Tikka T3 Bell & Carlson stock?? Worth it??

[Chuckin' TV]

I'm considering getting a Bell and Carlson Medalist stock on my T3 300WM. I like this rifle as is. With my hand loads it shoots sub MOA regularly. Once in a great while though, it sends one of those unexplainable flyers. I think having an aluminum bedding block and a truly free floated barrel would remedy any accuracy issues, possibly put it in the 1/4MOA range. The only flaw of the T3 lite is the lack of bedding and is not fully free floated, but that's what makes them affordable and I don't discourage anyone from getting one. I got my Tikka for 500$ The stock is around 250$ So 750$ total really isn't bad if you think about it. I'm speculating that it'll be an absolute tack driver with the stock upgrade.

So, is the upgraded stock worth it? Has anyone put an aftermarket stock on a Tikka? What were the results?

Here are some typical groups with my T3 300WM:

 

[627PCFan]

Well if your flyer opens your 1/2 MOA group up to 3/4 MOA Id call you a whiner.....Keep what you got. Its already working better than most.

 

[Chuckin' TV]

"Well if your flyer opens your 1/2 MOA group up to 3/4 MOA Id call you a whiner.....Keep what you got. Its already working better than most."

Lol. The first pic was actual sighting in. The bullet on the left was the second of 5 shots. The 3 inside the "A" are my last three. I don't have any pics of the real flyers. But like I said and you say the gun is already exceptional for a 500$ rifle.

 

[jmr40]

I've upgraded many stocks because I want something that looked better, was far more durable than wood, or was lighter. I have 3 rifles in McMillans and have used B&C in the past as well as others. Changing the stock has never made a bit of difference in accuracy. And that includes a lot of the very cheap plastic stocks that everyone bad mouths on the internet. If changing the stock makes it shoot better there is a fit issue with your current stock that could have been corrected and gotten the same results.

The Tikka stock is already one of the better ones. Normally I'd advise against making this swap, but in this case maybe. The Tikka stocks are very lightweight, as well as tough. This is a big part of the appeal and I'd normally consider the B&C a downgrade. But on a 300 mag the Tikka stock may well be too light. The B&C stock is about 1/2 lb heavier and may help tame recoil. Having a rifle that recoils less may help you shoot it more accurately, but the stock will not make any difference.

 

[viking499]

What about a cheaper priced Boyd's stock?

 

[kieranklein]

If the flyer happens what seems to be not that often. It could be the hand loaded round was just off. Just a tad too much powder or not enough or any number of other things.

 

[Chuckin' TV]

I've thought about Boyds stocks as well. I haven't heard much about them. I don't believe they are action bedded, but they might be an improvement. They look pretty nice too. I like laminates. That's a possible choice. My uncle has the thumbhole version on his M700 243. He said he had to sand some spots to make it free floated.

As to gaining weight on the rifle, I actually weighed my factory stock down using brass balls and expanding foam. My cousin threw in more weight than what I wanted as he was pouring the foam. Overall weight is ~12 pounds. So my Tikka T3 Lite is now a Tikka T3 2 Freaking Heavy. Thank god I can hit just about anything I can see with it. This isn't my lugging around gun anyhow. Longest confirmed hit was a woodchuck at 683 yards. As good as this rifle performs, my main question is will an aftermarket stock improve performance? We already had one definitive no from JMR. Thanks for the reply. I'd like to hear more from you guys.

 

[hoghunting]

The only flaw of the T3 lite is the lack of bedding and is not fully free floated,

You can remove the barreled action and free float the barrel yourself, the barrel should be free floating from the factory.

 

[Water-Man]

Take a look at Mountain Tactical stocks for the Tikka.

 

[Chuckin' TV]

I don't see the difference between the Mountain Tactical and the Boyds stocks, except price.

 

[HexHead]

Barrels not free floated from the factory isn't always because the manufacturer wanted to save money. Weatherby doesn't free float any barrel with less than a #3 contour. Their #2 contour Vanguard Series 2 rifles are guaranteed to shoot sub-MOA right out of the box. Mine all surpass that guarantee.

 

[Water-Man]

I don't see the difference between the Mountain Tactical and the Boyds stocks, except price.

Are you serious?

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

My Tikka T3 Lite in .270 shoots so good I dare not touch it. Consistently 1/2 groups at 100yds (handloads). And I'm with JMR40 the stocks I've replaced with aftermarket stocks doesn't help accuracy IMO. It just looks nicer and shoots just as good...

OP maybe you need to check your action screws. My Tikka is as original as you can get. I haven't even adjusted the trigger. But I can take 2 sheets of paper and slide basically all the way to the receiver.

 

[Chuckin' TV]

Water Man,
The Boyds and MT stocks look exactly alike. I looked at pictures very closely. Maybe there is an internal difference? Bedding/recoil lug? I really don't know. Do you?

I have two guys saying that the aftermarket stocks do not improve accuracy only cosmetics. I personally don't mind the looks of the Tikka stock. It's not a cheap looking synthetic like you see on some other guns. Although I like the looks of the B&Cs, if they aren't going to improve consistency then I won't get one. I think a Boyds would be pretty cool to get if the concern is cosmetics. 100$ is a very good price too. Maybe my next Tikka will get one. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Water-Man]

Water Man,
The Boyds and MT stocks look exactly alike. I looked at pictures very closely. Maybe there is an internal difference? Bedding/recoil lug? I really don't know. Do you?

I have two guys saying that the aftermarket stocks do not improve accuracy only cosmetics. I personally don't mind the looks of the Tikka stock. It's not a cheap looking synthetic like you see on some other guns. Although I like the looks of the B&Cs, if they aren't going to improve consistency then I won't get one. I think a Boyds would be pretty cool to get if the concern is cosmetics. 100$ is a very good price too. Maybe my next Tikka will get one. Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I know the difference and you might too if you took the time to read.