Re-Chambering a Factory Tikka Barrel

[MTLIVIN]

I have a Tikka factory 6.5 Creed barrel I'm considering re-chambering to 6.5x284. I don't think there would be any issues with chamber size that would require a setback of the barrel.

When I posed this question to a gunsmith they recommended I do not try this. They said any inconsistency with lining up to the bore on a factory barrel could cause poor results in accuracy. Does anyone on here have experience with this? I would expect this is done quite a bit, but maybe I'm wrong? I already have the barrel off so no worries there w these tight buggers.

 

[Tiny Tim]

It can be a crap shoot. Your gunsmith is likely speaking from experience (and may be clouded by other action manufacturers with looser tolerances). If it shoots well now, there is a good chance it will shoot well after rechambering. Its a chance you have to be willing to take.

Question is, what is the price difference between rechambering and a prefit in your caliber of choice that only requires installation and a headspace check?

 

[FEENIX]

I have a Tikka factory 6.5 Creed barrel I'm considering re-chambering to 6.5x284. I don't think there would be any issues with chamber size that would require a setback of the barrel.

When I posed this question to a gunsmith they recommended I do not try this. They said any inconsistency with lining up to the bore on a factory barrel could cause poor results in accuracy. Does anyone on here have experience with this? I would expect this is done quite a bit, but maybe I'm wrong? I already have the barrel off so no worries there w these tight buggers.

This depends highly on who is doing the work. A reputable and experienced gunsmith with the right equipment/tooling should not have any issues with it unless the barrel is way out of tolerance.

I did something similar to yours. I had a .30-06 rechambered to .30 Gibbs. Good luck!

Question is, what is the price difference between rechambering and a prefit in your caliber of choice that only requires installation and a headspace check?

It has been a while (2020), but it cost me $250 to have a factory Kimber 84L Hunter in .30-06 re-chambered to .30 Gibbs, including muzzle threading, bead blasting, and installation of MB.

Pre-fit barrels are $450 and up, depending on the source and options.

 

[Highvoltage]

What is your reasoning behind the rechamber? For what it is worth, if your a hand loader you can load rl26 and maybe a few other powders and be very close to the same performance. I was able to get 3000 with a 143eldx, rl26 and a 26" barrel. I know the tikkas are 24" but it might be not be worth the headache to gain minimal gains. For the cost of a rechamber I think you would be ahead calling preferred barrel and getting a shouldered prefit for a little bit more money. You can get it however you want Best wishes

 

[Sockeye66]

This is the same project I've been mulling over for several years, partly because I already have a 6.5/284 with plenty of brass, dies, etc., and partly because the Tikka SL is so easy to pack around. That said, the half dozen deer and Antelope I've taken or have witnessed taken with that rifle have all been taken cleanly with no extra horsepower needed at ranges to 400+ yards. I simply just like the cool factor and performance of the 6.5/284. If you go ahead with the project keep us posted, wouldn't take much for me to follow suit.

 

[med358-boise]

I have had 5 barrels re-chambered, contemplated another 5 or 6 more, know probably 1/2 dozen gunsmiths across the country quite well and I have never heard any of them mention this issue. They all shot better than the original chambering.

 

[MTLIVIN]

Thanks for the replies. I already have a 6.5x284 and w this 24" barrel it could be worth the rechamber. I have an excellent load of 143eldx w RL17 @ 2800, 1/4 MOA, will play with RL26 soon. Setting this gun up for my lightweight backcountry rig and I often have high winds in these areas with the potential for long shots. This is mostly for mule deer & black bear, but the extra energy on impact is preferred when I also have an elk tag. It's all cutting hairs, but how many thing in your gun safe did you truly need?

A second smith also declined to do this for me today as he couldn't guarantee the results, so I will prob play w loads for the Creed a bit and order a prefit if I want to step up.

 

[MTLIVIN]

What is your reasoning behind the rechamber? For what it is worth, if your a hand loader you can load rl26 and maybe a few other powders and be very close to the same performance. I was able to get 3000 with a 143eldx, rl26 and a 26" barrel. I know the tikkas are 24" but it might be not be worth the headache to gain minimal gains. For the cost of a rechamber I think you would be ahead calling preferred barrel and getting a shouldered prefit for a little bit more money. You can get it however you want Best wishes

That's impressive, RL26 in my 6.5x284 26" barrel can push 156 bergers to 3100 fps. It does wonders. That gun is just heavier than I want for thIs purpose.

 

[AZShooter]

I rechamber takeoff barrels all the time. I have never had one fail to shoot accurately.

The only thing I can think of why a gunsmith would not want to do it is potential chatter. One of the last barrels I had done before I began my own work was to make a 358 RCM with a new reamer I bought. The gunsmith's attempt at opening up a 358 win failed with excessive chatter.

I believe he caused the issue: He used a tailstock with a chuck so the reamer was rigid which I believe was one of the issues.

I own a lathe and a floating reamer holder. Recently rechambered a SS Tikka in 25-06 to 257 Weatherby. I had a Ruger M77 tang safety which uses the same thread as Tikka. I did have to shorten the shank for the Ruger action, then ran in the reamer and headspaced it.

Other rechamber jobs:
3 243s to 6-284
1 300 win mag to 300 RUM
1 7-08 to 284 win
1 338 win mag to 338-375 Ruger
1 338 win mag to 338 RUM

It is great entertainment and doing it this way saves a ton of money

 

[nksmfamjp]

I don't really get it. I've called several gunsmiths on this very item. I had a guy rechamber a 458 win mag to 458 Lott….no problem.

Any other rechamber request I've had was always met with "just buy a barrel." I suppose it must be experienced based, but not sure.

If a rechamber or new barrel was shooting bad, how would I ever blame the gunsmith anyways? …but people do. There are 4+ main components in shooting good: barrel, chamber job, shooter, ammo. Unless I possess some magic, how do I blame the gunsmith anyways?

Still, most refuse to recut a factory barrel in any way, except maybe recrowning.

Contact Unknown Munitions…..they may do this work on Tikkas.

 

[Matt_C]

Thanks for the replies. I already have a 6.5x284 and w this 24" barrel it could be worth the rechamber. I have an excellent load of 143eldx w RL17 @ 2800, 1/4 MOA, will play with RL26 soon. Setting this gun up for my lightweight backcountry rig and I often have high winds in these areas with the potential for long shots. This is mostly for mule deer & black bear, but the extra energy on impact is preferred when I also have an elk tag. It's all cutting hairs, but how many thing in your gun safe did you truly need?

A second smith also declined to do this for me today as he couldn't guarantee the results, so I will prob play w loads for the Creed a bit and order a prefit if I want to step up.

The advantage to having it rechambered in 6.5-284 is IF that barrel is an original Tikka/Sako/Beretta barrel is it's hammer forged. That in and of it's self is a good determining factor.

 

[Darkker]

AZShooter gave you all the keys to the kingdom, if you only read it.

Searching for "Tikka" parts and pre-fit parts does START at $450, and go up from there. But searching for interchangable parts, they are half the cost.

Every center-fire, bolt action Ruger; is 1*20tpi.
So when Midway was blowing-out Proof barrels for the RPR last year for $150, all the "Tikka" worshippers were silently sitting at home pouting. The rest of us, bought a couple barrels, bought a couple Patriot Valley nuts, ground off the shoulder; and made our Tikka/Rugers into another caliber.

 

[MTLIVIN]

Yes it's the original. Shoots great too, so if anyone on here knows of a smith they'd recommend sending this barrel to let me know (it's already removed from action). Price wise it might not be worth the effort, but I won't know until I have a quote.