Tikka mount failure stories

[timbernomad]

I’ve been reading about Sportsmatch and UM tikka rings, and I see the argument that clamping to the dovetail is stronger than being held on with four little screws. Makes sense to me.

I’m curious to see if any of you have stories of properly mounted pic rails or other bases coming loose or breaking off. Seems like a hit that busts off a picatinny rail would probably damage a scope. But I don’t know, that’s why I’d like to hear from real life experiences.

The only good reason I can think of not to use dovetail mounts is improved ring spacing or needing inclination. The ring spacing thing in particular seems like a decent argument for a rail.

 

[Trout&Buck]

I had my area 419 pic rail come loose after installing it following the included instructions. I found that out when my groups opened up to about five inches at 100 yds and then I felt my scope wobble as I changed the magnification. I stripped everything down, degreased, and re installed using a paint pen on the screw threads and all mating surfaces and it has held solid since then. So rails definitely can come loose.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

For me it’s more about daily use. Riding in the back seat of a vehicle, bouncing on off road trails getting shooting spots, recoil from hundreds of rounds per week, bouncing around strapped to backpack, etc.

The “hit that busts off a rail” is quite rare. The rail coming loose during the above normal use is what I want to avoid.

If using a rail is a must, I would bond it to the action.

 

[JGRaider]

Been shooting Tikkas since 1998, and have never used the first rail except for the one that comes on the CTR (bonded). I've never had one come loose yet, and that includes Opti-Locks, Tikka issued aluminum (T3), and sportsmatch.

 

[Chris in TN]

Been shooting Tikkas since 1998, and have never used the first rail except for the one that comes on the CTR (bonded). I've never had one come loose yet, and that includes Opti-Locks, Tikka issued aluminum (T3), and sportsmatch.

The factory Tikka rings on my 595, bought new in 1996(?). If they've ever budged I'm unaware of it. I mean it's just a .223 but it rode around a gazillion miles when I was younger.