Why is it near impossible to find Tikka bolts?

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For a gun that claims to be so modular, why is it so difficult to find a replacement bolt for them?

I have a T3X 223 but I’d like to convert it to a 6.5 SAUM at some point but replacement bolts are nearly impossible to find.

I found a standard .473 bolt available. Can they be opened up safely like say a REM 700 bolt?


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there are smiths who will open it up. I believe shaen rifles will do it. I ended up buying one from LRI but unfortunately I don’t think they are making them anymore. I too built a 6.5 saum on a tikka. Best wishes

I completely understand the saum attraction but a 6.5 rpm, 6.5x280ai, or 6.5x284 would be pretty comparable without the bolt modification.
 
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For a gun that claims to be so modular, why is it so difficult to find a replacement bolt for them?

I have a T3X 223 but I’d like to convert it to a 6.5 SAUM at some point but replacement bolts are nearly impossible to find.

I found a standard .473 bolt available. Can they be opened up safely like say a REM 700 bolt?


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The only difference I see between my 223, standard, and magnum tikka bolt faces is the amount of metal in the outer ring.

Opening it up will be an extra expense, but I've never heard that it's unsafe.
 
I’d guess that you could swap pretty easy on the classifieds here, plus get a hundred bucks or so for the barrel depending on round count. Otherwise, I know others have talked about opening up their bolts without issue.
 
Plenty of people would grab that 223 for 70% of retail probably. Pick a standard bolt rifle with a popular barrel like a 6.5CM and save another $100 towards your build. Probably the cheapest path to your end goal...
 
What model is your 223? I have a stainless superlite 7mm08 I've been thinking of putting up for trade for a 223
 
Plenty of people would grab that 223 for 70% of retail probably. Pick a standard bolt rifle with a popular barrel like a 6.5CM and save another $100 towards your build. Probably the cheapest path to your end goal...

Money is not the issue, I have my own reamer for an improved 6.5SAUM that needs longer than a short action with the 156 Berger.

And I’d rather be stuck in a phone booth with a pissed off bobcat than shoot a 6.5CM.


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I don’t think the manufacturer has ever claimed it to be modular, we as the users have seized onto the fact it generally can be. An obvious shortfall is the lack of bolts from the factory stand alone but the reality you can swap them around supports the unintended usage IE modular gun.
 
I don’t think the manufacturer has ever claimed it to be modular, we as the users have seized onto the fact it generally can be. An obvious shortfall is the lack of bolts from the factory stand alone but the reality you can swap them around supports the unintended usage IE modular gun.

I didn’t infer that the manufacturer touted it as such. Since buying one I can see lots of benefits to them that allows the modularity that I’m speaking of.


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Money is not the issue, I have my own reamer for an improved 6.5SAUM that needs longer than a short action with the 156 Berger.

And I’d rather be stuck in a phone booth with a pissed off bobcat than shoot a 6.5CM.


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My factory CTR in 6.5CM shoots the 156 better than my 6.5 SAUM prefit....😁 but neither of them suck.

Good luck! Happy new year!!
 
Why is being modular correlated to having a bunch of spare bolts floating around?

I wouldn’t expect it to be easy to find a lone bolt. They really only come complete with a rifle, which would be pretty useless without a bolt. They would only be separated as a part out, which is what JA Outdoors does. They sometimes have them, but they’re fairly cost prohibitive.

You could post a bolt trade offer in the classifieds. The .223 tikkas are pretty popular around here. Which would make selling the .223 to buy a factory mag gun an option.
 
I had my standard bolt face opened up to magnum by LRI. I sent it in for fluting as well and I think they charged an extra $50 for the bolt face machining.

I'll attach an email I received from a smith at LRI regarding some potential issues with opening up the bolt face.
 

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You could go to WWW.google.com and type in "tikka bolt"


 
I’ve had no issues trading/buying bolts here, or going through JA Outdoors.

You could also just buy a new rifle and dump the barrel.

Or you could send it to a smith to open up.

You have plenty of options; this is really a non-issue.
 
I had my standard bolt face opened up to magnum by LRI. I sent it in for fluting as well and I think they charged an extra $50 for the bolt face machining.

I'll attach an email I received from a smith at LRI regarding some potential issues with opening up the bolt face.

That email is why opening up the face is my last option. The ejector plunger would be in less than ideal place and the issue with the extractor as well.

That’s why I was hoping to but a complete bolt, or at least a body.


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Anyone who knows anything about guns and likes to do their own stuff.

Wtf do people have to nitpick the hell out of posts on here?


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I apologize you believe I was nitpicking. But in my defense you did state "For a gun that claims to be so modular", then when questioned stated, "I didn’t infer that the manufacturer touted it as such."

I find that to be kinda confusing. Who did then?

I'd suggest either buy a donor rifle, or look at ja outdoors
 
You could go to WWW.google.com and type in "tikka bolt"



Well I did that but saw JA as the only real option, and cost is ridiculous from them. MGW sells them as well but currently doesn’t have any magnums in stock.

The link you posted from Canada is helpful, just don’t know what challenges there are purchasing from Canada.


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