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.

 

[Milron]

I use to like the integral sportsmatch rings and like the but I've slowly replaced every one with a rail just due to the mounting flexiblility as I tend to switch scope around frequently; and the added bonus of adding inclination to the setup so you aren't operating a scope near the end of its erector travel. Since TIKKA are all basically one action length there can defiantly be issues getting a more compact scope mounted on one with fixed ring spacing.

I see no way a properly mounted rail that is screwed on and pinned like the AREA 419 and some others would or even could ever sheer off. I guess there is the potential that one could come loose, but if you clean/degrease the threads and apply Vibratite, its not going anywhere. For a mountain rifle/truck gun indexing the screws with a paint pin in a good idea. To date I've NEVER had one actually come loose that was properly torqued and Vibratite'd. I prefer the Vibratite to 242 Thread locker or nail polis because removal is easier and frankly I think it does a better job where vibration is a concern.

 

[wind gypsy]

I like the direct mount rings from a weight/cost standpoint but prefer bonding a pic rail and using pic rings from a use standpoint.

 

[bnsafe]

anyone ever had a problem with lok tite leupold backcountry's to a tikka coming loose or breaking. I currently have sportsmatch but i like the looks of the those vs rail mounts better. i admit i dont get the screw argument. sportmatch have screws that tighten to hold it onto the rail. those can come lose as easily as screws into the gun itself. either way there is 4 screws holding it on. i could well be wrong, not arguing, just dont understand how loc tite screws would be worse than a rail mount

 

[Cactus kid]

anyone ever had a problem with lok tite leupold backcountry's to a tikka coming loose or breaking. I currently have sportsmatch but i like the looks of the those vs rail mounts better. i admit i dont get the screw argument. sportmatch have screws that tighten to hold it onto the rail. those can come lose as easily as screws into the gun itself. either way there is 4 screws holding it on. i could well be wrong, not arguing, just dont understand how loc tite screws would be worse than a rail mount

many of the pic rails just have the screws holding the rail down. Sportsmatch has a recoil pin to take on the sheering force of recoil. And the screws on the UM rings (not sure about sportsmatch) are much more robust than those on the pic rails.

That said the pic rail on my tikka does have a recoil pin and it is bonded to the action. Ive had no issues.

 

[atmat]

I currently have sportsmatch but i like the looks of the those vs rail mounts better.

This is a bad reason to switch from something that works.

i admit i dont get the screw argument. sportmatch have screws that tighten to hold it onto the rail. those can come lose as easily as screws into the gun itself. either way there is 4 screws holding it on.

You’re over-simplifying it. Not all screws are as robust, or large, or can be torqued as high. Plus, the UMs and SM come with recoil pins. They are very good systems.