Tikka Bullpup

[Dr Spin]

My current project in progress - bullpup my old T3 308. The stock was from an AirArms S410 and I originally bought it to convert my Ruger 10/22 but thought if I'm doing all this work I want to do it on my 308. I have had to plug the middle stock screw hole and hole for the pressure gauge. Front stock screw inletting to be completed. These are all to be reshaped when I sand and revarnish the stock. Next jobs - fit a trigger and carbon fibre connecting rod to the original unit now housed in the stock, mount a forward picatinny rail and a cheek piece over the top of the picatinny rail. I normally use the gun with an Ase Utra moderator which I intend to replace with a lighter mod to maximise the handling. Any (sensible) suggestions welcome. Dr S

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

well that's something you don't see everyday. Well done Sir

Out of curiosity, what scope will you put on it or will you even use a scope? I'd be afraid for the scope hitting my face on discharge

Nice ACOG type optic for driven boar could be an idea.

 

[Woodsmoke]

Not my cup of tea in the slightest, but I have to admire the workmanship. Good skills!

One question I have is how does it handle from the respective of reloading? Is it easy enough to cycle the bolt with the rifle still in the shoulder?

 

[Orion]

Nice work.

Reduce the size of the stock and there are shades of the old Remington XP-100 pistol about it, albeit on steroids!

Always fancied a full-bore bullpup but as per Woodsmoke above, and in the absence of semi-autos, my reservation would be the operation of the bolt. I assume that you’re not endowed with more than the normal quota of joints in your operating arm, and aren’t closely related to a gibbon? So how easy is it to reload?

 

[Farmer_J]

Interesting work, I’m guessing it’ll be single shot?

 

[NigelM]

How do you make the trigger mechanism work? Have you managed to achieve a crisp break?

 

[nun_hunter]

Love the ingenuity

 

[Dr Spin]

Thanks for the compliments. I was thinking of using the rifle for hardwood stalking and maybe from the car into and out of the stalking ground so up range to 100yds max. The new scope rail will be mounted forward and above the barrel so same eye relief and no chance of scoping myself. I have a 1.5 - 6 x 42 Schmidt flashdot and an EOTech holo sight with a 3 x flip up magnifier both of which I have used for Driven Boar. Also maybe iron sights mounted on a picatinny like an AR15? Although I wont be using this for driven boar as unfortunately its single shot.
Trying to get the trigger linkage past both the action and a magazine would be a nightmare. Maybe I might swap it for an action with a blind magazine in future to make it multishot.
Blaser make their K95 which is a kipplauf lightweight mountain rifle which is single shot so they must think its a good idea. My bolt comes back past the butt plate so I'll have to drop it out of my shoulder to reload but I'll be grabbing a second round anyway. Because its designed as a air rifle stock the butt stops at the end of the action. Most fullbore bullpups have an extra 5 inches or so to allow the bolt to be worked but the idea of having the shortest overall length possible appealed to me. I have had the barrel shortened to 16 inches so its sits in the shoulder very well and is very easy to carry with an AR15 sling.

 

[Dr Spin]

How do you make the trigger mechanism work? Have you managed to achieve a crisp break?

The new trigger will be simply a trigger or push button (as Pfeiffer Waffen bullpup) linked through a channel in the stock by a carbon fibre rod to the original Tikka trigger. Since shots will be normally below 100yd and quick fire a low trigger weight is not a top priority. Bullpups (especially military versions) have notoriously bad triggers so I haven't got a lot to beat. I discounted buying a Steyr Aug because of that. ideally I would love to use a Daystate electronic trigger unit but expense and engineering ruled that one out. Ironically a new US company called MK engineering have just brought out a new Bullpup chassis and working with Timney have a custom trigger unit that can be set as low as 3 ounces!! See link MK2 Bullpup Chassis – MK Machining

 

[Ronin]

Use a blind box magazine (like Remington ADL but I’m not sure the Tikka would allow this type of mag feed (can’t recall if there are the lips either side of the action ( within the inlet to accommodate holding cartridges in place)

Remington and some clone actions do

Mauser 98 do

You could manufacture a linkage around the magazine using suitable stiff material but would need guide rails attaching to the action and probably barrel to accommodate them - plus have a hanger for the “slave trigger”

Crapahute and DTA managed to find solutions

Looks a very interesting project

 

[Dr Spin]

Not my cup of tea in the slightest, but I have to admire the workmanship. Good skills!

One question I have is how does it handle from the respective of reloading? Is it easy enough to cycle the bolt with the rifle still in the shoulder?

The stock I bought from BAR. They are made by a yank called Craftsman Vit and you get a buttplate , combined trigger/scope rail and mount and trigger linkage included. I don't think I will be using all of that. If you look at the link I have put on another reply - MK Engineering they make a reach forward bolt handle adaptor that allows cycling of the action in the shoulder for their bullpup. As I've said I will drop it out of my shoulder, place a new round in and try again.

 

[Rowey]

Owned a few Tikkas mate and still do but never seen anything like that! Nice work

 

[Dr Spin]

Use a blind box magazine (like Remington ADL but I’m not sure the Tikka would allow this type of mag feed (can’t recall if there are the lips either side of the action ( within the inlet to accommodate holding cartridges in place)

Remington and some clone actions do

Mauser 98 do

You could manufacture a linkage around the magazine using suitable stiff material but would need guide rails attaching to the action and probably barrel to accommodate them - plus have a hanger for the “slave trigger”

Crapahute and DTA managed to find solutions

Looks a very interesting project

Thanks for that Ronin. I had originally ordered a rifle from Crapahute but the poor guy suffered ill health and I didn't get the order. Two stalkers I knew both went to France and got rifles from him and were very happy with them. The Dutch, Israeli and French armies seem happy enough with Bullpups and even some of our soldiers. Here is the kit that came with my stock. The rail is a 11mm rail not a picatinny/weaver. This is designed to be fitted to the action first and then placed in the stock. very clever! I will be using some of the stuff and making some of my own.

 

[Dr Spin]

Nice work.

Reduce the size of the stock and there are shades of the old Remington XP-100 pistol about it, albeit on steroids!

Always fancied a full-bore bullpup but as per Woodsmoke above, and in the absence of semi-autos, my reservation would be the operation of the bolt. I assume that you’re not endowed with more than the normal quota of joints in your operating arm, and aren’t closely related to a gibbon? So how easy is it to reload?

I can cycle it no problem by reaching over the top with my left hand to work the bolt. Even some semiautos in the USA are cocked and cleared like that. Its not a bother for me as mine is single action. First time for me for single action so might concentrate my mind even more on the shot. MK Engineering sell a reach forward bolt handle adaptor that looks very clever. $25 I think it might be a bit more pricey over here!

 

[Dr Spin]

Interesting work, I’m guessing it’ll be single shot?

Yeah maybe go for a multishot in the future?

 

[Ronin]

Ive worked on a few Crapahute before, one of my friends knows Jean Baptiste very well.

He used a captive rod arrangement with "sliders" welded to the action and a sub frame (on Mauser 98's), have to say a little agricultural in design and this was the part that required repair due to stress fracture on two rifles

The DTA rifles I have seen have a more sophisticated rod arrangement creating a superb trigger feel (especially on the MK11 design)

The rods run in the chassis on the DTA, you could put bronze or similar "sliders" in the stock - self lubricating them...and run stiff thin steel or I guess carbon fibre similar to the servo actuator rods used in model building

 

[Dr Spin]

I was thinking of carbon fibre for stiffness and weight and like you say RC linkages which there are numerous types. An electronic trigger like Daystate would be easier to run the cable but very hard to set up I think. The new bullpup I have been most impressed with is the MK Engineering with Timney custom trigger and reach forward lever.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0RRb-_fCKM






On YouTube Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons takes umpteen guns to bits and explains their design. Very interesting especially with Bullpups. Goes into the linkages and trigger pulls. he's not too happy with the SA80 - either version! Forgotten Weapons

 

[Dr Spin]

Update on construction. Made an aluminium pivot arm and attached it to the trigger unit trying to keep the connecting rod as near to the bottom of the action as possible. Designed so that the carbon fibre connecting rod pulls and moves forward to work the trigger rather than pushes so it removes any tendency to bend. The pivot arm dimensions are also designed to try and keep the trigger pull weight and travel as near to the original as possible. A small cheek riser has been added I am trying to keep my sight line as low as possible to stop the scope being mounted too high and maximise point blank range.
The front rail support will have to modified for a new trigger and also a mounting bracket for the rear of the rail made to connect with the Tikkas original scope rail. Feels very light and very easy to handle something I could carry round stalking for hours - which was the original idea.

 

[David T]

Get the feeling that the original idea was something to keep idle hands busy ! Beautiful workmanship though and I look forward to the next update.

D

 

[User00003]

Can’t help wondering,
What is the point? No offense meant