Tikka 300wsm - Time for a new barrel

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A-bolt243

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I have noticed my 300wsm accuracy slowly decreasing over the past couple years, it is still OK for hunting but not what it once was. I was considering a new barrel since I still really like the rifle but I am thinking about switching up the chambering to a 300 win mag. This is a hunting rifle that will occasionally be shot from the bench but most of its use will be in a gun boot on the quad to walking cutlines and cutblocks. I may also use it for hunting out of a deer blind where 400 ish yard shots could be a possibility. I do not intend on making this a bench rifle and do not have any intent of shooting steel targets out to 1500 yards.... that does sound pretty damn fun but not what I'm going for here.

Does anyone have experience in re barreling the tikka t3's and preferred gunsmiths? I have heard great things about insite arms but open to other suggestions. I could stick with the 300wsm but I will primarily only shoot 180 - 200gr bullets and the 300 win mag seems to stand out here. It is splitting hairs but I figured why not try something a little different on the loading bench.
 
Just a thought. If you remove the bolt stop and get a 300 WM clip you can extend the over all length of the 300 wsm and could reload your bullets close to the lands there by increasing accuracy and extending the life of your current barrel.

If you shoot factory ammo this won’t help.

But like I wrote earlier, just a thought.
 
Get an IBI carbon or steel pre-fit and install it yourself. Shouldered pre-fits are easy to self-install and the IBI barrels are excellent quality. You can go up to a .300 PRC if you want, it'll turn a T3 into an artillery piece.
 
How many rounds through your rifle? The 300 WSM is not a cartridge that is hard on barrels.

Over the years IO have bought more than a few "shot-out" rifles that needed nothing more than a good cleaning to get back on track.
 
'Boo said:
How many rounds through your rifle? The 300 WSM is not a cartridge that is hard on barrels.

Over the years IO have bought more than a few "shot-out" rifles that needed nothing more than a good cleaning to get back on track.
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That was my 1st thought as well.
 
'Boo said:
How many rounds through your rifle? The 300 WSM is not a cartridge that is hard on barrels.

Over the years IO have bought more than a few "shot-out" rifles that needed nothing more than a good cleaning to get back on track.
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I agree as well.
I have a Tikka T3 in that caliber for main hunting rifle..
Bought new when they first came out. Probably just over 300 rounds in that
Rifle. Accuracy is like new.
 
I've got about 700 rounds thru my tikka 22- 250. it's not as accurate as it was new. when I do rebarrel it I will probably go with ibi barrels.
 
It would be in the 1200-1500 range. I bought it when the T3’s came out and it was my only rifle for a while. I shot it quite a bit the first 12 years trying whatever the newest bullet or powder combination was. It has seen some rapid fire in the first part of its life etc and I have learned what to do vs not to do. I have tried cleaning it with wipe out and soaking etc and that has worked when accuracy would fall off in the past. For hunting the accuracy is still ok. But shooting smaller groups is always more appealing.

The rifle could stay as is for a long time and still put down moose, I’m just looking to revive it and thought maybe the 300 win was a better choice overall.
 
For what you are doing there is no real gain in going to 3000Winmag, I have both and am surprised that the 300WSM has less felt recoil in identical rifles. If you want to push heavier for caliber bullets then the 300WM is the way to go.
 
You'll need a different mag and bolt stop. Consider throating the new barrel with the shortish Tikka mag in mind.

It might be worth trying seating your rounds long and shooting it as single shot as a test. If accuracy can be restored by chasing the lands, then the mag and bolt stop might get you back in the game by itself.

I've had Tikkas in 300WSM and 300 Win. The recoil was day and night different, if that's a factor.
 
mikeyb said:
Get an IBI carbon or steel pre-fit and install it yourself. Shouldered pre-fits are easy to self-install and the IBI barrels are excellent quality. You can go up to a .300 PRC if you want, it'll turn a T3 into an artillery piece.
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From what I can gather the O.P. doesn't have a means to remove the factory barrel, and Tikka T3 barrels are notoriously tight. Pre-fit is fine and dandy to eliminate one trip to the the gunsmith provided one already has that factory barrel broke loose and invests in headspace gauges for possibly a one time use.

mikeyb, I do agree with your recommendation of IBI, but instead of going pre-fit I would just box-up my barreled action and send it to them. IBI will remove the factory barrel using relief cuts,throw it in the scrap bin and install a brand new barrel.
I have used IBI services for a couple of my tikkas now and turn around time is great, the barrels shoot, clean-up beautifully and show great speeds.
 
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Here's another option for the OP if he's thrifty. There's a factory .300win Mag barrel for sale here on the EE that claims unfired, if you were to grab it and send your barreled action to someone with a proper vise you could be in business for under 500$.

I have a couple of Tikkas I use as switch-barrels and swapping of multiple different factory barrels on my two receivers shows good headspace on all.
I scoop them used off the EE for dirt cheap and screw'em on using my bench vise. I probably wouldn't do this with any other brand of rifle but I have never felt like I gambled when it comes to Tikka barrels as they all shoot, just a hair slower than others if that's something you can live with.
 
Dogleg said:
You'll need a different mag and bolt stop. Consider throating the new barrel with the shortish Tikka mag in mind.

It might be worth trying seating your rounds long and shooting it as single shot as a test. If accuracy can be restored by chasing the lands, then the mag and bolt stop might get you back in the game by itself.

I've had Tikkas in 300WSM and 300 Win. The recoil was day and night different, if that's a factor.
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I might try this first, looks like with a longer bolt stop and an after market magazine I could load them with a longer cartridge length. I will try as a single shot and see where I get. Thanks for the idea.
 
tilo said:
Just a thought. If you remove the bolt stop and get a 300 WM clip you can extend the over all length of the 300 wsm and could reload your bullets close to the lands there by increasing accuracy and extending the life of your current barrel.

If you shoot factory ammo this won’t help.

But like I wrote earlier, just a thought.
Click to expand...

I've done this with a Tikka. It can work well. You might be able to find a new take-off barrel from another Tikka and keep your costs down. Something to think about. My preference would be to keep it at a 300WSM. You are not giving up much to a 300WSM. I'd think about a 165 or 168gr bullet myself. Again, my pref.
 
Update to this thread, I did seat bullets out further and further until I found a group (2.5") around 3.12" COL. This is too long for the standard 300wsm magazine and wasn't a good enough group to get excited about. The load that it historically shot well was at a COL 2.90" and trying those loads it would hardly print a 6" group. I tried a couple other loads that historically shot well in the rifle and ended up with similar results. It really bothers me to have a rifle I can't trust and so I think I will head down the road of re-barreling and maybe even getting a different stock for the rifle as well (sits in a B&C currently). I know I could buy a new tikka or something else for the cost of re-bareling etc but I am going to give this gun some new life so I can continue to hunt with it.

Anyone have suggestions for Alberta based gun smiths? Currently trying to decide between K and S arms and Insite Arms.
 
A-bolt243 said:
Update to this thread, I did seat bullets out further and further until I found a group (2.5") around 3.12" COL. This is too long for the standard 300wsm magazine and wasn't a good enough group to get excited about. The load that it historically shot well was at a COL 2.90" and trying those loads it would hardly print a 6" group. I tried a couple other loads that historically shot well in the rifle and ended up with similar results. It really bothers me to have a rifle I can't trust and so I think I will head down the road of re-barreling and maybe even getting a different stock for the rifle as well (sits in a B&C currently). I know I could buy a new tikka or something else for the cost of re-bareling etc but I am going to give this gun some new life so I can continue to hunt with it.

Anyone have suggestions for Alberta based gun smiths? Currently trying to decide between K and S arms and Insite Arms.
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Did it shoot good in the past in the b and c stock? I have one on a tikka and it needed the tang area relieved to sit properly on the bedding block. Before that it shot terrible. After ensuring proper fit it shot great, as it did in the factory stock.
 
Sun_and_Steel_77 said:
Here's another option for the OP if he's thrifty. There's a factory .300win Mag barrel for sale here on the EE that claims unfired, if you were to grab it and send your barreled action to someone with a proper vise you could be in business for under 500$.

I have a couple of Tikkas I use as switch-barrels and swapping of multiple different factory barrels on my two receivers shows good headspace on all.
I scoop them used off the EE for dirt cheap and screw'em on using my bench vise. I probably wouldn't do this with any other brand of rifle but I have never felt like I gambled when it comes to Tikka barrels as they all shoot, just a hair slower than others if that's something you can live with.
Click to expand...

I do this as well. Switch barrels for cheap pretty much. Downside is the calibers I am after done come pre chambered so now im saving for having a .338 barrel chambered.
 
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