What did I do wrong? Learn me something.

[Billy Goat]

So, I have been meaning to do this a few months now. Finally went to spin the barrel off of my tikka .223. It never shot that great, wanted to cut and thread but decided it sucked as it was, might as well get a new barrel cause that will fix it right?

Well, the removal didn't go as well as I expected. I'm not new to this, assembled quit a few Remington smokeless muzzleloaders, one in particular sucked and I thought I determined it was from the front scope mount holes. A bolt from the scope mount contacted the threads, flattened it, then made it a mess to spin the barrel off.

Looking at the forward action screw, it seems possible it contacted. However that would be on the last 1/8th or less thread pitch coming out of the action.

The barrel has half the threads flat ruined. It was an absolute bear to remove. Action has a bit of gaulding as I'd call it. Redneck, but there's loose shavings embedded in the pitch that are prooving difficult to remove. I'd rather not chase it, but that's what it needs. Currently sitting in a sub zero freezer, hopefully hit it with heat next I mess with it and the fragments will pop out. I have had worse.

So, what did I do wrong?

Action wrench wasn't that tight. I didn't even use 2 wrenches on it. It was only friction tight on one end with a box end on the other. So really don't think I had too much tension on the action.

Is this just further proof I got a lame rifle?

Few pics....



By no means did I start with a pipe wrench on it.

It pissed me off, ended up with my barrel vise in a 40 ton press, pipe wrench on the barrel as well, blue point wrench on the action to help.

I really didn't care if I ever used any of it again, just decided it wasn't getting the better of me.

 

[BBob]

Did you pre-soak the threads with some sort of penetrating oil? I soak, hit it with some heat and let it soak some more before attempting to remove them. If they still don't want to go I repeat the above. Patience is a virtue in some things

 

[77TMK]

some bad gunsmiffin a day will keep ye from doing it for pay

 

[KenLee]

You bought a Tikka. Sorry

 

[Kyguy]

Any company can put out a lemon at any time. Even the fabled Tikka.

 

[atmat]

Tikka barrels are hard to remove but not normally that tough. I put a breaker bar on the action wrench and “jump” on it.

 

[Billy Goat]

Did you pre-soak the threads with some sort of penetrating oil? I soak, hit it with some heat and let it soak some more before attempting to remove them. If they still don't want to go I repeat the above. Patience is a virtue in some things

Yeah.

I had it sitting in the shop, bolt pulled last 2, maybe 3 weeks. Barrel down on some particle board. I was hitting it with penetrating oil as id pass by it.

The particle board pretty well fell apart from the oil.

I tried working it back and forth at first, that made it worse.

I kinda guess it got assembled with a chip or shaving left behind on something.


Really just trying to determine if it was me or the fork up fairy still following me around.

 

[Billy Goat]

Tikka barrels are hard to remove but not normally that tough. I put a breaker bar on the action wrench and “jump” on it.

I did all my "impact" tricks.

Heat, dead blow, drinking some f-it juice.
Problem was I knew it was bad when it finally busted loose, and got tighter.

Was about to just cut it off, weld a lug nut to it and let the 3/4" impact just sit on the barrel with the action pinned in the press.

 

[sndmn11]

@westonadkins had a factory Tikka he pulled the barrel off of a few months ago that had farked up threads as well.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

Makes me nervous I’m about to pull my first one once my vise arrives,that’s a bummer it went like that

 

[RWT]

Explains why it shot poorly.

I thought you tore the left shoulder up trying to impersonate Def Leopards drummer. Sounds like it healed up.

Will a smith rethread the action for the new barrel?

 

[Billy Goat]

Explains why it shot poorly.

I thought you tore the left shoulder up trying to impersonate Def Leopards drummer. Sounds like it healed up.

Will a smith rethread the action for the new barrel?

It was the whole arm.

Still brings a lot of frustration.

The action isn't as ugly as the barrel. I think i can chase it, otherwise I have a guy.


The cool part is, where I can't feel it doesn't sweat. No sensory nerves. So it doesn't know if its hot or cold I guess.

Half my hand stays clean.

 

[RWT]

It was the whole arm.

Still brings a lot of frustration.

The action isn't as ugly as the barrel. I think i can chase it, otherwise I have a guy.


The cool part is, where I can't feel it doesn't sweat. No sensory nerves. So it doesn't know if its hot or cold I guess.

Half my hand stays clean.View attachment 948836Glad to hear it healed enough to not be painful. After reading your story I started using the tractor and forks to carry panels. I did similar to you but I had them on the roof of my mule and only sprained a few fingers.

 

[Billy Goat]

I have been thinking of surrounding the scar with a tattoo, maybe stupid hurts in italics or something.


I'm open to ideas.

 

[BBob]

Really just trying to determine if it was me or the fork up fairy still following me around.

Likely the fault of manufacturing/assembly when it was put together which is ultimately the fork fairies fault no? The proper response when you realized it was stuck and likely galled was to quit and send it to a good gunsmith or good machinist. At that point the barrel would get cut off and the stub bored out and the threads chased.

There are taps available out there. I believe there's a discussion on that not long ago.

BROWNELLS Barrel/Receiver Bottom Tap for FN-FAL SKU: 080598982

Check out BROWNELLS Barrel/Receiver Bottom Tap for FN-FAL SKU: 080598982 available Online at Brownells Today and many more Taps & Dies products are available in our Tools & Cleaning Department.

www.brownells.com

The other alternative is it could be put in the lathe in a bell chuck, indicated with a mandrel then the threads chased on the lathe.

 

[Ucsdryder]

That sucks. I’ve only removed 1 tikka barrel and it was barely hand tight.

I know a lot of guys do relief cuts if it’s a trash barrel. Do you have a good gunsmith? I would want someone qualified to mess with it. Since you haven’t responded to my last text, you can text me after you play my game if you want a smith contact.

 

[eoperator]

I really didn't care if I ever used any of it again, just decided it wasn't getting the better of me.

Its nice to know im not the only stubborn ass out there. A 4' pipe wrench takes barrel removal to the next level

 

[BBob]

There are taps available out there.

BROWNELLS Barrel/Receiver Bottom Tap for FN-FAL SKU: 080598982

Check out BROWNELLS Barrel/Receiver Bottom Tap for FN-FAL SKU: 080598982 available Online at Brownells Today and many more Taps & Dies products are available in our Tools & Cleaning Department.

www.brownells.com

 

[Billy Goat]

That sucks. I’ve only removed 1 tikka barrel and it was barely hand tight.

I know a lot of guys do relief cuts if it’s a trash barrel. Do you have a good gunsmith? I would want someone qualified to mess with it. Since you haven’t responded to my last text, you can text me after you play my game if you want a smith contact.

I have a good Smith, just wasn't planning on putting money into this project. Was supposed to be easy....

The action really isn't bad.


My bad.

I'll send you some more random ass YouTube videos so you feel better.

 

[Ucsdryder]

I have a good Smith, just wasn't planning on putting money into this project. Was supposed to be easy....

The action really isn't bad.


My bad.

I'll send you some more random ass YouTube videos so you feel better.

Isn’t this the rifle you were going to let me use if I went to s2h? You son of a bitch, you were setting me up…