Broke a Tikka T3x in less then a year

chindits

WKR
Joined
Feb 25, 2013
Messages
770
Location
Westslope, CO
History

New Tikka T3x 6.5cm ordered 1/26/24 with no alterations except to stock and initial trigger pull weight. I don’t remember when I picked it up. February sometime I reckon.

Approaching 600 rounds fired and probably more than double that dry fired no snap caps. All rounds hand loads with almost all of the ammo being 147eldm/40.3-40.6gr h4350. Final load a slow 2600fps 40.5g h4350. I did have an on rocks drop during hunting season from hand held height to non bolt handle side of rifle. I think scope hit first and it knocked the throw lever off the power ring and two small holes in neoprene scope cover. Only issue a couple days later was poi was further right at 450m then expected. Still killed the bull. After hunting season did a series of 18” drop and shoot with that scope testing poi shifts on foam pad over packed snow. Switched scopes and probably had 50 rounds just verifying dope before bolt issues. All shooting done in normal winter weather -20 to +20s.

Symptoms

Last week difficulty lifting bolt with a notable grating sensation. Disassembled bolt with nothing observed except some smaller than sand tiny black particles inside bolt. Cleaned and reassembled and dry fired a couple times with nothing noted. This week fired two rounds and started repeatedly dry firing. Bolt lift extremely became very difficult and grating around the third dry fire. I was going to disassemble bolt but turned it the wrong way when it was out of the rifle and uncocked it. I couldn’t get it cocked in the field and I thought a warm house and rubber gloves would be all I needed. Returned home and tried to cock bolt for disassembly but there was so much resistance that I had to use tools and broke shroud. Disassembled bolt with nothing observed. Used another bolt on my 22-250 for comparison and found the back of 6.5cm firing pin assembly appears bent and causing drag when being cycled in the rifle compared to the 22-250 bolt with both shrouds removed.

Currently

1 firing pin assembly and shroud replacement ordered and use firing pin assembly from 22-250 in 6.5cm bolt

Future

Jury rig firing pin spring compressor and disassemble 6.5 cm firing pin assembly to try and determine if back of firing pin is bent or cocking indicator is wallowed out.
Right now with spring tension there is no indication of the indicator being wallowed out. I can’t spin it 180 degrees with the current tension to see if the pin is bent.

Photos in progress
 
Joined
Dec 2, 2017
Messages
1,199
Location
Northeast Pa
LOL...been saying these are junk......but RS loves them. I think most just don't publicize their problems as they are too embarrassed or don't want shit from the RS gang ganging up on them....LOL. Until you buy one, then spend a load of money making them into something that works...you might as well just have bought a good rifle to begin with. Good luck with your Tikka.
 
Joined
Dec 2, 2017
Messages
1,199
Location
Northeast Pa
JG....they just want to follow Form's directive. Throw it down a rockslide or over a cliff to make sure it can take it...LOL. That's the only way to be sure you have a reliable rifle and scope. LOL....ya just got to love this shit.
 
Joined
Jan 5, 2022
Messages
772
LOL...been saying these are junk......but RS loves them. I think most just don't publicize their problems as they are too embarrassed or don't want shit from the RS gang ganging up on them....LOL. Until you buy one, then spend a load of money making them into something that works...you might as well just have bought a good rifle to begin with. Good luck with your Tikka.
What issues have you had with Tikkas? What brands would you say are better and by what measures? I'm always open to messing with new things to see what's up first hand. I mostly like the Tikkas because they are low bolt throw, the safety locks the bolt down, and there's a lot of aftermarket support available for them.

I'm not a Tikka or bust guy, but the 6 I own have been pretty fantastic since new. Very accurate right out of the box and reliable. A couple have been shot and carried a lot.

As far as the OP's situation, obviously a drop or fall contacted that area of the bolt assembly. I would put it out there that most any other bolt action that experienced the exact same contact and force would also likely sustain at least some damage.
 
Joined
Jan 26, 2017
Messages
3,197
Location
PA
What issues have you had with Tikkas? What brands would you say are better and by what measures? I'm always open to messing with new things to see what's up first hand. I mostly like the Tikkas because they are low bolt throw, the safety locks the bolt down, and there's a lot of aftermarket support available for them.

I'm not a Tikka or bust guy, but the 6 I own have been pretty fantastic since new. Very accurate right out of the box and reliable. A couple have been shot and carried a lot.

As far as the OP's situation, obviously a drop or fall contacted that area of the bolt assembly. I would put it out there that most any other bolt action that experienced the exact same contact and force would also likely sustain at least some damage.


i don't think a drop or fall could have bent it the direction it is bent. i think he did this damage trying to recock it after he twisted the shroud the wrong way.
 

Juan_ID

WKR
Joined
Feb 25, 2012
Messages
1,701
Location
Idaho
LOL...been saying these are junk......but RS loves them. I think most just don't publicize their problems as they are too embarrassed or don't want shit from the RS gang ganging up on them....LOL. Until you buy one, then spend a load of money making them into something that works...you might as well just have bought a good rifle to begin with. Good luck with your Tikka.
What good rifle do you suggest in the same price range? I’ve been thoroughly disappointed with my tikkas and too scared to admit it until now… thank you for giving me an out to finally voice my disappointment 😂
 

Bowfinn

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jan 6, 2019
Messages
118
Location
Anchorage, Alaska
If I understand correctly......you dropped your scoped rifle multiple times (some on purpose) on the rocks and you're surprised something's not right?
You didn’t understand correctly. You read what you wanted to read. The on purpose drops were 18inches on a pad over snow, and I doubt he intended to drop test over rock mid hunt. I don’t think a lot reasonable person would call the 18 inch drops abuse.
After hunting season did a series of 18” drop and shoot with that scope testing poi shifts on foam pad over packed snow.
 
Joined
Dec 30, 2014
Messages
9,941
i don't think a drop or fall could have bent it the direction it is bent. i think he did this damage trying to recock it after he twisted the shroud the wrong way.

My gut reaction was that it sounds like it was bent during the decock/recock but he mentioned issues seemingly prior to that as well. Possible it could be 2 separate issues.

The celebration by tikka haters was only a matter of time.
 

Lawnboi

WKR
Joined
Mar 2, 2012
Messages
8,500
Location
North Central Wi
Iv seen a man meltdown from a decocked tikka bolt.

Your firing pin is bent. Probably happened during disassembly, if you broke the shroud chances are you put enough force to do that.

Clean the bolt, buy a new firing pin, lube the cocking ramp and lugs with some grease.

Just a guess, but you likely had some carbon/grit get down in the action and end up in the bolt firing pin channel. I clean mine off and keep my cocking ramp greased for this very reason.
 

Antares

WKR
Joined
Jan 13, 2021
Messages
2,106
Location
Alaska
Last week difficulty lifting bolt with a notable grating sensation.

Your cocking ramp was asking to be greased.

Returned home and tried to cock bolt for disassembly but there was so much resistance that I had to use tools and broke shroud

This is where you firing pin got bent. Also, removing the shroud for this step would've prevented it from getting damaged.
 

The Harbor Master

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Apr 17, 2022
Messages
128
Location
SW Idaho
I mean, I don't think I'd say you "broke" your tikka. Sounds like you bent the firing pin assembly when you broke the shroud. As stated above, order new firing pin, degrease and remove oil from it, clean bolt, grease cocking ramp, assemble, keep shooting.

Tikka haters getting excited about a small damaged part caused by the user and not the manufacturer lol.
 

mxgsfmdpx

WKR
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
Messages
6,235
Location
Outside
Just so folks know and as a possibility of avoiding issues when taking the bolt assembly apart for cleaning…

You don’t NEED to stick a tool in the gap and twist hard to release. You can cam it back by pinching and pulling with your hand and then twisting.
 
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