I have a Tikka T3 in 300 win mag, stainless w. composite stock, 2016 model, bought new. I am having a little trouble with it. When loading factory ammo (federal blue-box 180 gr), I put 3 rounds in the magazine, and push it into the stock. The topmost bullet hits the underside of the bolt, and is pressed down into the magazine just a little bit; but it regularly catches on the metal piece at the front of the magazine and gets crushed. The result is a bullet with a sharp crease within 1-2mm of the tip. I can feel it when it happens because pushing that last few mm until the click is heard becomes very difficult. I have resorted to regularly tapping the back of the magazine on a hard surface to encourage the bullets to rest as far back in the magazine as possible. It has not helped.
I called the vendor, and was politely told that this might be a competency issue on my part. I then took the gun to the vendor along with a few samples of the ammunition post-crush, and was told it would have to be shipped back to Ontario (I'm in BC) for a ruling on warranty. I was also told the creased bullet tips will in no way affect accuracy, and that the lead would liquify shortly after the bullet emerged from the tip of the gun. I don't know enough about ballistics to concur, but it seems to me that: the whole bullet tip will not liquify enough to achieve a uniform shape; having an irregular shape will affect accuracy; regardless of whether or not it does, the gun's loading system should not deform bullets,
The Tikka T3 uses the same magazine for several different calibres, the 300 win mag being the biggest and tightest of fit. In all fairness the vendor tried another magazine of the same type, and they look just the same, so I don't think this is the wrong magazine. My choice is to take it to a local gun smith on my dime, or give it to the vendor and have them ship it away for an unknown period of time (I've heard this can be somewhere approaching eternity). Is there an easy way to modify this magazine myself?
I like the gun, but I'm feeling like I paid for a premium product and did not get it.
I called the vendor, and was politely told that this might be a competency issue on my part. I then took the gun to the vendor along with a few samples of the ammunition post-crush, and was told it would have to be shipped back to Ontario (I'm in BC) for a ruling on warranty. I was also told the creased bullet tips will in no way affect accuracy, and that the lead would liquify shortly after the bullet emerged from the tip of the gun. I don't know enough about ballistics to concur, but it seems to me that: the whole bullet tip will not liquify enough to achieve a uniform shape; having an irregular shape will affect accuracy; regardless of whether or not it does, the gun's loading system should not deform bullets,
The Tikka T3 uses the same magazine for several different calibres, the 300 win mag being the biggest and tightest of fit. In all fairness the vendor tried another magazine of the same type, and they look just the same, so I don't think this is the wrong magazine. My choice is to take it to a local gun smith on my dime, or give it to the vendor and have them ship it away for an unknown period of time (I've heard this can be somewhere approaching eternity). Is there an easy way to modify this magazine myself?
I like the gun, but I'm feeling like I paid for a premium product and did not get it.
