Tikka question

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

If I went the “donor” rifle route, what caliber would I want for a 280ai? 7mm-08?

If you're wanting to rechamber a factor barrel then probably (you'd need to get long action mags and bolt stop though), but best to talk with Karl Kampfeld about his thoughts if going that route.

If you're swapping barrels outright then any cartridge with a standard bolt face would work from the bolt perspective, you just might need different mags/bolt stop. A 270win and 30-06 would have the correct bolt/mags/bolt stop. On the flipside those barrels aren't that popular to resell if taking them off. 6.5creed and 243win (1:8) twist would be more popular to sell as a take off but you'd need long action mags/bolt stop with those.

Bolt stops aren't expensive, after market ones are ~$30 and if you look in the classifieds someone might have one as a take off too.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Oh you're talking bushing down the bolt face? Its feasible I guess but seems a lot more issue prone in the big picture, not sure how far back you'd have to set a 7mag barrel to have a 280AI clean it up, probably a fair bit. Starting with a 7-08 would probably be a better fit (right bolt and smaller cartridge to start with), but yes that means swapping bolt stops and getting a long action mag as an alternative consideration.

Yeah the overall goal would be not having the OP buy a barrel right away when Tikka barrels are so reliable and shoot so well. Modifying or swapping/trading bolts is the easy part.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Yeah the overall goal would be not having the OP buy a barrel right away when Tikka barrels are so reliable and shoot so well. Modifying or swapping/trading bolts is the easy part.

What does Karl charge to rechamber & thread a barrel all at once outta curiosity, I know you've had some 22CM done?

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

What does Karl charge to rechamber & thread a barrel all at once outta curiosity, I know you've had some 22CM done?

So he can cut and thread a factory sporter 1/2" for $100. He does a very clean shoulder add on and 5/8 threads for $180.

He fits barrels to actions and rechambers/engraves the new "caliber" on the barrel for $310.

Last job he did for me he cut and threaded two barrels, fitted both of them to action, twisted on and properly torqued one of the barrels, bedded the action to the Rokstok all for $500 total.

 

[sdupontjr]

Something is off here. The 30-06 doesn't have the right bolt face for a 7 SAUM, so he either had a different donor caliber (7mag, 300wm, etc), swapped the bolt, or had the bolt machined. Mainly just highlighting pay attention to what bolt face you buy versus desired caliber.

Nope, I saw it in stock form before all the mods. He does own a machine shop. He may have or had someone do it. Dk, but it was the ole glory 06. I'll ask him.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Nope, I saw it in stock form before all the mods. He does own a machine shop. He may have or had someone do it. Dk, but it was the ole glory 06. I'll ask him.

Swapping or machining the bolt is an option. Mainly wanted to clarify it wasn't a straight up donor action without something changing.

 

[sdupontjr]

My mistake, he kept the 30-06 in stock form. Said he had a lot of ammo for it so would just keep it stock. Picked up another on and had it coated to color match the barrel.

old T3 30-06


Anyway, I know its a tikka action, in a reg tikka stock with the cheek riser on it, with a Nightforce NSX 5.5 -22x56 because I do his load development for it. Sorry to confuse anyone, but to the OP, you can still do it on the cheap and save some coins.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

but to the OP, you can still do it on the cheap and save some coins.

Ed Zackary

 

[mattmann]

So after talking with y’all, I’ve decided to go the DIY route. Ordering a stainless 270 today and going a different route than the 280. I spoke with Mike at Hells Canyon Barrels and I think I want to do 7mm Backcountry in 20” with my can. I think this is the best of both worlds and according to him shoots way better with factory ammo since I don’t reload. Now to order tools….


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[z987k]

So after talking with y’all, I’ve decided to go the DIY route. Ordering a stainless 270 today and going a different route than the 280. I spoke with Mike at Hells Canyon Barrels and I think I want to do 7mm Backcountry in 20” with my can. I think this is the best of both worlds and according to him shoots way better with factory ammo since I don’t reload. Now to order tools….


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Go try to find 7BC in stock anywhere but online. IMO, that's a terrible option until we find out if it's even going to be around next year. Federal has a really really poor history of supporting their stuff. They can't even stock their own bullets. Most of their TBT and TA bullets have been out of stock going on 5 years now.
280ai also isn't a super great option if you don't reload(I really like it though). 7BC is probably worse.
I was an early adopter of 277 fury. But I reload it. If I couldn't, I'd have had a worthless gun for a long time.

The cheapest option, is to order the tikka hybrid from Preferred barrel blanks with the 5/8 threads or the actual tikka lite contour from McGowan with 5/8 threads, send them your barreled action and they'll take the old barrel off and put theirs on for $75. Cheaper than a wrench, vise or gauges.
You can run anything smaller than the sendero in the stock you bought. Which is about every hunting contour.

By far the cheapest option is to slap that 270 in the rokstock, go get a single stage press and dies for it. You'll be into a press and dies for a LOT less than a new barrel. You can load it close enough to the 280ai that nothing will ever know the difference. Lots of good bullets in 270 from 120 to 170gr. Even at extended hunting ranges, nothing you shoot with it will survive. Or just run factory until you shoot it out and don't worry about reloading.

 

[handwerk]

Buy Mark's barrel :

Sold Thread 'Proof Research .284 (7mm) Carbon Fiber Barrel (18")'

May 18, 2025

New, never opened Proof Research barrel model #114483. It is 18" in length, Sendero Light profile, 8-twist. Full specs here.

$650 TYD in L48

• Mark at EXO
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Guns Classifieds

have it chambered in 280 AI and rock on, just like you intended.
The 280 AI is a great cartridge, I love mine.

 

[mattmann]

Buy Mark's barrel :

Sold Thread 'Proof Research .284 (7mm) Carbon Fiber Barrel (18")'

May 18, 2025

New, never opened Proof Research barrel model #114483. It is 18" in length, Sendero Light profile, 8-twist. Full specs here.

$650 TYD in L48

• Mark at EXO
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Guns Classifieds

have it chambered in 280 AI and rock on, just like you intended.
The 280 AI is a great cartridge, I love mine.

Just sent a pm. Hopefully I can!!


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[AZ_Hunter]

So after talking with y’all, I’ve decided to go the DIY route. Ordering a stainless 270 today and going a different route than the 280. I spoke with Mike at Hells Canyon Barrels and I think I want to do 7mm Backcountry in 20” with my can. I think this is the best of both worlds and according to him shoots way better with factory ammo since I don’t reload. Now to order tools….


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How far do you plan to shoot?

Since you don’t handload, look at the 270 Precision Hunter 145eldx numbers and compare those to the 280AI numbers with the ammo you plan to shoot.

You may just decide the juice isn’t worth the squeeze from a ballistics perspective, then you would save money that then can be used instead for shooting more with ammo that is available everywhere…

No way is it time to dive into 7 BC. Way too early to make that jump.

ETA: To clarify, I am advocating using the 270

 

[z987k]

How far do you plan to shoot?

Since you don’t handload, look at the 270 Precision Hunter 145eldx numbers and compare those to the 280AI numbers with the ammo you plan to shoot.

The 270 outpaces it out past 500 yards.

 

[Ikmclean]

I went the prefit route last year with an 18" 284win from pbb, it shoots great and in very happy with the rifle. But looking back I'd be in the same place ballisticly and $$ ahead just getting a factory 6.5 prc cut/threaded