Tikka build thread

[fillthefreezer]

Well, I've been confined to the couch a lot lately, changing diapers and making bottles, so figured I'd put a thread together covering the evolution and build of my tikka t3 sl in .300WM. I've got a couple changes to make to the load, but otherwise I see it just getting hunted, not tinkered with for the foreseeable future.

The first season with her. Topped with a cheapass vortex 4-12 and store bought 180gr accubonds
She took a couple animals in this form and saw a lot of hunts..


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[fillthefreezer]

The gun was light as all get out! A dream to carry, a nightmare to shoot.

Two years later I had benchmark thread on a brake. Huge improvement.

Now I began to shoot the rifle much more, which led me down the road of needing a scope with turrets. At this point, I also added a 20MOA rail and sent the bolt off for fluting.


Topped with a 4-16x50 in SFP with a MIL reticle, weaver tac rings and xtreme hardcore rail. Then had to add some cheek rise as well.


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[fillthefreezer]

Logan helped me work up a handload and dope to go with it, thanks again, for the help and always fielding my questions.

A 5 shot group he shot with it during development


It even got to tag along on its first OIL hunt, and got the job done. A single 190gr VLD at 407yds



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[h20hunter]

 

[fillthefreezer]

The multiple tones of stainless on the gun also started to bug me. The barrel and brake were different and the bolt different from both of them. So I had the barreled action cerakoted armor black. When I got it back, black on black was too much, so I began a paintjob on the stock.





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[fillthefreezer]

Ran her like this for awhile with good results






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[fillthefreezer]

The tikka has been a solid rifle, always exceeding my own accuracy capabilities as the driver, but we were getting closer. In the 300WM platform, the magazine length has been a limiting factor on OAL, and jumping them to the chamber over .250. Mountain tactical created a remedy for this using new bottom metal and an AICS mag.

190gr VLD at msg length and 200gr ELDX at the new length 3.600
I shopped glass, up and down. This is first and foremost a mountain rifle. And, I'm HARD on stuff. I wanted a bright scope, a great reticle, and no worries about its longevity.

I settled on a nightforce atacr. 4-16 ffp with mil c reticle.
Nestled into a McMillan gamescout stock now.




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[fillthefreezer]

I ran into a significant drop in pressure and speed with the decrease in seating depth, so I'll need to bump up my charges and she should be good to run.
Some other small details, the javelin bipod- it's light and I like it ok. Still not sure if I would just prefer the weight hit and run the atlas.
Triad stock pack, love this thing.
ARC rings, easy to install and seem very bomber so far.
Paul in eastern Oregon did my bolt, fast turn around and quality work.
Sawtooth rifles did the cerakoting and bottom metal machining. Again, great to work with.


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[Reidus]

How is the cheek height with the triad stock pack?

[fillthefreezer]

It's adjustable with Velcro strips, with low rings it's possible to get it high enough. With the McMillan's high comb, it's a very nice combo

[Angry Perch]

Is that a thumb dent in your Rainier can? I thought I was the only one!

[fillthefreezer]

Is that a thumb dent in your Rainier can? I thought I was the only one!

Haha 😂 It totally is. Habit I picked up from my dad

[Angry Perch]

Is that a thumb dent in your Rainier can? I thought I was the only one!

Haha 😂 It totally is. Habit I picked up from my dad

Every can of beer I've drank in the last 25+ years has had one. Ever since a guy in the back seat handed me a beer with one, and explained that it wasn't safe if the driver had to look down to see where the hole was!

[Angry Perch]

Oh, and nice rifle!

[tgray]

Great looking setup, couple questions.
Who did the cerakoting and are you happy with it?
Did the bottom metal from MT bolt right to the factory tikka stock or did you have to modify?
Thanks