Tikka t3x Replacing all MIM Parts? Which Upgrades?

[alexinc]

I'm looking to get into deer/elk hunting, coming from waterfowl/upland birds.

Eyeing a Tikka t3x Lite Stainless 20" in 308. Nightforce NX6 2-12x42 for the optic. Unknown Munitions for the rings.

But now I am learning that there are all sorts of MIM parts in the Tikka. I hate MIM. Am I insane to replace them, or at least most of them? So far I am looking at the bottom metal, bolt shroud, bolt stop. So far, just looking at Mountain Tactical for most of the parts. That said, anyone have experience with the Beretta bottom metal? Looks to be OEM and possibly just made by MT themselves, rebranded?

Is it worth the extra couple hundred bucks to upgrade these parts?

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Why don’t you try it out as is first and see if you REALLY care, they work just fine as is.

 

[4cMuley]

Vertical grip is definitely an upgrade that I like but yea, they work just fine as is. Float the barrel if necessary. Spend the money on ammo. Degrease and torque everything down to spec or a smidge more (imo).

I’ll never talk someone out of building a gun they love/want though. Happy shooting!

Edit - you already have a great scope picked out!

 

[h2so4]

Nope. put that $$$ into a suppressor.

 

[alexinc]

Nope. put that $$$ into a suppressor.

Live in CA, unfortunately.

 

[N2TRKYS]

What is MIM?

 

[Shortschaf]

You are insane to think a billet bolt shroud or bottom metal will be more functional than factory. I think I have heard of guys breaking bolt stops(?) so go nuts on that one I guess. But I wouldnt worry about it.

 

[UncleNommies]

What is MIM?

I was going to ask the same question..

 

[Angrycaveman]

I don’t like MIM…so I dont buy Tikka

 

[Mtslackcountry]

Mountain tactical mags and bottom metal a junk. The bottom metal doesn’t hold mags reliably. Facts

 

[AZ Gator]

What is MIM?

I was going to ask the same question..

MIM = metal injection molding

 

[4th_point]

So far I am looking at the bottom metal, bolt shroud, bolt stop.

I haven't seen or heard of actual bolt stop failures per se.

If anything, it's the bolt stop pin - it can shear with impact from cycling the bolt hard. This seems to be linked to competition use though, and not hunters. I believe there's at least one member here who experienced it, but it might have been during a match.

Anyway, a non-MIM bolt stop probably won't address the pin. Unless the impact is transferred directly into the action, instead of the pin itself. That would require a design change though.

The OEM metal bolt shroud on the T3X could be considered an improvement over the plastic shroud on the original T3. Some of the plastic shrouds have broken, but might be user error during assembly/disassembly.

Some reports of the plastic shroud getting blown off of the bolt body and hitting the shooter's face during a stray gas event. Don't recall any reports of that happening with the metal shroud on the T3X.

That said, neither OEM shroud is designed to block or divert hot gas and particles from hitting the shooter's face but there's one aftermarket option that claims to protect the shooter. I don't know if their claims are valid though.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

If anything, it's the bolt stop pin - it can shear with impact from cycling the bolt hard. This seems to be linked to competition use though, and not hunters. I believe there's at least one member here who experienced it, but it might have been during a match

That happened to me at an NRL Hunter Match last summer.

 

[Aussie Dan]

I'm looking to get into deer/elk hunting, coming from waterfowl/upland birds.

Eyeing a Tikka t3x Lite Stainless 20" in 308. Nightforce NX6 2-12x42 for the optic. Unknown Munitions for the rings.

But now I am learning that there are all sorts of MIM parts in the Tikka. I hate MIM. Am I insane to replace them, or at least most of them? So far I am looking at the bottom metal, bolt shroud, bolt stop. So far, just looking at Mountain Tactical for most of the parts. That said, anyone have experience with the Beretta bottom metal? Looks to be OEM and possibly just made by MT themselves, rebranded?

Is it worth the extra couple hundred bucks to upgrade these parts?

Buy it, see what you like/don't like and replace as necessary.
If you really hate it you'll recoup most of your money if/when you sell.
Thats the beauty of a tikka, they're fantastic out the box yet can be "improved" to suit the individual if needed.
Don't over think it, its a tool to do a job. Nothing more nothing less

 

[Marbles]

Hating a manufacturing process that does the needed job well is silly.

Bolt shroud and bolt stop are easy to replace.

Property done MIM is better than milled in some cases as the MIM part is free of stress induced from machining. No body is forging bolt shrouds and bolt stops.

 

[Castle Rock]

Sounds like you are an expert on tikkas , school us

 

[UncleNommies]

MIM = metal injection molding

Thank you for clarifying that!

 

[Kurts86]

MIM is hated in the old guy revolver world as being part of the quality down fall of Smith and Wesson.

Wholesale hatred of a manufacturing process without context is silly and it doesn’t take into account the nuances of how companies apply the processes.

I currently work with 100% cast steel parts which is technically an inferior process to forging (which I worked in Previously) but 70 years of process knowledge allows us to make good parts with fewer processes.

Overprocessing is one of the 7 industrial wastes within lean manufacturing. Basically using extra steps not needed for the end product are just as bad as high defect rates or over production. MIM is a great alternative to casting/forging/machining complex parts where the working loads are not extreme.