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++Bighorn TL3 Builds++

Well, I dont think the wife appreciates this Christmas decoration, but I am pretty excited for my first TL3.

Pva 6.5 creed 24 inch barrel, with a 6 creed and 223 on the way
 

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Two of my 3 TL3's exhibit the same binding you speak of. All 3 are DLC coated. (Serial #'s 16XX, 21XX, 26XX) The newest TL3 I have does not exibit the binding. BigHorn has actually altered the placement of fluting on the bolt to help alleviate the binding on the newer actions.

My original TL3 has actually gotten less prone to binding the more cycles I get on the bolt.

Older bolt is on the top and you can see how the flutes run on both sides of the bolt head retaining pin. Newest bolt is on the bottom.

Bighorn team any comment on this? I’ve had issues with bolt binding on my TL3 with the older style fluting.

Would it be possible to buy a newer bolt body (sans bolt head and firing pin?) What would the cost be?
 
IMG-4161.jpg


Here is my rifle!
  • Bighorn Arms TL3 Left Hand Short Action with standard bolt face
  • KRG Bravo fitted now to take a left hand action.
  • 20" Fluted and threaded .308 barrel
  • 40X trigger
  • 10 round AW Magazine
  • Magpul Bipod
 
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Anyone know the fit of the TL3 in the AICS AX MKII? I want this chassis but don't want to get into waiting for a gunsmith for 4 months to make it fit.
 
IMG-4161.jpg


Here is my rifle!
  • Bighorn Arms TL3 Left Hand Short Action with standard bolt face
  • KRG Bravo fitted now to take a left hand action.
  • 20" Fluted and threaded .308 barrel
  • 40X trigger
  • 10 round AW Magazine
  • Magpul Bipod

Awesome! Do you find the bravo "worthy" of the action? Anything lacking? Im thinking about getting a bravo for my build.
 
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You guys with Bravo’s on your TL3’s, how comfortable are they in comparison to say an HS Precision M24 or a McMillan A5? I’m considering the Bravo for my TL3.

Something I just learned about the KRG stocks that I didn’t know, the Buttstocks are modular as well as most of the fore ends. So you can put a Whiskey 3 or X-Ray Buttstock on your Bravo and vice versa. That kind of seals the deal for me as far as versatility. Could start with Bravo and have what is essentially a Whiskey 3 and be able to swap back and forth depending on wants and needs. Sounds pretty awesome to me. Somebody stop me if I’m completely wrong.
 
You guys with Bravo’s on your TL3’s, how comfortable are they in comparison to say an HS Precision M24 or a McMillan A5? I’m considering the Bravo for my TL3.

Something I just learned about the KRG stocks that I didn’t know, the Buttstocks are modular as well as most of the fore ends. So you can put a Whiskey 3 or X-Ray Buttstock on your Bravo and vice versa. That kind of seals the deal for me as far as versatility. Could start with Bravo and have what is essentially a Whiskey 3 and be able to swap back and forth depending on wants and needs. Sounds pretty awesome to me. Somebody stop me if I’m completely wrong.
I've never had a M24 or A5... But I have to say that I really like my TL3. It is very comfortable and light.
 
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Two of my 3 TL3's exhibit the same binding you speak of. All 3 are DLC coated. (Serial #'s 16XX, 21XX, 26XX) The newest TL3 I have does not exibit the binding. BigHorn has actually altered the placement of fluting on the bolt to help alleviate the binding on the newer actions.

My original TL3 has actually gotten less prone to binding the more cycles I get on the bolt.

Older bolt is on the top and you can see how the flutes run on both sides of the bolt head retaining pin. Newest bolt is on the bottom.

Is this a short action only thing? I have a LA and SA TL3, sequential serial numbers, the SA has the "newer" style bolt flutes and the LA the older style.
 
Anyone here that go with a LA TL3 wish they went with something else? Looking for the features the TL3 offers and availablity to run prefit sholdered barrels. Any regrets or should I just jump on one? Wanting to run 300wm and 300 PRC on this. Already run 300 PRC on two other rifles with CIP mags so I already have the support there. Just need to order the TL3 with CIP cut.
 
Proof is now offering shouldered pre-fit barrels for the TL-3. Another option for the excellent TL-3 action.

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet but proof has also made a turnkey switch barrel rifle using a origin or TL3 action and savage prefit barrels with a barrel nut. I’m not sure what stock they are using with it though. I’m debating on a proof 224 or Bartlein for my TL3.
 
Anyone here that go with a LA TL3 wish they went with something else? Looking for the features the TL3 offers and availablity to run prefit sholdered barrels. Any regrets or should I just jump on one? Wanting to run 300wm and 300 PRC on this. Already run 300 PRC on two other rifles with CIP mags so I already have the support there. Just need to order the TL3 with CIP cut.

LA TL3 28 Nosler, using CIP mags and loading to 3.730". 0 issues and I have no desire to use anything else. Love that action. I highly recommend it, go ahead and jump on one.
 
LA TL3 28 Nosler, using CIP mags and loading to 3.730". 0 issues and I have no desire to use anything else. Love that action. I highly recommend it, go ahead and jump on one.

Perfect. Hearing really positive things. Been using Surgeons 1086s on the last few customs so excited/nervous to try something new. Sounds like I just need to go for it.

Edit.. ordered one up just now. Ray was super fast in returning emails with my questions even though they are at shot. Excited for this thing.
 
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Do you have to order a special CIP cut LA? I bought a LA nucleus and wish I had gotten a TL3.
 
Edit.. ordered one up just now. Ray was super fast in returning emails with my questions even though they are at shot. Excited for this thing.

Ray is awesome. Just FYI, don't use a timney trigger, they have issues. You're gonna love the action.


Do you have to order a special CIP cut LA? I bought a LA nucleus and wish I had gotten a TL3.

I am using CIP magazines and loading to 3.730", I just checked my order confirmation from Bighorn and mine is AICS cut. I have no issues feeding. I just looked at bighorn website and see that they have a CIP length mag cut option. I don't remember if that was offered when I ordered mine (Jan 2018) or not, but mine is just regular AICS.
 
What’s the issue with them?

Lot's of ppl, including myself, have had issues with light primer strikes when using Timney triggers on Bighorn actions. I switched to Trigger Tech and no issues since. Runs great. If you want more info, there are a good many threads on the hide discussing this issue.
 
Lot's of ppl, including myself, have had issues with light primer strikes when using Timney triggers on Bighorn actions. I switched to Trigger Tech and no issues since. Runs great. If you want more info, there are a good many threads on the hide discussing this issue.

Ok I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks for the heads up.
 
Anyone here that go with a LA TL3 wish they went with something else? Looking for the features the TL3 offers and availablity to run prefit sholdered barrels. Any regrets or should I just jump on one? Wanting to run 300wm and 300 PRC on this. Already run 300 PRC on two other rifles with CIP mags so I already have the support there. Just need to order the TL3 with CIP cut.

I went with the TL3s and ended up replacing them with SR3s cut for Wyatt boxes (3.825" ID) for a little more wiggle room with the 28 Nosler and 195 Bergers.
 
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I went with the TL3s and ended up replacing them with SR3s cut for Wyatt boxes (3.825" ID) for a little more wiggle room with the 28 Nosler and 195 Bergers.

I will have plenty of length with the CIP mags. Have plenty of room with 300 prc and 225 eld without issues in the 3.850 mags so I don't see a issue with the 300 win mag and the 215 Berger's I plan on running. Thanks for that info though. Good to know for future if I need it.
 
I will have plenty of length with the CIP mags. Have plenty of room with 300 prc and 225 eld without issues in the 3.850 mags so I don't see a issue with the 300 win mag and the 215 Berger's I plan on running. Thanks for that info though. Good to know for future if I need it.

Right on. For me, my concern was chasing the lands from a 3.73" starting point. The wyatt box gives me about 0.060" more to play with over my CIP mag (3.760 ID?). I believe I could use the CIP mag in the SR3 as well. I do prefer the look of the TL3 though.
 
Right on. For me, my concern was chasing the lands from a 3.73" starting point. The wyatt box gives me about 0.060" more to play with over my CIP mag (3.760 ID?). I believe I could use the CIP mag in the SR3 as well. I do prefer the look of the TL3 though.

Yea in your case starting at 3.73 COAL I would have done the same as you did! At least we have options!
 
Lot's of ppl, including myself, have had issues with light primer strikes when using Timney triggers on Bighorn actions. I switched to Trigger Tech and no issues since. Runs great. If you want more info, there are a good many threads on the hide discussing this issue.

Bighorn is aware & has implemented a fix. I don’t think it’s an issue in and new actions (actually the bolt assembly).
 
Bighorn is aware & has implemented a fix. I don’t think it’s an issue in and new actions (actually the bolt assembly).

They were aware of the issue when I contacted them April-ish 2018, they knew exactly what was causing the light primer strikes I was getting when I told them I had a Timney Calvin Elite trigger. They were saying the sear of the CE drags on the cocking piece of the bolt that was slowing the firing pin down. They immediately offered to do some work on the bolt to allow the trigger to work properly, I sent the bolt to them and they had it back to me in a week and it only cost me the postage to them. But I was still having light primer strikes and failure to fires because of it. So I just got rid of the CE and replaced with a trigger tech special after their recommendation, it has run perfect since.

It could have been corrected by now, I'm not sure. The CE didn't run in my action, TT has been perfect. Just giving my experiences.
 
Anyone here that go with a LA TL3 wish they went with something else? Looking for the features the TL3 offers and availablity to run prefit sholdered barrels. Any regrets or should I just jump on one? Wanting to run 300wm and 300 PRC on this. Already run 300 PRC on two other rifles with CIP mags so I already have the support there. Just need to order the TL3 with CIP cut.

I’m running two TL3s in 6.5CM and 308. No regrets. I’m always curious about new stuff (Ultimatum Feadline & Impact Precision), but absolutely no regrets.

C
 
That's interesting on the shouldered prefits. I'm waiting for a barrel nut to come back from being DLC'd to match the action I have on hand. I'm happy using the proof savage prefits.
 
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I got 2 shouldered Proof prefits thru Bighorn last fall as barreled actions. They've been doing them, altho maybe not advertised...
 
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I got 2 shouldered Proof prefits thru Bighorn last fall as barreled actions. They've been doing them, altho maybe not advertised...

I know Bartlein has shouldered prefits. I think criterion may make them also
 
I know Bartlein has shouldered prefits. I think criterion may make them also
Criterion does make them. I've use 4-5 so far. I have a Bartlein shouldered on right now, but will go back to the Criterion after that is shot out. I seem to have great results with Criterion.
 
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I have a criterion shouldered on one of mine right now, very pleased with it for the money. I will def be getting a couple of proof barrels for this spring.
 
If so that’d be great, I’ve found Criterion’s to punch above their weight.

That said, I don’t mind gluing on barrel nuts to set my headspace either, have three set up that way now.