Tikka T3X Failure to Fire

[Rugger7622]

I have read the threads on Tikka's and failures to fire and have tried what I've taken away from those threads. I have 3 Tikka's and have never experienced FTF until a new to me 223 with a shoulder nut installed PVA barrel. The gun shoots lights out, however, I'm having FTF's at a rate of 1/15.

Things I've done:
1. Disassembled the bolt, sprayed down the firing pin spring, bolt area with brake clean and reassembled with a touch of oil, like a pin head drop
2. It's happened on both factory loads and my reloads, using CCI 450's
3. I Shot today and made sure the bolt was all the way down before each shot
4. I re-coked and re-fired each time and about 1/3 fired on the 2nd shot, but 1/2 didn't fire at all
5. No primers either before or after show anything abnormal and the FTF primers do not look like weak strikes

The gun has around 500 down the tube, the previous owner said he never had a FTF. Again, the gun shoots and groups awesome with every powder I've thrown at it, just losing confidence with these FTF's.

Thoughts on next thing to do?
1. Could it be a headspace issue?
2. I can and should change primer lots, but it happened on 2/50 factory loads!
3. I haven't tried to measure the amount firing pin sticking out of the bolt yet.

 

[Hydra6]

Did you check headspace with go and nogo gauges?

 

[Rugger7622]

I did not, with the gun being fire almost 500 times, my assumption (which might be totally wrong) is that it was good to go.

 

[Hydra6]

"shoulder nut" - does it have a nut that established the barrel fit into the action?

 

[Rugger7622]

Yes, this isn't a shouldered pre-fit, from what I understand.

 

[Hydra6]

If the issue us happening with factory ammo and reloads and you have worked on the bolt - I would suspect and issue with the headspace which is easily checked and - if required - adjusted with the barrel nut system. The fact that it works sometimes and sometimes doesn't implies a very minor adjustment. Free advice - I am not a gunsmith, etc.

 

[mtnbound]

I have read the threads on Tikka's and failures to fire and have tried what I've taken away from those threads. I have 3 Tikka's and have never experienced FTF until a new to me 223 with a shoulder nut installed PVA barrel. The gun shoots lights out, however, I'm having FTF's at a rate of 1/15.

Things I've done:
1. Disassembled the bolt, sprayed down the firing pin spring, bolt area with brake clean and reassembled with a touch of oil, like a pin head drop
2. It's happened on both factory loads and my reloads, using CCI 450's
3. I Shot today and made sure the bolt was all the way down before each shot
4. I re-coked and re-fired each time and about 1/3 fired on the 2nd shot, but 1/2 didn't fire at all
5. No primers either before or after show anything abnormal and the FTF primers do not look like weak strikes

The gun has around 500 down the tube, the previous owner said he never had a FTF. Again, the gun shoots and groups awesome with every powder I've thrown at it, just losing confidence with these FTF's.

Thoughts on next thing to do?
1. Could it be a headspace issue?
2. I can and should change primer lots, but it happened on 2/50 factory loads!
3. I haven't tried to measure the amount firing pin sticking out of the bolt yet.

With it occurring with factory and your reloads I would recheck your headspace.

 

[Rugger7622]

I really appreciate the advice. Here is a picture of the action/barrel and the 3 FTF’s from today

 

[Rugger7622]

Those are pretty beat up, they were fired 3 times!

 

[mtnbound]

Those are pretty beat up, they were fired 3 times!

Any pictures of the primers with one hit?

 

[Rugger7622]

Give me a minute

 

[Blowdowner]

Kind of sounds like you need to check your ammo storage conditions. Just kidding.

 

[Rugger7622]

Primer pics that fired

 

[Rugger7622]

That's once fired LC Brass!

 

[mtnbound]

Is there any difference in the overall case length of the 1st hit fired brass compared to the 3rd hit stuff?

 

[Rugger7622]

All right at 1.75". Not much difference, this is prepped brass brought from SAGE's, which is sized, trimmed and ready to go. I didn't run it though any die, which I would say is the problem, except, I had the FTF with factory as well.

 

[mtnbound]

Did you try setting a finger on the bolt knob when shooting? You mentioned making sure it was down but was there pressure. I have had my pack push up on the knob and cause a light strike.

 

[Rugger7622]

I didn't, I just rechecked it was done before each shot. I might have to get, borrow some, go and no go gauges and check it. I've installed a couple pre-fits but never done a shoulder nut fit.

 

[mtnbound]

No experience with that set up either, if you have access to the gauges I would check it to make sure. If that’s good then it has to be bolt related in my mind.

 

[skipper907]

first thing I would get a go gauge and check head space. Second I would loosen the barrel nut screw the barrel in with the go gauge in the chamber and bolt closed