Tikka BR

[Liven The Dream]

I think that I’m going to sell this one or just the Eliseo. I can’t warm up to the tube chassis. Posting because there are custom stock options available.
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I also could not get into Gary's stocks ? many do .

 

[grovey]

The fact that McMillan shows no Tikka inletting for their BR stocks is the first clue. Serious BR shooters use nothing but custom actions and single shot solid bottom actions at that. They have moved way past using mass produced hunting actions for BR rifles. Competitors are a frugal lot; if hunting actions would be competitive, they would not purchase high dollar custom ones.

No one shoots 700 actions from the bench anymore? Yes I'm sure the best shooters use the best actions, but this isn't an action measuring thread.

 

[grovey]

Feeding is easy ejecting is the problem, cycle a piece of Lapua 6 br brass through the Tikka action. and report back.

So feeding is an issue ( post #13 , or it's easy ( post 21) ? You can't have it both ways.

 

[SBS]

No one shoots 700 actions from the bench anymore? Yes I'm sure the best shooters use the best actions, but this isn't an action measuring thread.

Sorry you took offense, but your post said you were looking to build a single shot dedicated benchrest rig. Certainly any rifle can be shot from the bench, but to be classified as a dedicated benchrest rig -- that's something different.

 

[joshb]

I bought this Tikka in a Manners. 6xc and it feeds and ejects perfectly thru AI mags.

I build stocks with wider flat forends to shoot off a rest and rear bag, tho it’s not a true benchrest stock. This one is in 223.

 

[michaeljp65]

Feeding is easy ejecting is the problem, cycle a piece of Lapua 6 br brass through the Tikka action. and report back.

No problems extracting or ejecting a 6BR from my tikka action, T3.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

if you were truly trying to use it for benchrest then feeding nor ejection should be a concern. if the ejector doesn't work? Bonus!

 

[grovey]

Sorry you took offense, but your post said you were looking to build a single shot dedicated benchrest rig. Certainly any rifle can be shot from the bench, but to be classified as a dedicated benchrest rig -- that's something different.

We'll have to agree to disagree then. I'm sure there are still quite a few BR guns built on 700 actions out there in service. I see a few at my range. That said.... the Tikka ( in factory form anyway) seems to be a better mouse trap to me. It doesn't have the aftermarket acc's that are available for a 700, but I could see that changing .

 

[Dusty Stevens]

We'll have to agree to disagree then. I'm sure there are still quite a few BR guns built on 700 actions out there in service. I see a few at my range. That said the Tikka ( in factory form anyway) seems to be a better mouse trap to me. It doesn't have the aftermarket acc's that are available for a 700, but I could see that changing .

If only you could put a 3 lever trigger in there they could compete with the remington crowd

 

[joshb]

 

[yukonal]

Surely someone has done this.

Does 5 F-TR, and 6 Custom Hunting rifles count?

 

[grovey]

Does 5 F-TR, and 6 Custom Hunting rifles count?

Sure, but just this once I'd be interested in hearing the details of your builds, any hiccups you or your smith ran into, and how well they shoot.

 

[yukonal]

I think I can be credited with being one of the, if not THE person who started the customizing of the Tikka "craze"...several years ago (2010).

I designed, and had several runs of Rem 700 style recoil lugs CNC machined, and surface ground to exact tolerances. Then, we face off the taper on the face of the receiver. This leaves quite a bit of meat on both sides of the bottom of the face of the action. (all the lugs you see these days are spin off's of my original design) So the lugs are drilled out, and double pinned to these locations. The factory lug is done away with, and the slot in the bottom of the receiver acts as a secondary bedding surface when the bedding material fills it in and hardens.

I contour my barrels to the new diameter of the lug, approximately 1.180". With the ability to change bolt stop length, the same action can run a medium cartridge, or a long. Just swap out the bolt stop, and install the appropriate magazine. Or, mill a medium stop to a long, if that's the way you want to go.

When I started on this venture, I completely purged my safe of every brand, and started buying, and building Tikkas. I know them inside and out. And I have acquired my High Master status shooting Tikkas.

 

[yukonal]

Sure, but just this once I'd be interested in hearing the details of your builds, any hiccups you or your smith ran into, and how well they shoot.

My hunting rifles all shoot 1/2 moa out to 400, and my F-TR rifles shoot very well at 600.

 

[yukonal]

Mike, I think you have a very good point...and one I am going to agree with.

If someone told me I had to build ONE rifle for BR...as the poster stated...and I was going for blood, not just to play, I would build on a custom action. Probably a Bat.

But, when I started building all these Tikkas, I would buy 3 donors for the cost of 1 custom action. Sell the stocks and take off barrels, and I had 4 Tikka actions for the cost of 1 Bat or Panda. So I was able to do a lot of experimenting, machining, and tweaking.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Im a die hard tikka guy... but id never consider a tikka to be competitive (maybe marginal for club level if theres not many others there). But for a high end hunting rifle right under a custom action, or a prs starter/mid price range rifle- any repeater- they cant be beat. They feed like butter.

 

[STOMP442]

I also love Tikkas. I have built quite a few long range hunting rifles off of them and they are fantastic. They don't have the aftermarket support that Remington does with Stocks and triggers but I have found that the few options that are available are quite nice for the Tikkas. I have also found that they shoot quite well right out of the box. Here is a couple of my builds and a five shot group fired from a factory T3 chambered in 6.5 Sweedemoor.

 

[joshb]

I think I can be credited with being one of the, if not THE person who started the customizing of the Tikka "craze"...several years ago (2010).

I designed, and had several runs of Rem 700 style recoil lugs CNC machined, and surface ground to exact tolerances. Then, we face off the taper on the face of the receiver. This leaves quite a bit of meat on both sides of the bottom of the face of the action. (all the lugs you see these days are spin off's of my original design) So the lugs are drilled out, and double pinned to these locations. The factory lug is done away with, and the slot in the bottom of the receiver acts as a secondary bedding surface when the bedding material fills it in and hardens.

I contour my barrels to the new diameter of the lug, approximately 1.180". With the ability to change bolt stop length, the same action can run a medium cartridge, or a long. Just swap out the bolt stop, and install the appropriate magazine. Or, mill a medium stop to a long, if that's the way you want to go.

When I started on this venture, I completely purged my safe of every brand, and started buying, and building Tikkas. I know them inside and out. And I have acquired my High Master status shooting Tikkas.

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That’s nice work! I feel the same as you on the “three for one”. I shot my first Tikka about 5 years ago and I was hooked! I have some customs, but for plain fun shooting with friends I grab the Tikkas.

 

[yukonal]

Im a die hard tikka guy... but id never consider a tikka to be competitive (maybe marginal for club level if theres not many others there).

I have taken 2nd or 3rd in 3 out of the last 5 State Championships, and a Regional. 45-60 participants. My custom builds are competitive...and not "marginal".

If I could get someone who could shoot...to get behind a couple of them, I think they would clean house. I'm sure they shoot better than I do.

 

[grovey]

Great results there Yukon. You've certainly been there, did that. The Tikka's have a big following in the factory classes at the local club match I attend. I have three, and I'm very pleased with how they all shoot . The two I've spent the most time with have shot multiple 1/4" groups @ 100,and the one with the lightest bbl of them all has shot a handful of groups in the .1's .

So,,,, if getting one trued up? adding a custom bbl chambered in a more accurate cartridge, a trigger in the ounces, and an actual BR stock that rides the bags. Wouldn't that be an improvement on an already 1/4" capable platform?