Tikka Prefit Barrels......?

[16Bore]

I’m no gunsmith and didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. But I am a mechanically minded shadetree ‘smith (I did the best 1911 trigger I’ve ever felt, for starters).

What’s the deal with these barrels? Screw in, set headspace and roll? In my mind of analysis, paralysis, it can’t be that easy. Or maybe it is?

I’d just as soon drop it in the mail and let someone in the “know” do it.

But it’s got me wondering. Fill in the blanks fellas...

 

[sdupontjr]

I too wondered the same thing. If you have a set of go/no go gauges, should be easy. But I too didn't stay and the mentioned hotel chain. Lol

 

[MThuntr]

I really am concerned about things being precise enough with a factory action to just spin on a barrel and start shooting but in theory yes it is that simple. Since I've not done it with a Tikka someone with experience will be able to clarify.

You'll need an action wrench, barrel vise, and headspace gauges. Some of the prefit barrels use a barrel nut like Savage.

 

[Newtosavage]

If you're talking about prefit Tikka barrels with a barrel nut, then yes, they are that easy. If you're talking about prefit barrels with a shoulder, then they may or may not be that easy. However, from everything I've read, and my limited personal experience of breaking down and rebuilding two Tikka rifles, the factory barrels headspace correctly on factory actions - but YMMV and mine is a sample size of exactly 2, so keep that in mind.

 

[HuntHarder]

Friends do not let friends do that ugly barrel nut on Tikkas

 

[slowelk]

I have a Proof prefit on my Tikka 30-06 (I wanted the tighter twist). I was advised to true the action to the barrel so I had a smith do that, but the intention is certainly to have them screwed on and sent out. I assume the Tikka factory doesn't do any truing with the barrels they screw on. I'm considering ordering another prefit for my 6.5 to improve velocity, and am thinking I won't do any action truing this time around.

 

[Ndbowhunter]

Nut or shouldered?

the Only tikka barrel taken off was on super tight.

might not hurt to have a smith do it the first go round.

 

[CApighunter]

Barrel vise, action wrench and headspace gauges are all you need, mine took all of 10 minutes to do. Spin off factory barrel, spin on new barrel, tighten, and check with gauges.

 

[16Bore]

Might be one of those deals where by the time you get the stuff and monkey with it, you’d break even having it done.

Kinda like handloading 12ga shotgun shells. Made the mistake once. 1,100 friggin rounds then sold all the junk for what I had in it.

“Saved” around $1 a box. Lotsa basement time though.

 

[Newtosavage]

I tinkered with Savage rifles (hence the screen name) for several years. They were fun. As you say, good quality basement or garage time doing something interesting and fun. Nothing wrong with that IMO.

 

[tdhanses]

Cost about $80 for a good smith to install a prefit. To me it’s not worth investing in head space gauges and a barrel vise etc.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I thought about this but you'd have to do enough rifles over the years to justify the tools investment cost doing it yourself; versus paying someone not really that much money to just take care of it.

 

[Ndbowhunter]

You can literally put ur gun in a vice with wood blocks and put a pipe wrench on the barrel shoulder and spin it off


Don’t bitch at me if you screw it up but broke out plenty of steel joints screwed together at 80,000ft lbs, 200 ain’t no thing.

 

[PNWGATOR]

Start at West Texas Ordinance and their switch lug for a Tikka and talk with them about barrels for same. Patriot Valley Arms also has a system.

 

[TxxAgg]

How much is a barrel, and how much is a smith? Interested.

 

[Ndbowhunter]

can get tikka prefits for 350$.

if you got a vice, with a credit card auto parts loaner torque wrench, all you need is a barrel Nut wrench.. can rent no go gauges for 8$.. that’s for nut setups.

Takes about 10 minutes once factory barrel is off. Tikka’s are easier then remingtons because The lack of recoil lug.

 

[derekbeaudry]

You can rent the gauges you need pretty cheap on the net if you need them. I headspaced my 6.5 PRC that’s a tikka action and an xcaliber barrel and nut system it was pretty easy and it turned out nice. The nut doesn’t look to bad at all. You have to go after the stock with a dremel a bit because of the nut but that takes about 5 min or so.

So the common question is why? Well at the time I did it you couldn’t get a 6.5 prc on a tikka so I went about it myself. It’s a 21” barrel shooting 156 bergers. The results are in the picture that’s a 3 shot group.

 

[Trees91]

I’ll know as soon as my tikka shows up. I have a Proof shouldered prefit waiting to get put on.

 

[slowelk]

can get tikka prefits for 350$.

who makes a prefit for $350?

 

[Ndbowhunter]

Preferred barrel charges 325$ for shouldered