Tikka T3 Trigger appears to be locked!

[maxtich]

My Tikka T 3 .223 is appearing to lock the trigger once loaded…
Every now and then it’s as if the safety is on and won’t fire..even when i try to move the safety the safety doesn’t move even if I haven’t put the safety on!
I have to try and cycle the bolt a few times to get it to fire.
Any ideas ..as I’ve had the bolt out and cleaned it all and found no dried grease or crud!

 

[scotch_egg]

Trigger spring set too light?

 

[maxtich]

Interesting..why would that cause the lockup..is it a default safety setting ?
It’s only started doing this recently!

 

[Ratsbadboy]

Interesting..why would that cause the lockup..is it a default safety setting ?
It’s only started doing this recently!

The gun's not cocking.

 

[Heym SR20]

Unless you know how a trigger works get this to a competent gunsmith to look at.

A trigger needs careful adjustment to prevent the gun from firing unless there is a deliberate squeeze on the trigger. A faulty trigger or cocking mechanism is definitely one for a competent smith to look over.

 

[Sika98k]

At a guess the screw at the front of the trigger unit has slacked off. It also holds the magazine spring in place. I seem to remember this issue in mine.

 

[ejg]

Rear action screw too long? clean trigger unit, lightly oil, check torque on m6 trigger screw.
edi

 

[scotch_egg]

Interesting..why would that cause the lockup..is it a default safety setting ?
It’s only started doing this recently!

If the trigger spring grub screw was adjusted too much by the grub screw being slackened off it may have moved over time because it isn’t gripping enough and moved under recoil. Thus when cycling the bolt it’s not holding on the seat properly. I have a TRG trigger with a worn sear this is different as a two stage trigger. It feels solid but can be pulled still, with a lot of force.

 

[Donkey Basher]

Not 100% sure if the same for T3 but on my M595s the screw holding the trigger to the action prevents the trigger weight screw from unwinding as there is no clearance between them.

Have you removed the trigger from the action before this started?

When you say it's locking up, has the bolt actually been cocked? - is the cocking indicator showing at the rear? Saying you have to cycle the bolt a few times suggests the bolt isn't being cocked on closing.

 

[20-250]

Is the screw holding the trigger unit to the underside of the action tight?

 

[jthyttin]

Not 100% sure if the same for T3 but on my M595s the screw holding the trigger to the action prevents the trigger weight screw from unwinding as there is no clearance between them.

With T3(x) in regular models where there is aforementioned magazine spring under the action/trigger screw, you usually cannot unwind the adjustment screw so much that the rifle becomes dangerous.

With T1x and CTR (no magazine spring) the action/trigger screw usually allows backing the adjustment screw too much, resulting in no or very low spring tension and dangerous rifle.

Better solution is either polish the contact surfaces or change to aftermarket trigger spring. If you do both, you might end up with too light trigger (IIRC I couldn't adjust the trigger above 600 grams, while completely safe that is too light for my taste).

 

[ashray]

HAVE you fitted an aftermarket bolt shroud ?

 

[maxtich]

No not fitted an after market shroud ..but have put in a lighter trigger spring.
I’m sure this is the cause of it..I don’t ever remember having a problem before that!
Thanks to all members for their kind advice

 

[Heym SR20]

No not fitted an after market shroud ..but have put in a lighter trigger spring.
I’m sure this is the cause of it..I don’t ever remember having a problem before that!
Thanks to all members for their kind advice

Put the original spring back and all will be well.

 

[maxtich]

Ok Gents.Just had a look..the bolt securing the trigger and mag was fine..I had the sensitivity on the weight too low.
Adjusted it to make it harder to pull..lock tighted no crud in trigger unit,all closed up and will field test it and report back.
Once again thanks to all the wonderful members for advice.

 

[long_range_rob]

Ok Gents.Just had a look..the bolt securing the trigger and mag was fine..I had the sensitivity on the weight too low.
Adjusted it to make it harder to pull..lock tighted no crud in trigger unit,all closed up and will field test it and report back.
Once again thanks to all the wonderful members for advice.

Don’t forget a slam test and a bump test.

 

[maxtich]

It wasn’t a safety issue as unsafe..
Just it didn’t fire rather than being the other way!
Done those already..all good on that test

 

[jthyttin]

It wasn’t a safety issue as unsafe..

Cannot say. You said the "lockup" happened every now and then.

Either the trigger was binding, and weak spring didn't push it to right position. Or when the rifle functioned correctly, the sear engagement was on the ragged edge and rifle might have fired if bumped etc.

If you didn't test trigger movement with the spring out of the unit, I'd still take it apart and test that nothing is binding. There might be some crud inside the unit preventing free movement, and create same or other problems in the future.

 

[ashray]

glad you are sorted.

 

[maxtich]

I’ve bump tested it and no issues,I’ll field test it once the weather gets favourable.
Once again ill re/iterate..it never fired on its own..More so locked up trigger preventing it firing !