I've been wanting to build another .223 for a while, looked at all the normal options, but my TRG has spoiled me.
The ergonomics of the TRG fit my long, lanky frame better than anything else I have been behind, and the trigger and accuracy are unbeatable. I have it set up as a switch barrel, with a 20" .308 and 26" 243 barrel.
So, my quest began when I bought a stainless steel Tikka Varmint (1-8 twist 23.25" barrel) several months ago to play with. I liked the gun, but the only stock option I was interested in was the Manners T2 or T5 with CDI bottom metal and it still wasn't a TRG.
I had seen pics of KRG's W-3 stock and started doing a little research and sent several e-mails and PM's to Justin with questions. He always answered quickly and fully. This stock sounded like what I was looking for, so I decided to wait for his next production run.
The stock arrived and I was very impressed with the quality and attention to detail displayed in the execution and engineering. I installed the Tikka barreled action and shot it for a few days to see what mods I wanted to do to make it fit me.
Those of you who know me realize I constantly tweak and mod everything I own, so please DO NOT think this is a criticism of the W-3 chassis. I think it is, by far, the best and most well engineered aftermarket stock I have seen, and I have been behind and handled about every aftermarket stock or chassis available.
Anyway, these mods will make the ergonomics of this stock almost identical to my TRG. If my eyes are closed, I cannot feel any differences. Everything that you touch while behind the gun is almost identical.....trigger, grip angle, cheekpiece, scope, and buttpad location.
Here are the mods I completed....
1. Added a TRG trigger, this was bolt-on except I had to exchange the longer mag-catch lever from the KRG trigger guard to the TRG trigger.
2. Cut the bottom of the action to fit AI .223 mags (NOTE: ALL Tikka's will need either this mod or modded mags to use the plastic AI .223 mags, regardless of chassis or bottom metal manufacturer). I cut the edge at a 25 deg. angle about .035 inch per side.
I had to slightly adjust the angle of the mags to assure reliable feeding regardless of front/side/angle pressure (like resting the gun on the mag, or pushing it hard against a barricade). The mags all insert easily and drop free when the mag release is pressed.
3. Stippled the frontstrap.
4. Built a mag funnel, I was gonna make a full funnel like the TRG, but it was too much work, and this gives 95% of the functionality...
5. Made a new cheekrest, with an offset and profile to match my TRG. I covered it with medium density textured rubber, so my cheek doesn't slide off when I'm sweating. The stock W-3 cheekrest is centered and has a rounded profile that matches that on an AI chassis.
6. Installed HK sling loops to match those on my TRG. One on each side of the buttstock and added a factory Sako TRG front mount with loop.
7. Cerakoted all the steel parts and the SS barreled action (I was also doing all the steel parts on my TRG, so there are more parts in pics).
Continued....
The ergonomics of the TRG fit my long, lanky frame better than anything else I have been behind, and the trigger and accuracy are unbeatable. I have it set up as a switch barrel, with a 20" .308 and 26" 243 barrel.
So, my quest began when I bought a stainless steel Tikka Varmint (1-8 twist 23.25" barrel) several months ago to play with. I liked the gun, but the only stock option I was interested in was the Manners T2 or T5 with CDI bottom metal and it still wasn't a TRG.
I had seen pics of KRG's W-3 stock and started doing a little research and sent several e-mails and PM's to Justin with questions. He always answered quickly and fully. This stock sounded like what I was looking for, so I decided to wait for his next production run.
The stock arrived and I was very impressed with the quality and attention to detail displayed in the execution and engineering. I installed the Tikka barreled action and shot it for a few days to see what mods I wanted to do to make it fit me.
Those of you who know me realize I constantly tweak and mod everything I own, so please DO NOT think this is a criticism of the W-3 chassis. I think it is, by far, the best and most well engineered aftermarket stock I have seen, and I have been behind and handled about every aftermarket stock or chassis available.
Anyway, these mods will make the ergonomics of this stock almost identical to my TRG. If my eyes are closed, I cannot feel any differences. Everything that you touch while behind the gun is almost identical.....trigger, grip angle, cheekpiece, scope, and buttpad location.
Here are the mods I completed....
1. Added a TRG trigger, this was bolt-on except I had to exchange the longer mag-catch lever from the KRG trigger guard to the TRG trigger.
2. Cut the bottom of the action to fit AI .223 mags (NOTE: ALL Tikka's will need either this mod or modded mags to use the plastic AI .223 mags, regardless of chassis or bottom metal manufacturer). I cut the edge at a 25 deg. angle about .035 inch per side.
I had to slightly adjust the angle of the mags to assure reliable feeding regardless of front/side/angle pressure (like resting the gun on the mag, or pushing it hard against a barricade). The mags all insert easily and drop free when the mag release is pressed.
3. Stippled the frontstrap.
4. Built a mag funnel, I was gonna make a full funnel like the TRG, but it was too much work, and this gives 95% of the functionality...
5. Made a new cheekrest, with an offset and profile to match my TRG. I covered it with medium density textured rubber, so my cheek doesn't slide off when I'm sweating. The stock W-3 cheekrest is centered and has a rounded profile that matches that on an AI chassis.
6. Installed HK sling loops to match those on my TRG. One on each side of the buttstock and added a factory Sako TRG front mount with loop.
7. Cerakoted all the steel parts and the SS barreled action (I was also doing all the steel parts on my TRG, so there are more parts in pics).
Continued....
