Tikka prefits

[roosiebull]

Are there any quicker options for a custom tikka prefit? A lot look like 15+ weeks, and I’m looking for a 18” 6arc spiral fluted and threaded

Should I just put in an order and wait it out, or are there shorter lead times out there through different sources?

 

[markXshooter]

Several makers advertise expedited barrels with a fee. Turn around times vary with complexity of the order. I got one from PBB when I was in a hurry in about 2 weeks. Ymmv. Good luck!

 

[Carl Ross]

I haven’t checked recently but I bet Fisher T and C would be faster. Patriot Valley offers a rush option, if it’s worth the $$ to you.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Buy a fast twist factory barrel is what I do.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

@hereinaz may have something on hand.

 

[Harvey_NW]

If you have a smith that can finish it quickly, PBB can usually get a blank done up in 2 weeks and it ends up being about the same total cost in the end, depending on what your smith charges to chamber/fit/thread.

 

[wind gypsy]

Buy a fast twist factory barrel is what I do.

Going to need to cut a heck of a lot off a 243 to get a 6 ARC chamber. Wouldn't go that route.

 

[wind gypsy]

Manzella tends to have good turn around times but will want the action for the first barrel.

Recently came across a local benchrest shooter here in MN that doesn't advertise and is turning barrels around in a week..

FIsher T&C and PVA with rush were mentioned but those seem like faster options.

LS wild would be good to inquire with.

No way no how would I wait 15+ weeks if I wanted a barrel now. Fine if its a replacement for one that is expected to be toast by then but there are too many options to wait that long right now.

 

[solarshooter]

@hereinaz may have something on hand.

Buy one of the 16" 6CM PBB barrels he has and down load it to 6ARC speeds. If you're truly in a rush this should do nicely. I can't think of anyone who NEEDS a spiral fluted custom barrel in a real hurry

 

[Ganderzone]

Fisher t&c is around 6-8 weeks according to my blank that got there about a week ago.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Going to need to cut a heck of a lot off a 243 to get a 6 ARC chamber. Wouldn't go that route.

I didn’t see a cartridge mentioned. Either edited after I posted or reading comprehension fail by me (likely the latter).

 

[wind gypsy]

Buy one of the 16" 6CM PBB barrels he has and down load it to 6ARC speeds. If you're truly in a rush this should do nicely. I can't think of anyone who NEEDS a spiral fluted custom barrel in a real hurry

I wouldn't want to burn 38 gr of powder to get 28 gr type velocities and miss out on the typically less finicky nature of modest cartridge sizes.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Pva is about to do their 1776 sale

 

[solarshooter]

I wouldn't want to burn 38 gr of powder to get 28 gr type velocities and miss out on the typically less finicky nature of modest cartridge sizes.

Top end 6ARC loads are more like 31gr of powder, and get up to about 2650fps in an 18" barrel. Matching that speed in a 16" 6CM would probably be 36-37gr. Thats maybe a 4 cent difference per round....

Not to mention factory mags and bolt work. I don't see a reason to go 6ARC in a Tikka personally.

 

[Lawnboi]

You have two options.

1 buy from PBB or PVA. They use their button rifled blanks. With pva atleast I think there is a hair more risk in getting bum barrel than say buying a bartlein or krieger blank. But I had some very good ones too. These also allow cerakote, and other options if you want them and are generally priced competitively.

2 buy your own blank and send it to a smith to cut. Like fisher t&c. He does not trim down the shank for tikka diameter fyi. But he chambers a good barrel and I’d regard the chamber he cuts as better than mass produced from the above companies. Hopefully he dosnt get too busy!

Iv done both and personally I’m buying Krieger/bartlein/ace blanks, and keeping them on hand for new barrel time.

 

[wind gypsy]

Top end 6ARC loads are more like 31gr of powder, and get up to about 2650fps in an 18" barrel. Matching that speed in a 16" 6CM would probably be 36-37gr. Thats maybe a 4 cent difference per round....

Not to mention factory mags and bolt work. I don't see a reason to go 6ARC in a Tikka personally.

I wasn't looking at the powder cost as a primary downside. You burn 6-7 more grains per round and you get more recoil, noise, heat, fouling, and likely more temperamental performance. If one is shooting factory ammo, you get the attributes of the smaller cartridge in your factory ammo too.

Id go dasher or BR first myself if not wanting factory ammo so dont necessarily disagree with the juice not being worth the squeeze.

 

[Lawnboi]

Top end 6ARC loads are more like 31gr of powder, and get up to about 2650fps in an 18" barrel. Matching that speed in a 16" 6CM would probably be 36-37gr. Thats maybe a 4 cent difference per round....

Not to mention factory mags and bolt work. I don't see a reason to go 6ARC in a Tikka personally.

When you factor in the cost of barrel life things become more significant.

I’d agree with above that if your a reloader, I’d just get a br or dasher and be done, atleast that’s what I have done.

I like rifles that have 2k plus of reasonable barrel life for my volume of shooting. You also get the benefit with most of them in that you have a less temperamental barrel and load.

31 grains in an arc has got to be smokin, that’s dasher level of powder in a smaller case.

 

[jrotter06]

Jaden at west elk precision has a 2-4 week lead time.

 

[solarshooter]

When you factor in the cost of barrel life things become more significant.

I’d agree with above that if your a reloader, I’d just get a br or dasher and be done, atleast that’s what I have done.

I like rifles that have 2k plus of reasonable barrel life for my volume of shooting. You also get the benefit with most of them in that you have a less temperamental barrel and load.

31 grains in an arc has got to be smokin, that’s dasher level of powder in a smaller case.

Depends on the powder of course:

I agree for a volume/competition shooter the smaller cases are better. But for me, a 6CM has enough breadth that it wouldn't be worth tackling the mag/bolt face issues for that savings.

 

[nm.otter]

I looked at rechambering a .243 to 6mm GT a while back and IIRC it would have meant losing 0.4" off the tenon end. I decided to pass given the suboptimal 1:8 twist.