Tikka T3 Stainless Lite 204 Floating Barrel

[Roebuck243]

I've got a Tikka T3 plastic stock 204 brand new I'm finding the barrel isn't free floating and after 3 shots my groups open up .
The first 3 are half decent about .5 inch .
I realise that Tikka make the rifle with a couple of Lugs on the stock touching the barrel approx 4-5 inch from action . When I run paper down it catches.
Would I have any benefit getting rid of the 2 lugs ? As the rifle seams to heat up after 3-5 shots could these lugs be the cause . It seems strange Tikka put these in does anyone know why ???

[Bill K]

Most likely like Remington did on some models. I have always just taken some sand paper and removed them. Allow the barrel to fully free float, without the pressure points. Seems to always help. You might try it on your rifle. Bill K

[Storeyteller]

The T3 Lite have a sporter barrel? If so just let it cool down before shooting again cause 3 shots is probably all your gonna get. I've free floated and glass bedded sporters every which way, but when the barrel gets hot ya gotta let it cool. I have a sporter bbl 243 I use as a deer rifle that is only good for shooting 2 at a time shooting groups.

[Roebuck243]

Hi thanks for reply ,as I thought probably not worth it .
It does shoot well as most Tika's do. I didn't want to mess with it really to be honest but only if it was well worth it. I'll have to be more patient I think .

[sakofan]

My mate recently bought the same rifle in 223.
Groups were poor so he free floated the barrel and it shoots great now.

[Spar]

If it's not broke don't fix it... it's a T3 lite mate, shooting half inch is good and it's going to heat up after 5 or 10 rounds guaranteed cause it's a lite not a varmit. My t3 lite 204 shoots 1/3 inch at 100m consistently without having touched anything but the trigger.

[tpcollins]

I have the Tikka T3 Lite and I can slide a dollar bill between the stock and barrel all the way down to the action. I'll have to see what it does after shooting it a few times in a row.