Tikka T3 recoil lug

[chrismc]

I have a T3 in 300wsm - the recoil lug get severlely 'peened' after 20-30 rounds, so much so that I have flipped or rotated it often to keep a smooth or the smoothest side in the groove. I am at the point now where the lug is in need of replacement after 100 rnds. Has anyone had a steel block / lug made up to replace the aluminum one??? Any issues?

Sadly it shoots OK, not MOA consistently yet (one cloverleaf followed by a couple 2-3moa followed by a cloverleaf...), but everytime I have flipped or rotated the lug, the POI changes dramatically! I know it shouldnt, but the worst was 12" at 100yds after flipping it, rotating is only about 6" change. This is with it seated properly, and screws torqued to 35.

I figure its getting peened due to movement, so after I get this lug thing tweaked I am going to bed the pillars, action, and lug with a thin thin skim coat of devcon to hopefully stop things from moving. There is very little info on bedding T3's, so again, any thoughts, issues, precautions would be greatly appreciated!

Thx
Chrism

[strut64]

I have 2  in 223 and 30 06.  so I may have a stake here.  the 223 seems OK but I have already flipped the 30 06 once. I have shot the 06 a lot more before finding the problem.  I have thought of some options.  One would be to contact Beretta.  From my own experience and of many others you might just as well kiss that idea off.  Beretta has an extremely poor track record but may be we should give them a shot. Secondly give a local gunsmith a shot.  there are 2 critical dimensions.  The thickness and the height.  The overall width with 2  rounded ends makes it much harder to be machined and they are outside of the width of the slot in the receiver.  so I think that the lug could be made narrower but the mortise in the stock may have to be bedded.   When they get peened badly  the recoil transfers to the action screws.   I have read of others making a Remington style lug and fitting to a custom fitted stock.  Maybe Helmick Arms could help.  Keep us all posted

[hoghunting]

 I also have a T3 Lite in 300 WSM and its about 6 years old. I reload and I am on my 6th box of bullets, so I am some where between 500 - 600 rounds through this rifle, and have not had any problems with the recoil lug. Just pulled the action last week as I plan on painting the stock, and the edges are still nice and square. Wonder if they changed the metal in the lugs in the last few years?
 

[strut64]

I have called Beretta( about 9AM 11/14) and the customer service rep I talked to denied there was a problem.  she was not aware of any other complaints.  she referred me to one of their regional service centers.  I shall call them tomorrow - Connecticut Gunsmithing ltd.  I suggest we gather comments from any one else who has had an issue and whether Beretta in fact has been called