Re-barreling an old Tikka M76

Gidday folks, asking for a friend..

I’m looking for some direction on sorting out a Tikka m76 .308 that’s not shooting well, as the barrels pretty tired was going to first shorten to 18” and recrown.

Failing that, does anyone have any experience with this firearm. I understand it’s of the 1960s era. Ideally an easy to come by .308 modern tikka barrel will suit refitting but doubt I’d be that lucky.

Can anyone provide the receiver tread size and or any relevant knowledge to re-barreling recycled parts? I am aware many smiths would fit a new barrel but trying to come up with the most cost effective option. Will either way be an 16-18” shooter for a 50-300m hunting rifle.

Would also be interested if anyone has an original magazine or work around for a rather bastardised original that’s currently a pain.

Thanks in advance :)

[ATTACH]173794

there are a HEAP of tikka barrels get taken off from new.... have seen lots of them for sale over last few years.... always some on trademe. @gundoc @Wingman @Friwi either/all these fellas will be able to answer your questions

Much appreciated, Thankyou @Mighty Duck

The thread should be the same as the M55 which should be 1' x 16tpi.

From what I've read, mags are interchangeable with the LSA55, LS55 M55
I think Guncity has advertised a magazine not long ago - on TM.

They are lovely slick old actions and in my opinion better than the T3 trash offered these days. The mags have always been rocking horse turds but do come up from time to time.
The Tikka T3 has the same 1"x16tpi barrel thread but its longer, it screws much further into a T3 receiver than the LSA and M series Tikkas (the real Tikkas). Your gunsmith can cut the thread shorter and push the chamber forward on a T3 take off barrel if he is ok with reaming the tikka barrels. They are very hard hammer forged and high in sulphur so many smiths wont touch them as they kill reamer life pretty quickly. They also have a nasty habit of picking up and galling if you dont take it slow with the right type of cutting lube. Another option is to make a spacer between the action and barrel to set the head space on the T3 barrel.
I picked up a LSA 55 in .222 years ago for $360 with a rotted out Bofors steel barrel ( a common problem with these old girls), the action was a gem so I grafted on a Sako finnlite .243 barrel that I cut back, rethreaded and chambered in 6mmBR for an ultra light hunting rifle. I had to open up the bolt face and mod the mag feed lips to cycle the new brass but it was a real little sweetie once done. I hit the walnut stock pretty hard to thin it down and lighten it up too. It was laser accurate got lots of use and accounted for a lot of animals over the years.

Attachment 173832

Attachment 173833

Attachment 173834

Thanks @Wingman for steering me straight on this one. This is exactly the result I was hoping for a and great inspiration seeing your Gem/knowing it’s achievable.
We’re in no hurry so will keep an eye out for a suitable barrel and go from there.

Thanks again,, legend.

tikka 308 barrel on trademe for $400 today.....

Tikka t3 in 308 are probably the most common tikkas. Tikka t3 barrel in 308 are the most expensive. But still cheaper than new.

Nice rifles, back when Tikkas weren't made of recycled happy meal toys

T3's still work well but definitely aren't a thing of beauty. Good luck re-barreling the old warhorse they are definitely worth saving IMHO

Such a shame the old ones weren't made in left hand.

I have a secondhand 308 barrel from a M55 - it is 20 inches long and factory fluted along some of it's length (Tikka Trapper model)
No idea of the history, as I rebarreled when I acquired the rifle.

Cheers
BB

I got a L55 .243 for my grandson that has got a Rem barrel. It was done by the Duley's gun smith.

@VXN222

Did you have any luck sourcing a barrel?

Cheers team, this is some really valuable insite, I’ve been keeping an eye on what’s about but hasn’t been on the must sort pile just yet. @Basenjiboy did that barrel shoot? PM me a $$ and pictured and I’ll give it some thought if your keen to move it on. Cheers

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tahr

I got a L55 .243 for my grandson that has got a Rem barrel. It was done by the Duley's gun smith.

---

If it's the one I heard about, it's actually a Tikka barrel with a spacer. Came for H Bay?

Here it is - will PM
Attachment 175722
Attachment 175723

I never shot the rifle with it on, so no idea how it shoots.

That’s pretty cool @Basenjiboy the fluting like that is similar to the Kimbers etc. This surely must have been one of the first of its type. Cheers for the pictures, look forward to your message. Cheers

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tahr

I got a L55 .243 for my grandson that has got a Rem barrel. It was done by the Duley's gun smith.

---

It’s a tikka barrel with a spacer in front of it.

I got a new 6.5 Creedmoor tikka barrel off TradeMe for $325 took it to my gunsmith mate who changed it over in 15 minutes

I purchased a m76 .308 which was well used and with a very worn barrel a few years ago. It shot fairly poor groups first time to the range. I checked it over more closely and noticed the rifling in the last cm looked particularly erroded and uneven in wear. I cutoff 1.5 to 2 cm with a hack saw and then squared up with a file and dimond file, rounded off the inside of the lands at the muzzle with a ball bearing and fine emery paper. Back to the range and it was deadly accurate with the same ammo.They seem to be well made barrels even back then. The bedding on these old rifles could well need re-doing after decades of being the wood being compressed.
Cheers.

Hi i purchased a old M76 in 308 with a worn barrel that didn't group well at all.However after cutting off 1.5cm off with a hacksaw, squared up the end with a file and finished up, it was shooting tight groups with the same ammo.The end of the barrel was particularly worn when checked with a magnifying glass.They can still shoot nicely while well worn.
Cheers

Sorry I'm new to posting stuff n didn't realise my post was on page 2, so did it again more or less cheers

Good stuff mate, this will be interesting to try. Thanks to @Basenjiboy I’ve managed to pickup a replacement (Cheers mate, legend). All going well I’ll be onto a winner. Depending on the timeframe, I may get a bit of testing/chopping the barrel in before switch them out. Whatever the result, looking forward to getting stuck into it and sharing the results. Cheers for your help team!

Gidday folks,

After receiving the barrel and arrange a bit of a mission with my local gun smith, pleased to report the old war horse is Rutt ready and geared up for a couple of hunts shortly.

Cheers @Basenjiboy for offering up quite a unique barrel, it worked out that it could be mated up to suit with a little wizardry on the Smiths end. Ended up turning it in a touch further to loose the open sight holes show off the fresh blueing beneath the stock all those years.. Chambers been freshened up, shortened to 18-19” and recrowned sneaking the suppressor back against the stock.

Little amount of material needed trimmed out of the stock to suit the slightly heavier barrel profile. With all the smithing complete, all to be done was clean up a mounting gremlin and get to the range.. @Southerner223 kindly donating a set of fresh rings to the cause and we good to go.

With and open mind, headed to the range hoping to improve on the A4 target spread of the original barrel. With a couple down the tube I was happy to be able to track a couple shots into a comfortable zero.. from a hunting rest happy to walk away with a 1-2moa result.

Thanks to everyone for the support offered on this mission. Very pleased with the outcome!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...efd565b658.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...e3a00f9a05.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good to see this project and glad to hear it worked out. Looks like a good setup and a real classic

@VXN222 thanks for sharing, should have a medal or a gold sticker at the very least for the recycling effort :thumbsup:

If you don't mind me asking, what did that cost you in gunsmith fees?

Few if any in the UK would be willing to do that kind of work, usually recommend scrapping rifles entirely in such cases and unless the barrel is brand new and is a Bartlien/Krieger/Lothar Walther they turn their nose up at such work! :angry:

No.8 wire engineering rules!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by caberslash

@VXN222 thanks for sharing, should have a medal or a gold sticker at the very least for the recycling effort :thumbsup:

If you don't mind me asking, what did that cost you in gunsmith fees?

Few if any in the UK would be willing to do that kind of work, usually recommend scrapping rifles entirely in such cases and unless the barrel is brand new and is a Bartlien/Krieger/Lothar Walther they turn their nose up at such work! :angry:

No.8 wire engineering rules!

---

Cheers Mate,

I love new and shiny as much as the next guy but this project was all about getting this ‘tool’ back to fit form without digging too deep. In my mind, rifles like these am have earned there slot in the rack and deserve a every chance.

Smithing was yea, pretty labour intensive but was supported greatly by another friend on that front also. When you break it down, easily mounts up to a ‘new’ rifle but it’s just not the same.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Southerner223

Good to see this project and glad to hear it worked out. Looks like a good setup and a real classic

---

Cheers mate, really happy how it’s worked out. The .222 be the next to get a birthday ;)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

she looks like a rifle that a fella would be proud to own n not afraid to use.... look forward to seeing photo of her leaning up against a redskin somewhere deep in the boonies.100% agree on suppressor choice too....I find that type even though is fly pooh longerthan others keeps the balance back closer to hands rather well,and you sure cant deny how well they work in the hush department.

Great to see the barrel worked for you!!!

If your looking for a extra magazine, google up Waters rifleman in oz. I leant him my rifle and magazine a few years back so he could create some duplicate prototypes that are now in production i think.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Basenjiboy

Great to see the barrel worked for you!!!

---

Thanks mate, really appreciate the barrel. Needle in a hay stack.. cheers!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

she looks like a rifle that a fella would be proud to own n not afraid to use.... look forward to seeing photo of her leaning up against a redskin somewhere deep in the boonies.100% agree on suppressor choice too....I find that type even though is fly pooh longerthan others keeps the balance back closer to hands rather well,and you sure cant deny how well they work in the hush department.

---

Cheers mate, definitely built for the job and will certainly be put to work! Back in the hands of a good friend today, managed to blood the old rig, rounding out a great weekend on the hill.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...ccd5ee5743.jpg
‘First blood’ for the reborn Tikka M76 .308


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

F-Ken awesome

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dicko

If your looking for a extra magazine, google up Waters rifleman in oz. I leant him my rifle and magazine a few years back so he could create some duplicate prototypes that are now in production i think.

---

Yip the Waters RM M55 6 rnd single stack CNC cut alloy repro mags are the berrys.Would pay to confirm with Waters if they will marry up to a M76 before ordering.