Feed issue with Tikka T3??

leeklm · 07-06-2007, 06:47 PM

Hello, looks like a good site, this is my first post!!

I have been using a Win Mag 300 for about 15 years, and decided to build an inexpensive, lightweight "mountain rifle", which should be more of a pleasure to carry around all day at 8-10,000 feet.

I bought a slightly used Tikka T3 lite 300WSM ($400)and putmy old Leupold Vari-X II on it. Well I accomplished the goal of weight, as this setup is a good 2 pounds lighter than my old 300 Win. BTW, it does kick!!

Anyway, I shot a box of Federal 180gr today (the blue box), and had one round that simply will not chamber. The bolt will go forward with this round, but will not lock down (feels like it is stuck). The casing and bullet look identical to the rest of the box, which fed fine!

I never had a misfeed on my Win pre-64 bolt!! Other than that issue, the gun shot well, and had reasonable groups at 100 & 200 yds.

Anyone have this happen? Does it sound more of an issue with the WSM, or an issue with the Tikka bolt?

Thanks!!

BTW, this is the first time that I have been reffered to as a "fawn"...

Tikka 30-06 · 07-06-2007, 07:19 PM

Ive never had a problem with my T3 in odd six. The action just wants to slide shut by itself, I think it hates to be open

. I'm really have no clue but I really doubt its the gun, as I have not heard anything bad about them. But you never know, sry I cant help ya out bud.

rem 700 · 07-06-2007, 09:20 PM

I'm guessing your rifle needs a good chamber cleaning; this means some strong gun cleaning solvent and brushes made for this particular job. These bullets are fairly long and your gun may have a somewhat short chamber favoring lighter, stubbier bullets. That being said, I know the gun should work anyway, so if cleaning the chamber, bolt face, & lug area doesn't work, I'll think of some more BS that might work

TimberCreek · 07-06-2007, 09:32 PM

If it was only one round and the other 19 out of the box feed, then it is not the gun it is a bad round. I have the same gun and only shoot my reloads and have never had a bad feed. Suspect the factory round was not sized properly.

leeklm · 07-06-2007, 10:04 PM

That would be my guess as well. Strange to have a bad factory cartridge, but maybe the tolerances are tight enough that there is not much "wiggle room" in the chamber.

I have a set of 300wsm dies on order for the Dillon Press...

herman · 07-07-2007, 08:29 AM

I would measure the round that didn't work and if the measurements were different than the others in the box I would write or call the manufactor,I am guess that the round is wrong.
I have a 25/06 and 308 tikka and have put a bunch of rounds through them (these are hand loads) and have shot a good many different tikkas in different calibers includeing 2 300 wsm and even 2 sako's in that caliber and haven't had any problem with loading yet.
If it measures the same I would give it a good cleaning and try it again.

leeklm · 07-24-2007, 09:52 PM

Just an update... I reloaded a couple of boxes of 300WSM and had issues chambering most of the shells. The majority of them chambered very tight, and a couple would not allow the bolt to lock down. Took it back to Cabela's, where the guess is that the chamber is out of spec. They are sending it to their gunsmith for review. We will see...

leeklm · 08-10-2007, 06:32 AM

Got a call back from Beretta saying that everything checks out ok. Of course they are testing with factory ammo, which I only had a problem with one cartridge out of 40.

I tried my suspect cartridges on another new T3 and a Kimber. My reloads chambered well in both, and the "bad" factory cartridge did chamber, although with significant resistance in both new guns. That same cart would not chamber at all in my t3.I shared this info with the shop, and am waiting to hear back...

Thistells me that while my T3 may beclose to spec, it is slightly off. My reloading store (Gunstop in Mpls, MN.) suggested that I "over-cam"a bit when resizing the 300wsm to help address the tight chambering.

Briman · 08-10-2007, 03:25 PM

Quote:

My reloading store (Gunstop in Mpls, MN.) suggested that I "over-cam"a bit when resizing the 300wsm to help address the tight chambering.

Good advice.
Partial FL sizing causes nothing but problems if you have a rifle with a tight chamber.- what happens is the body of the case is squeazed down, but the brass needs to go somewhere so the shoulder gets pushed forward, without good force applied to the shoulder to push it back, it won't chamber. I learned this from reloading for K-31 rifles which have very tight chambers and almost non-existant throats- if you don't have the brass trimmed to the right length and have it all-the-way FL resized, its not going to chamber.