Tikka M595 Custom in 223AI
Action: Stock Tikka action, as perfection cannot be improved upon. All tolerances were measured in a climate and humidity controlled laboratory specifically designed for high tolerance and high specification. All measurements were confirmed to .001”, while flat surfaces on the action were confirmed to .0001”
Barrel: Barrel is a hand cut Krieger 1 in 7.5 twist, Tikka Master Sporter custom contour, from a solid bar of Precipitation Hardened Martensitic Stainless Steel 17-4PH . Upon completion at Krieger, the barrel was sent to Kenny Powers, where it was hand lapped 1100 times. Once completed the barrel was then sent for Cryogenic treatment.
The barrel was now ready for threading and chambering. Threads were cut to a measured .001” tolerance to meet the specifications of the action. The reamer is from Charles Manson, and was custom made to our specifications from a solid billet of Adamantium alloy. Adamantium was chosen for its superior cutting properties. An 11.33 degree reverse target crown was cut into the barrel. Upon completion of the machine work, the barrel was then installed on the action. The barrelled action was then sent off for black nitride coating. Once completed, the assembly was again sent for Cryogenic treatment. It should be noted that all screws on the action were reverse threaded, and that a custom thread pitch was required due to the materials involved.
Stock: Stock material is Sahara Oak from Southern Morocco. Selected for its hardness and grain quality. The stock was then duplicated from the original Master Sporter stock, and finished. The stock was now ready for pillar bedding. Pillars were machined from the same material as the action, as to allow for the proper rate of expansion and contraction under adverse firing conditions, and extreme swings in ambient temperatures. The pillars were then placed in the wood stock and ready for bedding. Given the properties of both the action and the wood stock, a High Temperature Silicon Impregnated Two Stage Epoxy Grout was used as bedding compound. Those of you familiar with this material will recognize it as the same product that was used to hold the tiles on the exterior of the Space Shuttle. Manitoba Mink Oil was used as a release agent, as it is the best product we have for this application.
Trigger Assembly/Bottom Metal: A custom tuned Sako trigger, set to 13.366 ounces, was selected for its ease of adjustment, zero creep and zero over travel capabilities. An optional custom trigger shoe was manufactured using Pigmy Mammoth Tusk from Santa Rosa Island, California. This material is far denser and easier to work with than Russian Mammoth Tusk. Standard Tikka bottom metal was used, as again, it is very difficult to improve upon perfection. Magazine length was altered to allow the 2.500” overall length cartridge to be used.
Scope/Rings: Custom Rings were ordered from Tally Ho, and again machined from the same material as the action, in order to compensate for any thermal and other atmospheric conditions that could cause movement. Screws were again reverse threaded and the same special pitch was used. Upon installation on the action, the 30mm rings were then machine lapped using our proprietary mixture of Manitoba Mink Oil and Fine Aztec Pumice. We have found through extensive research that Manitoba Mink Oil is vastly superior to other lubricants given its significantly higher modulus of elasticity. When mixed with the Aztec Pumice, it creates a high speed, low drag compound that allows the rings to be lapped to incredibly low tolerances.
The scope selected was custom built for us at the Loopold Laboratories. Given the specifications, it was far beyond the capabilities of the Custom Shop. A standard VX-III with B and C Varmint Reticle was chosen as the base model. Improvements started with the gas. Nitron Boron Noble Gas from Chernobyl was chosen for its excellent light transmission capabilities. The scope was then lead lined, and custom lenses hand ground in Germany from Scottish lead crystal were installed. Special asbestos seals were also developed, and installed under the M1 turrets. This was required to keep the radioactive gas contained within the scope, as well as keeping radiation exposure at a minimum. Our research tells us the levels are about the same as a sustained x-ray for the duration of the shooting session.
Barrel Break In: The barrel was given a thorough cleaning using 105 Octane Leaded Sunocco gasoline and Peruvian Yak Hair barrel mops. Once this procedure was completed, we used the old formula Ultra Bore Coat. Following the instructions, we seasoned the bore with 100 rounds of Molybdenum coated bullets. Next up we used a proprietary mixture of corn meal and prune juice, along with the Peruvian Yak Hair barrel mops to buff the Molybdenum to a very even finish. The important step here is to make sure that the prunes used are from Brazil. We only select the freshest Brazilian Plumbs available to make our prunes, which we then juice by hand, the old fashioned way, in order to make our Molybdenum buffing compound. Over the counter corn meal is fine. After this we fired an entire kit of David Rubadubs Final Finish Bullets through the barrel. Only after these painstaking steps are made, do we consider a barrel properly broken.
Accessories: We take our accessories very seriously here, as we do with the rest of the build. We now have a complete rifle, but are missing those touches that are sure to impress when you take your rifle to the range. The sling was hand woven using only the finest Saskatchewan River Otter Leather. Saskatchewan River Otter Leather is superior to other leathers, including Saskatchewan Seal Skin Bindings, due to its high tensile strength. Once treated with Manitoba Mink Oil, it creates a great looking, but functional sling. A bipod is an essential accessory to have for your rifle. As many know, its primary function is to keep the rifle from falling over when it is placed on the bench. This bipod was manufactured using steel from a salvaged Russian Nuclear Submarine recovered by Howard Hughes from the Sea of Japan at the turn of the last century. The steel was then sent to fabled gun maker John Rugby, where he hand forged the bipod base himself. As you will see, the workmanship is flawless.
Load Development: There are endless discussion about load development, barrel nodes, ladders, scaffolding, sky cranes, and all manner of witch doctor voodoo. Here, we just cut to chase, and import a genuine witch doctor voodoo expert from Hati. Upon arrival the Houngan takes the rifle and enters the Hounfour. After several hours he emerges, usually drunk and stoned, and hands us cases with powder in them and bullets seated. We then head to the range and print some pretty small groups.
This completes the walkthrough of a custom build.
