Tikka heavy bolt lift

[Western Hunter270]

Hey guys, I just bought a brand new tikka t3x superlite .270 winchester and the action is super smooth and bolt lift is very easy when running it dry, but when I go to feed a live round in, I have to push really hard to get the bolt to go all the way in and then it's really stiff when pushing it down. The bolt lift is also supper stiff when going to eject the live round. I've never fired the rifle yet. I've had tikkas in the past and none of them have been like this at all. I tried replacing the bolt with the bolt out of my t3x lite .270 and I still have the same problem, so I'm assuming it's something wrong with the chamber? Maybe actions screws? Any advice? I'd really like to get this solved before rifle season. Also, I don't have a scope on it so it's not the scope base screws.

 

[sndmn11]

One type of ammunition or several?

 

[Western Hunter270]

One type of ammunition or several?

Several types of ammunition, all factory. I don't reload. All of the same ammo feeds just fine in my t3x lite

 

[Rob5589]

Short chamber maybe?

 

[Western Hunter270]

Short chamber maybe?

Could a gunsmith fix that or would I have to send it in to tikka?

 

[Antares]

Stick your finger in the top lug recess and make sure you don’t have a ring/rail mounting screw protruding and interfering with the bolt.

 

[Western Hunter270]

Stick your finger in the top lug recess and make sure you don’t have a ring/rail mounting screw protruding and interfering with the bolt.

I don't have any bases or rail on it.

 

[Antares]

Well, it's not that then.

Sounds like maybe the headspacing isn't right. If you know someone with go no-go gauges that might be an interesting test to do before you reach out to Beretta.

 

[Rob5589]

Could a gunsmith fix that or would I have to send it in to tikka?

I'm sure they could if you wanted to go that route.

 

[Pn8hall]

Had a buddy torque his action screws to tight on his tikka and made bolt tight but even without a round so I would guess that is not your issue but it might be worth a few minutes to loosen them and see what happens.

 

[Outdoorsman12b]

I had the same problem with one. Took to smith and headspace checked and that was good. He told me he works on a few tikkas a week and that operation was within normal spec. I asked if he could fix it and he said no and basically told me to man up and work it like a machine. For the record have had about 6 tikkas and none have had that issue so did not think was normal.

The resistance was coming from the pin that cams over up by the shroud. Sorry Don’t know technical name.

 

[grappling_hook]

Try backing out the front action screw a few twists and see if it still happens.

 

[czgunner]

Any update on this?

 

[Western Hunter270]

Any update on this?

I sent it back to tikka. They shaved the bolt head down even though I told them it wasn't the bolt, which of course didn't help. So not impressed with tikka at all at the moment. It took them 3 months to do exactly what I said didn't need done and sent me back a product that still isn't functional. Not sure what I'm gonna try next. Sorry I can't help.

 

[czgunner]

I sent it back to tikka. They shaved the bolt head down even though I told them it wasn't the bolt, which of course didn't help. So not impressed with tikka at all at the moment. It took them 3 months to do exactly what I said didn't need done and sent me back a product that still isn't functional. Not sure what I'm gonna try next. Sorry I can't help.

Sorry man. I've heard Berretta/Tikka/etc has the worst customer service.
Found this: https://tikkashooters.com/discussion/t3x-firing-pin-removal/
Maybe it would help?

 

[Western Hunter270]

Sorry man. I've heard Berretta/Tikka/etc has the worst customer service.
Found this: https://tikkashooters.com/discussion/t3x-firing-pin-removal/
Maybe it would help?

I'll take a look. Thank you.

 

[sdupontjr]

Do you have anyone that has a tikka? I'd try their bolt just to rule that out. Don't understand why they would shave the bolt and not just replace the bolt.

Also, X2 with what others have said. No issues with my 308, however my 7mag T3 action screws were over torqued and did a similar issue. Buddy's 7mag T3 had the small top flat head ring/rail screws screwed in to far and touched off. (Yes they can and his front one did.) Wouldn't have thought of that.

 

[Rob5589]

I sent it back to tikka. They shaved the bolt head down even though I told them it wasn't the bolt, which of course didn't help. So not impressed with tikka at all at the moment. It took them 3 months to do exactly what I said didn't need done and sent me back a product that still isn't functional. Not sure what I'm gonna try next. Sorry I can't help.

Do you have a gunsmith that can measure the chamber?

 

[Western Hunter270]

Do you have anyone that has a tikka? I'd try their bolt just to rule that out. Don't understand why they would shave the bolt and not just replace the bolt.

Also, X2 with what others have said. No issues with my 308, however my 7mag T3 action screws were over torqued and did a similar issue. Buddy's 7mag T3 had the small top flat head ring/rail screws screwed in to far and touched off. (Yes they can and his front one did.) Wouldn't have thought of that.

I own another tikka in .270 that works fine and I tried the bolt out of that gun and it didn't fix the issue. That's how I knew it wasn't the bolt.

 

[Western Hunter270]

Do you have a gunsmith that can measure the chamber?

Not really. I've tried several times to contact the local gunsmith and he never returns my calls and he's never home when I stop by even when his hours say he's open. He works out of his shop.