Hate the ease of release on Tikka mags...

[Mike Islander]

I ground down the stock mag release on my 10/22 to prevent accidental dislodge.

Can I do something similar on my T3X? I don't ever need a quick mag change, and I've already popped it loose resting it on my bino harness. An extra strong spring would be better, but I'd prefer to make it much more difficult to pull mags.

 

[Choupique]

I wish they worked like sako releases, where you have to push in on the magazine before the release will work.

I dont see why you couldnt shave the release down a little bit.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

How tight are your action screws? On some of my rifles, when I tightened the screws down, without putting a shim in it, the magazine insertion and release got very stiff. I had to exert myself to get the magazine to release. You might consider an extra few pounds of torque before you start filing away on it.

 

[Frozenlead]

Take a look up in your mag well and check your retention spring. It may need to be adjusted slightly to help keep more forward pressure on the mag/latch connection.
After that , then you could try the action screws as mentioned above before you modify the mag release.
I swapped mine out to an atlas works bottom metal and it is a lot better. It is more like a Sako in that your need to put some pressure on the mag to release or get aggressive on the lever.

 

[Macintosh]

Agree with above. Tightening action screws makes the mag release a bit more snug on oem stocks. If you are releasing the mag just by resting rifle on a bag, something is NOT normal, ie the distance between action and bottom metal is slightly too far. My guess being that your action screws are abnormally loose, or the bedding/pillars is very slightly too thick—it doesnt take much. Is it an oem stock or an aftermarket stock?

 

[WRO]

I remember @Pharmseller losing one on a hunt. I steer clear detached mags for a reason.


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[Mike D Texas]

I find my tikka mag releases just the opposite. They can be a bitch to get them to release the mags, but I prefer that.


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[Pharmseller]

I remember @Pharmseller losing one on a hunt. I steer clear detached mags for a reason.


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[Mike Islander]

It's standard Tikka pressure. I'm rough on my rifles. My action screws are at the upper limit. I'll take a closer look and if possible file it down just below flush.

 

[Nine Banger]

A Waters Rifleman mag would pick up the extra slack. They were tight as a tick on my trainer. I put together a new trainer and had to file them. The filed ones still work in the other gun too.

Or swap bottom metal?

 

[Marbles]

You can get a longer (internally) metal catch from Lumley that will hold mags tighter. I have yet to inadvertently drop a mag. But, I always hunt with two just in case.

 

[Mike Islander]

You can get a longer (internally) metal catch from Lumley that will hold mags tighter. I have yet to inadvertently drop a mag. But, I always hunt with two just in case.

I like the sound of this. The stock release is just above flush. Laying on the right surface, sliding forward can release the mag or at least unseat it

I don't carry anything on the outside of my pack. Nothing in unzipped pockets. I can't afford to lose a single thing on a hunt, and I can't afford even 1 unseated mag, much less lost.

 

[Marbles]

I like the sound of this. The stock release is just above flush. Laying on the right surface, sliding forward can release the mag or at least unseat it

I don't carry anything on the outside of my pack. Nothing in unzipped pockets. I can't afford to lose a single thing on a hunt, and I can't afford even 1 unseated mag, much less lost.

Tikka T3 / T3x - titanium magazine lever

Tikka T3 / T3x - titanium magazine lever

lumleyarms.us

You may find you still want to file down the external portion and make it flush with the mag well.

If there is enough slop, the slightly longer catch may still not be tight enough.

You could also try using something like JB weld to build up the catch on the magazine to tighten it up. I bet (but have not tried) the catch could be made to have a lip. Size it correctly an you could make it were the mag only drops if you push up on it, like a Sako.

Maybe I should play around with that.

 

[The Harbor Master]

How tight are your action screws? On some of my rifles, when I tightened the screws down, without putting a shim in it, the magazine insertion and release got very stiff. I had to exert myself to get the magazine to release. You might consider an extra few pounds of torque before you start filing away on it.

It's standard Tikka pressure. I'm rough on my rifles. My action screws are at the upper limit. I'll take a closer look and if possible file it down just below flush.

Interesting. This was my first thought. I have one tikka at 53ish# on the screws and the mag is pretty stiff to release. Another I have at 65# and it's tougher than the first to pop out, I don't think it's possible to pop it just by rubbing a harness.

 

[nm.otter]

UM has a T3x bottom metal in the works, might be worth seeing what that looks like.

 

[Mike Islander]

Interesting. This was my first thought. I have one tikka at 53ish# on the screws and the mag is pretty stiff to release. Another I have at 65# and it's tougher than the first to pop out, I don't think it's possible to pop it just by rubbing a harness.

It's bad enough to just unseat it for me to fix it. I don't want to take a chance, and it seems easy enough to shorten the stock release just below flush. Worked wonders on my 10-22.

 

[bojangles808]

if I really crank the bolt that holds the trigger assembly down the magazine retention spring gets off-center and it wont release as easy. maybe that's help

 

[Marbles]

if I really crank the bolt that holds the trigger assembly down the magazine retention spring gets off-center and it wont release as easy. maybe that's help

You can hold the spring straight with a c-clamp or crescent wrench.