Tikka T3X superlight 7mm RM

[GKPrice]

OK, I'm about to tell a "short" story but first I want to state that I love Tikka rifles and will continue to own and use them as well as recommend them to anyone who asks for my advice

Several weeks ago I bought a T3X superlight at the local SW in 7mm RM ($749) I anticipated working with this new Tikka just as I have the dozen or more I have in the past - I loaded up some mid range rounds from the Nosler #8 manual and test fired some Monday am - I fired 4 - 3 round groups dragging a bore snake through the bore after each shot (something new for me but Tikka barrels have proven to be so smooth that I thought I'd give this streamlined method a go) At round 10 I sensed something not right and after round 12 I noticed that the case didn't eject, I peered into the chamber and noticed what I quickly realized was the case head, which I plucked out thinking "OH SHIT" but the hull practically fell out - I was using XXfired Nosler cases that I had just prepped (being the cheap ass that I am and saving the NEW Nosler cases for final load development) and dismissed the mishap to fatigued brass - This morning I shot again with * loads, again from the Nosler book, straight away I had a case separate in my hand when I ejected it, being the knucklehead that I sometimes can be I fired 6 shots total before looking at the cases at parts other than the primers and seeing separation lines of some degree on each case fired, the same when I got home and more closely examined Mondays cases - I headed straight to my gunsmith buddy's shop and sure enough excessive head space, really excessive - Well, my mind was in overdrive as I spoke with Richard about options - Knowing that Beretta would laugh at me if I told them I discovered this while firing "handloads" I began comparing options and "we" came up with this .... I'm going to rechamber the rifle to 28 Nosler - That is why I made the statement up front on this post, I'm just putting it out there because things like this can happen to anyone or ANY company - I am going to give the Albany SW a call and tell the gun dept manager about this too, in a way that does not sound like a ranting disgruntled customer

opinions ??

 

[colonel00]

Would be interesting to see if you could replicate the issue with stock ammo out of a box.

 

[elkguide]

I'm not an easily excitable guy that goes and jumps down someone's throat but that would make me really upset if I had just bought a "new" rifle and it had excessive head space. Glad for you that you have an option to not end up getting screwed on this deal GK.

 

[toddb]

Ouch, I just bought a tikka last weekend at cabelas. Trying to lighten up elk gun. I am not talented at all to reload and will use factory ammo. Usually bad luck follows me around so will keep you posted.

 

[jeffpg]

I think that's going to be a real interesting rifle when rechambered to the 28 Nosler!

I have a NIB never fired Cabelas edition Tikka Superlite in 7 Rem Mag with the camo stock put back in the safe that I'm saving for a rainy day.

Yes, you definitely need to inform the factory of what's going on with your rifle. I'm interested to know what they have to say about it. I'm pretty sure they will want to get it back from you.

 

[GKPrice]

I think that's going to be a real interesting rifle when rechambered to the 28 Nosler!

I have a NIB never fired Cabelas edition Tikka Superlite in 7 Rem Mag with the camo stock put back in the safe that I'm saving for a rainy day.

Yes, you definitely need to inform the factory of what's going on with your rifle. I'm interested to know what they have to say about it. I'm pretty sure they will want to get it back from you.

I'm sort of freaked out a bit but not pissed - I probably should give them the opportunity No shit, I've owned 4 and my buddy and his Dad in Wyoming have bought 5, 7mm RM's (and that all started with me) and they all have been outstanding and exceptionally accurate rifles 3 - 300 Win mags, lost count of 270 WSM's and 308's and never a bad word uttered from anyone I had a 338 Win Mag a few years back that I couldn't get top shoot no matter what I did so I unloaded it for cheap with a full explanation to the buyer and darned if Tikka took that chambering out of their line up shortly thereafter, but other than that nothin'

 

[GKPrice]

I'm not an easily excitable guy that goes and jumps down someone's throat but that would make me really upset if I had just bought a "new" rifle and it had excessive head space. Glad for you that you have an option to not end up getting screwed on this deal GK.

I have no doubt whatsoever that Tikka/Beretta would make it good - I've had a run in with Browning way back and even though I was not out anything but "time" from that experience I managed to learn from it I bought this new one on a total impulsive "whim" as I have a superlight 30-06 that I had AI'd that I LOVE (I guess that's why "all I need is one more good gun deal to go bankrupt" describes ME)

 

[GKPrice]

Would be interesting to see if you could replicate the issue with stock ammo out of a box.

I think before I give the rifle to my smith I will shoot a group with factory ammo to see for my own curiosity (as well as clarity for this thread)

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Just to clarify you measure headspace to the case belt right? Belted magnums don't headspace off the shoulder (at least initially).

Edit I see you were at a smith, yeah interesting report.

 

[Cahunter805]

Very interesting. Please report back on what factory ammo does and I'd take pics of the brass. Like stated I would give beretta a call and explain to them that a gunsmith measured the headspace to be very excessive and even send them some pics of your fired brass. I'm betting they will replace the rifle. On the other hand a 28nosler is an awesome round and would be fun in the tikka probably with a muzzlebrake though.

 

[GKPrice]

Just to clarify you measure headspace to the case belt right? Belted magnums don't headspace off the shoulder (at least initially).

Edit I see you were at a smith, yeah interesting report.

belted magnums always space off the belt and sure, I could just size brass to headspace off the shoulder, even with a belt but I'd be doing "someone" a terrible disservice after I'm long gone - I won't do that

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

belted magnums always space off the belt and sure, I could just size brass to headspace off the shoulder, even with a belt but I'd be doing "someone" a terrible disservice after I'm long gone - I won't do that

I'm not a belted magnum reloader so perhaps I'm missing something but if you're neck sizing only (as some reloaders are apt to do) for a same gun same brass combination the brass would now headspace off the shoulder which has expanded to that exact chamber. Either way I don't see how it matters, as long as either the shoulder or belt prevent the firing pin from ramming the case too far forward and creating excessive headspace (thus the case head blowout potential you are currently facing). can you clarify what disservice would be done to another in that instance? You should always properly label ammo if its loaded for a specific firearm be that neck sizing only or a bullet seated longer than average, etc. That said worst thing I can think of with neck sized only brass is it won't chamber (or easily chamber) into another 7mag if its chamber is cut a bit smaller in the body or shoulder area, the belt position should be unchanged from its original placement.

Not meant as an attack, just wondering if I've misassumed something.


My only point prior was if for some reason you measured the shoulder distance that wouldn't have been relevant here, that actually can have excessive tolerance with a belted case and still technically be okay since the case will flow out to that dimension upon firing (within reason).

 

[Mr Drysdale]

I WOULD NOT test factory ammo or any other. Asking for trouble. Send it back, have your smith to fix or ream for the 28. Don't flirt with fire!

 

[GKPrice]

I'm not a belted magnum reloader so perhaps I'm missing something but if you're neck sizing only (as some reloaders are apt to do) for a same gun same brass combination the brass would now headspace off the shoulder which has expanded to that exact chamber. Either way I don't see how it matters, as long as either the shoulder or belt prevent the firing pin from ramming the case too far forward and creating excessive headspace (thus the case head blowout potential you are currently facing). can you clarify what disservice would be done to another in that instance? You should always properly label ammo if its loaded for a specific firearm be that neck sizing only or a bullet seated longer than average, etc. That said worst thing I can think of with neck sized only brass is it won't chamber (or easily chamber) into another 7mag if its chamber is cut a bit smaller in the body or shoulder area, the belt position should be unchanged from its original placement.

Not meant as an attack, just wondering if I've misassumed something.


My only point prior was if for some reason you measured the shoulder distance that wouldn't have been relevant here, that actually can have excessive tolerance with a belted case and still technically be okay since the case will flow out to that dimension upon firing (within reason).

the brass I used initially is twice fired Nosler brass - my usual practice is to keep brass segregated and I use Redding competition case holder to incrementally size MAINLY just the neck although a little bit of shoulder contact occurs too My assumption of "excessive" headspace comes from that knowledge that this brass is not at factory dimensions After I discovered the first cracked case I assumed the used brass was fatigued but 9 cases I'm not buying That said, I still want to know and I want to embark on this Nosler 28 project too Can't do both I bought a box of Hornady Superperformance, going to give a couple of rounds a go this morning using safety precautions I'll post those results

 

[GKPrice]

just came in from popping the caps on 3 Hornady superperformance 162 SST rounds - I'm sitting here examining the cases, there is a definite line at 3/16" (approx.) ahead of the belt - I wouldn't expect these cases to be close to reloadable, maybe not making it through the die BUT given the attitude of the factory gun companies I am dubious of what the response would be - Understanding that "excessive headspace" is exactly that I'm just skeptical - I am going to vet this with SW and then send them in to Tikka but I'm gonna move forward on the Nosler 28 project (side note: that Hornady "super performance" is HOT )

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

the brass I used initially is twice fired Nosler brass - my usual practice is to keep brass segregated and I use Redding competition case holder to incrementally size MAINLY just the neck although a little bit of shoulder contact occurs too My assumption of "excessive" headspace comes from that knowledge that this brass is not at factory dimensions After I discovered the first cracked case I assumed the used brass was fatigued but 9 cases I'm not buying That said, I still want to know and I want to embark on this Nosler 28 project too Can't do both I bought a box of Hornady Superperformance, going to give a couple of rounds a go this morning using safety precautions I'll post those results

Yeah I was just unclear what you were trying to imply about a disservice to others if you resized to headspace off the shoulder earlier. Its just resized for your gun and may not chamber into another person's gun. But outside that you wouldn't have created a hazardous headspace condition or something since the belt remains as-is. Not sure if I misunderstood your intent of that statement.


Good luck on the 28 project!

 

[The John]

just came in from popping the caps on 3 Hornady superperformance 162 SST rounds - I'm sitting here examining the cases, there is a definite line at 3/16" (approx.) ahead of the belt - I wouldn't expect these cases to be close to reloadable, maybe not making it through the die BUT given the attitude of the factory gun companies I am dubious of what the response would be - Understanding that "excessive headspace" is exactly that I'm just skeptical - I am going to vet this with SW and then send them in to Tikka but I'm gonna move forward on the Nosler 28 project (side note: that Hornady "super performance" is HOT )

My tikka T3 LOVES the 162gr Hornady Super Performance SST loads.

I dont really have the time for reloading, so I stick to shooting factory loads.

 

[GKPrice]

Yeah I was just unclear what you were trying to imply about a disservice to others if you resized to headspace off the shoulder earlier. Its just resized for your gun and may not chamber into another person's gun. But outside that you wouldn't have created a hazardous headspace condition or something since the belt remains as-is. Not sure if I misunderstood your intent of that statement.


Good luck on the 28 project!

the flip side of that is a reloaded round built for a SAAMI spec'd chamber will do the same thing that my initial rounds did and there's no way to insure that a future owner of this gun would have any way of knowing that - I got off lucky with the 2 case head separations as that can be a catastrophic event in it's worst case scenario

AND NOW .... I am second guessing myself on the "28" - Years back, before the Accubond came along, I had 2 7mm/300 Win Mag wildcats built and still fondly recall the game my son and I killed with those rifles (the main shortcoming was the lack of good bullets, Accubonds/Sciroccos/Etips/Interbonds and the like would have changed THAT world even more, 150 Ballistic Tips were as a bolt of lightning from above)- super easy to make brass, just neck down 300 Win Mag brass, 7mm STW performance on a considerably more efficient case design and much cheaper to have new brass from many makers - I'll be pondering this all week end I suspect

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

OH! I wasn't suggesting that you keep this gun as is and adjust your brass to headspace off the shoulder to make this gun safe to fire, didn't mean that at all. I was just speaking in general that in a properly chambered gun you can headspace a belted magnum case off its shoulder once you are resizing once fired brass. I see where we were talking past each other now.

 

[GKPrice]

OH! I wasn't suggesting that you keep this gun as is and adjust your brass to headspace off the shoulder to make this gun safe to fire, didn't mean that at all. I was just speaking in general that in a properly chambered gun you can headspace a belted magnum case off its shoulder once you are resizing once fired brass. I see where we were talking past each other now.

roger that pods8 ! I always do headspace off the shoulder, have been for a long while now - funny how these "internet chats" can get all confused ;-)