Tikka T3 Mis-fire

[hillcityflyboy]

I did a google-search, found the thread posted here last year by someone on this forum that had a mis-fire with his Tikka and was wondering if anyone else had had a problem.  I did, this past Sunday (hence the google search).  My Tikka t3 Lite mis-fired for the first time in about 5 yrs.  7mm-08 firing factory loads (Remington core-lokts).  This shot there was a "click" like it fired, but there was no dimple on the primer.  Nothing.  Primer appears to be in correct position (not recessed--looks the same as other shells in box).  Doe had not walked off very far, so put in another shell, shot deer.

Found one other thread from 2009 on a Tikka T3 mis-firing.  In the other thread, someone suggested cleaning the bolt with brake cleaning fluid on the chance that the bolt/firing pin was gummed up (and someone warned about brake cleaning fluid on the plastic cap, and first person said he had had no problems with the plastic).  If that doesn't work, the suggestion was to disassemble the bolt and clean it, but generally disassembly should not be necessary.  So I cleaned the bolt with brake cleaning fluid, gave a light spray with Rem Oil, wiped off excess.  Seems to work ok, hope to find out this afternoon.

Anyway, purpose in writing is to see how often this occurs, like the original poster.  If it never happens again, great, I really like the feel and quality of this rifle.  But if there's a problem, I want to know about it before I'm pulling down on Mister Bucko.

Cheers from Mississippi----hillcityflyboy

[Gutpile]

Is there any chance at all that the bolt handle got moved out of position a little? It doesn't take much and is easy to do, I've seen this happen a few times where the bolt gets lifted just a little and this causes a slight dimple in the primer or none at all. I don't know whether it happens on Tikkas but I do know it will on Savage and remmy 700's.

[Alchase]

Too much lube in the pin hole? Buildup + cold temps = no dimple
maybe

[halflife65]

Weird - I've had one since about 2006 and never had a problem. 

Be interested to hear if it happens to you again - if it does I'll be doing some investigation of my own rifle.  Hope you were at a range and it wasn't a critical shot. 

[elkslayer069]

I had a buddy click a masher blackie with his TWICE!!!!! with his T3 his brother shot it five minutes later once it ran past him in the timber. It turned out to be a 117 inch buck four point. Needless to say he doesn't own it anymore.

[Heredoggydoggy]

It's probably time to disassemble the bolt and clean the crap out of the firing pin hole and clean and lube the firing pin.  Over the years, dirt and gummy lube have probably built up to the point of stopping the firing pin travel.  That can happen to any bolt gun, not just a Tikka.  They are a fine gun, IMO, even though I don't happen to own one.

[JackOfAllTrades]

That can happen to any bolt gun, not just a Tikka.  They are a fine gun,

Yup! Clean and lube with a very light oil for colder weather or leave the firing pin channel dry.

[hillcityflyboy]

Thanks for the replies, guys.  The comment about the bolt possibly being lifted a bit is interesting--I don't _think_ it was lifted, but maybe.  As for the bolt being gunked up, I did not disassemble the bolt but did clean it out with brake cleaning fluid, then lightly oiled (wiping off excess).  It worked fine last night on a doe that walked out just at dusk.  It's a sweet rifle, this was the only time it had ever let me down.

BTW, here in Mississippi we hunt whitetails that were brought down from Virginia many years ago.  Our limits are 5 does and 3 bucks/yr, with the season lasting about 3 months (plus another month of archery).  It's good hunting!

[300wsm]

I agree with Gutpile.

This happened to me on a moose hunt in Alaska.  I was livid with Tikka, Winchester and who ever else I could blame.  I then took the gun to the sage brush and tried to get it to do it again.  What I figured out and if I were a betting man I would say this is the problem with 99% of the other mis-fires.  The safety has to be off and the bolt lifted up just a little bit.  User error!  To keep this from happening again the safety has to stay on until ready to fire.  This is what I always do but I had seen a bull moose and needed to judge if it was legal.  50" or 4 brow tines.  I must have took the safety off in all the excitement and bumped the bolt up just a little bit.  Lessoned learned and it has not happened since.  If there was no dent in the primer, that means this is what happened to you.

[hoosier85]

That can happen to any bolt gun, not just a Tikka.  They are a fine gun,

Yup! Clean and lube with a very light oil for colder weather or leave the firing pin channel dry.

I agree with this. I have never used brake cleaner nor ever would. I would rather use PB and a old tooth brush and break down the bolt. I have also worked my way into a tree stand with a right handed bolt carrying the rifle on my left shoulder and bumping the bolt. tell ya what that was an exciting morning. if it ever happens again do the old tap and rack. The thing that scares me the most is squib rounds. Just be happy you didnt have one of those and have a round halfway down your barrel. Good luck and I hope you get er all figured out!

[YoungBuck]

I've had my T3 Lite 3 years or so and no problems here plus I shoot Hornandy customs(tack drivers w/ knock down power).

[hillcityflyboy]

Thanks again for all the advice.  I'll be out at the deer camp again this weekend (yes, down here most all of us are in private camps) and will play with lifting the bolt handle slightly with the safety off.  I'll report back if I can get it to misfire.  The rifle seems to be working fine now, but if it misfires again I'll take the bolt apart and clean from the inside.

15 deg yesterday morning, 19 deg this morning, both new records.  Here in Mississippi, that is Cold!

hcfb