T3 clip OAL modifications

hotshot

hotshot

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My factory 223 T3 clip is too short to accomodate OAL cartridges.
Do you know of jobber replacement clip or has anyone modified the factory clip?
I'm in process of modifying the factory clip.
Plan to remove the internal plastic dam and replace it with an aluminum block.
I'm prepared to do some precision grinding and fitting.

Stoeger Canada provided me useless information stating that the T3 rifles are manufactured to suit factory ammunition.
 
Pardon my ignorance, but what is an "OAL" cartridge? I thought it was short for over-all length.
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OAL is often used to represent overall length. As for what he is meaning by using the term "OAL cartridge", I can only assume that it is somehow supposed to mean a longer than normal overall length.
 
I've modded mine, I cut out the plastic division that forms the back of the magazine, trimmed the top back then dammed it up stood it on its end and made a new back "wall" by filling with fibreglass resin. I then lengthened the follower with epoxy putty to suit, but I found after some hours "tinkering" that the trick to making the whole thing work flawlessly is to relocate the spring center underneath the lengthened follower otherwise the follwer will tend to try to keep the nose end of the round up too severly. It now cycles 80 grain Amaxs set to my guns OAL without fail.

Reading that back it seems like gibberish so I'll try and post some pics later to explain.
 
stubblejumper said:
OAL is often used to represent overall length. As for what he is meaning by using the term "OAL cartridge", I can only assume that it is somehow supposed to mean a longer than normal overall length.
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Tikkas are notorious for having a short magazine and a long throat. If you try to size the OAL of your round so that the bullet sits just of the lands on a Tikka, you will almost certainly be much longer than factory ammunition OAL, which will also mean that your rounds will be too long for the magazine.

This is IMHO the ONLY problem with a factory Varmint Tikka, they are very very accurate right out of the box.........

Why Sako doesn't fixthis - god only knows:confused:
 
Tikkas are notorious for having a short magazine and a long throat. if you try to size the oal of your round so that the bullet sitsjust of the lands on a Tikka, you will almost certainly be muc longer than factory OAL, which will also mean that your rounds will be too long for the magazine.
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I own two T-3s and I realize the issue, but the terminology used by the OP doesn't make it easy to understand, if you aren't familiar with the issue. My own T-3 in 223 likes the 69gr Matchking loaded .010" off of the lands, but they won't fit the magazine loaded to a COL that provides this. I simply filed the front of the plastic magazine to extend the magazine by .020", and I can now load the rounds .010" off of the lands, and they fit the magazine. My T-3 in 6.5x55 shoots the 142gr Matchking just fine with the rounds loaded to fit the magazine, so I haven't bothered changing the magazine.
 
T3 clip modifications

I'm really irked that TIKKA would make such a great rifle then cheap-out on clip design. What they're doing is borderline fraudulent. Selling an 8 twist barrel with a clip that won't even function with 53 grain Vmax's

I spent the evening working on the clip modification - removed the plastic dam and then inserted oak wood plate/stopper that will allow the cartridge to sit further backwards in the clip.
I havn't lengthened the "follower" - yet.
Loaded some dummy rounds and discovered the "follower" tetters on the spring. As someone suggested - need to do some tikering with the spring so that it pushes upward with no tettering motion.
There's an Australian company that makes all metal clips for the T3 in a lengthened design. They're 10 shot and I've got my name on his waiting list - October 2012
 
T3 bottom metal and clip

Update to my problem...

This morning I ordered BOTTOM METAL and 10 SHOT CLIP from CDI in USA
It's in stock and will be here in a few days...no problem shipping to Canada according to them.

The bottom metal is aluminum billet and will need some minor stock inletting for installation.
The 10 shot clip accomodates 2-1/2" OAL ammo and is unfortunately plastic but a much heavier grade and more durable in comparison to the factory TIKKA clips. These clips are under $50. each

Total price with shipping $275.

Here's the website for anyone who's intereted in pursuing the same.
http://www.cdiprecisiongunworks.com/tikka_t3.html
 
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I assume by "clip" you really mean magazine?

Anyway, not sure about the 223 magazines, but the long action cartridge magazines for Tikka (ie: 30-06) work perfectly well in place of a 308/243/260 mag when wanting to use VLD styles of bullets and mag feed them.

I have no issues with the design at all, in fact i think they feed better than most, (They are almost indestructible in spite of how they feel) but I do wish they had greater capacity.
 
paperslayer said:
I assume by "clip" you really mean magazine?

Anyway, not sure about the 223 magazines, but the long action cartridge magazines for Tikka (ie: 30-06) work perfectly well in place of a 308/243/260 mag when wanting to use VLD styles of bullets and mag feed them.

I have no issues with the design at all, in fact i think they feed better than most, (They are almost indestructible in spite of how they feel) but I do wish they had greater capacity.
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Are you really going to be a smartass with Hotshot on clip and mag with your 4 posts? The man has forgot more about different firearms than 95% of the members on here. Have some respect for long time members..
 
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You want to argue too,lets have at her..
I know for a fact the original poster knows and doesn't need a lesson in terminology. I call them mags too, that's not the point..
Being sarcastic pisses me off, like you don't know what a clip is..:mad:
 
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what is "LIFE" ......a magazine

Military men were unfortunatley taught to call it a "magazine" , hence confusing some people since that's what I use on the toilet.
Western farmboys like me call it a "clip"

Neither terminology is right or wrong...we just have different mothers

Obviously we're discussing firearms - and we all know what was meant in the post. Boils down to someone desperate for attention.
 
Sorry... I thought it was shooting experience, credentials, awards and technical expertise that made you competent, not the number of times you posted BS on the internet. I spend most of my time shooting, reloading and gunsmithing for other serious shooters, not surfing... my bad.
 
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OK whatever clip, magazine, the T3 .223 one is TOO FREAKING SHORT:eek: Sako should change it. the situation for a 1:8 twist barrel is very sad and for the non-tinkerers spoils an otherwise excellent rifle.
 
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