Thread: Tikka T3 Reloading help

Hi Guys,

I am new to the forum and re-loading, have a question on max COAL for the T3, and hoping as its very common calibre / gun someone can help.
I have used a hornady OAL guage to work out the best length for seating the projectiles, when taking this back to the magazine the catridges will be far too long to fit.

Is this a common problem?. Is it worth modifying the magazine to take a longer cartridge (is it even possible)

Thanks

Andre

What calibre mate?

-Cartridge?
-Projectile?
-Available magazine length?
-Max cartridge length to touch?
Your rifle will tell you the length it wants, not a book or the gauge.
Can make suggestions as to where to start once you give some more information.

Hey @andrem how are you, i hope you are well.
First things first, welcome to the forum. Now, as Gibo and 257weatherby already ask will be good to know those info, however, what you are asking is actually simple to answer. The problem with the Tikka's magazine is well know, they way short than you can seat the projectile to touch or almost touch the "lands", these rifles must the time will shoot well with projectiles seated with magazine length but, if you want to reload to make it as long is possible and "accurate" you will need to be happy to "SINGLE FEED"(one bullet per time via hand) your rifle.

I know it may sound a bit vague but if it still don't answer you please don't hesitate to ask again, many people here is very acknowledgeable and helpful, i have experience it myself.

All the best, good luck and be safe out there and reloading.

Mac

Originally Posted by PERRISCICABA

Hey @andrem how are you, i hope you are well.
First things first, welcome to the forum. Now, as Gibo and 257weatherby already ask will be good to know those info, however, what you are asking is actually simple to answer. The problem with the Tikka's magazine is well know, they way short than you can seat the projectile to touch or almost touch the "lands", these rifles must the time will shoot well with projectiles seated with magazine length but, if you want to reload to make it as long is possible and "accurate" you will need to be happy to "SINGLE FEED"(one bullet per time via hand) your rifle.

I know it may sound a bit vague but if it still don't answer you please don't hesitate to ask again, many people here is very acknowledgeable and helpful, i have experience it myself.

All the best, good luck and be safe out there and reloading.

Mac

T3's in 6.5x55 Swe are easliy loaded close to the rifling and still fit the mag with plenty of room to spare.

Try a few different projectiles before getting hung up on mag length, chances are you will find the accuracy good on most seated to fit it. But that will depend on what your expectations or wants are I guess.

Originally Posted by dogmatix

T3's in 6.5x55 Swe are easliy loaded close to the rifling and still fit the mag with plenty of room to spare.

Thank you @dogmatix, i only reloaded for 2X 7mm Rem Mag and 1X .223 Tikka rifles, all 3 of them were reloaded for mad length and shot like this…



5 shots at 100mts sierra MK 168r mag length.

Calibre was 7.08 / projectile hornday sst (sorry forgot to mention) I think will just seat the bullets to work with the mag as suggested and go from there. It doesn't shoot badly now with fed blue.

Dogmatix, thanks thats good to know for any future purchases

What about getting a long length mag for it? Then you can do what you want

You can extend the magazine heaps of people do it. Or send it to terminator products who advertises here he has done them.

Originally Posted by andrem

Calibre was 7.08 / projectile hornday sst (sorry forgot to mention) I think will just seat the bullets to work with the mag as suggested and go from there. It doesn't shoot badly now with fed blue.

Dogmatix, thanks thats good to know for any future purchases

Let us know how it goes, I have always thought that at least not trying them to mag length could be a case of trying to fix something that isn't broke.

I have a T3 in 7-08, I shoot the 154 SST thru it. I have cut the back out of the mag to get the pills seated longer to improve accuracy and velocity. I would definitely try loading mag length first and see if you can get a satisfactory load. A lot depends what you are wanting from your handload.

get a long action magazine, grind back or swap out the bolt stop and there you have it, no issues

Do ya testing with it seated to fit mag, if it don't work then go to step 2 and change mag etc. I shoot 140g Berger seated to mag and shoot 1/2 inch

Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk

I have basically seated to mag length (recommended length in the ADI load data) is on the money. Will try and see what happens.