In today’s video (I ranked every hunting rifle brand: here’s the truth), you touched on Customs and described the build I’ve been wanting to execute. Tikka action, Bartlein barrel on a backlight chassis. I don’t have any gunsmithing skills so was hoping to get your perspective on who and how to help me. Any recos on where to get the barrel from? Assuming I buy a tikka t3x rifle for the action or is there a company you’d recommend to bring the action and barrel together? Would love some direction. Thanks!
Not Jim, but I can share with you my experience having built 2 ARs and 4 Bolt rifles
Gunsmiths aren’t really needed now with prefits. Some barrels have a barrel nut and you just have to torque down to spec and check the go no go gauges. Other barrels and actions just need a action wrench to torque to spec cause they are cut to fit each other, again with the gauges.
That’s the most complicated part. The chassis or the stock is a couple of action screws.
I think if you’re going with a blank barrel and looking to do all the work of creating the barrel for your chamber, gunsmith is still necessary. But after that, it’s all just legos.
However, depending upon how many times you planning on doing this, it may be more cost-effective to use a Smith rather than purchasing all the equipment yourself and then have it just sitting around the house never used again
You will need an internal action wrench to screw the new Barrel on to appropriate torque specifications. At this point every internal action wrench for Tikka that I have seen is not rated strong enough to remove the actual Factory barrel. Tikka decided that it needs Hercules to screw on its barrels at the factory. So then, you need to purchase an external action wrench to remove the factory Barrel. You’ll need a barrel vise, torque wrench, Etc as mentioned before.
I know some of the custom Barrel makers I have used offer action installation for an additional charge
Straight Jacket Armory and Blue Mountain Precision are two good options for prefits to put on in your garage.
If you don’t want to get the tools (just a big torque wrench and an action wrench), the you could have Preece Precision do the work. He has a great reputation.
You guys gonna be making them, or you partnering up with someone to sell theirs? You guys are awesome, btw. Always dropping new tidbits on plans for products that the consumer wants. Keep it up!