Zermatt Big Horn

[Liven The Dream]

Has anyone Built a Single Shot Target Rifle on one of these Actions ?

Will a Remington Single Shot Follower Glue in one of these Actions ?

Thanks for Your Help,
Don

 

[Twdmar]

It's a controlled round feed action isn't it? If it is like most crf, I would think it may not be a great single shot. They do make some that have a 700 mag cut-out if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Ironman308]

I just did this to an Origin action for a 6BR. I called Zermatt first and they told me it would not be an issue.

 

[Twdmar]

I just did this to an Origin action for a 6BR. I called Zermatt first and they told me it would not be an issue.

Well, there you go. I wasn't sure about it when I bought my last action and went with an atlas.
The interchangeable bolt head and buying affordable, prefit savage barrels are a nice option.

 

[Liven The Dream]

More looking they have a Single Shot Model ?
Northern Supply ?

 

[Ironman308]

Origin does not offer single shot option but I think the TL3 does.

 

[RichMoAK]

Has anyone Built a Single Shot Target Rifle on one of these Actions ?

Will a Remington Single Shot Follower Glue in one of these Actions ?

Thanks for Your Help,
Don

I did just that! Bought a LA TL3 and made it a single shot, target action. Made it a 6br...I wanted plenty of bullet room
The control round feed does not create an issue with single feed. Buy with confidence!

 

[One Eye Pete]

The Bighorn TL3 does come in a single shot. I have a TL3 heavy tang, single shot long action that I ordered direct from Zermatt Arms. I have it mounted in a Master Class stock that I bought on the forum. It has a 30" Shilen barrel chambered in 6mm SLR that I purchased from Northland Shooter Supply. The trigger is a Triggertech diamond two stage.
The TL3 is a great action I love the controlled round feed and replaceable bolt head. It is also an extremely smooth action. The only issue I had with it was that it had minimal firing pin fall. It does not have a trigger hanger and when I installed the Triggertech trigger I was only getting 0.175 in firing pin fall. I checked my buddies Bighorn TL3 short action and his was getting 0.2 in. pin fall. In the last rifle I used this action (also a 6mm SLR) I was having trouble getting a good ES and an SD below 12. I did not get misfires with the Bighorn and I do not actually know if the poor ES & SD was caused by the lack of firing pin fall. Normally a remington style action requires 0.24 in firing pin fall however the Bighorn has a smaller firing pin diameter than a normal remington. When I had only 0.20 in. of firing pin travel on my Kelbly Atlas I was getting misfires, however this was quickly corrected with the proper trigger hanger (Kelblys service is absolutely first class).
I did want to eliminate this as a possible problem so I cut the cocking ramp on the Bighorn bolt deeper (a scary undertaking for someone with my machining skills), and shortened the firing pin. On a Bighorn the firing pin is threaded into the cocking piece and secured with set screws so with very slight machining to the cocking piece I was able to thread it in further and thus shorten it. I now have 0.242 firing pin fall and very little cock on close using the Triggertech trigger. The action is still as smooth as silk.
I had the gun out for the first time the other day and with very light loads to break in the barrel I was getting 1/2 MOA at 100 yards. Hopefully this will Improve as I tune the thing.
In retrospect all this work on the bolt probably wasn't necessary but with crummy winter weather and high COVID rates I had to find something to do. Yes I would buy another Bighorn or Kelbly Atlas.

 

[Liven The Dream]

The Bighorn TL3 does come in a single shot. I have a TL3 heavy tang, single shot long action that I ordered direct from Zermatt Arms. I have it mounted in a Master Class stock that I bought on the forum. It has a 30" Shilen barrel chambered in 6mm SLR that I purchased from Northland Shooter Supply. The trigger is a Triggertech diamond two stage.
The TL3 is a great action I love the controlled round feed and replaceable bolt head. It is also an extremely smooth action. The only issue I had with it was that it had minimal firing pin fall. It does not have a trigger hanger and when I installed the Triggertech trigger I was only getting 0.175 in firing pin fall. I checked my buddies Bighorn TL3 short action and his was getting 0.2 in. pin fall. In the last rifle I used this action (also a 6mm SLR) I was having trouble getting a good ES and an SD below 12. I did not get misfires with the Bighorn and I do not actually know if the poor ES & SD was caused by the lack of firing pin fall. Normally a remington style action requires 0.24 in firing pin fall however the Bighorn has a smaller firing pin diameter than a normal remington. When I had only 0.20 in. of firing pin travel on my Kelbly Atlas I was getting misfires, however this was quickly corrected with the proper trigger hanger (Kelblys service is absolutely first class).
I did want to eliminate this as a possible problem so I cut the cocking ramp on the Bighorn bolt deeper (a scary undertaking for someone with my machining skills), and shortened the firing pin. On a Bighorn the firing pin is threaded into the cocking piece and secured with set screws so with very slight machining to the cocking piece I was able to thread it in further and thus shorten it. I now have 0.242 firing pin fall and very little cock on close using the Triggertech trigger. The action is still as smooth as silk.
I had the gun out for the first time the other day and with very light loads to break in the barrel I was getting 1/2 MOA at 100 yards. Hopefully this will Improve as I tune the thing.
In retrospect all this work on the bolt probably wasn't necessary but with crummy winter weather and high COVID rates I had to find something to do. Yes I would buy another Bighorn or Kelbly Atlas.

Thanks

 

[Ironman308]

I also found that my origins have smoother cocking with the Trigger Tec Diamond Trigger in comparison to the Calvin Elite trigger.

 

[Clancy]

I have had and do have a lot of Bighorns. They’ve all had jewel triggers, except for one bix’n Andy.

I would not fret not one bit over the pin fall, as my ES has been absolutely stellar with proper load development. My favorite of the bunch is a 6BR. I can’t imagine how well one would shoot if you set it up as a single shot and put it in a 3” stock.

About a month ago, I ran out of the old style N135 less the decoppering agent. I loaded 10 charges of the new stuff .2 grains apart and shot 10 3 shot groups. (Keep in mind this is a coyote rifle with a skinny stock and a RVC 20.5” barrel.) The agg of those 10 3 shot groups was .159” My bullet of choice for small game is the 68 Avenger.

Now you tell me if you’d be worried about a true BR rig when my little coyote stick will shoot like that….

 

[One Eye Pete]

I also found that my origins have smoother cocking with the Trigger Tec Diamond Trigger in comparison to the Calvin Elite trigger.

One thing that would make Bighorn actions better would be a trigger hanger. That would allow the trigger sear to be adjusted in relation to the cocking piece on the bolt. My guess is that the Triggertech Diamond trigger is giving you less cock on close than the Calvin Elite, making it smoother cocking. The downside is the Triggertech is probably also giving you less overall firing pin fall. With the fixed trigger mounting there isn't much you can do.
When I spoke to Zermatt Arms I believe they said that the average firing pin fall was somewhere around 0.19in to 0.2in for their actions with most triggers. This sounds about right since if I remember correctly before I modified it the cocking ramp on the bolt was only 0.2 in deep.

 

[Clancy]

Oh and I forgot to answer the original question….. yes, my buddy Joe had Jon do a RBLP 22 dasher. Single shot from the factory. Very nice rig.

 

[Twdmar]

For those of you have built single shots, how do you load it and not have the claws have to snap over the case rim?

 

[Ironman308]

One thing that would make Bighorn actions better would be a trigger hanger. That would allow the trigger sear to be adjusted in relation to the cocking piece on the bolt. My guess is that the Triggertech Diamond trigger is giving you less cock on close than the Calvin Elite, making it smoother cocking. The downside is the Triggertech is probably also giving you less overall firing pin fall. With the fixed trigger mounting there isn't much you can do.
When I spoke to Zermatt Arms I believe they said that the average firing pin fall was somewhere around 0.19in to 0.2in for their actions with most triggers. This sounds about right since if I remember correctly before I modified it the cocking ramp on the bolt was only 0.2 in deep.

Thanks! I measured the end of the firing pin to the back of the bolt with pin dropped then added the amount of the pin exposed with it cocked and came up with 0.218. is there a better way to get the number more accurately?

 

[Clancy]

@Twdmar It’s just one small sliding extractor with a steep bevel on it. I can’t feel it even when I try to.

 

[One Eye Pete]

Thanks! I measured the end of the firing pin to the back of the bolt with pin dropped then added the amount of the pin exposed with it cocked and came up with 0.218. is there a better way to get the number more accurately?

The best way to measure the pin fall is with the bolt in the gun and a dial indicator attached against the back of the firing pin. Then dry fire and take the measurement from the dial indicator.
But I gave up trying to do it that way because I had too much trouble getting the dial indicator properly mounted. I normally do it the way you described using calipers but always do it with the bolt in the action and dry firing. If you have 0.218 pin fall on the Bighorn with the bolt in the action you should be in good shape. I was concerned because I only had 0.175 .

 

[RichMoAK]

For those of you have built single shots, how do you load it and not have the claws have to snap over the case rim?

It's some kind of dark magic. Can't feel a thing when it engages.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I've single loaded mine quite a few times. Smooth as silk. Others a few years ago said " you can't single feed it, it's a crf " little do they know.

 

[Twdmar]

It's some kind of dark magic. Can't feel a thing when it engages.

I've single loaded mine quite a few times. Smooth as silk. Others a few years ago said " you can't single feed it, it's a crf " little do they know.

That's something they ought to put out with the info on their actions. For the people looking to use for competitions it might make a difference. It not the only reason i bought the action, but it's a reason I ruled out the bighorn.