition looks to be the
route I go ...

As excited as I am , I'm also kinda sad to be tearing this rifle apart and
transforming her after only 10 rounds down the pipe ..

She is a shooter ....
I have 1000 Sierra 69 gr TMK that I bought for this gal and I just yesterday
ordered some of these 62 gr ELD VT to play with as well.

 

[boltfluter]

If for some reason the gap behind the follower becomes a problem I will make a new one. Keep me posted on your results if you try this conversion.
Paul

 

[painter]

Almost forgot. An awkward part to do this mod is taking the magazine apart, namely the bottom part. A sharp screwdriver from the inside of the magazine did the trick for me. Just when you think it's going to break it pops apart. Just Google T3 magazine disassembly for a pic if needed. You need to pry between the walls of top and bottom pieces. Good luck.
Paul

I accidentally found a very crude and quick way to separate the top from the bottom of the magazine, I had placed the rifle with the mag, in a workmate table and clamped the bottom of the mag. not paying attention to what I had done I picked the rifle up and the follower and spring fell to the floor no harm done it went back together with ease.

 

[Mick S]

Just tape a couple of matches to the magazine base and gently squeeze in a vise, the top lifts straight off

 

[boltfluter]

View attachment 1634989Just tape a couple of matches to the magazine base and gently squeeze in a vise, the top lifts straight off

Excellent idea! I knew there had to be an easier way to do this. Thanks for sharing.
Paul

 

[urbanrifleman]

223 mags and followers for long bullets is a real thing.

I'm going to make a single shot Bob Sled for AISC. Probably model it today.

I wonder if it would be possible to make a 223 follower for a 308 AISC mag...

 

[GenePoole]

I made one for a Savage MDT chassis that took AICS mags. I'll see if I can dig up the CAD files.

 

[GenePoole]

I found it. I remember now that I just modified a 308 enough to get it to feed a 223 in my Savage. It could use a little finesse.

 

[JFrank]

I’m putting a Tikka Dasher project together, so my question is whether the short cases will feed through the mag or will I need to make some kind of extension to the block or add to the follower ?

 

[urbanrifleman]

I found it. I remember now that I just modified a 308 enough to get it to feed a 223 in my Savage. It could use a little finesse.

Is your Savage not AISC compatible ?

 

[GenePoole]

Is your Savage not AISC compatible ?

Is AISC something I'm unaware of? I thought it was a typo for AICS (Accuracy International Chassis System).

 

[urbanrifleman]

Is AISC something I'm unaware of? I thought it was a typo for AICS (Accuracy International Chassis System).

Yes. Sorry. That's what I meant.

 

[GenePoole]

Then yes, it is AICS compatible. I understand that AI doesn't actually have a 223 version of their AICS but Accurate Mag makes one that works fine in my MDT chassis, so I modeled my single-shot 3D print from a 308 version. I modded the "feed ramp" to somewhat resemble the AM 223 mag. It could use a little work on aesthetics, but it feeds my giant 80SMK loads quite well.

 

[GenePoole]

I also printed one for service rifle that has a mag-catch lever actuator to lock back the bolt.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Then yes, it is AICS compatible. I understand that AI doesn't actually have a 223 version of their AICS but Accurate Mag makes one that works fine in my MDT chassis, so I modeled my single-shot 3D print from a 308 version. I modded the "feed ramp" to somewhat resemble the AM 223 mag. It could use a little work on aesthetics, but it feeds my giant 80SMK loads quite well.

This is my final version. It works very well for 223 and 308 both. I designed it for 223 but turns out it still works perfectly with 308 based cases also.