I’m going to stir some sh*t up with this post, no doubt. So trigger warning if you’re trying to keep your blood pressure down.
I think the fatal flaw in the Tikka action for hunting is that it is not rock solid safe to carry a round in the chamber. If you do carry it hot, even if it’s unlikely, that safety can be flicked off and that trigger can snag on any number of things and go off. To a lesser extent, the bolt could flip open, though I have never personally had that happen.
This is the only reason I have not gone all in on a Rokstok-Tikka build. I am 1,000 percent convinced of every other argument for that action, I have had one before. It’s just as smooth as a $1,500 custom actions (maybe smoother), it’s durable, the trigger is excellent and reliable, etc etc. All undeniable.
I have a dozen or so custom’s built on 700 custom clones. They’re all collecting dust right now for the same reason. In fact, they’re probably worse in this regard. I did have a stiller long action safety get bumped going through brush once.
The best safety designs? Blaser R8 (Sauer 505 too), Ruger M77. The blaser cannot possibly fire, there is no energy in the firing pin. It is totally inert until cocked. The M77 locks all the way back and snug against the bolt. It’s not protruding, it has zero play, and you can physically see metal on metal blocking that firing pin from dropping. The edge goes to the blaser design here but I’ll argue all day the merits of the M77. They’re rock freaking solid. Unfortunately, there’s just not a lot of good aftermarket options for a modern lightweight stock.
The Winchester model 70 and any similar with the largish blade are better than tikka/remington but I’m only like 85 percent confident carrying an M70. I want to be 100 percent. The safety is always a little loose fitting and not confidence inspiring.
I’m open to the MCR Marshall whenever that comes out. I’ll buy one and try it.
I think the fatal flaw in the Tikka action for hunting is that it is not rock solid safe to carry a round in the chamber. If you do carry it hot, even if it’s unlikely, that safety can be flicked off and that trigger can snag on any number of things and go off. To a lesser extent, the bolt could flip open, though I have never personally had that happen.
This is the only reason I have not gone all in on a Rokstok-Tikka build. I am 1,000 percent convinced of every other argument for that action, I have had one before. It’s just as smooth as a $1,500 custom actions (maybe smoother), it’s durable, the trigger is excellent and reliable, etc etc. All undeniable.
I have a dozen or so custom’s built on 700 custom clones. They’re all collecting dust right now for the same reason. In fact, they’re probably worse in this regard. I did have a stiller long action safety get bumped going through brush once.
The best safety designs? Blaser R8 (Sauer 505 too), Ruger M77. The blaser cannot possibly fire, there is no energy in the firing pin. It is totally inert until cocked. The M77 locks all the way back and snug against the bolt. It’s not protruding, it has zero play, and you can physically see metal on metal blocking that firing pin from dropping. The edge goes to the blaser design here but I’ll argue all day the merits of the M77. They’re rock freaking solid. Unfortunately, there’s just not a lot of good aftermarket options for a modern lightweight stock.
The Winchester model 70 and any similar with the largish blade are better than tikka/remington but I’m only like 85 percent confident carrying an M70. I want to be 100 percent. The safety is always a little loose fitting and not confidence inspiring.
I’m open to the MCR Marshall whenever that comes out. I’ll buy one and try it.
