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New T3X Stainless Bolt Issue
First this is new gun, never fired, and my first Tikka. When the gun is cocked, safety off, the bolt operates freely. I dry fire it, and I go to operate the bolt (recock) it the bolt is hard to get lifted from the fully closed bolt position so that I can recock it. Before dry firing, the bolt operates like butter it's only after that it sticks.
It's got to be in the bolt any suggestion or do I just have newgun itis. -
8 Replies
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The only thing I can think of to try is to put a little lub on the bolt lugs , also inspect the bolt for any swarf ( small metal shavings) as there has been one on here that had to go back because of swarf collecting on the bolt face
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Larkin is again spot on. If there is no debris in the bolt, there are many high tech lubes that may be the answer. It is rare though that any tikka has issues of this type so don’t be shy of returning it for service.
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I have fired the gun now and love it. I have also done some pondering about my issue. Tell me what you think of my diagnosis.
Since the bolt operated freely when cocked I figured the bolt and lugs were good, and not causing the binding. I thought it had to be inside the bolt since these are the only parts that move when or after firing. I took the bolt apart and inspected it. First I am not a gunsmith so my terminology my not be correct so bear with me. When the gun is cocked the cocking indicator rest in a small slot on the bolt. When the gun is fired the cocking indicator drops down into the deep groove of the bolt. When the action is “worked” re-cocking the bolt the cocking indicator is moved from the deep slot to the shallow slot thus re-cocking it,
Upon inspection of the deep slot I notice a ridge that apparently the cocking indicator rides on. This felt and looked rough so to took a dremmel tool with a buffing wheel and ever so lightly polished it, no lapping compound or anything. I did this just above where the cocking indicator bottoms out into the bolt thinking that the rough spot was causing the bolt to be hard to operate. I didn't do too much just in case I was wrong so far it seems to have helped. What do you Tikka experts think? -
If you’ve sorted it your the expert lol
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Well I am not the expert. I sent it into Beretta they adjusted the head space, got it back works better now. I now plan on learning more about head space. Thanks again.
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When you fire the gun there's a pretty heavy spring that gets released to bring the firing pin forward. When you lift the bolt handle you recompress the spring, aka re-cocking the bolt. Are you sure you aren't just experiencing the perfectly normal workings of a bolt action rifle?
-Stooxie
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I had similar issue to a stiff bolt after firing. I found a burr in it. I smoothed it out and was fine. It was a long time ago, so can't recall exact details. But anyway, disassemble and have a look for burrs…
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Nicely done bolt
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