Cutting down a tikka superlite 30-06

[Elkfitness]

Hey all.

Has anyone cut down a superlite in 30-06? I’ve searched and have found a few threads but wanted to start fresh. I think the barrel is 22.4” and I was thinking about taking off 2-4”. I’m not planning to add a suppressor. Just wanting the short barrel. I’m leaning towards taking it to 20”.

If you’ve cut it down, what speeds are you getting with 150/165/168gr bullets. I only shoot copper’s out of my rifles, so use either the trophy copper or the Barnes ttsx.


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[Capt_Craig]

If you cut it back to 20” youll be into the fluted part of the barrel.

 

[Bankbum]

You only have maybe 1 1/2" of material you can remove without cutting into the flutes.

 

[Elkfitness]

Yep, on closer look, it looks like I can only go back 1 1/4” . Hmmm


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[wildcat33]

Pretty sure that barrel is going to be 24" from factory.

Either way, I'd cut it down to an inch or so before the fluting without hesitation, if there was the extra material to do so.

 

[eightyeight mag]

tikka 30-06 is 22"

 

[Lonewolf72]

You will be limited by the flutes with your Tikka. That is why all future Tikka purchases for me will have standard barrels, so that I can cut to length as I please.

Cutting down the old 30-06 doesn't seem too popular. That said, I have a CZ 557 Sporter in 30-06 that came from the factory with a Manners stock and a factory 1-10 twist 20" barrel. It is very handy, with the 3-9x Trijicon Accupoint scope, and I can't wait to hunt with it this fall. Per the previous owner, I'll be using the 168 TTSX over 55.0gr of H4350. Will you be suppressing your Tikka? That is next for my CZ....

 

[willfrye027]

I’ve got a standard 30-06 tikka that I’m thinking of cutting down as well. How short is too short? Probably not the ideal caliber to cut short but it’s what I have..

 

[Wapiti1]

You can cut into the flutes, it just looks like hell.

Too short on a 30-06, to me, is less than 20". Under that and the case capacity is getting out of proportion with the amount of burn time the barrel provides. Not that you can't do it, but I think at that point it's better to trade out for a .308.

Jeremy

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Rough estimate is 25 fps per inch. However, every rifle is different.

1) 308 Win with a 20" barrel shooting commercial 178 gr ELD-X: 2518 FPS. Published is 2600 fps from a 24" barrel.
2) One of my 22" barrel 6.5 CMs shoots commercial 143 gr ELD-X 26 fps faster than the published (24"). That same 6.5 CM shoots commercial 147 gr ELD-M 10 fps slower than the published (24").

 

[coiloil37]

I’ve found velocity loss depends on the powder and some lose more then others. My go to load is 52 grains imr 4064 over a 165 accubond or 168 ttsx and from a 24” barrel I’ve seen anywhere from 2970 to 3020 FPS from that load. I had a 760 carbine with an 18” barrel that would spit them out at 2850 FPS. Now, different rifles but I was always happy with that velocity from such a short barrel. Most loads I tried in the carbine were much slower.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

The superlites are cool but I’m buying regular lites from now on for this reason.

 

[Elkfitness]

I won’t be suppressing it. 20” is what I would go to if I could, but I think I’m stuck with the length. I do t want to go to the hassle of just cutting an inch or so off in order to not get into the flutes. I had a cz550fs in 30-06 and it was 20” and was just right. Sold it because the wood didn’t really work for me but I loved the look. That rifle in a synthetic stock would be great. I did look into an mpi custom stock for it, but it was too pricey....


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[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Don't recall if you already have the Tikka in 30-06 or not but here are a couple that are available with a 20" barrel:
CZ 557
Ruger Guide Gun

 

[Elkfitness]

I have the rifle already. It’s been a safe queen since I got it. I tend to grab my nosler m48 in 300 win mag when it’s go time. I’ve got all these rifles sitting around it, but it keeps getting the nod


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[Lonewolf72]

There is a 20" CZ 557 Sporter with a Manners stock in 30-06 on Gunbroker for a great price...would quickly solve your problem if you like CZ rifles