The Raven: Unknown Munitions Tikka Clone action coming soon?

[longrangelead]

I got to do a bunch of shooting with one in 6 Creed over the weekend.
It just runs. it's tight and slick and just runs, I never thought about it once.

 

[nm.otter]

 

[Okie_Poke]

I listened to that podcast on the drive in this morning. One thing that raised a question for me is that the Procision guy (Jason?) repeated a few times that the goal of the project was to make a "precision receiver" on the Tikka footprint. I don't know anything about anything when it comes to how or why rifles are made the way they are. But in my head that means even "tighter tolerances" and "less play" than the factory receiver and bolt.

One of the main reasons I think the Tikka action is so highly sought after is that it just works. Yes, it's pretty smooth (considering price point). Yes, the trigger is pretty good (considering price point). Yes, it's usually accurate (considering price point). But it works. (And you can get a rifle for under a grand.) The Finns seem to understand designing and manufacturing something at scale that works. I would imagine leaving some play in certain places is part of that. (Thinking here about a recent podcast by @Cliff Gray with a Tikka rep).

Is there any concern they are going to make this too "precise" for backcountry hunting use? I understand @Formidilosus has one and has been killing stuff with it. I presume, but don't know, that he's got some mud bath, ice lake, and roll-down-the-mountain tests to make sure it runs. I know the Procision guys have been testing as well.

We’re currently doing durability testing, once that’s complete, they’ll be released. As we get closer, there will be more updates.

But is there some explanation somewhere about: (i) what it is that is being made more precise, and why, and (ii) what is being done to make sure this thing runs as good (or better?) than a Tikka in adverse conditions?

 

[BBob]

But in my head that means even "tighter tolerances" and "less play" than the factory receiver and bolt.

I didn’t get the impression that they were tightening up things in any way as far as bolt to raceway clearances. Following the discussions I think they worked with heat treat, action thread indexing, headspace tolerances, etc… as to what they meant by “tighter tolerances”. In the video they addressed the question as to how they would be the same in adverse conditions. The standard action, not the light will have an AR style spring loaded cover over the ejection port to further enhance it in adverse conditions.

 

[atmat]

I will buy one of these for sure. But I think at $1200 it’s very cost prohibitive and will impact sales, when whole Tikkas can be had for almost half the cost.

 

[gabenzeke]

I ordered a custom build on this action. I'll post when it's done....which will be a while.

Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro XL using Tapatalk

 

[whoop]

But in my head that means even "tighter tolerances" and "less play" than the factory receiver and bolt.

you can tighten tolerances without changing dimensions.

 

[RockAndSage]

I will buy one of these for sure. But I think at $1200 it’s very cost prohibitive and will impact sales, when whole Tikkas can be had for almost half the cost.

Different target markets - they're not targeting Tikka guys looking to upgrade, as much as it is people in the market for custom guns who want the benefits of Tikka's design, but at a higher performance level. It's the difference between F-150 guys and Raptor guys.

 

[longrangelead]

I will buy one of these for sure. But I think at $1200 it’s very cost prohibitive and will impact sales, when whole Tikkas can be had for almost half the cost.

if you buy a stainless Tikka, have it nitrided and put a rail on it, they're not far apart.

 

[bpitcher]

Are the bolt faces swappable or will you have to buy a new bolt body?

Earlier info indicated interchangeable bolt faces, but I haven't heard that mentioned lately and the podcast seemed to indicate you'd need a different body.

 

[mauiarcher]

I will buy one of these for sure. But I think at $1200 it’s very cost prohibitive and will impact sales, when whole Tikkas can be had for almost half the cost.

I would almost pay that much just so I don't have to remove a factory barrel again.

But seriously, if it is 4oz or more lighter than tikka with an integrated pic, I am all in. If it is same weight, I'll just stick with factory offerings and enjoy the savings (and suffering with the stock barrels).

 

[Frozenlead]

Are the bolt faces swappable or will you have to buy a new bolt body?

Earlier info indicated interchangeable bolt faces, but I haven't heard that mentioned lately and the podcast seemed to indicate you'd need a different body.

You need to purchase a different bolt body or complete bolt assembly in the desired bolt face.

 

[Stocky]

you can tighten tolerances without changing dimensions.

This!

Tolerance is just an acceptable range of values. The fit basis (clearance between parts) is what most people are thinking of. Ie if the holes allowed to be say 0.03mm to 0.1mm up on a factory action and the bolts allowed to be 0.0 to 0.03 down. It ensures a clearance of atleast 0.03 but some as high and 0.13.

If you tighten tolerances you could make the hole 0.03 to 0.04 up and the bolt 0 to 0 01 down. And all you have down is made the fit more consistent (0.03 to 0.05 clearance) and more closely match the tighter factory actions. The difference is just all the actions are consistent in feel. You jusy pick the optimum clearance and hold that consistent.

Tolerances are just an acceptable range fo functional values to allow for manufacturing inconsistencies.

 

[atmat]

if you buy a stainless Tikka, have it nitrided and put a rail on it, they're not far apart.

They still are quite a way apart. Nitriding is what — $200? A pic rail is $100 max. So $1100 gets you a stainless Tikka + nitride.

You’re not getting out for <$2k on a Raven build once you add barrel/trigger/stock.

Again, I’ll be the first customer in line. Not knocking the product.

 

[atmat]

Different target markets - they're not targeting Tikka guys looking to upgrade, as much as it is people in the market for custom guns who want the benefits of Tikka's design, but at a higher performance level. It's the difference between F-150 guys and Raptor guys.

I’m one of the guys buying. But I don’t know that it’s much “higher performance.” It’s a nitrided Tikka clone with a pic rail.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

*looks at my BAT Vesper that costs roughly $2k*

I think the price is fair

 

[Aussie Dan]

May have missed it.
Has anything been done to address the COAL restrictions of the tikka action?
Seems to be one of, if not the biggest issue that people have with tikkas

 

[Schmo]

May have missed it.
Has anything been done to address the COAL restrictions of the tikka action?
Seems to be one of, if not the biggest issue that people have with tikkas

Two solutions on the market that add COAL. The UM setup allows 3.54”, and the Redsnake allows 3.50”

 

[Aussie Dan]

Two solutions on the market that add COAL. The UM setup allows 3.54”, and the Redsnake allows 3.50”

Perfect, thanks for the info.
Sounds like this raven project is going to be an absolute winner across the board

 

[RockAndSage]

I’m one of the guys buying. But I don’t know that it’s much “higher performance.” It’s a nitrided Tikka clone with a pic rail.

Not sure I'd agree, though I suppose it depends on someone's definition of performance. For me personally, the integrated pic rail alone makes it higher performance, in terms of overall system reliability and the implications of cost savings related to all aspects of what goes into the optics - everything from decreased mounting/lapping/fastener cleaning and threadlocking, all the way to troubleshooting a shifting zero. I'd happily pay the cost differential for that alone, in terms of time savings and enhanced reliability. But when you add in more precision in the machining and that damn dust cover, those are two additional performance adds that make it an easy yes for me personally.