Tikka T3 Problems

[Waywatcher]

I bought a brand new Tikka T3 back in November. I took it to the range in Dec and fired 50 rounds--no problem. I took it to the range in January, and it jammed twice in 35 rounds. It failed to eject spent brass. I brought it back to the store I bought it from; they sent it in.

It came back 3 weeks later saying "Fired 8 rounds, cannot duplicate customer's complaint."

We compared mine with another identical brand new one off the shelf, and mine is clearly holding the brass at a different angle and doesn't eject properly, and sometimes not at all. Mine is clearly defective.

So we sent it in again; February 10th. 7 weeks later, I began to get curious what is taking so long, so I start inquiring to Beretta. Turns out, they have the rifle and are waiting on parts until at least 4-26. So, by the time I get my rifle back, presumably sometime in May at the earliest, it will have been in limbo for 4+ months.

I can't say I recommend Tikkas or Beretta at all at this point, and I am seriously considering getting something else.

Any suggestions on what I should do?

 

[rbernie]

Based on your initial thread on this topic, the issue turned out to be be sporadic in nature and you were frustrated that Beretta returned the gun last time around after what you considered a cursory effort to duplicate and remediate the problem. Are you now saying that you're upset because this time they are making a concerted effort to duplicate and remediate the issue?

I am sorry that you have gotten a lemon of a rifle, but I am not sure that I grasp what you expect or what it would take to make you happy with it.

 

[Horsemany]

I am not sure that I grasp what you expect or what it would take to make you happy

I think he would have been happier if they problem would have been fixed the first time he sent it in. It was easily duplicated at the gun shop when compared to other Tikkas. Couldn't Beretta see that?

 

[jmr40]

Could be ammo sensetive. Maybe Beretta is using a different ammo and cannot duplicate the issue.

 

[Waywatcher]

I am sorry that you have gotten a lemon of a rifle, but I am not sure that I grasp what you expect or what it would take to make you happy with it.

I expect a rifle that works, and failing that, I expect it to be repaired in a timely manner. In the meantime I'm out the $665 for 4+ months, and who knows, it could be longer. They could send me a new rifle, take parts off another rifle, or a check for $665 for example.

Edit to Add: Now I see why you seem so upset about my lousy experience with this Tikka and Beretta, a search reveals your (repeated) belief in their supremacy, and my post challenged your belief.

 

[KzoneAL]

First off..WOW can't believe u had a problem with a tikka guess it happens. If u did some research before u bought the gun u would have found out a known fact that Berettas customer service isn't the greatest and unfortunatly that goes for alot of other companies as well. Don't fault Tikka for Berettas bad CS the mechanical problem your having is very rare.Were u shooting Factory or reloaded ammo? Can u describe how the gun jammed? Like to know for the future.Give the gun a chance it could be a real shooter.GoodLuck

 

[Waywatcher]

The jams occurred with factory Remington ammo, which measured in spec in every conceivable dimension. (Calipers)

When it jammed, basically, it didn't eject the spent brass. Then, when the bolt came forward attempting to chamber the next round, there was a spent brass and a live round both in the action and it would wedge up solid.

We recreated the situation at the gunstore using spent brass. It seems as if the moment the brass should be 'flung' out of the action, it instead drops or falls right off the bolt, back into the action. It definitely wasn't hitting the scope--the scope was removed at the gunstore.

 

[wsm]

First off..WOW can't believe u had a problem with a tikka guess it happens. If u did some research before u bought the gun u would have found out a known fact that Berettas customer service isn't the greatest and unfortunatly that goes for alot of other companies as well. Don't fault Tikka for Berettas bad CS the mechanical problem your having is very rare.Were u shooting Factory or reloaded ammo? Can u describe how the gun jammed? Like to know for the future.Give the gun a chance it could be a real shooter.GoodLuck

Sounds like you are trying to blame the defect in a Tikka on the buyer! No way!!! When I buy something that has a warranty, I too expect it to be repaired or replaced in a timely manner. If the company cannot meet it's stated goal, it should be chastised in public. I believe in product loyalty, but it isn't rational to believe that ANY product deserves a "WOW, I can't believe you had a problem" comment.

 

[jmr40]

If there is a problem with the rifle Beretta should make it right. But I've seen many, many cases where the real problem is traced back to operator error. not saying that is the case here. But I've seen it enough to say that the possibility should be considered.

I'd have still trried another brand of ammo. Sometimes just changing bullet weights can make a difference.

There was a guy on here a few months ago complaining that his Ruger did the same thing. I'm not sure if I ever convinced him that his Ruger was designed to work that way. The harder you work the bolt, the farther it ejects empty brass. Work it slowly and it leaves it in the magazine, just as it is made to. To a lesser extent all rifles will do that.

 

[Hanzo581]

Any firearm can have issues, taking this long to resolve the issue however is unacceptable.

 

[Waywatcher]

But I've seen many, many cases where the real problem is traced back to operator error. not saying that is the case here. But I've seen it enough to say that the possibility should be considered.

It's not the case on this one. We (The gunstore mgr. and I) compared it side-by-side with another identical specimen, and you could see the difference in the how it held and ejected the brass. The store's "copy" worked flawlessly, like you would expect, and mine wouldn't.

Agreed on the Rugers; they have a fixed ejector and are a different cat. My Tikka would still drop the brass even when functioned briskly. Not all the time, but enough to be unreliable. 2/35 at the range.

 

[KzoneAL]

Sounds like you are trying to blame the defect in a Tikka on the buyer! No way!!! When I buy something that has a warranty, I too expect it to be repaired or replaced in a timely manner. If the company cannot meet it's stated goal, it should be chastised in public. I believe in product loyalty, but it isn't rational to believe that ANY product deserves a "WOW, I can't believe you had a problem" comment.

WSM,
In noway am i trying to blame him for a defect read my post again.The "WOW" was meant as a suprise .. everything you read about the T3 is positive and very little negative..I bought my T3 after a ton of research so i new about the bad customer service and purchased the gun based on years of customer info so there were no suprises if i needed warranty work.If he had known he would have not had high expectations for the warrenty.Next time i will use smileys so i dont project sarcasum.

 

[KzoneAL]

The jams occurred with factory Remington ammo, which measured in spec in every conceivable dimension. (Calipers)

When it jammed, basically, it didn't eject the spent brass. Then, when the bolt came forward attempting to chamber the next round, there was a spent brass and a live round both in the action and it would wedge up solid.

We recreated the situation at the gunstore using spent brass. It seems as if the moment the brass should be 'flung' out of the action, it instead drops or falls right off the bolt, back into the action. It definitely wasn't hitting the scope--the scope was removed at the gunstore.

Waywatcher,
I tried to make it happen in my 243 and no matter how slow i slid the bolt back it throws the empty with no problem.I pulled the bolt out and put an empty into the bolt face from what i see is maybe the extractor was not cut right or the pin in the bolt face that pushes the empty was sticking maybe a weak spring ? were u shooting in cold weather? what is it chambered in?

 

[JoeMal]

Turns out, they have the rifle and are waiting on parts until at least 4-26

Do they no longer make this rifle? Why would they be waiting on parts? Seems to be a rifle in production would have available parts laying around everywhere

 

[Whiskey11]

JoeMal, if they are at all like Remington, their repair centers are not manufacturing plants, and it IS possible that they simply don't stock that many parts to fix this issue and simply ran out.

OP, sorry to hear about your issues, I hope they get resolved quickly!

 

[JoeMal]

JoeMal, if they are at all like Remington, their repair centers are not manufacturing plants, and it IS possible that they simply don't stock that many parts to fix this issue and simply ran out.

Wouldn't it then simply be a matter of shipping a part from the manufacturing plant to the repair facility? That would take a week at the most

 

[Whiskey11]

JoeMal it would depend on the rate at which his rifle is produced and spare parts for it are produced. I would imagine that it shouldn't be thaat long unless they are having problems replicating the op's problem. Obviously they have a starting point with his and the dealer's description. Add to that the fact that they are servicing all of Baretta's owned brands in addition and I can imagine how it could take a month to get it fixed.

 

[flynnskihobbin]

Do they no longer make this rifle? Why would they be waiting on parts? Seems to be a rifle in production would have available parts laying around everywhere

The only reason they would be waiting on parts is because Beretta imports the Tikkas from Finland. And since Beretta has poor costumer service they probably never thought of keeping spare parts around. If you google accessories for Tikkas you don't find much more than enlarged bolt knobs.

I have a left handed Tikka T3 Lite, so I can only imagine what would happen if I needed a spare part for my rifle.

 

[Waywatcher]

Well, the issue has been resolved! Hurray!

I went to the gunstore and talked it over with the (same) manager, and we came to an amiable solution. They will keep the Tikka when it comes back from Beretta, and in exchange, they gave me store credit towards a different rifle.

In the end Beretta lost a customer, and Scheels gained a loyal customer.

Two big thumbs up for Scheels, they didn't have to be so accomodating, but they were. They definitely will be getting more of my business! Now I'm looking forward to doing some actual .223 shooting!

 

[JoeMal]

What kind of a rifle did you end up with Waywatcher?

 

[JDGray]

Beretta lost a customer

Here too....I called them because my night sights were dim on my 92, they told me to dab glow in the dark paint over the dots

 

[Waywatcher]

What kind of a rifle did you end up with Waywatcher?

I decided for certain whatever I ended up with had to:
A.) be domestic (Made in USA)
B.) have readily available spare parts

Looked at Savage boltguns, Remington 700 boltguns, Ruger M77s, Remington AR-15s and DPMS AR15s. I spent 2 hours going over the various choices at the store.

I decided on a DPMS Bull 20; an AR with a 20" free-floated stainless bull barrel. Parts repair/replacement is going to be a cinch, and the rifle is made a mere 150 miles away. And it's my first Black Rifle.

 

[HKGuns]

Beretta is fixing the problem. I see no reason for the complaint. It isn't like it is hunting season anyway.

 

[JoeMal]

Beretta is fixing the problem. I see no reason for the complaint. It isn't like it is hunting season anyway.

Not all of us use our bolt guns for hunting

Thanks

 

[Fullboar1]

I can totally understand your frustration and anger at having to wait so long at have your rifle fixed (If I was working in the warranty department I would probably pull the part from another gun to get you on your way). My father and I have owned a very large number of Tikka's and Sako's and I know alot of people with Tikka's and let me just say for the number of them out there they would have the least problems out of any rifle on the market (just do a search or look on any gun forum and you will see problems with Tikka's are few and far between). I don't know what Beretta USA is like but I can tell you that Beretta Australia is a stand up company. I have never needed warranty on a faulty Tikka or Sako, but I got warranty on 2 rifles that had hundreds and hundreds of dollars damage that was really my fault (I wont go into details but the guy I went hunting with did the damage) and Beretta fixed them free of charge (even paid the shipping).
Buying a rifle that is made in the USA wouldn't guarantee you would have got it fixed any faster (I know a guy that has been waiting since October to have a 700 rifle and 870 shotgun to be fixed after sending back to the factory a number of times) or even got it fixed at all (the same company told a guy "sorry the gun is within our specs" after it would only chamber and shoot 1 brand of ammo in his gun so he had to pay to have it rereamed).
As far as some saying that "the part should only take a week to get here" most of these companys that import firearms have to log and pay customs to inspect all there shipments so they try to get everything they need until the next shipment and they come from overseas by boat (ship), not only that most factory's "tool up" and make x amount of parts then "tool up" and make some other parts so if the factory is out of that part you wont get 1 until they make the next batch and then that part will wait until there next shipment and that shipment will take time to get here by boat and will have to go through customs and be inspected and unpacked ect.
I know all this doesn't get you gun back any quicker and you shouldn't have to do anything special but if you want you gun back a bit quicker call Beretta and speak to one of the bosses and tell them you need your rifle for whatever and tell them you don't mind if they get your part from another gun they have in stock and I'm sure they will have you back up and running.
Good Luck