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All,
The contact point in the stock is correct. I recently purchased a T3x less than a month ago. Synthetic Stock in 270 Win. Top her off with a DNZ Game Reaper and a Vortex DBHP4-16×42. Torqued, Lapped, Leveled and laser foresighted and off the range I went. Shot 40 rounds of factory (Win/RP) 130 grains to bring the scope in and then some. Best grouping I could muster at 100 yards off the sand bags was 2″ with out the fliers that occurred at a 2:5 ratio. Hit my loading bench and cranked out a box of 50 of my favorite load, which by the way shoots 3/8″ clovers at 100 yards in my Mannlicher Schonauer. (56grains of H4831SC w/Nosler Accubond 140gn. .020 off the grooves). Took her out again and got the same results.
Upon deeper inspection of this new rifle I found the following:
1) Dollar Test: Slid the bill between the barrel and the stock. It stops 3-1/2″ from the action.
2) Radius in the barrel approx. 6-3/4″ from the action.While the radius is likely a machining error that got past Q&A, the touch point of the stock on the barrel is not. It is a purpose built feature that Tikka designed in to put additional tension on the stock as it is prone to cracking, as in the Sako A7. Below is the following from Beretta USA (Tikka's Parent Corp).
Your concern of the stock and barrel making contact closer to the action is actually how the synthetic stock models are designed. There is an “X” shape cross-brace in that area which provides rigidity for the stock. It was found that without this, there is flex within the stock which causes accuracy loss.
In either case, the rifle is guaranteed for a 3-shot group of 1 inch at 100 yards within the warranty period. We will inspect your rifle and perform an accuracy evaluation most likely. In situations where the barrel is no good, and the rifle is within warranty, you would simply receive a new rifle. We do not have the ability to re-barrel, as SAKO/Tikka do not allow us to perform this procedure – they state that if the barrel is worn out, or “bad”, the rifle requires replacing, which within warranty would mean at no cost to the customer.
I have always felt that a fully floated barrel was one of those foundational elements that was the first requirement for accuracy in rifles. Clearly, Tikka has a designed in contact point with the barrel, which is neither floated nor bedded. So it seems to me that they are taking a gamble on when, where and to whom this situation will manifest itself. As the physical aspects of the situation make the accuracy guarantee impossible (for those with synthetic stocks)…Perhaps that wood stocks are not affected.
Hence the rifle is going back to Beretta USA for their tech's….I say techs because if your read the above quote, they do not do real gunsmithing work there…-to validate my claim. I will repost once that is done. My humble advise, exercise caution when buying these Tikka's. If you get a bad one, they can only replace it. Hopefully you get a good one.
