Found a Tikka M55 - now 6BR

[B4408]

Well I have been looking for an old Tikka for a few months on line. Missed out on a couple but no hurry as it was for a project. So was heading down to Newcastle yesterday and called in at the gunshop for a look. Young bloke asks if I want help, "yeah, looking for an old Tikka M55".
He replies "Think we have one on the rack". I start paying attention, amazed he even knows what I am referring too. Probably 15 years older than him.
Me "Wanting a 22/250".
"Yeah think it is". He says as he walks over to the racks.
I go WTF and quickly keep up, thinking it will be a well worn farmers rifle.
As he unthreads the security cable from the used guns I spy a dark grimey stock but good blueing on the metal work. Ummm, really paying attention now.
He hands me the rifle. A bit confused, blueing is immaculate stock well oiled and grimey. Roll it over, mag looks new, trigger and guard look new, pull out the bolt. Bolt face perfect, ejector still has blueing on the claw. Floor plate of mag has not worn through blueing. All the sharp edges on the metal work show no wear. Look down the barrel, bit of a coal mine.
Start looking closer at the stock. Checkering perfect and sharp, no dings but has had some oil rubbed in but not excessive.
I'm a bit bewildered how a 30+ years old rifle can be so good.
I comment that barrel looks stuffed and to high a price. Young guy says "22/250s do that, talk to the boss about price".

So I wondered around the shop for five minutes. Ended up at the counter the owner says g'day. Make him an offer, have a PTA in my pocket. Walk out with a new old Tikka.

After a busy morning today finally get to give it a clean and have a good look this arvo. Wow. All I can say is it is all but as new. Gave the barrel a good scrub and clean and it seems to match the rest of the rifle. A bit of a mark where the rear sight is removed and some old Loctite on the dovetail is the only defect on the metal.

M55

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bolt and mag

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checkering

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forend

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with a Zeiss 4-14x44

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So found some rings and put a Zeiss 4-14x44 from the safe on it. Need to get some of my 22/250 ammo from my No1 and seat the projectiles a bit deeper to fit the mag. Hope the weather is good tomorrow as I am going to shoot the donor.
Grinning from ear to ear this evening.

Bruce

[mick_762]

Thats a bloody nice looking pick up there Bruce.
Magazine looks to not even have cycled 5 rounds!

[Ol 55]

Nice one Bruce looks the goods, next question what are you building?
Gary

[Camel]

Told you you would eventually stumble on one. That looks almost too good to pull apart. 6BR

[B4408]

Thinking of a 6BR or dasher or ....
May be too good to pull apart but there is another for sale without a bolt. So I now have a bolt I could use . Is that a switch bolt rifle.
Trigger is so easy to adjust and no creep.
Never wanted a 22/250 and now have two
Raining this morning, hope it clears for a while.

Bruce

[Branxhunter]

I think you scored well there Bruce, should make a great basis for you project.

They rimfire mounts? Do those old Tikkas have the variable width dovetail like Sakos? I might have a Hillver bridge mount to suit. Or I might have sold it to Camel There are a few odds and ends in the parts - it's a bit hard to keep track.....

Marcus

[kickinback]

Thinking of a 6BR or dasher or ....
May be too good to pull apart but there is another for sale without a bolt. So I now have a bolt I could use . Is that a switch bolt rifle.
Trigger is so easy to adjust and no creep.
Never wanted a 22/250 and now have two
Raining this morning, hope it clears for a while.

Bruce

I have a bolt, magazine and floorplate...........

PS

the m55 and 65’s have the best factory adjustable trigger ever made.


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[Camel]

Straight dovetail, no taper like their poorer cousins Sako. I think you did sent one to me Marcus, but it may have been opened up to fit the 7/8th dovetail on one of my Brno 601s, I don't know as the bloke I sent them to to get opened up hasn't contacted me he posted just above this one. /\ Have you opened them up yet Glen, if not, maybe Bruce might like one for his new rifle, Bruce ??

[DSD]

Thinking of a 6BR or dasher or ....
May be too good to pull apart but there is another for sale without a bolt. So I now have a bolt I could use . Is that a switch bolt rifle.
Trigger is so easy to adjust and no creep.
Never wanted a 22/250 and now have two
Raining this morning, hope it clears for a while.

Bruce

I have a bolt, magazine and floorplate...........

PS

the m55 and 65’s have the best factory adjustable trigger ever made.


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Never had a tikka but that is a big call, it would need to be impressive to beat my anschutz triggers

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[B4408]

Branxhunter, I took some mounts off an old air rifle to use till I can get something better. Dovetail is same as CZ 527, 16mm across top.

Kicken, what are you going to do with the parts? May be intersested to have some spare parts.

DSD, you may be right but for a factory rifle it is very impressive and one screw in the mag well to adjust. Don't even need to take out of stock.

Anyone with parts I would be interested to hear about them.

Had a couple of shots today but stopped due to rain and some tight brass so only a few shots. Will need to prep some brass to suit it.

Bruce

[Tony Z]

If you decide to keep it as a 22/250, there is no better powder for it in the 50 to 60 grain bullet range than CFE 223. I have been using it for a fair while in a rifle that was prone to be problematic. CFE 223 transformed it with un matched accuracy and velocity starting where others powders peaked. All done with less pressure, a real bonus with this cartridge as it is prone to stress brass making it tight to close the bolt on. A trait of tapered cases.

[B4408]

Tony, will keep that in mind. Currently using 35gn of 8208 behind a 55gn super roo and getting 3600 from my Ruger No1. Just starting to flatten the primers.
The brass from the No1 is a bit big above the case head for the Tikka.
Have some once fired Lapua brass I will prep and load.
Still wanting to do a 6BR plinker varminter but it may have to wait a while or buy another donor .

Bruce

[Branxhunter]

Bruce, I didn’t find the bridge mount but did find these:




Marcus


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[B4408]

Marcus, they look good. Better send them up and I'll send some $ your way.

Bruce

[Camel]

Bruce, I would grab this to go with your new found gem, if you dont have one already that is.

https://www.usedguns.com.au/Product.aspx?p=137785