Which custom action for shooting PDs beyond 500 yds?

[Lefty2506]

I'm trying to plan my first custom build and I have little to no idea where to start in regards to picking an action. I've owned, loaded for, and shot Savage 110s and Rem 700s which have all been able to get down to 1/4 MOA, but that's where my accuracy tends to stall out. Normally, I enjoy taking an economical configuration and seeing how accurate I can make it. This time I'm more interested in a buy once, cry once approach. My local range is limited to 500 yds (and I'm grateful to have access to it), but my primary application will be late season prairie dogs. I'll likely go with a barrel chambered in 22-250AI, 22xc, or 22creed. I'm kicking around the idea of putting everything in a chassis because it would be a little more flexible in application than a BR or F class stock.

No idea what action to start with though. I know I want something with an integral recoil lug, but that's about it. I'm not even sure if I should go with a single shot, or something mag fed. Mag fed would be nice because I can maintain my cheek weld, but a single shot should be more accurate. I'm just not sure if the additional accuracy potential would be discernable unless I'm on a concrete bench with a good front rest and rear bag. I'm also not sure it makes sense to drop a single shot "custom-ish" action in a chasis that's designed to accept a magazine. I'm interested in hearing what advise other, more experienced shooters have on the subject.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[urbanrifleman]

I'm trying to plan my first custom build and I have little to no idea where to start in regards to picking an action. I've owned, loaded for, and shot Savage 110s and Rem 700s which have all been able to get down to 1/4 MOA, but that's where my accuracy tends to stall out. Normally, I enjoy taking an economical configuration and seeing how accurate I can make it. This time I'm more interested in a buy once, cry once approach. My local range is limited to 500 yds (and I'm grateful to have access to it), but my primary application will be late season prairie dogs. I'll likely go with a barrel chambered in 22-250AI, 22xc, or 22creed. I'm kicking around the idea of putting everything in a chassis because it would be a little more flexible in application than a BR or F class stock.

No idea what action to start with though. I know I want something with an integral recoil lug, but that's about it. I'm not even sure if I should go with a single shot, or something mag fed. Mag fed would be nice because I can maintain my cheek weld, but a single shot should be more accurate. I'm just not sure if the additional accuracy potential would be discernable unless I'm on a concrete bench with a good front rest and rear bag. I'm also not sure it makes sense to drop a single shot "custom-ish" action in a chasis that's designed to accept a magazine. I'm interested in hearing what advise other, more experienced shooters have on the subject.

Thanks,
Mark

Why don't you give me a call? I can answer a lot of your questions, I think. Bradley

 

[muleystalker]

I would go with a BORDEN MOUNTAINEER IL RR, Its their RIMROCK target action but in a Rem 700 footprint so you will have a big choice in stocks. The RR designation means it has the RimRock specs with Borden Bumps and the IL means integral recoil lug which I wouldn't get hung up on, all my BORDEN F-Class rifles and other BORDEN actions I own all have Pinned recoil lugs and and they work just fine Borden just started making integral recoils this past year on the Mountaineer, all his RIMROCK (target) actions are still pinned recoil lugs and he has many actions out there that hold records and have won National and world titles in several disciplines. They do make the Mountaineer in a repeater but they also make it in single shot which I really like.You do not have to break your check weld if shooting prone or from a bench, F-Class and BR shooters do it every day, watch a video of a BR shooter slinging 5 rounds down range so fast it will make your head spin.LOL I would go a carbon fiber stock, a MANNERS is my choice, chassis stocks can get dam hot sitting out in the sun varmint shooting and cold in the winter.
The Manners T5A is probably my favorite and most comfortable stocks of all time. The T2A-Gap is another nice stock that works great a varmint stock.Both of these can be shot from a bench and prone also. I also have several of the EH1A's that shoot well out past 1000. I am really liking the LRH also.

Tactical Stocks - Manners Composite Stocks

Tactical stocks are second nature for us, designed with strength & stability in mind. Get the perfect adjustable cheek stock for comfort & precision. Discover more now!

mannersstocks.com

Hunting Rifle Stocks

Introducing composite hunting rifle stocks. Our hunting stocks are developed with strength, lightness and stiffness in mind.

mannersstocks.com

 

[Tommie]

Wind deflection at longer distances is the big battle in Poodle Land. Worrying about a gun that can “only” shoot .25 MOA is a waste of bandwidth.

 

[muleystalker]

Between the cartridges you listed I would go the 22 Creed but I'ld bump up to a a 6mm, as in a 6 Dasher throated for 105-110 class bullets or a 6 Creed set up the same. Once you shoot a 6BR, 6DASHER or 6BRX you will always have at least one in the stable.

 

[Skattergun]

I shot a defiance deviant in a mdt Acc elite chassis last year for gophers, chambered in straight 6br. 65gr vmax going like 34-3500. It was a 8 twist barrel and I think all the extra revs really helped detonate.
it was awesome, accurate, and il be bringing it with me again this year

 

[Prose]

A shilen barreled action is pretty cost effective. Piece together the other parts and you are in business.

 

[marchx]

I was asking myself the same questions since I was shooting a remington 700 action in a chassis in different calibers for last 5 years. I was shooting f-class and short rang BR. Last Christmas I decided to change the whole setup: I ordered a single shot action and a Dima stock.

 

[Lefty2506]

Why don't you give me a call? I can answer a lot of your questions, I think. Bradley

I'm planning on doing exactly that before I spend any money

 

[Lefty2506]

Between the cartridges you listed I would go the 22 Creed but I'ld bump up to a a 6mm, as in a 6 Dasher throated for 105-110 class bullets or a 6 Creed set up the same. Once you shoot a 6BR, 6DASHER or 6BRX you will always have at least one in the stable.

Why? I was originally wanting a 6x47, but realistically the 22 CM will push 75-90gr bullets fast enough that a 105gr 6mm can't keep up won elevation, and struggles to keep up with wind drift. I'd have to move up to a 115gr DTac to actually do better in the wind, and those are $$, hard to get, and loose a lot more elevation. After taking a step back, I realized that 6mm is a compromise that I don't need to make. If I want more energy on target, I'll run something in 6.5. Otherwise, I'll stick with the 22s. The cost difference in loading components isn't enough to pay for the next barrel, but it is enough to offset the rate with which the 22s get burned out.

 

[Hal]

If you go the single shot route get a right bolt left port if your right handed.
Borden actions are some of the best.

Hal

 

[AlNyhus]

For an action, I'd opt either the Borden mentioned above or a Kelbly Atlas...both in a single shot. The Atlas doesn't have a integral lug but it's double pinned. Kelbly's can supply a spacer so the common 1.115" head space 'Panda' tenon barrels will screw right on...when you need another barrel you won't have to have the action sent to have the barrel fitted.

Make sure and get a coned bolt for easy feeding....there's no place for flat front bolts for what you're wanting to do. For your stated demands, the various econo 700 actions and barrels won't deliver the long term satisfaction you're looking for.

Good shootin' -Al

 

[boltfluter]

My personal choice would be a Borden Alpine in a single shot configuration. Very smooth action, closes like a bank vault! Fits in many stocks as it is a Remington 700 footprint. Heat treat between bolt and action is spot on, as in no gauled lugs. Very important, at least to me, in a high round count hunting situation. Or similar Borden action if you have to have an integral lug set-up. Do yourself a favor and let Jim time the trigger to the action, for a very nice firm firing pin drop. Mine is like no other action/trigger combination that I own or have ever owned. Many great action choices out there today. I would chamber it in 6BR and shoot the 87 V-max and launch the pasture poodles skyward! Would be deadly out to 750 yrds or so. Let the games begin.
Paul

 

[stavey]

As previously stated
Borden Mountaineer

 

[JSH]

I won’t get into the action side of your question, as that is a preference only you can decide. FYI your pretty much in field conditions and most times those little critters don’t spend a lot of time in one place.
Some of the calibers in choice or mentioned above, are quite a bit more than one needs for prairie dogs unless something has changed in the last few months. If your goal is 1K on whacking one, you have about 1-2 hours max to do it, mirage moves in and winds pick up, all but hopeless after that, usually.
Any case bigger than a BR will heat up fast, the BR can heat up quick enough.
Not saying the BR and bigger cases won’t work, two of us used a 416 Remington years ago, but the larger Varmint size cases for me are purpose built and see less than 50 rounds in a week of shooting.
I like heavy, as little recoil as possible and a suppressor. With those three you get to see all of the action. My rigs are heavy from 17-30+ pounds, I have no need for a spotter I can see all of my impacts.

I would look study long and hard on a 22BR. Decide what bullet you want to use then decide twist and throat, Brad looks to have it covered there.

I purpose built a 20BR, I bought both bolt heads so I could swap in the future if I so desired.

 

[rwj]

I'm trying to plan my first custom build and I have little to no idea where to start in regards to picking an action. I've owned, loaded for, and shot Savage 110s and Rem 700s which have all been able to get down to 1/4 MOA, but that's where my accuracy tends to stall out. Normally, I enjoy taking an economical configuration and seeing how accurate I can make it. This time I'm more interested in a buy once, cry once approach. My local range is limited to 500 yds (and I'm grateful to have access to it), but my primary application will be late season prairie dogs. I'll likely go with a barrel chambered in 22-250AI, 22xc, or 22creed. I'm kicking around the idea of putting everything in a chassis because it would be a little more flexible in application than a BR or F class stock.

No idea what action to start with though. I know I want something with an integral recoil lug, but that's about it. I'm not even sure if I should go with a single shot, or something mag fed. Mag fed would be nice because I can maintain my cheek weld, but a single shot should be more accurate. I'm just not sure if the additional accuracy potential would be discernable unless I'm on a concrete bench with a good front rest and rear bag. I'm also not sure it makes sense to drop a single shot "custom-ish" action in a chasis that's designed to accept a magazine. I'm interested in hearing what advise other, more experienced shooters have on the subject.

Thanks,
Mark

You may find this poll interesting…

Influence on Performance

Please base responses on components being in their “prime” and functioning properly. Stating the reason(s) for your selection could lead to some interesting discussions!

forum.accurateshooter.com

 

[Lefty2506]

The reason I want an integral recoil lug is because I plan on ending up with multiple barrels and I don't want to mess with the recoil lug at all. I know it can be pinned, but I'd just rather have it as part of the action.

A triggers IS the other question that I haven't asked yet. In my late teens and early 20s, for 4 years I spent roughly 3 hours a week for 6 months a year behind an Anschutz 1813 breaking and rebreaking our colleges smallbore records. I absolutely LOVE the Anschutz triggers and they absolutely ruined me. I can run a crappy trigger pretty good, but it bugs the living daylights out of me. As factory rifles go, I LOVE the Savage 110, but I'll never buy another one just because of the triggers (or lack of) that are available for them. If I'm going to spend any money on a rifle, I expect it to have a nice adjustable 2 stage trigger. I'm not sure if/when Jewell triggers will be available again. I'd consider a Trigger Tech Diamond or something like a Tubb T7T. I've dryfired the Diamond, and it's okay. I haven't played with the T7T, but on paper, it looks good. I'm not set on either of those options, but you get the general idea of what I'd be looking for.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

One of these is pretty custom and it will reach them way out there

 

[urbanrifleman]

Why? I was originally wanting a 6x47, but realistically the 22 CM will push 75-90gr bullets fast enough that a 105gr 6mm can't keep up won elevation, and struggles to keep up with wind drift. I'd have to move up to a 115gr DTac to actually do better in the wind, and those are $$, hard to get, and loose a lot more elevation. After taking a step back, I realized that 6mm is a compromise that I don't need to make. If I want more energy on target, I'll run something in 6.5. Otherwise, I'll stick with the 22s. The cost difference in loading components isn't enough to pay for the next barrel, but it is enough to offset the rate with which the 22s get burned out.

This is wise...

 

[Lefty2506]

I won’t get into the action side of your question, as that is a preference only you can decide. FYI your pretty much in field conditions and most times those little critters don’t spend a lot of time in one place.
Some of the calibers in choice or mentioned above, are quite a bit more than one needs for prairie dogs unless something has changed in the last few months. If your goal is 1K on whacking one, you have about 1-2 hours max to do it, mirage moves in and winds pick up, all but hopeless after that, usually.
Any case bigger than a BR will heat up fast, the BR can heat up quick enough.
Not saying the BR and bigger cases won’t work, two of us used a 416 Remington years ago, but the larger Varmint size cases for me are purpose built and see less than 50 rounds in a week of shooting.
I like heavy, as little recoil as possible and a suppressor. With those three you get to see all of the action. My rigs are heavy from 17-30+ pounds, I have no need for a spotter I can see all of my impacts.

I would look study long and hard on a 22BR. Decide what bullet you want to use then decide twist and throat, Brad looks to have it covered there.

I purpose built a 20BR, I bought both bolt heads so I could swap in the future if I so desired.

No arguments here. I'm hearing some of you say that I don't really need a 1000 yd BR setup to shoot prairie dogs past 400 yds, and I totally agree. I'm not jumping from 400 yds straight to 1000 yds. I'm just wanting to buy one action that will (hopefully) meet all my future needs. I'd rather spend more money now and get an action that's better than I need than end up needing to buy a "better" action down the road. FWIW, I plan on ending up with multiple barrels for this rifle, and I don't plan on having anything I can shoot before next winter. Budget wise, I want to get the action and trigger in the next 3 to 6 months and then get the stock and (1st) barrel next winter with the goal of taking it out for first blood late in 2025. I'll continue to use my current array of rifles out to 300 yds or a little more. I'm wanting something to use when I'd rather the rifle stretch its legs than me stretch mine

Ultimately, I can see having a different barrel/cartridge for 300-700yds, and another barrel dedicated to whacking a few way out there early in the day. While I think I'll end up with a barrel chambered in something like 22CM, it wouldn't be my only barrel. The topic of which chamber to use is a whole other discussion (actually several discussions). I'm not to the point where I need to work out those details yet. I just want to make sure that I'm starting off with an action that will get me where I want to be.