Tikka T3 Bolt Drops Half Cocked - Video

[Doc7]

Is this normal for a bolt action rifle or for a Tikka T3? Please let me know if this video shows all necessary details. I noticed play in the bolt handle when it is on safe (not nearly what is shown in the video) and saw how the handle moved when trigger was pulled if Safe was taken off and trigger pulled in that state. I tried to see how far it can be pushed and it seems significant to me?

 

[someguy2800]

That is normal for a bolt action rifle. The striker spring is pushing on the camming surface which cocks the striker when the bolt is lifted.

 

[Doc7]

So for this entire action the bolt is fully in battery?

Sometimes, and particularly when it comes to looking at a rifle bolt, I feel like I am not completely spatially aware of what exactly is going on.

 

[Doc7]

Oh, and thank you!

 

[someguy2800]

It is not in battery until the bolt is all the way down. With the bolt half way up the striker hits the cam and forces the bolt into battery.

If you did this with a round in the chamber the bolt would either hang up, or it would close until the bolt cam cleared the striker, at which point the striker would touch the primer but would probably not have enough energy left to ignite it. Because the camming surface on the bolt blocks the striker, the firing pin cannot hit the primer until the bolt is fully in battery.

 

[LoonWulf]

It is not in battery until the bolt is all the way down. With the bolt half way up the striker hits the cam and forces the bolt into battery.

If you did this with a round in the chamber the bolt would either hang up, or it would close until the bolt cam cleared the striker, at which point the striker would touch the primer but would probably not have enough energy left to ignite it. Because the camming surface on the bolt blocks the striker, the firing pin cannot hit the primer until the bolt is fully in battery.

I can confirm that it's unlikely to go off. Friend of mine had a dud with my 6.5 and we decided the bolt handle was a little up from carrying when he went to fire.
After that I tried to get some primed cases to fire with the bolt in various stats of lift and only managed to get it to go off if the bolt was almost completely (less than 1/8") from being fully down.

 

[eastbank]

I just tried it will my two T3,s in .223 with primed cases. with the same result as LOONWULF,S.

 

[illinoisburt]

All my bolt guns do the same thing - even my old milsurps. I would call that completely normal.