If it were me doing the tinkering and I'm a tinkeritus addict!
Thinking through it a bit, the amount taken off of the barrel would have to exactly match recoil lug thickness to keep from having to tinker w/head space.....
But what if the markings on the barrel don't line up as with before the recoil lug insertion? That would drive me nuts.......
Head spacing should be done with a reamer from the chamber end not as with a savage...... Otherwise it turn, space, turn space, turn space until one ends up with too little head space then ya have to go to the reamer anyway......
It would most probably be an unknown path that is being taken with only hoped for results. When I take that path the project usually ends up in the trash bin.
I know nothing about the Tikka, the floating recoil lug, or if the face of the receiver will need to be trued also. But I do know a lot about tinkerin'.
I really don't think it would be worth the effort and expense unless your rifle shoots like a shotgun.
But hey, if you really want it done send it this way and I'll give it a go. I just did my first real project on my ancient once through a shop fire Chinese mill! I cut a groove across a scope base just yesterday to fit a Tasco Red Dot sight on a 10/22.
I'm now ready for the next project w/my brand new Harbor Freight Mini Lathe. I think with a proper size mallet I can get the barrel shank into the spindle and this sounds like a good one.
