Tikka T3 / New Stock

[Yamavira]

Only taken 4 months to come from the USA across the water to UK but I finally took delivery of a Boyds Varmint Thumbhole Laminated Stock.
Varmint barrelled action going into it is a SS Tikka T3 in 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser.
Dropped the action into the stock & was quite surprised to find it was a snug fit. I expected the barrel channel to be quite wide allowing the barrel to be free floating.

Would like to know if anyone has a similar combo & have they found any accuracy problems caused by the snug fit as opposed to having a free floating barrel.

Would welcome comments
Regards from UK
Yamavira.

 

[jmr40]

My personal opinion is that the Boyds stock is a downgrade compared to what came on it. I wouldn't be happy with THAT rifle/barrel combo not free floated. On some rifles it might not matter, and in some cases a barrel with full contact works better. But the Tikka is meant to be free floated. I'd either have it properly fit by a gunsmith, or return it.

 

[LoonWulf]

I've found that most of the recent boyds stocks I've used have had enough clearance, but there's always a chance they won't.

I'd make sure the action fits ok, mag works and drops free ok. After that sand out the barrel channel and bed the action to the stock. pillaring the stock might not be a bad idea either.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Two questions: what color and any photos?

I've got a couple of Boyds laminate stocks and have been generally happy with them for my purposes. Thumbholes slow down bolt manipulation, but they look cool and provide a nice grip for slow, deliberate shooting.

If you don't have a dedicated barrel scraper handy, try using sandpaper around a dowel to gradually open the barrel channel. Once you've sufficient clearance, reseal the inside surface with a couple coats of clear polyurethane finish -- this is Boyds recommendation instead of an oil based finish for their laminated stocks.

 

[Yamavira]

Evening from the UK
Barrel channel opened up. Barrel now free floating. Will have to wait until next range to try it out.
Barrelled action fits into the stock & onto the recoil lug. Mag clicks into place & bolt cycles smoothly.
Royal Jacaranda laminate. Looks pretty. Hope it now shoots as well as it did with the matte black "plastic" stock.

Thanks for the advice.