New Tikka Owner -- Several Questions

[4MUL8R]

M595 RH imported by Stoeger -- what approximate vintage were these?  Does the serial number contain the year of manufacture?

Scope rings -- integral to receiver -- made in Australia -- anyone know who made them?  Are they stock Tikka issue?  These are thumbscrew models.  The front ring has a stud on the bottom that engages a cutout / recess on the receiver in front of the cartridge opening.

Scope bases -- anyone make a one-piece Weaver base?  I saw a two piece base in the Weaver catalog, number 61 in aluminum and S61 in steel.  Can you get Warne Maxima bases to fit this action?

Magazines -- anyone have a used magazine or two for sale?  I need at least one!  Beretta will sell me one, but price is exorbitant.  Nothing against Beretta, just surprised at the cost.  Is the Whitetail Hunter magazine the same as the M595 magazine?

Wood stock finish -- is it oil?  If so, what is the best oil to use to reseal the interior barrel / action area per the owner's manual?

Recoil pad -- anyone know if a prefit Limbsaver pad will fit on a wooden stock M595?

Twist rate -- what is the official twist rate?  I may want to try super-heavy bullets, if it is fast enough.

Thanks to anyone who can help me be more acquainted with this fine rifle.

Short story -- this one was hanging on a wall in a smoke-and-dust filled shop for many months, if not years.  The magazine was MIA.  I tried it with the cheapest 308 ammo I could find, at 50 yards, through the world's cheesiest Japanese 4 x 32 scope that was so bad I could not make out the orange dot on my target.  I just quartered the white plate with the crosshairs, and hoped for the best.  It was able to shoot five shot group at about 1.5 inches while I was seated, elbows on table, buttstock at shoulder (i.e. no rest at all).  I know it can shoot better than me.

[4MUL8R]

Re:  scope rings...I believe they are made by Lynx, now supposedly manufactured by B-Square.  Millett and Leupold also make these type.

Re:  scope bases...Beretta says their bases are two pieces, but are reversible for more scope mounting adjustabiity.  I have asked where the one piece scope base comes from on the Tikka T3 Tactical, but have heard nothing.  I purchased the Weaver aluminum scope bases 61 and they fit nicely on the flat top of the Tikka receiver.  I am still looking for steel bases.  These Weaver bases do work with Warne Maxima rings.

Re:  magazines...the stock magazine is very cheaply made.  I received one from Beretta.  I have found a neat magazine replacement that permits one round at a time loading called the "original Bob sled."  I hope to receive it soon.

Re:  wood stock finish...it is oil.

Re:  twist rate...I believe it is 1 in 11

[Brithunter]

No........ No Lynx is the reincarnation of Hilver but it seems without the quality 

     Hilver was the largest Scope mount manufactuer in the world but was put out of business it seems by the Anti Gun Australian government. B-Squre sort of got involved and it seems that some at least of the machinery and fixtures etc ended up in Africa. I tried to order some of the new rings from a dealer I have used for many years and he refuses to stock them as the quality is so poor compared to what Hilver was and he sold a lot of the Hilver stuff. he returned all of the new Lynx stuff that the importers sent him!

    What I also cannot understand it when the reciever is dovetailed for rings why would you want io introduce another joint and add to the possiblity of missalignment by adding a one piece rail? to me it makes no sense at all. You are adding to any errors and if you add more joints and angles then you increase the risk of errors and movement  .

[4MUL8R]

I like the factory dovetail mount design very much.  It is also drilled and tapped for other mount bases.  If you mount a Weaver base at those points, the rings are pretty far apart.  A Nikon Monarch Gold 30mm scope is so short between the objective and ocular lens bells that it won't fit where the rings are affixed to those bases.

If I could find a 30mm Tikka integral ring set, then I could use this excellent design as is.  Perhaps that is really what I should do!

[doctordisaster]

Re:  scope bases...Beretta says their bases are two pieces, but are reversible for more scope mounting adjustabiity.  I have asked where the one piece scope base comes from on the Tikka T3 Tactical, but have heard nothing.  I purchased the Weaver aluminum scope bases 61 and they fit nicely on the flat top of the Tikka receiver.  I am still looking for steel bases.  These Weaver bases do work with Warne Maxima rings.

I have a set of Warne Maxima steel  rings I bought for my T3. They mount directly to the dovetail.I removed them and now have Tally lightweights.The Warnes are for sale $25. shipped if your interested,condition as new.I am going to sell them one way or another.BTW they are matt black Medium.I had a VXII 40mm mounted,that cleared,larger objective than that may be a problem.
PM me if your interested.