Unknown tikka action mod issues…

[Dunky]

-I was under the impression the nitrided action would be "slick", when in reality its sticky. Is this what others are experiencing? Running it in the raceways isn't as slick but not a major issue. Cocking it though is sticky, there is substantially more resistance than my other actions (yes with the triggered pulled so I am actually cocking it). I haven't put this in a stock or anything but I am concerned this will knock a rifle out of position when reloading for a follow up shot. Is this what others got with their nitride? Does it smooth out if I work the action a bunch?

I did 2 actions without modification and just had them nitrided. I agree , I think the nitrided action is “ stickier” than it was before. Both are stainless and there is more resistance on those after nitride than on a factory blued Tikka that I compared it to and a stainless that I had cerekoted. I am hoping they break in with cycling the actions a bunch.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I have been playing around trying to quantify the situation and rule things out, its something with the bolt. I mounted this into a stock without a barrel so the leverage felt the same. If I use a digital fish scale to cock the bolt of my other tikkas its ~6lb, this one takes mid 20s. It feels like you've shot a really hot round and the bolt is sticking alot. If I swap bolts around a stock bolt cocks easily in the nitride action and the nitride bolt cocks hard in a stock action. I also swapped the firing pins back and forth and same results, the common issue is the nitride bolt body cocks really hard but nothing visually about it jumps at me. Anyone have any ideas?

I've shared this info with UM too, but maybe the broader RS crew has an idea what to check or what might be up.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I did 2 actions without modification and just had them nitrided. I agree , I think the nitrided action is “ stickier” than it was before. Both are stainless and there is more resistance on those after nitride than on a factory blued Tikka that I compared it to and a stainless that I had cerekoted. I am hoping they break in with cycling the actions a bunch.

If I tip the gun a stock stainless action bolt slides out at a lower angle than the nitride one, but both are reasonable and I wouldn't have taken much notice if the cocking force wasn't like 4x on mine.

 

[Formidilosus]

@pods8 (Rugged Stitching)

This isn’t directed at you, just for all:

Machining, modifying, or otherwise cutting up a correctly designed action (Tikka) does not make it “better”. Everything someone does to it, will make it “less” in some way. Sheep ports, lightening, fluting, etc- they all make the gun worse in some way. That is the price for wanting to take a couple of ounces off- there isn’t a free lunch. If the trade off isn’t worth a worse running or feeling rifle, don’t do it.


As for the Nitride, have you lubed the bolt and cocking notch? The few I have seen were a bit harder in cocking for a bit- use lightened it up. What you are describing is beyond what I would expect.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

As for the Nitride, have you lubed the bolt and cocking notch? The few I have seen were a bit harder in cocking for a bit- use lightened it up. What you are describing is beyond what I would expect.

Feel free to take a bow now Sir. Thank you! Lube in the cocking notch brought the cocking situation back a reasonable feel. SO that part was totally my bad. The nitride is a tad less slick than the stock action but had nothing to do with what was causing me major concern.

I'll add an edit to my original post clearing that up.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Yes thats correct. And I agree, I was surprised those items didn'tshow up withmy action.

BTW, my levels did ship with my action.

 

[Formidilosus]

Feel free to take a bow now Sir. Thank you! Lube in the cocking notch brought the cocking situation back a reasonable feel. SO that part was totally my bad. The nitride is a tad less slick than the stock action but had nothing to do with what was causing me major concern.

I'll add an edit to my original post clearing that up.

Good to hear.

 

[Axlrod]

I picked up my barreled action Friday from UM. Has the mods and nitride. It is smoother than the original action I sent them, without me putting any lube on first. I would say it is every bit as smooth as a nitrided Bat Vampire I have.
Overall UM did a fabulous job. Just waiting on my LE Rokstok.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I picked up my barreled action Friday from UM. Has the mods and nitride. It is smoother than the original action I sent them, without me putting any lube on first. I would say it is every bit as smooth as a nitrided Bat Vampire I have.
Overall UM did a fabulous job. Just waiting on my LE Rokstok.

Good to hear. Did they have the complete bolt? If so they may have lubed it up when reassembling. I didn't send along my firing pin so it came back unassembled, while I did dry lube the firing pin and lubed the bolt lugs I overlooked the notch on the bolt body. Glad that part was simple.

 

[Axlrod]

Good to hear. Did they have the complete bolt? If so they may have lubed it up when reassembling. I didn't send along my firing pin so it came back unassembled, while I did dry lube the firing pin and lubed the bolt lugs I overlooked the notch on the bolt body. Glad that part was simple.

Yes, I sent them a new action and barrel. They did the mods and chambered/threaded the barrel.
I just pulled the bolt apart, and there is lube on the cocking piece and firing pin- looks like TW25. There is no lube on the bolt body.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

The sportsmatch pin pocket has been added which I think makes this modified setup very universal; you can run regular screw in rings/rail, UM rings, or sportsmatch rings with the recoil pin. This is what I was excited about with UM including that option and I am still grateful they were open to the option. It is a cool product, I just didn’t have a smooth experience around timeline and machining issues which caused legitimate frustrations. Assuming notes have been kept on adding a blind pin pocket of the correct size for this feature the process will hopefully be smoother for others.

Making sure the record is straight, I have no issues with the feel of the nitride. I was confused/concerned about the feel of the action and was asking questions about if it was the nitride and what could be going on, it wasn’t the nitride which is why I promptly amended my post that the feel issue was my error. There wasn’t enough lube specifically in the cocking notch incase anyone ever runs into something similar.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

I like this better than the first style. Makes more sense leaving the options

 

[Gstew1930]

Damn these look good

 

[Jim Row]

Just wanted to add some information to this thread. I just received my tikka action with mods and nitride from UM. I was definitely worried after hearing some other people talk about the lack of performance when cycling the bolt. I have two other tikkas as well that have no mods but do have a fluted bolt from factory. The UM mods are just as smooth cycling the bolt as my factory actions. I was very impressed. Especially after hearing some people talk about the gritty feel when cycling the bolt once modified.

 

[denverangler725]

I realize this discussion has been quiet for quite a while but I have a relevant question.

I was planning on getting my T3x action machined by UM however I am now second guessing my decision after reading through this thread. I am probably the most annoying customer as I am both a Sportsmatch ring and Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x user.

I would like to have my action lightened and nitrided but have no intention of switching rings or optic. What options, if any would work out for my needs? @pods8 (Rugged Stitching)

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I realize this discussion has been quiet for quite a while but I have a relevant question.

I was planning on getting my T3x action machined by UM however I am now second guessing my decision after reading through this thread. I am probably the most annoying customer as I am both a Sportsmatch ring and Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x user.

I would like to have my action lightened and nitrided but have no intention of switching rings or optic. What options, if any would work out for my needs? @pods8 (Rugged Stitching)

Maybe just nitride it. The factory shape shields the weather better vs milling the action more exposed.

 

[NSI]

1) It ain't that much weight

2) It's half in the milling (problematic) and half in the bolt (less problematic)

3) The weight is in the best part of the rifle, centered up (for example, end of barrel weight would be "worse")

4) It costs money, takes time, has unknown impact on durability and weather resistance, and is causing you unnecessary mental cycles

I just don't see it man.

-J

 

[denverangler725]

Given these responses, does anyone have experience/opinions on the following other companies offering action lightening? Both of these look to retain enough material to support my NXS 2.5-10x and Sportsmatch but I might be mistaken.

Tikka Action Lightening Modifications - J&A Outdoors

Tikka Action Lightening Modifications package includes lightening pockets on the exterior of the receiver & machining out the center port of the receiver.

jaoutdoors.com

Tikka Action "Sheep port" — HG Precision

Action Lightening, port opening and a point of difference. If your looking to open the port on your Tikka and to take some weight out of it then this is a must. Combined with a Fluting job, 100 grams is taken out of the rifle, the cuts are all done on a CNC Milling machine and precisely follow the

fish-synthesizer-8687.squarespace.com

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Given these responses, does anyone have experience/opinions on the following other companies offering action lightening? Both of these look to retain enough material to support my NXS 2.5-10x and Sportsmatch but I might be mistaken.

Tikka Action Lightening Modifications - J&A Outdoors

Tikka Action Lightening Modifications package includes lightening pockets on the exterior of the receiver & machining out the center port of the receiver.

jaoutdoors.com

Tikka Action "Sheep port" — HG Precision

Action Lightening, port opening and a point of difference. If your looking to open the port on your Tikka and to take some weight out of it then this is a must. Combined with a Fluting job, 100 grams is taken out of the rifle, the cuts are all done on a CNC Milling machine and precisely follow the

fish-synthesizer-8687.squarespace.com

It’s just not worth lightening the action, imo. It doesn’t matter who does the work.

 

[denverangler725]

It’s just not worth lightening the action, imo. It doesn’t matter who does the work.

That certainly makes the most sense. Despite that good advise, I have a melting brain that wants to goof around with my rifle and I'll probably do something even if its stupid.