Tikka mag issue

[gbflyer]

It looks like the back of the cartridge is not being adequately pushed up by the mag spring. But, when I look close the case head appears tight to the feed lips, so while I would check the spring, I suspect the feed lips are the issue. Some gentle sanding of the rear portion of the lips on the bottom side would be what I tried. Basically rounding the edge that contacts the case head. If that doesn't work, then the Ascension Industries 3D printed mags.

Sucks to have multiple mags with the same issue, especially as factory magazines are not cheap.

Indeed it does. I stretched the spring but it doesn’t stay stretched. Very soft. They were going for corrosion resistance, which I can appreciate, over good spring steel. I worked 2 of them over with a diamond file to get them to 75% with 3 down. A couple more weren’t so lucky. Ascension mags on order. I see that the steel lip .223 tikka mags are more money and I’d have to order from the UK. Then they are still stuck with 2.26 OAL. You’d think that they would offer an “M+” variant with steel feed lips, it’s not like the action is short. But the average buyer at Cabelas will take the $40 one over the $70 on every time so I get it.

 

[cuerro viejo]

Indeed it does. I stretched the spring but it doesn’t stay stretched. Very soft. They were going for corrosion resistance, which I can appreciate, over good spring steel. I worked 2 of them over with a diamond file to get them to 75% with 3 down. A couple more weren’t so lucky. Ascension mags on order. I see that the steel lip .223 tikka mags are more money and I’d have to order from the UK. Then they are still stuck with 2.26 OAL. You’d think that they would offer an “M+” variant with steel feed lips, it’s not like the action is short. But the average buyer at Cabelas will take the $40 one over the $70 on every time so I get it.

The NDr mags are pain to break and and load, mamba are bigger but easier to load… I have both prefer mamba

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1128093945

 

[Gstew1930]

The NDR mags work great and I prefer them over the Mamba mags but both are good options.

Same. I much prefer the NDR

 

[gbflyer]

The NDr mags are pain to break and and load, mamba are bigger but easier to load… I have both prefer mamba

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1128093945

Thanks. I don’t like 10 round mags. Seems like I’m going to have to get over that though.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Thanks. I don’t like 10 round mags. Seems like I’m going to have to get over that though.

The Waters 10-round magazines work great and are considerably smaller than the Mamba magazines. The Mamba magazines also work very well.

Edit - here’s a picture of a Waters six and ten to the left of an OEM six and a Mamba 10.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

And here’s a top view.

Waters 2.4”
OEM
Waters 2.4”
Mamba

I believe Waters offers one that works for longer COAL as well.

Edit - if someone had posted up pictures of all these magazines side by side, I would have bought only the Waters magazines.

I hear great things about the NDR magazines, but I only heard of them after getting the Mamba mags.

The only magazine I have used which is complete garbage is the Mountain Tactical magazine. I got one of those for my 6.5 CM and it has never worked.

 

[cuerro viejo]

Thanks. I don’t like 10 round mags. Seems like I’m going to have to get over that though.

The NDr is more your flavor then, it fits more like the 6rd factory, just a touch lower. Mamba is obnoxiously long. I don’t have a Waters mag to compare

NDr is just stiff to load, unless you are shooting 60 plus rds at a setting not really big deal just stiffer when seating bullets in mag.

 

[mtnbound]

Thanks. I don’t like 10 round mags. Seems like I’m going to have to get over that though.

The Mamba mags look like they should hold 20 rounds of 223. The NDR mags are much more compact. I find both are a little difficult to load in 223. The pic is of a NDR 10rd 223 mag.

 

[Pharmseller]

The Waters mags I had took Hulk-like force to click in. I sold them.

I use the Ascension Industries mags with zero complaints.

Tikka T3/T3X .223 Extended COAL Magazine Kit - 4 Rounds

This is an extended COAL Magazine Kit for the Tikka T3/T3X Rifles chambered in .223 Remington. This will allow you to have a COAL of 2.55". This kit will include a new mag body and follower to accommodate the 2.55" COAL. Your mag will fit flush just like the factory magazine does. With this...

ascensionindustries.co

 

[Q_Sertorius]

The Waters mags I had took Hulk-like force to click in. I sold them.

I use the Ascension Industries mags with zero complaints.

Tikka T3/T3X .223 Extended COAL Magazine Kit - 4 Rounds

This is an extended COAL Magazine Kit for the Tikka T3/T3X Rifles chambered in .223 Remington. This will allow you to have a COAL of 2.55". This kit will include a new mag body and follower to accommodate the 2.55" COAL. Your mag will fit flush just like the factory magazine does. With this...

ascensionindustries.co

That sounds like the same problem I had, which I fixed with a single washer.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

you are supposed to file the mag latch catch on waters.

 

[The Harbor Master]

the mag locks off the bottom metal, sounds like your bottom metal front catch is higher than mag catch,

Chalk your mag's catch, then insert mag to see how far off you are, or just loose action screws until it locks.

the action screw being looser or tighter would affect the mag/cartridge height in relationship to the bolt. if loosening front action screw allows the mag in far enough to catch, then you have three options with best option being lowering/shimming/bedding the bottom metal enough for mag to catch, while not getting it to low where bolt doesn't push/pick up shell.

you could alter mag catches or height but thats kind of last resort in my mind.

Thank you. I put in a small washer, retightened to 50 and everything works like a charm now. I just checked the fit and feeding on all my magazines.

After reading this exchange I took a closer look at my T3x 7RM. After I got it back from the smith earlier this year for cut/thread, my mag has been a little tough to remove and doesnt "pop" out very well. It seats ok from what I can tell, maybe takes a *little* more force than before. I checked out the OEM bottom plastic and sure enough, the middle around the mag is "bowed" out slightly, while the area around the screws are slightly deeper than flush with the stock. After some thinking I remembered that I had decided to try out 65 in. lbs just out of curiosity... that must be what's causing the tight fitting mag.

The rifle shoots great and I'm damn sure not going to change anything a few days before a hunting trip. But after this season I'm going to try the washer/50 in lbs route. Thanks!

 

[Packmansion]

Im having reliability issues with the ndr... anyone else experience this? The feeding is very inconsistent. Super tight for the first round, two hands needed for feeding. Then on the last few rounds it will skip rounds sometimes. Also for $97 they couldn't afford to use an injection molded follower lol. I think im just going to get a Bravo and some aics mags

 

[Gstew1930]

Im having reliability issues with the ndr... anyone else experience this? The feeding is very inconsistent. Super tight for the first round, two hands needed for feeding. Then on the last few rounds it will skip rounds sometimes. Also for $97 they couldn't afford to use an injection molded follower lol. I think im just going to get a Bravo and some aics mags

I have over 2k rounds on mine & its been flawless so far

 

[mtnbound]

Im having reliability issues with the ndr... anyone else experience this? The feeding is very inconsistent. Super tight for the first round, two hands needed for feeding. Then on the last few rounds it will skip rounds sometimes. Also for $97 they couldn't afford to use an injection molded follower lol. I think im just going to get a Bravo and some aics mags

No issues with the two I have.

 

[Packmansion]

No issues with the two I have.

I think i know the issue. I am running a krg echo. Are you guys running factory bottom metal?

 

[RocketRob16]

I think i know the issue. I am running a krg echo. Are you guys running factory bottom metal?

Not exactly the same but I'm having an issue with the Mamba and a KRG Echo. I've only ran one mag through it so far and didn't have any issues but the fit is horribly tight. I may swap this Echo for a Bravo.

 

[mdtennant]

I am not having loading issues with either the mamba or NDr mags. I use them both due to feeding issues with the factory mags that seem to be related to the follower / spring.

Personally, I prefer the NDr mags over the mambas and tend to grab those (NDr) more times than not. This pertains to the 223.

I also have NDr mags for the 6.5 PRC and don’t use the factory Tikka mags. Again, no issues with the NDr 6.5 PRC SA mags, for those using them just make sure the mag matches your bolt stop (LA vs SA).

 

[Formidilosus]

At S2H classes this year we saw multiple Waters, NDR, factory, AICS and Mamba mags used extensively.

Factory 223 mags:
Depends on the mags. Some work excellently, some do not. When tested correctly in each rifle the 4 round mags work well.

Water T3 223 mags- plastic follower:
Worked very well until rain and sand/small debris got in. Afterwords, the follower would fail to rise relatively often. (Note: the M595 water snags have a metal follower and have functioned perfectly through all weather and conductions).



NDR 10 round 223 mag:
Nearly same as the Waters- plastic follower. Generally worked very well until rain with sand/small debris then the followers would lock up in the mag. Also, the two I have will malfunction with the first round when loaded to a full 10 rounds.



AICS 223:
Variable. Some models worked well in some guns, but the same mags were disasters in other “identical” rifles. Same for other models. When mags are well matched and tested for individual guns, they work ok. Overall, the most inconsistent option.


Mamba 10 round mags:
Functionally flawless in all conditions, across nearly 100,000 rounds and 60+ rifles. Not the smoothest feeling during feeding, but function is spectacular.

 

[Braaap]

Im having reliability issues with the ndr... anyone else experience this? The feeding is very inconsistent. Super tight for the first round, two hands needed for feeding. Then on the last few rounds it will skip rounds sometimes. Also for $97 they couldn't afford to use an injection molded follower lol. I think im just going to get a Bravo and some aics mags

No issues for me. I have two NDR mags, used both leading up to S2H course, during the course, and have continued using them with zero issues. I prefer them slightly over the Waters 6 round mag.