Anybody Else Having Failure to Feed with Tikka mags?

[Kenny Hart]

I have issues with my .223 mags. Doesn't seem to be the round sticks, it's in position, just slightly forward. It tips the front of the round up, bolt skips over the case head, then rides the body of the case, pushing it back down. When it happens, you can generally cycle the bolt several times and it won't pick it up. Open bolt, push the round rearward to contact on back of the mag, will feed perfectly on that cycle.


Haven't fixed it yet, just deal with it. Helps me to know I'm not flinching when I cycle and it goes click.

I'll mess around and see if I can't get that condition to happen as well, as I believe I've also seen that occur.

Most of the time I can tell that the whole round is sitting low, and doesn't seem to be angled up. Requires that I reach in with my finger and push down on it, then allow it to spring back up into place.

 

[Firth]

I'll mess around and see if I can't get that condition to happen as well, as I believe I've also seen that occur.

Most of the time I can tell that the whole round is sitting low, and doesn't seem to be angled up. Requires that I reach in with my finger and push down on it, then allow it to spring back up into place.

I've posted in previous threads on the feeding issue. I've had what @Billy Goat describes happen and what you show in your picture. I have 2 of the factory flush fit magazines and one factory 6 round mag. The original magazine that came with my 223 has been perfectly reliable. The factory spares were pretty bad. I tried stretching the springs on unreliable magazines, and it helped quite a bit with the 4 round one, but not really with the 6. I also started degreasing my reloads better (wiping down better or running through the tumbler again) and that seems to have gotten the 4 round one to where I would consider it somewhat reliable. It hasn't bobbled the last few times out, but I'm going to wait before I declare it fixed. The 6 is still bad. I have some aluminum a zoom snap caps and those have always feed reliably through all of my magazines, but for whatever reason ammo has not. The aluminum does seem slicker.

 

[Braaap]

I just picked up a brand new Tikka 223 yesterday and here’s the mag it came with. I don’t know if this is an improved mag or not but here’s some pics. This rifle is one of the new ones with the threaded barrel. Scheels listed it as having a 22.5” barrel but when I picked it up I was pleased to find it has a 20” barrel.

 

[eruhunter]

I just picked up a brand new Tikka 223 yesterday and here’s the mag it came with. I don’t know if this is an improved mag or not but here’s some pics. This rifle is one of the new ones with the threaded barrel. Scheels listed it as having a 22.5” barrel but when I picked it up I was pleased to find it has a 20” barrel.

Which model did you get? I just ordered a T3x lite .223 stainless model 1674-JRTXB31220MT from scheels shipping to the Sparks store. I would be happier if it came with a 20" barrel instead of the 22.5" it is listed as having. I would probably leave it 20" instead of cutting down the 22.5" eventually.

 

[Braaap]

Which model did you get? I just ordered a T3x lite .223 stainless model 1674-JRTXB31220MT from scheels shipping to the Sparks store. I would be happier if it came with a 20" barrel instead of the 22.5" it is listed as having. I would probably leave it 20" instead of cutting down the 22.5" eventually.

1674-JRTXB31220MT for me too.

I also picked mine up from Scheels in Sparks. I would assume you’re getting the 20” barrel too. I have another Tikka cut down to 19” and like it so I’ll just leave this one as is at 20”. Let us know when you get it.

 

[Kenny Hart]

I just picked up a brand new Tikka 223 yesterday and here’s the mag it came with. I don’t know if this is an improved mag or not but here’s some pics. This rifle is one of the new ones with the threaded barrel. Scheels listed it as having a 22.5” barrel but when I picked it up I was pleased to find it has a 20” barrel.

Yup, those are the same as mine. From what I can tell, Tikka hasn't had an in-production change on their magazines form a design standpoint. It could be anything, i.e. sourced springs are bad, new molds for mag bodies or follower that wasn't made correctly, old molds are beginning to wear, newer material that is "stickier," etc could all be the cause.

That second round that is stacked off-center uin your images is the round that most often gets caught as it's pushed up in my rifle.

 

[Kenny Hart]

I've posted in previous threads on the feeding issue. I've had what @Billy Goat describes happen and what you show in your picture. I have 2 of the factory flush fit magazines and one factory 6 round mag. The original magazine that came with my 223 has been perfectly reliable. The factory spares were pretty bad. I tried stretching the springs on unreliable magazines, and it helped quite a bit with the 4 round one, but not really with the 6. I also started degreasing my reloads better (wiping down better or running through the tumbler again) and that seems to have gotten the 4 round one to where I would consider it somewhat reliable. It hasn't bobbled the last few times out, but I'm going to wait before I declare it fixed. The 6 is still bad. I have some aluminum a zoom snap caps and those have always feed reliably through all of my magazines, but for whatever reason ammo has not. The aluminum does seem slicker.

I have the same experience as you, the snap caps never bind up, and I cannot force them to. It's only the brass. Brass, especially that which has oxidized after being hunted with for a couple days, is much "stickier" than aluminum.

Bit of a side not, but it's why I cannot stand brass hinge releases in archery, and only shoot aluminum. When my hand pivots, the brass sticks to my skin and has a herky-jerky feel as I'm working through the shot. The nickel-plated releases are no better, and will all give me target panic like mad, as I never know which sudden jerk will set the bow off.

Aluminum, anodized or not, is smooth like butter and lets me relax through one continuous movement with essentially zero anticipation issues.

 

[DJW51]

After dealing with this same issue for way too long and trying all the online remedies.

I was lucky enough to get a waters bought from a fellow rokslider. Well worth it IMO. Eliminates the feeding issues and can finally seat bullets where they should be. I have about 300 rounds with waters mag and zero feeding issues( 40g,55g,60g,69g,80g bullets)

However

They fit extremely tight! I had to sand a little on stock and replace mag release, which needed done anyway(terrible design).

Might be able to replace bottom metal and use AICS mags. I have been happy with the switch on my 6 creed. Was using mountain tactical( medium tikka mags aren't any better).