Tikka 6.5 MAX

[welldone7]

I have finally got my 6.5 MAX put together. It's a work in progress but I just wanted to share what I've done so far. I started with a 6.5 Creedmoor T3X. I bought my reamer, brass and reloading dies from Sherman Wildcats. My barrel is a Bartlein 7.5 twist Sendero. I installed a bolt handle from Anarchy Outdoors. I had a wooden ball that was left over from a Blaser R8 project and it really matches the wooden stock well. The magazine in a M+ Tikka that is for 30-06 length round. It holds 3 rounds and feeds perfectly without any modifications.I hope to upgrade the bottom metal and put a lighter weight spring in the trigger. I really think the Tikka trigger is good, just needs to be a little lighter.
I chambered the factory CM barrel first and whacked it to 16.5", threaded it for my 9" TBAC. I was just curious to see what the velocity would be with a VERY short barrel MAX. For now, I have left the Bartlein a full 28 1/2" OAL Just to see what the velocity is. I'll probably cut it later to 26".
I used H 1000 powder, CCI 200 primers, Berger 135 grain Classic Hunters.
16.5 factory barrel. 28.5" Bartlein 69 grains averaged 3245 fps
67 grains.......2641 fps
70 grains......2832 fps
I not so sure that it's OK to shoot this round that fast thru a 16.5" barrel with a suppressor. Any advice on that?

 

[welldone7]

Pics

 

[Tidus56]

Nice! I have always thought about buying my own reamer just never have had a cartridge I thought I would use enough barrels to justify it. What made you decide to purchase your own reamer?

 

[welldone7]

I knew that I wanted to chamber my take off barrel and the Bartlein too. Sherman Wildcats rents reamers and it's for just for 2 weeks. My work/ family schedule is so full and unpredictable that I just didn't want to feel "rushed" chambering the barrels. I'll probably use the reamer for other projects.

 

[Tidus56]

That makes sense, Tikka is a medium action and I am sure great for a max chambering. How long is the Tikka mag? I noticed you still had plenty of room in the mag.

 

[jeffreyjwilliams]

I have finally got my 6.5 MAX put together. It's a work in progress but I just wanted to share what I've done so far. I started with a 6.5 Creedmoor T3X. I bought my reamer, brass and reloading dies from Sherman Wildcats. My barrel is a Bartlein 7.5 twist Sendero. I installed a bolt handle from Anarchy Outdoors. I had a wooden ball that was left over from a Blaser R8 project and it really matches the wooden stock well. The magazine in a M+ Tikka that is for 30-06 length round. It holds 3 rounds and feeds perfectly without any modifications.I hope to upgrade the bottom metal and put a lighter weight spring in the trigger. I really think the Tikka trigger is good, just needs to be a little lighter.
I chambered the factory CM barrel first and whacked it to 16.5", threaded it for my 9" TBAC. I was just curious to see what the velocity would be with a VERY short barrel MAX. For now, I have left the Bartlein a full 28 1/2" OAL Just to see what the velocity is. I'll probably cut it later to 26".
I used H 1000 powder, CCI 200 primers, Berger 135 grain Classic Hunters.
16.5 factory barrel. 28.5" Bartlein 69 grains averaged 3245 fps
67 grains.......2641 fps
70 grains......2832 fps
I not so sure that it's OK to shoot this round that fast thru a 16.5" barrel with a suppressor. Any advice on that?

Nice rifle!

 

[waspocrew]

Looks great! The bolt handle is a nice touch for sure.

As for using the Ultra 9 on your factory barrel - I'd call Thunderbeast. Their site mentions 18" minimum barrel length for 6.5 SAUM, so I'm thinking probably a "no-go", but never hurts to ask. Would hate to chance it on a great suppressor!

 

[welldone7]

The mag is a L, not M+. The OAL opening length is right at 3.375. One day, I'll probably try some of the long 156 grain Bergers. I haven't even figured out my cartridge length with the ogive touching the lands. When I get that far, I'll try to post some info. My plan is to keep pecking away at getting this rifle like I want it and then have it Cerakoted a Tungsten color.

 

[NDF]

Like your bolt knob, you can lighten that trigger yourself down to 1.5-2lbs before you go the spring route, by simply adjusting the Allen wrench screw on the front of trigger assembly if you haven't already, I rebarreled a 7mm to a 300wsm to be able to shoot the heavies in the tikka, coal is 3.130 currently .020 off the lands going out next wk to chrony and start load development, see how she handles, had 2 7mags and a 300wsm bbl so I thought why not, sharp looking meatstick ya got there

 

[HuntnPack]

Nice project. Like your cartridge choice.
I'm converting my PRC to a 6.5 MAX. Should have a New #4 Bartlein Carbon 21" 7.5 twist this month.
I'm hoping to run the 156 near 3000fps.
And see what a 124-127 mono will do.
Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[cartermtn]

Assuming you changed the bolt?

 

[welldone7]

I used the same bolt but bored out the counterbore to .540. I saw somewhere that the extractor needs a little shim put under it so that the brass doesn't have to push as much to get under it. Make sense? Anyway, I put about a .008 thick brass sliver under the extractor and all is well. I'm not one of those guys that shims, brads or flares stuff to make it work. It seems kinda lazy and like an afterthought. Anybody else have an idea ?

 

[jfloyd]

Like your bolt knob, you can lighten that trigger yourself down to 1.5-2lbs before you go the spring route, by simply adjusting the Allen wrench screw on the front of trigger assembly if you haven't already, I rebarreled a 7mm to a 300wsm to be able to shoot the heavies in the tikka, coal is 3.130 currently .020 off the lands going out next wk to chrony and start load development, see how she handles, had 2 7mags and a 300wsm bbl so I thought why not, sharp looking meatstick ya got there

If the adjustment doesn't get you what you are looking for, I put a spring in from MCARBO and couldn't be happier. That's the cheapest trigger I've ever done with the exception to polishing the trigger bars on my Glocks.