Tikka - to bottom metal or not to bottom metal? That is my question.

[Desk Jockey]

After a few seasons with my tikka (6.5 Creedmore, stainless lite) and promising I wouldn’t spend a bunch of money turning my budget friendly hunting rifle into a big ticket gun, I am finally breaking down and buying a new stock. I have a Mesa on order (4-6 weeks) and planned to put an YO Dave trigger spring in it while I have it apart. I am on the fence about replacing the bottom metal while I am at it.

I want to stay with factory mags and I am not crazy about the idea of having the mag well fitted into the stock. If the Mesa bolts up and it shoots as well or better than it does now, I don’t plan to bed the action.

mountain tactical would seem to be my top pick, though a few note problems With weak retention and flex creating magazine fit issues in the mag well.

so tell, pros and cons of replacing my bottom metal. What say ye?

 

[Rob5589]

One of mine I replaced with the MT. Wasn't really necessary, did it just because. Both function 100%.

 

[sndmn11]

From a cool material perspective, I think the Lumley one bests most.
https://www.tacticalworks.com/tikka-t3-parts/

I have no idea if they help anything other than feeling better about higher torque values on action screws.

 

[mapticon]

Yeah, really curious about this as well. Scratching my head about replacing stock, trigger, bottom metal. I haven't done a thing to mine except add a brake. It shoots 1moa with Hornady ELD-X all day long, and .5 when i'm doing everything right. If any of these upgrades would make a noticable difference, think I could be persuaded but just don't see the value.

 

[Ucsdryder]

I keep telling myself I should buy one but then I realize I’m adding weight and throwing away money for something unnecessary.

 

[Spoonbill]

You will get a slightly bigger trigger guard with the Mountain Tactical bottom metal. If I were to do it again, I would leave my trigger guard stock.

 

[Ronb]

Curious why? Seems to improve durability and accuracy. I just purchased the high desert bottom plate for a new tikka superlite .270. I’ve also purchased some stainless action screws. I hated how easily they rusted on my blued tikka. Other than a limb saver, those are the only changes I plan to make. Most other upgrades are user preferences. Imo


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[83cj-7]

I am positive that installing my MT bottom metal made my Tikka rifles shoot better groups. I really can’t explain why. My rifles are glassed into AG Privateer stocks, but the trigger guard made a difference. YMMV

 

[Ronb]

That seems to be the consensus.
On my previous tikka i would get occasional flyers. I hope this eliminates those.

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[Sagewind]

I added the High Desert trigger guard/ bottom metal to my SL. It feels better, weighs more, and was probably unnecessary. It functions perfectly and I like it better than the factory unit. It was worth the $, to me. I wanted to retain the factory magazines.

 

[colersu22]

I went with the mountain tactical a few years ago and haven’t had a problem with it. I got it when I had my barrel and action cerakoted and was going to have the bottom metal done but never took it in.

 

[amassi]

I have bottom metals on all mine, 1 omr, 1mtn tac 1 west desert. Didn't change a darn thing other than being able to torque your action screws a bit more

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[Vandy321]

I had a shit time with mags dropping from my T3X plastic BDL...I filed them down and they are flawless now. I toyed with the MT stuff, but I was counting ounces. I'll go that route though if and when this plastic fails which it inevitably will down the road.

 

[Ronb]

I wish i had done a poll! To do or not to do???Seems most people think it helped accuracy. Chime in if it improved accuracy or did nothing.


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[WeiserBucks]

Did nothing for me except eliminate plastic. I hate plastic.

 

[Desk Jockey]

The mountain tactical is on back order. That may be my answer there. I am not sure I care to hold up my build for them, but I guess I don’t know when the mesa stock will show. They quote 4-6 weeks.

 

[WeiserBucks]

They quote 4-6 weeks.

Double it.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

The mountain tactical is on back order. That may be my answer there. I am not sure I care to hold up my build for them, but I guess I don’t know when the mesa stock will show. They quote 4-6 weeks.

Check high desert snd see what he has in stock. My favorite bottom metal and I tried them all.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Even if high desert is back ordered he usually ships from New Mexico in a week or two max.

 

[Ronb]

Indeed, mine just shipped last night. About 7-10 day wait.


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