My bolt won't go in! New Tikka

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made2cut

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I just came home with my brand spankin new Tikka T3 lite rifle and the dang bolt won't go in! This is my first bolt action so maybe I'm just stupid but it appears something is messed up. The first thing I noticed is that the firing pin is locked in the fired position. I've tried to get the plastic bolt shroud off as the instruction manual indicates (turning it clockwise and pulling it off) but it seems pretty stuck to me. Should I pull it off up or back?

I have to say I'm pretty pissed at buying a $600 rifle that is fubar'd from the get go :fire: :cuss:

HELP!
 
I'd be pissed too if I paid $600 for a new rifle and she had a plastic bolt shroud. Check the serial no. on the bolt against the no. on the rifle. They should match. I have no experience with this brand of rifle, but I'm sure it should be fairly easy to figure out. Maybe you have to hold the trigger fully down while inserting the bolt. If all else fails break out your owner's manual which you should read anyway.

Good luck
 
Yeah, I figured I'd get the "shoulda bought so and so rifle...." response.

The problem is that the rear part of the bolt that is supposed to rotate seems to be stuck in the locked position. There is a cam face cut into the bolt and the rear part has a key that should slide into a keyway on the receiver but since that rear part is locked in the wrong position it won't fit. Hopefully someone will come along with the trick to get it unlocked :(. If not I guess I'll have to call Beretta who distributes the gun and get a whole new bolt. The serial numbers do match by the way, and yes I've read the manual.
 
Well I figured it out and fixed the problem. Like I said the bolt was in the locked position and since I'm a complete newb to bolt guns I just needed to figure out how the damn things work (which is pretty sad considering they are about the most simple firearms in existance).

I used some thin peices of aluminum to protect the key on the rear part of the bolt and clamped it in my vise. I was then able to operate the bolt to get it in the open position. It slides right into the receiver now :p. The shroud comes right off too just like it should - who'd a thunk?!? Phew.... I feel a lot better now. :D
 
I think I know the problem you are talking about. It has happened to me at work, I think. What to do is take the bolt, and stick the little thingy that sticks out the bottom (and back towards you), in the groove at the base of the receiver. Push down on it with one hand, and turn the bolt with the other in, I believe, a....slightly upward motion, until the red dot spikes out the back. You should be able to put the bolt in from there. It is just a little weird feature, and if the bolt is outside of the firearm, it can turn into the "fired" position easily--it is well-greased firearm. Dunno about the "key" thing, never seen one pass through my job, but I did magically "screw up" the bolt in a similar fashion once. Try this, and if it does not work, PM me.
 
It isn't cocked. I'm not sure how you cock the bolt on a tikka but you'll have to figure that out. Once cocked the bolt will go right in.
 
Don't diss the Tikka. My last match rifle was a tikka, I had 5 handloads into .26" at 100yd.

atek3
 
Many bolts on BA rifles won't go back in if they are not cocked -- it's not unique to Tikka. When it's happend to me, I just loop a piece of wire around the bottom of the bolt and around my foot to recock it.
 
You won't be angry you paid $600 the first time you put the Tikka on paper.

My wife's gun is a Tikka T3. They shoot remarkably well.
 
Thanks for the support guys. I'm happy with my purchase, even if it was a frustrating experience for a little while. Here is a pic I snapped showing off my new beauty. I trust it will shoot as good as it looks :) It's in .223 by the way.

tikka_cz.jpg
 
yea

im havin the same problem with my bolt on the tikka t3. i took the bolt the bolt out bc i was cleaning the gun and when i took the bolt out i locked it by turning the bolt handle down, so when i try to put the bolt back it in was locked in the rong pos. and wont go all the way in. i read the previouse forums but cnt seem to get the the bolt to unlock. ne one with ne help would be deeply apreciated.
 
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Actually, it looks pretty nice. I wonder if they have a "lite" version in .308? 600.00 isn't that much for good rifle. Anyone know the twist rate or where I can get the specs?
 
I am having the same problem as Dannyboy51.
im havin the same problem with my bolt on the tikka t3. i took the bolt the bolt out bc i was cleaning the gun and when i took the bolt out i locked it by turning the bolt handle down, so when i try to put the bolt back it in was locked in the rong pos. and wont go all the way in. i read the previouse forums but cnt seem to get the the bolt to unlock. ne one with ne help would be deeply apreciated.
Click to expand...

could anyone help me out please?
 
I am having the same problem as Dannyboy51
Click to expand...

Uncle Mike answered the question by saying that the cocking piece is out of position. It needs to be moved into the cocked position to fit the bolt into the rifle. Use a padded vice to hold the bolt and pull the cocking piece and rotate to the cocked position.



NCsmitty
 
still not budging

Uncle Mike must be a lot stronger than I am... I tried to turn the cocking piece but all I seam to be doing is trashing the plastic at that end of the bolt. Do you perhaps have anymore direction? Thanks for the help
 
On Remingtons there's a notch in the striker projection. You can clamp a penny or such in a vise, hook the notch on the penny and pull the firing pin back to relieve tension on the shroud at the back of the bolt. On the Savage that round thing you can hook on something and pull too. I would guess that there is something on the Tikka bolt that would allow you to pull to be able to rotate the shroud.

I've never had this happen by accident, but due to the firing pin tension it can be a bit difficult to get things lined back up. On the Savage you can leave that hex bolt loose to get a bit less spring tension.

http://www.tikka.fi/pdf/manuals/TikkaT3_RH.pdf

Is this the manual you have? Page 16 shows how to disassemble the bolt.
 
Just clamp cocking piece (not shroud) in vice and pull bolt bodyforward and turn to cocked position. It's easy to turn a bolt and accidently decock it but a little tougher to recock it.
 
Thank you to all

Well I guess Uncle Mike was right. I was able to pull the bolt around this morning and all is well. Thank you all for your help. Have a Merry Christmas.
 
Merry Christmas Fellas
I hate to say this but.... consult the owner's manual. Same thing happened to me two days ago. The manual that came with my t3 (9.5x55) addresses this in kind of a vague manner.
I was amazed how easy it was after I figured it out. Good luck.
OBTW, IMHO these are fine accurate guns that deserve more attention.
Loosehorse
 
I have a Tikka T3 lite in 243 and have taken it hunting many times. It has been one of the nicest and most accurate rifles I have ever owned. Most people who diss them have never owned one.
 
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