Tikka 223: Pierced Primers and Firing Pin Size

[bpitcher]

Got a batch of BoneFrog 77gr TMK in last week and decided to go test it out.

Had 4 primers pierced of 11 struck. Has anyone else had issues with this ammo? MV was well within the expected range at 2734 fps average. No pressure signs. This rifle is brand new (Muzzle Threaded) and has shot 75gr Gold Dot, 75gr Hornady Black, 73gr ELDM, 62gr soft points, and M193 with no issues thus far. FP protrusion measured at .0645.

I pulled the firing pin to inspect and found what appears to be some erosion. This leads to my next issue - It looks that Tikka has changed the size of the firing pin from a universal size (Part Number S5850155) to a small. I called Beretta to confirm this and they gave me the part number to the larger firing pin and appear to be unaware that there was a change made.

I sent them some pictures of the measurements, to which they replied: "According to management, the firing pins are clearly different by caliber and or generation.
The .223 uses small rifle primers and the 6.5 CM uses large rifle primers, so the nose of the firing pin will be different diameters. They are not interchangeable." and then closed my customer service case. Why then did you send me the part number for the larger firing pin and tell me that there have been no changes since 2023 to the schematics?

Does anyone have a newer model (MT) 223 to compare to? I'd be interested in seeing a picture of the firing pin.



6.5CM Firing Pin


223

 

[RancherJohn]

I have a .223 T3x that does the same with Bonefrog 77 gr TMKs as well. No issues in a little over a thousand rounds of the same lot through a gas gun, and no issues with 10 or so different ammo types in that .223. I haven't gotten around to swapping the firing pin to see if it makes a difference yet, but it's on the list.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Did you contact the ammo manufacture and get their take?

 

[Lawnboi]

You have a couple things going on.

Likely hot ammo loaded with possibly thin primers. Once you pierce one you end up with a rough firing pin from gas etching. Once that happens you’re much more likely to pierce primers.

As far as I know firing pins on tikkas are all the same still. I don’t have any I bought in the last year but I’m only seeing one firing pin available. I have a half dozen different bolts and a few spare firing pins, all parts on all of them are interchangeable. I believe you just had a failure to communicate or a rep that dosnt know enough about the technical aspects of inside the bolt.

You could try to buff down some of the rough feeling on the tip but I would just buy a new firing pin and call it a day.

I’d also stop shooting that ammo

 

[bpitcher]

Did you contact the ammo manufacture and get their take?

Yes.

The owner stated that they have only seen pierced primers once and it was a "race gun" or something of the sort. A quick google search turned up at least one other issue in an AR. He did mention that they use CCI400s, which I've read can have a thinner cup.

He declined to refund me right off the bat, without me even asking as I had bought them from one of his vendors. I asked if I could provide a receipt then - no to that as well. No replacement as he does not have them in stock. Won't replace them with an SMK load because all he has is Black Hills and it's more expensive.

In the end he set an RMA and shipped a replacement order of their 77 match burner load. It's a cheaper offering, I'm just happy to be done with it. I think I'll likely see the same issues as it uses the same primer.

I felt like it was a pretty half hearted customer service response. I'd likely not buy from them again.