Tikka T3 DBM

Mark Jones · January 14, 2017

Can anyone please suggest the best bottom metal to fit a T3 to take AI mags (.243) had a look at some and they sau inletting may be required. Would this be difficult to do on a mcmillan a5 stock?

Regards

Mark

markymark · January 14, 2017

Mark,

Inletting will certainly be required to fit AICS bottom metal into your Mcmillan stock. I have had AICS bottom metal inletting in my Mcmillan A3-5 stock. As for where to source the best AICS bottom metal thats purely subjective. I personally have the Atlasworxs bottom metal, which can be purchased from eBay from the UK distributor for Atlasworx for around £100. I can't fault it and think it offers fantastic valve for money against its competitors. Other bottom metals cost around £250 but would also include pillars for bedding.

Now my Mcmillan stock shot 0.5 MOA with factory ammo as standard so have found no reason to bed the rifle. As a result I didn't need the pillars that was sold with other products. But that would entirely depend on how well your action shoots from your stock and if it needed or you wanted it pillar bedded.

As for inletting, this is also possible. I have been meaning to write a small review on mine but have yet had the chance. Many smiths will say its not possible, or in real terms its not worth their time (understandably so). Its hard to do well, and the smallest mistake would mean you would have been bin what is a very expensive stock! So I have found many smiths deliberately over quote the inletting work to either scare you off or perhaps use it as insurance? Or perhaps, again understandable will only inlet the stock if part of a build done with that smith. It's a fiddley and time consuming job to do right which often isn't worth the money for some.

Question..... do you already own the stock or thinking of buying it? Just if you haven't bought it yet, I would strongly recommend Edi with his http://www.pse-composites.com stocks. Who offers an AICS inlet when you order with him.

My inletting was done by Jack from JR Firearms. Which if you end up getting it done..... I can't recommend enough. He is based in Bedfordshire, and normally specialises in re-barreling work but happy to do inletting along with most other gunsmith work. His customer service along with the quality and attention to detail was second to none. Came in on quote and within time scale too (which is always nice).

http://www.jrfirearms.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/jrfirearms1/?fref=ts

If I can help any further then just ask.

Cheers from another Mark......

Mark Jones · January 14, 2017

Mark

Those photos look fantastic , nice stock and good work. Used the new mag today, worked faultlessly and now have a roe in the chiller. I already have the stock so will have to see what the cost of the job is?

Mark

baldie · January 15, 2017

Its not a difficult job on a good milling machine, and the skill to use it.

I do at least one a week. I like to mill out and then bed the floor plate in.

Looks far better than unsightly gaps.

This is a rem 700, but the tikka is no different to fit. Pillar height is critical, and is different on all stocks. Only experience will get it right.