Earliest Custom Competition Actions?

[Lee in Texas]

I was reading about the 300 H&H cartridge. It won a couple of 1,000 yard matches in the 1930s. Were custom actions available then, or was someone competing with a hunting/military action and doing well with it?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Stolle, hart, shilen then halls started showing up in the 70’s fairly mainstream for serious shooters

 

[Lee in Texas]

I’ve heard of Wolff actions from the 1960s. I saw one in Pennsylvania back around 2000. FN made single shot Mausers back in the 1950s. Those are not too hard to find these days. I find all of this to be fascinating. I would love to build an old school hunting or 1kBR rifle; FN single shot, walnut stock, Unertl scope, 264 WinMag or 300 Weatherby. That would be pretty cool.

 

[tmwinds]

Wichita actions were available 70’s or early 80’s.

 

[billshehane]

How about McMillan & Brackney built a few, Jerry Geskie was a bit later.

 

[jobhopper66]

When I think of an early benchrest action I remember the Weber I had. Not sure when it was made but I think it came out of California.

 

[std7mag]

For match use, i'd guess in the latter half of the 1800's.
Maybe earlier.

Not sure when Williamsport, PA. started their 1,000 yard matches.
Used to be a family outing. Kids playing, picnics & such.

 

[drover]

I was reading about the 300 H&H cartridge. It won a couple of 1,000 yard matches in the 1930s. Were custom actions available then, or was someone competing with a hunting/military action and doing well with it?

Most competitors were using Winchester mod 70 factory match rifles in that era. Not saying that there may not have been the odd custom action but they would not have been common.

drover

 

[FNSafari]

An NRA Shooting Sports Journal | Wimbledon Cup History: Ben Comfort's Controversial Sighters

At the 1935 Wimbledon Cup Match, Ben C. Comfort set one of Camp Perry's more memorable "firsts."

www.ssusa.org

 

[Lee in Texas]

An NRA Shooting Sports Journal | Wimbledon Cup History: Ben Comfort's Controversial Sighters

At the 1935 Wimbledon Cup Match, Ben C. Comfort set one of Camp Perry's more memorable "firsts."

www.ssusa.org

That’s cool, but raises questions. Was it a 1917 Enfield with a single shot follower? Magazine opening welded shut? Some other action made in 1917? Built by Griffin & Howe, so not an off the rack hunting or military rifle. I would love to find a book about target shooting from that era.
Thanks.

 

[Will Henry]

The information I have read on that rifle says it was built on a Remington Model 30 Express action which was derived from the Model 1917. The rifle was built by Griffin & Howe. The pictures I saw were of a very nicely made rifle which would have weighed in at around 14 pounds or more. It would take a strong man to handle this rifle for a twenty shot string. The action used a walnut filler block to covert it to single shot. I don't know what trigger might have been used. They may have simply used a well tuned military trigger. It's possible to produce a very good second stage of 2 pounds or slightly less.
I have a P14 action which I converted to single shot by welding in a solid bottom. The rifle is an honest 1/2 moa shooter so these old military actions can work quite well. For me, as sort of a gunmaker, there is an element of fun in building and shooting rifles not too far removed from Ben Comfort's rifle. If I can make a stock that even resembles those fine stocks by Griffin and Howe and the stockmakers who worked for them, I'm pretty pleased with myself. WH

 

[slm9s]

When I think of an early benchrest action I remember the Weber I had. Not sure when it was made but I think it came out of California.

I still shoot a Weber. Here's a thread I started when I bought it:

Anyone remember Weber actions?

Picked this up at the fun show couple weeks ago. Weber action made in Lodi, CA in the 60s or 70s? Apparently was built by Seitz (sp?) out of Pendleton...

www.24hourcampfire.com

 

[Taildrag15X]

NRA wrote about it.

An Official Journal Of The NRA | Ben Comfort’s Wimbledon Cup Rifle Comes Home

One of the most important rifles used in NRA’s National Matches has been reunited with the family of a remarkable rifleman named Ben Comfort. And the rifle still really shoots.

www.americanrifleman.org

 

[FNSafari]

That’s cool, but raises questions. Was it a 1917 Enfield with a single shot follower? Magazine opening welded shut? Some other action made in 1917? Built by Griffin & Howe, so not an off the rack hunting or military rifle. I would love to find a book about target shooting from that era.
Thanks.

Here's a link to a recent American Rifleman article on Comfort's rifle...

An Official Journal Of The NRA | Ben Comfort’s Wimbledon Cup Rifle Comes Home

One of the most important rifles used in NRA’s National Matches has been reunited with the family of a remarkable rifleman named Ben Comfort. And the rifle still really shoots.

www.americanrifleman.org

As you probably know, the reference to ".300 Magnum" is to the .300 H&H as it's now referred to.

"Along with the rifle came the October 1935 issue of The American Rifleman, plus photocopies of “Ben Comfort’s Sighters” and Elmer Keith book pages. " If you don't have access to the 10 of 1935 AR let me know. I know where there may be one and I can photo it and send to you by email. Interesting stuff!!!

 

[Tommie]

I have never even heard of a single custom action. Plenty of niche manufacturers make quality actions with several options, but that isn’t “custom”. Ordering a Mercedes Benz and choosing from the factory options makes it a quality car suited to your needs and desires but it’s not a custom car.

 

[FNSafari]

I have never even heard of a single custom action. Plenty of niche manufacturers make quality actions with several options, but that isn’t “custom”. Ordering a Mercedes Benz and choosing from the factory options makes it a quality car suited to your needs and desires but it’s not a custom car.

If I order a Rimrock action from Jim Borden I can order a right bolt, left port, right eject, or a right bolt, right port, right eject or no eject. I can specify it polished or not, melonited or not, spiral bolt or smooth. Sounds custom to me. So are you talking about a custom action being a one off only?

 

[DaveTooley]

I’ve heard of Wolff actions from the 1960s. I saw one in Pennsylvania back around 2000. FN made single shot Mausers back in the 1950s. Those are not too hard to find these days. I find all of this to be fascinating. I would love to build an old school hunting or 1kBR rifle; FN single shot, walnut stock, Unertl scope, 264 WinMag or 300 Weatherby. That would be pretty cool.

I'll bet there are some sitting in closets of Williamsport shooters.

 

[Will Henry]

If that is the requirement, I know of several. Actions built by Vic Swindlehurst, Bob and Albert Forslund, or Gerry Geske, are certainly custom actions. In addition I have seen numerous falling block actions. Some replicas of existing designs and some wjich are unique. Post #15 is simply an example of the common tendency to bring semantics into a discussion where they don't belong. WH

 

[FNSafari]

If that is the requirement, I know of several. Actions built by Vic Swindlehurst, Bob and Albert Forslund, or Gerry Geske, are certainly custom actions. In addition I have seen numerous falling block actions. Some replicas of existing designs and some wjich are unique. Post #15 is simply an example of the common tendency to bring semantics into a discussion where they don't belong. WH

Agree 100%. Re custom actions check out www.steveearleproducts.com