Thread: Weight saving on a Tikka t[emoji[emoji239[emoji2388]]39[emoji2389]]x

A while ago I replaced my general hunting rifle which was a Howa 1500 in .308 with a Tikka t3x Superlite in 6.5CM. Went down a calibre to reduce recoil with a lighter rifle and felt like trying something different. Anyway, for a bit of fun I thought id see how much weight I could shave off it. I say for a bit of fun as Im well aware it’s not that logical to spend this much $ per gram saved, so feel free to laugh at me!

Anyway, I started with a Carbon Fisher stock from Rivers to Ranges Canterbury. Beautiful stock and my t3x slotted in perfectly. Nice simplistic finish which I think looks great. Original tikka stock was 820g and the Fisher stock is 500g. This cost me $1500 for a 320g weight saving which equates to $4.69 per gram.

Next I got the action machined at gunworks canterbury. They take some metal out of the top of the action above the ejection port. I forgot to weigh this before and after but I modelled up the missing metal with careful measurements on Autodesk Fusion and based on the volume of the missing stainless steel this has saved an estimated 50g. This cost $130 so a cost of $2.60 per gram. One of the most cost effective ways of saving some weight on a Tikka seemingly.

Also got bolt fluted which I likewise estimate saved about 11g at a cost of $158. Excellent job aesthetically by gunworks. This works out at $14.36 per gram. So as people have said before mostly an aesthetic thing rather than serious weight saving.

Ordered a MTN gear ambidextrous hunter original titanium bolt handle:

https://www.mtngear.nz/products/mtn-tikka-bolt-handle

This was $125 and saves 31 grams compared to the factory bolt handle. $4.03 per gram.

Also got a titanium bolt shroud from High Velocity Hunting Australia:

https://hvha.com.au/product/tikka-t3...d-ul-titanium/

This was also $125 landed in NZ and saves 16 grams relative to the factory bolt shroud. $7.81 per gram.

The whole bolt assembly is now down to 255grams. I didn’t write down what it weighed factory but I think it was about 315g or so.

Ive put some Talley low rings on. I think they weigh about 50g from memory for the pair. Have used a Bushnell Elite 4-12 x 40 scope which weighs 400g. I was originally going to put on a Leupold VX-3 3.5-10x40 which is a similar lightweight scope, however the Bushnell came up second hand so thought id give that a go. I’ve left the barrel at the factory 22” as I want to keep as much velocity as I can for the open country. Anyway thought this might be useful as a guide to those looking to save some weight on the already quite light Tikka t3x.

How much more could you have saved per gram by getting a Howa Superlite?

Nice bro

What dose it weigh total now ready to rock?

Mine is 16" with and older fisherman carbon with limbsaver pad ( his pet hate was how it came 2nd hand) with a vx3 its just under 3kg with blklandz bipod and sling and 3 rounds in the mag with a hre can

Sorry don't know what has happened to the title. That has been happening a bit to me lately on tap-a-talk. Total weight is now about 2.9kg with scope, rings, sling and bipod adaptor. Here are some pics that wouldn't load earlier.

Originally Posted by Pommy

How much more could you have saved per gram by getting a Howa Superlite?

Haha, indeed. They are quite nice and I would have considered one if they had been around a few years ago when I got the tikka. At least I wasn't aware they existed back then. They feel extremely light when playing with them in the shop.

Nice work. I recently went down a similar path, but building an 18" 284win Tikka. I did all the work myself, aside from having the bolt fluted by Trueflite.

Also running a Blackstrand carbon suppressor which at 190g is a decent weight saving on a DPT at around 320g

I went a step further and carbon wrapped the factory barrel, which removed about 200g while keeping the same stiffness as the original contour.

FYI, factory Tikka bolt assy is 320g

Your break down of the price per gram for various different operations is an interesting way to look at it.

I need one of those bolt shrouds

Originally Posted by SixtyTen

Nice work. I recently went down a similar path, but building an 18" 284win Tikka. I did all the work myself, aside from having the bolt fluted by Trueflite.

Also running a Blackstrand carbon suppressor which at 190g is a decent weight saving on a DPT at around 320g

I went a step further and carbon wrapped the factory barrel, which removed about 200g while keeping the same stiffness as the original contour.

FYI, factory Tikka bolt assy is 320g

Your break down of the price per gram for various different operations is an interesting way to look at it.

I need one of those bolt shrouds

Where did you acquire this light suppressor you speak of?

https://www.facebook.com/61568804101...Zj4Ml/?app=fbl

I am the man behind them. I have setup a company to produce these locally and and doing that plus gunsmithing now.

It's taken a lot of development to get a suppressor this light to work well.

I'll be posting some more details of what else I'm doing once I have a commerical membership sorted with the forum, but the suppressors are available to order, so if your interested, let me know.

For those who don’t do FB, how much are they ?

$650. They have a carbon fibre look. Certainly look the part. Cool new option to the market, very lightweight compared to many Ive looked at.

They look bloody brilliant SixtyTen!