How to disassemble tikka t3x

[cote_b]

Hi everyone,

Swapping stocks with my T3x lite from the synthetic to a factory wood stock. Watched a few YouTube videos and it looks easy. Take the action screws out, pull out the bottom metal ( plastic) and then the barrelled action should just pop right out. We’ll mine does not. I even pushed up on the barrel a bit where it meets the fore end and it feels like I’d have to bend the barrel into a pretzel to get it out. Anyone have any ideas or tricks to get this out of the stock?

 

[Mik123]

Give the barrel a gentle tap with a rubber mallet or the like. I should pop right out. Is this a factory new rifle? If used maybe somemone bedded it without applying adequate release agent?

 

[bdb.hunting]

Yeah this doesn’t sound normal. I have owned a few tikkas and not had this issue.

As Mik123 said is this a new rifle or used ?

I have had a couple that are a little sticky around the recoil lug so it does “pop” when they let go! Any chance you have access to a vise that you can use with some form of soft jaws to hold the barrelled action so you can turn it upside down to pull the stock off ? (Phone book works well as soft jaws)

B

 

[cote_b]

It’s a used rifle. I’m going to reach out to the original owner and see if I can find out if it was bedded. Would tapping a dowl against the underside of the action through the mag well be an idea also?

 

[Mik123]

A few light taps won't damage anything but I wouldn't force it. I had a rifle that had really snug bedding and I had to tap the barrel a few times with the palm of my hand to separate it from the stock.

 

[aardvaark]

Sounds to me like the previous owner bedded it, and applied the release agent incorrectly/not sufficiently. And that’s likely why he sold it. So you might have bought a problem if you can’t get it out, sorry to say. Here’s another idea - put some kind of a wedge between the barrel and the stock, and get as much pressure in there as you think is safe without damaging anything. Note: the factory Tikka stocks are pretty tough so you could get considerable pressure on it before anything breaks. THEN: try tapping the action thro the mag opening while the wedge is in there, with a dowel. Should be able to tap this pretty hard as well. If all this fails, go to an experienced gunsmith. And be prepared for him to tell you to use it as it is.

 

[cote_b]

Good news everyone! Tracked down the original owner and confirmed it was not messed with. Just needed a little more force. It was very tight. Thanks for your replies