Tikka Aftermarket Bolt Handles - Teach Me

[gjw]

Hey all, as you may know I'm a new Tikka owner.

I was wondering what you can tell me about the aftermarket bolt handles being offered for Tikka rifles

Are they worth it, do they improve the throw any comments would be great

Thanks as always

Greg

 

[eightyeight mag]

Sterk is the way.
Greatly improves bolt throw and very well made.

 

[bpitcher]

I use the UM short standard with ball.

It does exactly what it was designed to do - improve function while maintaining a low enough profile not to get snagged on everything. They're a little pricey, but I think they're a good investment. The factory set up was always harder to get a good grip on for me.

 

[General RE LEE]

It’s a small “upgrade” but for typical hunting applications, not necessary. I never had any issue whatsoever working the bolt on a Tikka as it’s configured from the factory.

 

[robtattoo]

I use the UM short standard with ball.

It does exactly what it was designed to do - improve function while maintaining a low enough profile not to get snagged on everything. They're a little pricey, but I think they're a good investment. The factory set up was always harder to get a good grip on for me.

^^^^
This.

I was genuinely surprised by how much of an improvement a shorter handle made to the handling & manipulation of the rifle.

Previously, I'd used the $8 Tourbon slip on rubber balls (I still have one on my Swede & T1x, like @bpitcher said.....spendy) & they're much better than the stock handle, but the short handle is awesomer

 

[renagde]

Sterk and don't look back.

 

[TNKnoxville]

I have the Anarchy bolt handles and little Bertha knobs on 3 of my Tikka's. To me it makes the throw smoother.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I use the UM short standard with ball.

It does exactly what it was designed to do - improve function while maintaining a low enough profile not to get snagged on everything. They're a little pricey, but I think they're a good investment. The factory set up was always harder to get a good grip on for me.

Be warned if you have multiple tikkas you’ll probably end up changing all if you change 1. Going back to the factory knob feels weird after.

 

[Chris in TN]

So, I had always thought of scope throw levers and extended bolt handles as being the sort of things that limp-wristed effeminate men used. Then I started teaching my kids to shoot, and they *needed* the extra help rapidly moving the scope magnification - with a handy index stopping point for mid-range - and they needed help manipulating the bolt. Turns out, that stuff actually works and makes everything faster/easier, though it comes at the cost of having things stick out further when your gun is cased or slung.


I bought the kids one of those cheap 3d printed bolt knob extensions on Amazon. It slides over the factory ball and a screw inside pushes some tabs into the hollow of the knob and holds the extension in place. Cheap, simple, and a major improvement over the factory knob. YMMV.