Tikka T3x Trigger Pull Weight Changing

[SuperBeast]

I recently purchased a used Tikka T3x. I was practicing with it at the range, when after about 25 rounds, the trigger became very stiff, as if the pull weight had suddenly increased. I did manage to fire the round and noticed it did it again a few more times (all rounds fired). Then it subsided and went back to about the 2.5 pounds I had set it for. I went home and worked the trigger and it occurred again, jumping to about 7 pounds. Then it subsided again. I accessed the trigger assembly and noticed it was dry of any lube. I lubed it up and it has not reoccurred. I am just wondering if there is anything I should worry about? Do you think the lubrication may have resolved it? Anyone else experience similar?

 

[LoonWulf]

you likely had some binding, or possibly some gunk the mechanism. If it happens again take the gun down and see if you can find the problem, other wise i think lubing it should have you good to go.

The only time ive had a similar issue the trigger spring on a 700 would work forward and bind causing the initial pull to be heavy, it would suddenly slip back and the gun would fire. It just felt like a heavy trigger when it did it. Took me a while to figure out what was happening.

 

[troy fairweather]

clean it real good with some brake cleaner i like the graphite paste if i have it. sometimes if the sear surfaces are super polished it can be sticky and brake randomly two polished surfaces and sometime cold weld. it could be what was happening to u. just make check to see if the lube is ok for the cold if u hunt in it. when i get home next week ill post a pic of the mauser sear that was so polished it can be cold welded on demand to the cocking peace just push the to together and they stick.

 

[SuperBeast]

Great feedback! Thank you both! I feel much better about my purchase. I will exercise it more this weekend and update you all if anything major happens.
By the way, I am going on an elk hunt next year and will hopefully be using this Tikka T3x 7 mm mag.

 

[troy fairweather]

Great feedback! Thank you both! I feel much better about my purchase. I will exercise it more this weekend and update you all if anything major happens.
By the way, I am going on an elk hunt next year and will hopefully be using this Tikka T3x 7 mm mag.

good to here your happy with it they are nice guns. after the weekend your with feel better after some more shooting about the trigger just keep the lube u use to a minimal dont nee much. and check to see if it hardeneds in any way. what load you thinking to use for the elk. loonwulf shoots lots of cows with his 7rm just a different kind lol.

 

[SuperBeast]

Greetings, sorry that I haven’t replied in a while. As far as the load I am considering, I was thinking about Barnes TTSX 140 in 7mm mag for Bull elk. The 7 mag is a step up in power for what I am used to. I’d like to stay at a reasonable recoil level. My range will pretty much be 200 yards. What do you all think about the lighter bullet at that range for that animal?

 

[SuperBeast]

I also have a nice Browning Medallion A-bolt in 30.06 that I have taken nice whitetail and Axis bucks. Maybe use that on the elk hunt instead?

 

[troy fairweather]

both will work fine the 7rm will reach out farther. i never shot elk but id go with 160 grain or more for both id do 175 for the 7rm and 165 for the 06 but thats just me. use what u feel conferrable with.

 

[LoonWulf]

I think 140s fine with that ttsx, and the 7mm.
Personally I've had little experience with the monometals, and my normal loads are 160 class cup and core projectiles, @ 3000. I've taken animals up to around 1k lbs with those.
I've also used the 175 SGK @ 2850, and have no complaints. I don't use them anymore and still have some if you'd like to try them.

The 06 will work just fine as well. Personally I like 180 class bullets in the 06 @ 2750-2800
A friend of mine and his father took 2 bull elk, with one shot each, using a 165ct balistic tip from a .300 (if I had to guess the load I'd say it was in the 3200fps range)
So they do work just fine.

Personally I'd probably carry the Abolt, but that's just because I really like the rifle.
Either cartridge will serve you well.

 

[Demi-human]

An Elk, a Browning Medallion in Thirty Aught Six and coffee.

Many things in this world are not perfect, some things are.

 

[Picher]

I've been using Dri-Slide moly lube on triggers for about 30 years and it works great, but there may be some grit on the trigger/sear surfaces, or binding against the trigger/trigger spring. Clean all the bearing surfaces you can reach before lubing. Some trigger makers suggest using lighter fluid to clean trigger mechanisms.

 

[someguy2800]

Greetings, sorry that I haven’t replied in a while. As far as the load I am considering, I was thinking about Barnes TTSX 140 in 7mm mag for Bull elk. The 7 mag is a step up in power for what I am used to. I’d like to stay at a reasonable recoil level. My range will pretty much be 200 yards. What do you all think about the lighter bullet at that range for that animal?

After using them on about a dozen whitetail I’ve had very poor results from Barnes bullets in my 25-06. If they offered me a lifetime supply of free bullets I wouldn’t use them. A quality cup and core or preferably bonded bullet will be just fine with either your 7mm or 06.

 

[SuperBeast]

Thanks to everyone for the great content! I learn things all the time on this site. Yeah, the more I think about it the more I’m leaning on the 30.06 route. Sometimes one should go with what they are confident with, at least this is what I’m telling myself! Thanks again!