Thread: Opening a Tikka bolt face

I'm looking to build a 7 SAUM off a Tikka T3X action, I've got one with a standard bolt face, and I'm debating whether I get the bolt face opened to magnum size or just buy a second hand magnum rifle and go from there.
Is there enough material in a standard Tikka bolt to open it up to magnum size?
I can't imagine it is that difficult for a gunsmith to do, so long as there's enough material.
Anyone have much experience with this?

If you have a complete non magnum rifle, someone may want to swap you their magnum. Plenty of people go to magnum and realise they don’t need the extra grunt (and recoil, $$$) for the hunting they do. Put up a swap listing in the buy/sell section. Save you some coin if you happen to fluke it.

Buy this for a steal. Comes with everything you need for SAUM including long mag and suppressor. https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....70-wsm-118821/

Originally Posted by McNotty

Buy this for a steal. Comes with everything you need for SAUM including long mag and suppressor. https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....70-wsm-118821/

And you would’ve done the world a favour and removed another .270 off the face of the earth (I’m just kidding .270 people)

It would be more of a faff than just opening it up though right? The extractor hook and the extractor springy thing would also be wrong and need some sort of correction.

I've had it done I had a 6.5x55 and turned it into a 7prc.
Jaco opened up bolt face worked well.
Selling it and buying a magnum would be easier and remove one cost.
I would use a rem mag or 300 mag as they are usually cheaper and no need to change the magazine or bolt stop just new barrel and you are good to go.

Sent from my CPH2531 using Tapatalk

I take that back. Looking at both side by side the extractor hook and springy thing look like they are exactly the same positions. The face is just a bit more opened up. Yeah it should be a simple enough job on the lathe I would have thought. The tikka bolt material must be easy enough to machine as the standard bolt face one in the pic has been spiral fluted.

Last time I asked a gunsmith he was not keen at all doing it

It’s simple from what I understand I wouldn’t buy a second hand tikka to do a barrel swap I’d use what you have costs adds up and the price of a second hand tikka to toy with given what’s being made available lately would have to be sub $800 to bother

Sell what you have and buy new in the caliber you want.
It's not just the bolt, it's the whole system.
I've been down that road it's headaches all the way.

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

Sell what you have and buy new in the caliber you want.
It's not just the bolt, it's the whole system.
I've been down that road it's headaches all the way.

Are there any factory 7 SAUMs in Tikka t3x? Or any factory 7SAUMs in general? It would just be a bolt mag and barrel right? Tikkas are pretty identical in every other way. Or so it looks to me.

Originally Posted by Juicy

Are there any factory 7 SAUMs in Tikka t3x? Or any factory 7SAUMs in general? It would just be a bolt mag and barrel right? Tikkas are pretty identical in every other way. Or so it looks to me.

No factory saums apart from the odd model 7 and couple rarer rems the tikka conversion is simple

Originally Posted by tibo

Last time I asked a gunsmith he was not keen at all doing it

i know of a whole lot of "gunsmiths" that must be not keen to use a lathe, because they obviously cant.

I this case its likely because they are modifying parts that are pressure bearing. And if something went wrong they would be liable...

I've had more than 1 gunsmith tell me they won't open up a bolt face due to the fact that Tikka puts the bolt face thru a process that hardens them, removing material weakens the whole face.

Cheers for the feedback fellas.
Think I'll just pick up a second hand magnum and go from there.

I have had a look at that 270 WSM, but I don't have a use for the mags and such, as I'll be using a stock that uses AICS mags.
Could just sell them afterwards, but I'll just keep an eye out.

If anyone has a magnum t3/t3x with a shot out barrel they aren't keen on rebarreling, I may be interested.