TIKKA T3 .223 Magazine Worn Out after less 200 rounds

[JTO]

Do certain makes of cases wear the lips more than other makes, perhaps?

 

[royr]

Good Morning JTO,
Dom, at Riflemags.co.uk, indicated that a 5-round magazine for the 223 & 308 was being contemplated for production, but checking the website it is not yet available. I’ve e-mailed Dom asking on progress.
As to cases causing wear? I’ve been using Hornardy SuperPerformance 40gn, Sako Arrowhead 50gn and Winchester BST 55gn. I think that’s a fair mix.
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Good Morning Bogmoor,
Please see info to JTO above.
For re-loaders the aluminium Riflemag.223 has an accommodating COAL of 66mm, approx 2.6inches.
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Good Morning An Du Ru Fox,
Spot on with your web link.
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Good Morning Lewis T3,
Pleased that you have mentioned this fix of using 4-round magazine.
My issue is that the supplied 6-round .223 magazine suffers premature wear and is unfit for purpose, requires a re-design with the possibility of metal rails. Although I would rather use the Riflemags magazine, I’ll keep on using the supplied T3 replacements hoping someone at Tikka/Sako will eventually take notice, as I keep sending them back, and remedy the situation. Because the T3 magazine is, in my opinion, unfit for purpose I had to spend extra money, just as you have done, and purchase a “better” magazine. We should not have to do this!

Best Regards
Roy
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[Lewis T3]

Agreed Roy, such a shame as the rifles are great but the magazine issue has cost me nearly £100 to resolve. I'll be very interested in an aluminium replacement if it's ever made.

 

[royr]

Good Afternoon Gents,
INFO'.
Had a positive response from Dom at Riflemags regarding the T3 Aluminium Magazines with more calibres being accommodated:--
"We're expecting them April/May all being well, .223, .308, 30-06 and 6.5x55 and all their related case families."

Best regards
Roy

 

[User00033]

I had exactly the same problem with the polymer mag in 223 and the Super Varmint after about 300 rounds. I'm pretty sure I've already written about it on this forum somewhere.

I successfully cured it by the clamping and heating trick with six dummy rounds loaded. But I bought a aluminium 10 shot mag from David Waters in Aussie anyway and haven't looked back since. It is the gen 3 version with the longer OAL. It's a beautiful piece of work. And the extra rounds are extremely useful when in the thick of it with the hares and goats.

However I also contacted Beretta in Australia who are the importers of Tikka where I bought my T3s. Despite now being back in New Zealand they agreed to replace the original polymer mag no quibble. Brilliant response. Interestingly enough the dealer said no chance and good luck and washed his hands of it so just goes to show what a direct approach can achieve if you ask nicely.

 

[Crow Man]

Tikka T3 Magazines
Try this link, I had the same problem, bought the above very pleased.

 

[royr]

Update:-
Good afternoon Gents. Well, after approximately 1200 rounds of .223 used, I'm now on my 5th replacement T3 magazine.
There seems to be no inclination from Tikka to correct these faulty magazines, that I believe are not fit for purpose.
Have voiced/ e-mailed my concerns and disappointment with importers GMK, who have replaced the magazines without delay - but what will happen when the warranty on the T3 expires?
Thankfully Riflemags have robust aluminium magazines which I've already purchased and use when awaiting delivery of the replacement Tikka magazines.

Regards
Roy

 

[Heym SR20]

Tikkas were good rifles and good value for money. But given their price there are now as good if not better rifles for a lot less money.

 

[wraith]

had a t3 in 222 243 and now in 204 243 had over 5000 rounds no problem 222 over2000 and my new 204 has had 500 without problem now if i can just pick this weeks lottery numbers tikkas were good rifles hmm they are very very good rifles acurate dependable rugged what more can i ask for il have another in 300 win mag thanks

 

[ashray]

royr,interesting you said in an earlier post you still had 2.5 years warranty left.i have two super varmints one bought in 2016 and one 2017 both have a two year warranty!i also have a magazine problem but was told by rfd that its fair wear and tear!

 

[royr]

Good Morning Banus,
My contact at GMK is a guy called Bill Moore:- bmoore@gmk.co.uk. He has been extremely helpful and promptly sent the replacement magazines to my RFD, Wilsons & Wilsons, when I've emailed him about another magazine failure.
Suggest you give him a call and explain your circumstance is similar to mine, hopefully you'll get the magazines replaced under warranty. The greater number of people that notify GMK / Tikka about this problem then the better chance they'll do something constructive about it to resolve these failings of the polymer magazines.
As some people here have stated, 5000 rounds have been successfully used in one magazine - I'd very much welcome that situation and eliminate all this hassle - but with the current Tikka T3 polymer magazines I'm being supplied with, I'd require about 20 replacement magazines to sequence 5000 rounds and at current prices, costing over £1100!

Let's face it these Tikka T3 magazines I'm receiving are not particularly cheap (£56), I expected better longevity, at least 5000 plus rounds.

Best regards
Roy

 

[JTO]

had a t3 in 222 243 and now in 204 243 had over 5000 rounds no problem 222 over2000 and my new 204 has had 500 without problem

What make are the cases?

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Depending on which plastic compound they are made from metal plating the plastic might be an option. I did a lot of this work while troubleshooting the supplier on the launch of the new Phantom at Rolls Royce last year.

 

[ChesterP]

royr,interesting you said in an earlier post you still had 2.5 years warranty left.i have two super varmints one bought in 2016 and one 2017 both have a two year warranty!i also have a magazine problem but was told by rfd that its fair wear and tear!

He can say what he likes. The warranty should cover this. I'd be straight on the phone to GMK.

 

[wraith]

What make are the cases?

243 were sako 222 sako 204 hornaday hope that helps all reloaded after first firing

 

[JTO]

243 were sako 222 sako 204 hornaday hope that helps all reloaded after first firing

Would be interesting to know the makes used by the people who are getting short magazine life.

 

[walshie]

I've had a different problem with my Tikka 223 mag pretty much from new. Sometimes it holds 4 rounds, other times only 3. Doesn't affect how it works though, so not bothered changing it.

 

[RCS Deer Management]

I have 2 t3s, one is on its second barrel and the other is on its 3rd. Both of my mags have had over 10000 rounds through them and neither is even slightly worn!

 

[ejg]

It does sound a bit funny, one does hear about a T3 mag been worn or fails in some way but not often. I have not seen a broken one or been given one to look at. We get a few T3's in through the shop, even very well used ones and never saw a bad mag. Our own 223 has many hundred rounds through it also. Many military rifles now use polymer mags and seem almost more robust than metal. In my previous life I helped customers choose and test polymer materials for certain applications, in some cases special plastics would way outperform metals when it came to wear behaviour especially without good lubrication.
edi

 

[8x57]

I've seen a couple of duff magazines on T3 rifles, sometimes brand new rifles straight out of the box. I'm curious is it possible that there could occasionally be something wrong with the mix of the polymer, or is it perhaps the moulding isn't quite right sometimes?