So after waiting what seemed like a eons (8 or 9 months) my beautiful Tikka Sporter left handed bold-action rifle in .308 finally arrived. Quite a piece and my first bolt-action rifle in the safe. I plan to use it for target shooting, perhaps hunting some day, but really to test and improve my mid-range accuracy skills. Nonetheless, I haven't purchased any firearm that didn't compel me to modify it just a bit and I am seeing that changes to the bottom metal/magazine design is pretty compelling.
Right now, the gun uses Tikka 5-round proprietary magazines. Somewhat hard to find and pricey as well, though in the big scheme of things (wait for it), not a big issue I suppose. I've looked at a modification that would allow me to trade out the bottom metal to use AI (Accuracy International) 10-round magazines with the gun with the only required modification being a bit of carving of the beautiful laminated stock - so there would be no going back. But minor in the scheme of things.
Not inexpensive but not out of the question either.
Advantage is it enables 10-round mags in a bolt-action gun which is appealing in that it makes it a more generally useful firearm; uses more widely and more rugged (perhaps) magazines than the stock plastic mags that the accompany the firearm.
Not clear that there are any downsides here. It might impact the resale value, but it's not something I plan to sell really. Like a few others in my very small collection, this seems like a long-termer that my 'heirs' will have to discuss when it comes time to figure that out (though none of the kids are left-handers so they will be challenged).
So, any downsides here? Has anyone tried this modification (or one similar) in their firearm? Any reaction? Is it something worth doing myself of is sending it to a gunsmith the prudent thing?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
B
Right now, the gun uses Tikka 5-round proprietary magazines. Somewhat hard to find and pricey as well, though in the big scheme of things (wait for it), not a big issue I suppose. I've looked at a modification that would allow me to trade out the bottom metal to use AI (Accuracy International) 10-round magazines with the gun with the only required modification being a bit of carving of the beautiful laminated stock - so there would be no going back. But minor in the scheme of things.
Not inexpensive but not out of the question either.
Advantage is it enables 10-round mags in a bolt-action gun which is appealing in that it makes it a more generally useful firearm; uses more widely and more rugged (perhaps) magazines than the stock plastic mags that the accompany the firearm.
Not clear that there are any downsides here. It might impact the resale value, but it's not something I plan to sell really. Like a few others in my very small collection, this seems like a long-termer that my 'heirs' will have to discuss when it comes time to figure that out (though none of the kids are left-handers so they will be challenged).
So, any downsides here? Has anyone tried this modification (or one similar) in their firearm? Any reaction? Is it something worth doing myself of is sending it to a gunsmith the prudent thing?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
B