Thread: Tikka T3 bolts

Originally Posted by GravelBen

I've heard/read more than one account of someone having the rifle on their back with bolt closed, catching the bolt on a branch/pack strap/whatever without noticing and opening it, then accidentally bumping the release on something else and dropping the bolt out.

Of course there are ways of avoiding that situation, but obviously it does happen and they do seem more susceptible to it than most other rifles.

I'm sure someone will pop up soon and tell me that it couldn't possibly be anything to do with the rifle design because Tikkas are perfect in every way and nobody should ever want to buy anything else.

+1

Had the bolt drop on the counter at the shop when I looked for a rifle and my thumb touched the release. Also seemed too easy to brush the safety off and catch the bolt handle; I had a play with this in the shop after the bolt dropped out. I figured this was likely to be why so many bolts slipped quietly out when the rifle was slung for the big walk.

So being the klutz I am I bought one with a tang mounted three position safety (damned near impossible to knock) and that you have to be a contortionist to operate the bolt release (a button forward of the trigger guard while squeezing the trigger and withdrawing the bolt). Being a newbie myself at the time I figured these were better safety features and the price was basically the same, and slightly cheaper by the time you added the almost obligatory limb saver to the T3.