Custom actions.... are they worth the $$$$?

[1shot]

JRS,
I couldn't agree with you more. I have a tuned Rem. 700 that shoots very well indeed.
The point I was trying to make is the Joe average with his stock Remington, Savage etc. was shooting better with a custom action, as compared to a box stock factory action.
Thanks,

Lloyd

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Ok, so what would guys say is the most reasonably priced custom action, that still has the reputation of reliability as the most expensive actions?
ie...300 RUM or 338 Edge
Thanks

You will have a hard time beating a Kelbly Atlas for value. A Borden Timberline is a very good value as well, especially for what you get.

 

[rpierce]

I agree with Alex. Ive used well over 100 Atlas actions for 28 nosler builds. Theyre a great action. I sell the fully nitride treated Atlas for $950. Comes w a double pinned rail w 8-40 screws, comes cut for the wyatts extended box, double pinned recoil lug, trigger hanger and a mechanical ejector. At that price you cant come close to beating it with a factory action unless you got the action for free and your gunsmith works for free. video on the Kelbly atlas I did for customers,

 

[geo.ulrich]

Ok, so what would guys say is the most reasonably priced custom action, that still has the reputation of reliability as the most expensive actions?
ie...300 RUM or 338 Edge
Thanks

I would imagine that would be according to what discipline you are shooting , do you need a magazine or would a single shot be better ?

 

[284winner]

Not sure anyone will argue that a properly trued and worked Rem 700 action won't shoot with the best of the customs. It's just that you will have time and money into it. Maybe more than many of the customs mentioned here. Resale will not match that of any custom as well. I don't sell guns. That's no issue for me, neither is having all custom actions. 95% of my shooting is on game. Having only a couple custom actions, I'm looking for one for a 338 lapua build currently so listening to the advice on these actions is helpful.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Not sure anyone will argue that a properly trued and worked Rem 700 action won't shoot with the best of the customs. It's just that you will have time and money into it. Maybe more than many of the customs mentioned here. Resale will not match that of any custom as well. I don't sell guns. That's no issue for me, neither is having all custom actions. 95% of my shooting is on game. Having only a couple custom actions, I'm looking for one for a 338 lapua build currently so listening to the advice on these actions is helpful.

You cant quite get a rem ignition as good as you can with a custom. Pin guidance and shroud fit are more difficult to achieve perfection because you have to deal with something thats not true in the beginning. Its hard to get a good tight shroud fit and a bind free pin fall when the threads in the bolt arent straight and the rear of the bolt bore is warped. Nothings impossible and I do have a work around for the thread issue, but you will have more $$ tied up than its worth.

 

[grovey]

I'm a Rem guy too, but since this thread is about comparing factory stuff to custom actions I'd like to know how a Tikka T3-T3X action stacks up. Hard to admit it, but Most of my 700's have been collecting dust since I started shooting some factory class groundhog shoots with a Tikka.

As with other things... you can hear about anything on the internet, but I've heard the newer Tikka's are trued/squared better than a 700 from the get go. I've "heard" a lot of things, so is there truth to that? Seems everyone still concentrates on the 700's as a starting point. What say the smiths on the site?

 

[shooter65]

Oustanding read with some with some great points of views and perspectives.
Custom actions trump a 700 all day everyday.

But a 700 can still be made to shoot....
Mike from TacOps does a great job.

http://www.snipercentral.com/300-yard-head-shot-leaderboard/

 

[oldroper]

When I shot BR I started with sleeved 700 then move up to Panda single shot and Hall action. All my hunting rifle mostly Rem actions and have been worked on. The first one I did was about 10yrs old and got it new so I had 10yrs of use so it cost say $400 action work. So if I had Winchester action it would be same as Rem or how would that rate.

 

[270WinDude]

Okay so Alex is giving us some info that we can use to discern what the material DIFFERENCES are. I'm still curious about material (metal type and quality) and will look into that in good time. Alinwa obviously has experimented a ton on the issue (and who knows what else) and gave his opinion. I buy it all... but... At 600 yards and less, to build a precise shooting, somewhat predictable, hunting gun, I don't see how come one can not screw the best barrel in the world onto a rusty, bent, poor tolerance action and still hit targets within reason. I'm not trying to be a jerk, just trying to understand a bit more. I can see how the things mentioned can certainly make a reliably accurate gun by tallying all the little things. I've also experienced the gun that you can set on a bench and throw rocks at the trigger until it hits and it hits the target, I've also experienced a gun that shoots worse then my spring piston airgun at 100 yards so the analogy really makes sense to me at this point my official answer would be, if you want to compete then you HAVE to have the best gun and equipment you can afford plus you can keep an action for a really long time, the life of many barrels. You simply will not be competitive without everything in your favor.

 

[22DASHER]

I guess I just don’t find the reasoning behind trying to save a couple hundred bucks in choosing between a TOP notch custom action and a mediocre custom action. If someone was actually going to build a full on custom rifle then that couple hundred dollars is not going to matter when the build will likely be well over $3K.

 

[boltfluter]

Many people are cheap to the point of stupidity. I know many people like this. Then they are unhappy for a long time. But hey, they saved a few bucks. The annoyance of having something at 90% of what they really wanted will last much longer than the memory of saving a few bucks.

Paul

 

[dcali]

... And that ain't a Creedmoor joke. ...

al

Almost spit out my coffee.

 

[dkhunt14]

Many people are cheap to the point of stupidity. I know many people like this. Then they are unhappy for a long time. But hey, they saved a few bucks. The annoyance of having something at 90% of what they really wanted will last much longer than the memory of saving a few bucks.

Paul

And they will drive 50 miles to save 10 cents. Matt

 

[270WinDude]

Many people are cheap to the point of stupidity. I know many people like this. Then they are unhappy for a long time. But hey, they saved a few bucks. The annoyance of having something at 90% of what they really wanted will last much longer than the memory of saving a few bucks.

Paul

Yes some are cheap and drive 50 miles to save ten cents, I know some. Some also are sheep who can not or do not understand just about anything. I know many of them too.

 

[oldroper]

All gunsmith has to do is turn down the work. No law said they have to do the work.

 

[rpierce]

All gunsmith has to do is turn down the work. No law said they have to do the work.

that's what I did a few years ago. no more working with factory actions. its too much hassle for the same amount of money or more than a custom action.

 

[270WinDude]

that's what I did a few years ago. no more working with factory actions. its too much hassle for the same amount of money or more than a custom action.

So you checked tolerances? Did you notice any manufactures or models that consistently were better then others? I've heard the 700 is pretty good across the board but have my doubts. I'm certain that a 700 with a great action wouldn't shoot as tight of groups as a 110 savage that could have slightly more variation but a better quality barrel. Could be wrong though

 

[alinwa]

Like most of the world I have several Rem. 700 action rifles and I have had good luck with them. About 7 years ago I made my first custom rifle with a Stiller TAC300 action and I love it... But is it worth the extra $650??

I may need to get the action trued but I get the same accuracy and longevity out of the factory 700's and most all these custom actions (Stiller, Surgeon, Defiance) are based off the 700 anyway. Right????

What say you guys?

'tarnal...... just to give you an idea how much I do care about this question, even after literally 25yrs of getting it answered...... I own a Kensler rail. I've got a Neuvo drop port ordered for it. I've got a Bat dedicated to it at present, and a 721 and an old Savage 340 and a state -of-the-art 700 to run basically head-to-head (altho some are BR's, not PPC's)

My point is, I'm stupid enough and stubborn enough to KEEP ON exploring this question......

But at present I'll stick to my guns. Custom actions are TOO CHEAP!! Just 'WAYY TOO GOOD A VALUE to pass up. Yes, a true craftsman like George Ulrich or Alex or Ryan Pierce who're willing and able, guys who've taken the time to learn WHY actions shoot better and fix them....can make a Rem700 shoot. But this is because the CRAFTSMANSHIP is better, in the end the 700's still not worth the money invested.

And I'll say it again, IT IS THE ARROW. Lotsa' folks prolly got access to an Osage Orange tree.... but ain't but 5 folks on the planet can make a worthy hunting bow out of that tree....

And that some folks like the Kelbly's and Jim Borden long ago decided to make their own stuff instead of fixing others' stuff.

(And I don't mean to start an argument here with George re "fixing custom stuff too!!" Cuz George is RIGHT....)

But IME, the Borden and Kelbly stuff for instance is CHEAPER to make good than Rem700s......in the long run.

 

[rpierce]

if you want the best factory action out there then get a tikka. I just stated that I no longer work on factory actions for the builds I do for customers. heres the link explaining why, http://www.piercisionrifles.com/action-work/ im not going to go into a apples and oranges comparison, lol