Tikka T3X Bolt

First this is new gun, never fired, and my first Tikka. When the gun is cocked, safety off, the bolt operates freely. I dry fire it, and I go to operate the bolt (recock) it the bolt is hard to get lifted from the fully closed bolt position so that I can recock it. Before dry firing, the bolt operates like butter it's only after that it sticks.
It's got to be in the bolt any suggestion or do I just have new gun itis.

How hard are you talking? When opened after firing it recocks the firing pin. A little lift resistance is common. If it’s more than you like aftermarket bolt knobs are cheap and easy to install.

I recommend taking the stock off, adjusting the trigger to your liking, clean the bolt and trigger assembly with something other than oil, then reassemble a dry clean rifle. If you still don’t like the bolt lift the order a new knob for $20-40. NEVER oil a Tikka bolt or firing pin assembly. They are built right and oiling just gums up the works.

I recently saw this. There was a grove cut on the bolt where the cocking piece rides on when you lift the bolt. I'm guessing it will smooth out with use, but I hope it's not a new design. If so it creates a problem that wasn't there before.

Thought they all did that after 'firing'. You are cocking the mechanism, it takes a little effort.

We added oil to mine, member?

Made it mo betta.

That's 100% normal. The Tikka is a short throw bolt of 70 degrees. To get that short bolt throw, the bolt has to do more work, or leverage, in that shorter distance compared to a Rem 700 with a 90 degree throw. It has to [censored] the firing pin and extract the round at the same time. If you drive the rifle correctly with your cheek on the rifle during cycling, and holding the rifle in place, it will work fine.

I also saw that, took a toothpick and put a touch of red grease on it. Sure enough after dry firing a couple times the top of the groove was clean , however the grease was still on the inner part of the groove

Thanks fellas. sure nuff new gun itis.

Hope it's a shooter! I love my CTR.

Really looking forward to it. I was only able to get the trigger down to 2.75 lbs. I may get a limbsaver air tech recoil pad for if I can figure out which model 10826 or 10803 fits best. planning going out this week for sighting, shooting and the proverbial shooting it the barrel. Three boxes of hornady PH, SST, and whitetail hunter. I may even shoot a hog.

Put some oil/grease on the part of the bolt where the firing pin cams backwards during lift. That should fix your problem.

As for the weight, get a yo-dave trigger spring if you want it lighter. It's like $15 and will really reduce pull weight if that's what you want. None of my Tikka triggers have any creep, but one of them would only get down to 3.5-4 lbs even after backing the screw all the way out. Swapped springs and it was much better.

Got a M*Carbo on order should be here this week. The pre fit recoil pad may be over kill but so be it. I did put some red grease on it and after figuring out w.hat was going on I cleaned the dab of grease off. I think all is good.