Tikka bottom metal replacement questions

[barrister]

It's the time of year when I'm bored. I've decided to do a couple of Tikka modification projects. I have two Tikka T3x donor actions and barrels I've acquired. 30-06 and 6.5 Creedmore calibers. I'm going to have my local gunsmith put them in AG Composites Privateer stocks and do a little bit of optimization work on them. My specific questions relate to the bottom metal.

I've used the search function here and at other sites to read threads on this topic. Those have helped get me to this post regarding options from Lumley, High Desert Rifle Works and Oregon Mountain Rifle Co. Here are my questions:

1. I would of course welcome any current feedback on these three options. Especially these variables: (i) any affect on accuracy, (ii) ease of installation/clean fit and (iii) quality of the product itself?

2. The Oregon Mountain Rifle Co. site has aftermarket screws listed for purchase and the Lumley package seems like it includes aftermarket screws. I can't tell with High Desert Rifle Works if screws are included. Is this an important detail to get "better" screws for installation of the replacement bottom metal instead of reusing the factory screws?

3. High Desert Rifle Works has a specific mention that their bottom metal works with AG Composites stocks I'm sure they all will work, but if you have any specific input with this combination, I appreciate receiving it.

4. Based on the threads I have read, I plan to use the factory magazine. I definitely don't want any issues with fit or them falling out of the bottom metal. Please let me know if you've had this issue. I have already disqualified other options based on this issue.

Thanks in advance for you feedback.

 

[WyldGoose]

I’ve been curious myself and the Lumley has caught my eye. I’ve stuck with the factory plastic for now because I don’t really want to deal with shims to make a nice machined piece fit.

 

[Scottgolf]

I used the Oregon Mountain on my Tikka. I bought their screws but not really sure if I had to.. I am very happy with this setup.

 

[PredatoronthePrairie]

Any noticable accuracy increases with a bottom metal?

Or is it mostly cosmetic/don't like the semi plastic factory option?

 

[Macintosh]

I have a high desert bottom metal. It's +/- the oem bottom, just made of aluminum. Quality is excellent, finish is excellent, it's a drop-in fit depending on the stock. It's really the stock that's in question more than the bottom metal, if the pillar height in the stock is too short it will bottom-out your mags, if its too long you can occasionally get the bolt riding over the top of a cartridge in the magazine without picking it up. And there's some wiggle-room in the middle, ie you have a bit of range where it's "just right". The high desert comes with shims that your gunsmith can bed into the stock under the bottom metal if this is an issue. Usually it's simply a drop-in fit.

You wont find any accuracy difference whatsoever--any difference there I believe you would have seen the exact same thing un screwing and re-installing the factory bottom metal. What you might see is slightly better consistency by virtue of allowing you to torque to 65in/lb without any fear of deforming the plastic stock or pulling a screw through the bottom metal, bc 45inlb as recommended by tikka for their plastic parts can allow the action to move inside the stock a bit.

 

[wind gypsy]

I like metal bottom metal just because you can torque it down without it being all spongy like plastic. I have high desert and mountain tactical, both work fine but i'd go with high desert of those two. I dont know of any deficiencies with the factory screws.

If you're having a gunsmith bed your rifles in AG stocks, just have them make sure the bottom metal depth is appropriate at the same time.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Any noticable accuracy increases with a bottom metal?

Or is it mostly cosmetic/don't like the semi plastic factory option?

No.

It's cosmetic and "feel good" when running higher than 55" lbs on the screws.