I already had dies and brass in that caliber, but the selling point was that I could get just a little more velocity out of this caliber in a modern loading, than the .260 Rem. In hindsight, I may have done things a little differently if I had known what I was going to run into and the cost involved. But, I don't regret it, either. I'm still getting what I want out of it and an education, to boot.
Yes, they do. However, if you're going to switch stocks and want to use a different magazine (like AI, for example), you have to use a long action magazine. Nobody makes a stock/chassis that is designed for these. The only exception is the newly offered DBM from CDI for long action AI mags. For example, I really wanted a KRG W3 chassis, but they're for short action, only.
Reodale makes some good stuff, but you may want to do some searcing for reveiws on him actually getting stuff to you. I don't like propegating negativity, but I have just seen too many horror stories on this, and a couple other forums from guys quoted a couple months and waiting many times as long and still empty handed.
The Sporter takes the same magazine and has the same bottom "metal" as all other T3s.
Well, I have the rifle and own/have time with a half dozen other Tikkas. I can assure you that it's the same magazine.
Given the location of the mag release (front of trigger guard) on the CDI DBM, in combination with the longer AI mags, I still think that access to the magazine would be better with the CDI setup than using the stock mags/bottom metal (where the mag latch is at the front and tucked up into the bottom metal). Just my opinion, though and I would certainly defer to Jeff on what/how it would need to be inletted.
I found them at Menard's. I still have the bag they came in. It says "Part # 81667 5mm x 30mm Metric Socket Head Cap Screw". They are an exact match to the stock screw, only longer and these fit perfect when using all the spacers that come with the rifle.
