T3X CTR Mods and Upgrades

DiMP

DiMP

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I tried searching the forums for some answers, but other than some trigger work, seems not many people have done what I want to do. I got a Tikka T3x CTR in 308 about a year ago as an entry level, learn to shoot further rifle. After a short time, I have found two things I would like to change and hoping the collective knowledge of the group can help guide me. My current set-up is a Bushnell Forge 3-18x50mm with Vortex rings and a basic Caldwell bipod. I am not looking (at this time) to drop the rifle into a chassis system or anything similar. Here is what I am looking for:

A way to add 25-ish MOA
When I was out a couple weeks ago shooting at my new furthest distance (850 yards) I ran out of scope adjustment and had to do a hold-over. Using the drop chart online, it seems my scope has enough adjustment without a holdover to about 720 yards, an my goal is eventually to hit 1000 yards. I found Tikka 25moa rails, but I have read a couple accounts online about how the CTR rail is locktite and epoxied in place, and I don't feel comfortable taking a torch to it to break it free. I am hoping instead to find a one-piece scope rings/base set up. I don't know much about these things, or where to go, so that's the first question

Better Bipod
When I load the bipod, I get quite a bit of movement out of it. I am hoping for a new bipod, but it seems sling-stud attachment bipods are quite limited. I wonder if anyone has replaced their front sling-swivel with a rail?

Any guidance and expertise would be thoroughly appreciated
 
You could buy Burris xtr rings and add up to 40moa with the provided inserts.

Caldwell bipod is poo. You could upgrade to a Harris to use the sling stud. Or you could get the area 419 bipod rail from Gobig and get yourself an atlas bipod
 
DiMP said:
I got a Tikka T3x CTR in 308 about a year ago... After a short time, I have found two things I would like to change
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I'm a big fan of CTR's, so following this thread. I'd like to replace the stocks, but as I use mine for hunting also I do not want to make them any heavier, so that may not happen. I am going to order a couple of the front stock add-ons that make them wider and more bench rest friendly, you may want to look into that too. May help with the bi-pods. Stoeger sells them online, and if over $50 ship free.
 
If you're keeping the Tupperware stock, first mod should be to take the dremel out and free float the barrel just forward of the action. Only takes a couple of minutes.
CoreTac sells aluminum pillar bedding kits for the factory t3x stocks, if you want to properly bed the action.
The bolt-on varmint forend noticeably stiffens up the forend and makes it wider to better ride a bag. No idea what they cost, I got mine from the varmint stock that I had ditched for a Bravo.
A $20 MCarbo or Yodave trigger spring will get trigger pull down to 1lb or slightly less. Well worth it IMO.
My CTR pic rail wasn't difficult to take off at all. I did heat it up with a heat gun first, but it popped off by with a light tap of the screwdriver handle. Some seem to a bear though.
 
I have a Caldwell picatinny rail on my CTR that attaches to the forward sling swivel stud, which also has a sling swivel stud. My CTR weighs 9.620 lbs with an empty mag and a Vortex PST 4-16x50mm FFP gen 1 scope.
 
laker415 said:
You could buy Burris xtr rings and add up to 40moa with the provided inserts.

Caldwell bipod is poo. You could upgrade to a Harris to use the sling stud. Or you could get the area 419 bipod rail from Gobig and get yourself an atlas bipod
Click to expand...
Here is my noob side coming out, I didn't even know you could get rings with shims. That might be an easier way to go. I know the bipod is poo, but it was what was available at my LGS when I bought the gun. Now I have the allowance to make some minor upgrades :p

Grain said:
I'm a big fan of CTR's, so following this thread. I'd like to replace the stocks, but as I use mine for hunting also I do not want to make them any heavier, so that may not happen. I am going to order a couple of the front stock add-ons that make them wider and more bench rest friendly, you may want to look into that too. May help with the bi-pods. Stoeger sells them online, and if over $50 ship free.
Click to expand...
I'm in the same boat. It is mostly a paper-puncher and steel-ringer, but every once in a while it gets called into action for more hiking oriented shooting and I'd prefer not to make it a 15;b gun

Unholysavage said:
A $20 MCarbo or Yodave trigger spring will get trigger pull down to 1lb or slightly less. Well worth it IMO.
My CTR pic rail wasn't difficult to take off at all. I did heat it up with a heat gun first, but it popped off by with a light tap of the screwdriver handle. Some seem to a bear though.
Click to expand...
Coming from a guy who has his safe mostly filled with shotguns and surplus, without adjustment this Tikka already has the best trigger of the fleet lol. I plan to adjust it down using just the factory adjustment for now. As far as the rail, I've read both sides. Some seem to come off easy, some can be rather stubborn. I figure a $150 set of rings with available adjustment vs a $90 rail plus extra time, could go either way.

rhino62 said:
I have a Caldwell picatinny rail on my CTR that attaches to the forward sling swivel stud, which also has a sling swivel stud. My CTR weighs 9.620 lbs with an empty mag and a Vortex PST 4-16x50mm FFP gen 1 scope.
Click to expand...
Have you (or anyone) heard of issues with the front sling stud tearing off from too much torque? I have read of it for other rifles, and that it what has me slightly concerned and looking for other mounting options that spread out the force
 
You can remove the rail without heat. I've done it twice. Just remove the screws and pry from the front with your hands only. If will snap right off. You can clean off the loctite with acetone and elbow grease. The trick is to keep the rag wet and move fast enough so the acetone doesn't dry between passes. The loctite will dissolve and the bluing will be unaffected. I'm now using Mountain Tactical rails and I'm quite happy with them.

As for the stock, the only thing worth doing is making sure the barrel is properly free floated. I have pillar bedded Tikka stocks before and saw no noticeable gain in accuracy. If it doesn't shoot out of the box, pillar bedding won't fix it.
 
If you have the funds, maybe consider a better stock or chassis. You could keep the ctr stock for hunting and get something better suited for bench or prone work. Tikka stocks are generally garbage. Have a look at the krg bravo. They have a model that allows you to use the ctr mag. Also comes with a rail you can use for your bipod attachment as well as a sling stud if you end up with a harris
 
Burris Z rings would be my answer as well. They are excellent and will give you more elevation without going for a different scope. Swapping rails wouldn’t be advisable. From what I understand, they are on there really tight.

Harris bipods are very well made. That’s the easiest solution. However, you could explore going to picatinny and your options become infinite. If you really like the CTR stock and don’t want to drop coin on a chassis, then consider picking up a spare stock for 100$ or so on the EE. Then you can play around with modifying it, painting it and probably get a spare mag out of it too (people who put CTRs into a chassis have no more use for the stock or mag).
 
You can change the base without to much worry. As others mentioned.

I have a rail adapter for my sling stud, but eventually just put my CTR in an MDT chassis, the $500 dollar one from Cabelas. The ability to use AICS mags was a huge plus!

I also run an Insite Heathen brake on mine, works wonderfully!
 
KRG Bravo is a great budget friendly chassis that really punches above it's weight class. You can really dress it up, KRG supports it with a bunch of accessories. Has a Tikka inlet option, and you get the advantage of using AICS mags if you want.

Rail shouldn't be hard to change, I wouldn't worry about that. Just make sure you get a good quality rail. Cheaper rails may be out of spec in a few potential ways, which could cause issues.

For bipod, look at Atlas CAL.
 
mebiuspower said:
Atlas was the cat's meow like 10 years ago... I think MDT Ckye Pod Gen2 offers more features than an Atlas...
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I love the Ckye-Pod, it's on my main rifle. It's the most versatile bipod out there, and it's really in its element in field matches.

It is expensive, and depending on the OP's needs, may or may not be the best value proposition. I proposed the Atlas as I think it's the bare minimum one should look for in a bipod. Skip the Harris and below. Not great quality, not great value propositions. Another great bipod that I would one day love to own is the TBAC.
 
mebiuspower said:
Atlas was the cat's meow like 10 years ago... I think MDT Ckye Pod Gen2 offers more features than an Atlas...
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Sure, but you can snag a base model atlas for around $250. The Ckye pod isn't near that price point. For the average guy the Ckye pod is overkill. I have both, and I don't NEED the ckye pod. Its cool for sure, but if you're a casual shooter, the base model atlas is great or even the CAL if you want to step it up a bit.
 
I just use 20 MOA Spuhr one piece mounts on my CTR. Don't think there is anything better out there. Stock wise my carbon stock weighs maybe 2-3 oz more than the original if i take off the NV mount. The Atlasworx / MDT mag saved a few oz anyway. PMII is heavy but worth it.

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edi
 
EJG said:
I just use 20 MOA Spuhr one piece mounts on my CTR. Don't think there is anything better out there. Stock wise my carbon stock weighs maybe 2-3 oz more than the original if i take off the NV mount. The Atlasworx / MDT mag saved a few oz anyway. PMII is heavy but worth it.

hfwKPih.jpg


edi
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Nice looking rifle!

Spuhr makes excellent stuff.

Another option for rings with built in elevation is the ARC scope mount. ARC happens to make my favorite rings/scope mounts: https://www.americanrifle.com/shop/product/m-brace-scope-mount-1402?category=3
 
If you're looking for extended range capability, maybe ditch the 308 and get a 24" CTR in 6.5 Creed or the 6.5 PRC. I have owned four CTR and the factory rail comes off no problem
 
My TAC A1 came with the zero rail, I just put the Burris XTR rings on it and set it at 20deg. Haven't had any issues with Burris Zee rings over the years, that's why I went with the XTR's. Swapping the rail out was a bit cheaper option, but, the rings were easier and I needed rings anyway. I wouldn't be afraid to heat the screws if necc, won't hurt the rail with it, and you only need a bit of heat. Unless you are bashing the gun around in comps, you shouldn't need an expensive 1 pc mount. The Caldwell bipod adaptor rail works surprisngly well, tried one on a T3X I have, that needed it to adapt a Gray-Ops Magnetospeed mount onto it. It will also adjust to level an attachment with the barrel if need be, which is what I needed for the chrono mount.
 
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