I'm currently trying to locate used factory short action plastic stocks for my two Tikka Deluxe rifles. So far I have made enquiries with Norman Clark without success and intend to place adverts in the shooting press shortly. Does anyone have any ideas for a likely source that I could contact?

Thanks

Tim,

Its good tp see someone relatively local here! I work in Chester although live just across the border!

Getting back to your question, do they have to be Tikka stocks or will any aftermarket synthetic do?

I would suggest you try Dave Ryan at Minsterly or faily that maybe GKM might be able to help you,

Regards,

Pete

Thanks Pete

I've been around for a while but mainly browsing. When I wanted to login recently to make a post I found my login details were invalid and had to re-register. I used to work in Chester myself but these days I'm stuck with the commute to central Manchester.

Any synthetic would do but to the best of my knowledge only McMillan produce aftermarket stocks for Tikkas and I suspect supply could be a problem. Ideally I just want factory Tikka stocks. I have a long action All Weather in a 7mm Rem Mag that will produce 1/2 moa on a good day out of the box. I now want similar stocks for my .243 and .308.

I've been keeping my eye open for some at Ryans. He generally has plenty of Sako stocks but no Tikkas. However, I don't plan on getting down to Minsterley as often as I have been since the range fees recently went up. All my rifles are dialled in and I now prefer to spend any time I have to stalk rather than shooting off a bench.

I think my best option is to keep placing occasional ads and phone round various gunsmiths that perform re-stcoking work. I hope sooner or later one or two will turn up.

Regards

If you call Chris Potter Guns, the number is on the web site: Chris Potter Guns

Someone in the rifle department will help you out. If it is possible they will get it.

FB

Thanks for the Chris Potter suggestion. I gave them a whirl but without success. I'll try Callum Ferguson during the next few days but it looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and get a new stock at some point.

Regards

Tim1, I wouldn't advise contacting GMK. In my experience they are unhelpful and unwilling to deal with you unless you are a dealer. I have built a custom varmint 22-250 AI around a Tikka 595 action which had a broken stock. After calling just about everyone in the gunsmithing trade in the UK I gave up and had one build for me by Mcmillan. This was July 03. I saved money, the whole thing cost �400 including vat and posting. The exchange rate at the moment is far more favourable than it was back then, you would probably only spend �300 now and get a custom built stock in any colour / profile that you want. Mcmillan will deal with you direct and the ordering process is straightforward and takes about three months from order to delivery.
On a rider to this I believe Bruce Potts who writes articles in Shooting Sports magazine has two or three wooden Tikka stocks - he wrote an article back in early 03 ab out customising a Tikka.

Good Luck, cannot recommend Mcmillan highly enough. AM.

Thanks Andy

You've taken the words out of my mouth. I have been calling gunsmiths during the last few days without success. I have also been in contact with Dick Davis at McMillan via e-mail and I think I will end up ordering one of their stocks. Given the current exchange rate I think a stock would work out at roughly �200.00 plus postage and fitting. (I've been quoted over �400.00 for a new factory plastic stock. It would probably be cheaper to trade in against a new synthetic rifle). Unfortunately it will probably have to wait a little while as I'm putting the finance together at the moment for a week on Islay in the autumn after stags. If a factory stock turns up in the meantime I'll be more than happy.

As a foot note I can't agree more about GMK. My bother experienced a problem with the sling studs pulling out of his synthetic Sako stocks. GMK couldn't have cared less. In the end Norman Clark came to the rescue.

Regards

Tim,
If you order a custom drop in, get a pair of aluminium pillars as well, i think its about �6.00 extra. It is a very easy job to fit them to your stock when you recieve it and makes a difference to the consistancy if accuracy is your thing. You do need access to a lathe though to cut the pillars to the correct length. I don't suppose Norman Clarke would charge you much if you don't have any engineering works in your area.(I can't recommend his work highly enough either)
Dick Davies or Kelly Mcmillan are both very helpful, in fact they seem to be unable to do enough for their customers even after a purchase.
On the subject of the Tikka plastic stocks, I have had experience of two rifles with the factory stock fitted. Both had problems with the forend flexing and touching the barrel, they are not very rigid.
AM

Andy,

That sounds like good news. I do have access to a lathe and I'm a fitter/turner by trade although it is some years since I was on the tools. To make sure the job was done properly I'd trust to Morman Clark I think.

I'd agree about the plastic Tikka stocks flexing. The one on my 7mm Rem Mag is the same and the barrel isn't all that central in the channel. However, it still returns 0.5" on a good day and 0.75" consistently which is why ideally I'd like to get a cheap used plastic stock for my other Tikkas even though I increasingly like the idea of doing the job properly with a McMillan.

Is the drop in stock a special order and if so what is delivery likely to be like? If I invested in a single stock with pillars would it be interchangeable between my two rifles?

Thanks and best wishes

Tim,
the custom drop in option from Mcmillan gives you a stock of your choice profiled to fit your rifle action. For example, I ordered a Sako Varmint stock and had it profiled for a Tikka 595. It fitted very well, there is just a little excess material at the rear of the action but nothing to worry about. The custom drop in option takes no longer to make than any other stock - I think as delivery time is around 2-3 months. I believe they make the stock as a solid unit and then machine away material to a specific action, be it Remington, Winchester or whatever you ask for. The price was for me about $400 us dollars and is the same at present on their site. If you decide to order one and have two rifles of the same action length / type, then one stock will fit. However, to achieve best results - accuracy wise then pillar bed and devcon bed the stock to one rifle so the stock fits that action perfectly. More expensive and not perhaps the answer you want?
AM

In addition to my last post there are several helpful sites around for doing a pillar bedding job yourself. I used an article by A J Jordan on the following site, www.varminthunters.com/tech/pillar.html
It made the work very easy to follow and I have bedded three other rifles since, using this info as a guide. Accuracy is always improved. (eg I bedded my 25-06 Rem BDL wooden stock which was giving 3/4 inch at 100, after bedding it gave .325" @100.
I can provide you with photo's of my Tikka via e-mail if you wish to look at the Mcmillan. Alternatively I am based in N W England if you are in the Cumbria Lancs border area anytime?
AM

Tim1,
I replaced my snythetic tikka stock with a custom mcmillan, after some extensive work on the action and the magazine housing it eventually fitted. When I eventually got it after 6 months of waiting and it didn't fit, I had a mad paddy and threw it in the river at the back of the house!!!the mrs went beserk saying youv'e spent all the money on a mcmillan you better make it fit!!
So I had to eat hummble pie and retrieve it.
So don't expect a perfect drop in don't need to do anything stock!!!

griff

Thanks Andy,

Since typing my previous post I've looked in more detail at the McMillan website. I've decided to invest in a grey drop-in and I think I'll aim to take delivery of one sometime between the autumn and Christmas. It's always good to have something to look forward to. I'll see how it performs before I decide whether to have it bedded or not.

Thanks for your input on this subject which is much appreciated.

Best wishes