swd
Silver $$ Contributor
This! ^^^
Budget benchrest actions?
- Thread starter Leadfarmer
- Start date
Short range BR guns pop up fairly often on this forum for less than 2K. Consider this option to get in as inexpensively as possible. No gunsmithing required. No stock to buy. No trigger to buy.
Just because a gun is used doesn’t mean it’s a bad gun. There are some turds in the punch bowl but there are also some good deals to be had. Ask the seller plenty of questions.
Just because a gun is used doesn’t mean it’s a bad gun. There are some turds in the punch bowl but there are also some good deals to be had. Ask the seller plenty of questions.
AlNyhus
Silver $$ Contributor
Lots of good choices in your price range...the Atlas, BAT SV, the Pierce, etc. For SR competition , there's a lot of small details that matter. For example, I own a Mack Bros single shot and love it for it's purpose but wouldn't build a real deal SR competitive gun around one for several reasons. But I would on a Kelbly Atlas...which I also have. But any of the 700 patterns will be sub par in the tang area when compared to some others.
Whether you're going to do a glue in or a pillar bedded bolt in also matters more than a little....this decision should come early on in your decision making.
Also think about your stock selection right away. Just because there might be a bigger selection of stocks for the 700 pattern is not what you want to base your action choice on. As another example, a stock already trotted out as a choice isn't legal for SR real deal BR competition. But that's not to say a 700 pattern action can't be used, either.
The term 'benchrest' gets tossed around so much lately that people think everything shot from a bench is a real Benchrest gun (capital 'B').
Good shootin' -Al
Whether you're going to do a glue in or a pillar bedded bolt in also matters more than a little....this decision should come early on in your decision making.
Also think about your stock selection right away. Just because there might be a bigger selection of stocks for the 700 pattern is not what you want to base your action choice on. As another example, a stock already trotted out as a choice isn't legal for SR real deal BR competition. But that's not to say a 700 pattern action can't be used, either.
The term 'benchrest' gets tossed around so much lately that people think everything shot from a bench is a real Benchrest gun (capital 'B').
Good shootin' -Al
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
I tested the Atlas against several of the other 700 footprint actions. I mean, it was ok. I didn't notice it was close to the top. Not a bad choice, but I keep hearing about how much smoother it is than other actions, or that it has exceptional bolt lift. I did not find that it was excpetional. It's good. But there were several others that were just as good.
And if you want to shoot in "real benchrest" IBS legal competition, you will need one of their setups (which has its own cottage industry that almost no one is supporting any more, which is why you would need to buy used). But I have a feeling that most people aren't shooting "real" IBS when they talk about building a rifle to shoot from a bench.
Especially when they use the word "budget".
And if you want to shoot in "real benchrest" IBS legal competition, you will need one of their setups (which has its own cottage industry that almost no one is supporting any more, which is why you would need to buy used). But I have a feeling that most people aren't shooting "real" IBS when they talk about building a rifle to shoot from a bench.
Especially when they use the word "budget".
Good grief man. Do you ever have any positive comments in regard to sanctioned benchrest? The gentleman clearly stated he wants to go with a short range benchrest rig. It would make zero sense to fit an action to any stock that wouldn’t be IBS or NBRSA legal if for no other reason than resale value.
mfendley
Gold $$ Contributor
I'm happy with both of my Kauger actions.Kauger Arms Actions
Kauger Arms action line has something for everyone, including benchrest and PRS shooting.shop.kaugerarms.com
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
Did I say something that wasn't true? I just said that almost no one is supporting that particular discipline anymore (as far as manufacturers go, in terms of companies making stocks). Which is true. That's not negative or positive it's just a statement of fact.
I did not read his comments as to say "hey I want to go shoot sanctioned short-range benchrest competition". I didn't read that at all. But to each its own. I heard the word "budget benchrest" and I was suggesting some options as per what he asked for. I didn't make the assumption that he wanted something else other than what he said.
Most people are looking for something to shoot in their clubs. They call that "competition." They don't even know what "sanctioned short range benchrest" is.
Some reasons are not as much about the overall quality or tolerances as just the design. Things like, recoil lug setup, does it use a trigger hanger, ignition up to par, firing pin tip diameter, coned breech available, bedding footprint and port configuration. The most common port config for a rh shooter in sr br is a RBLPRE. That's right bolt, left port, right eject.
As has been mentioned, the used market is the best place to buy a PROVEN rifle and save money.
As has been mentioned, the used market is the best place to buy a PROVEN rifle and save money.
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Leadfarmer
Silver $$ Contributor
I was looking at some that are on shooters corner website. He has quite a few on his website. Even a couple 30br and 6br. My only worry buying used (probably irrational) but when I see low round counts like 1-400. I'm worried the barrel is a dud, and on shooters corner I can't see any other pictures that the rifle. Can't tell if the lugs are galled, or if another issue is there. Might give him a call this week.
Leadfarmer
Silver $$ Contributor
Thank you al. I did remember seeing a little write up you did on the mack Bros and why you wouldn't. I will take those three into consideration and do some more studying on stock configuration and selection
I would be keeping an eye out here and when you find something that intrigues you, start asking questions and get detailed pictures. I sold this gun a couple months ago even though I shot a record with it. That gun is a proven winner, so good guns do exist on the used market. In many instances you are better off with a proven used gun than buying new. You just have to be cautious and expect it will need a new barrel sooner rather than later.
https://forum.accurateshooter.com/t...fle-and-50-pieces-of-brass-1950-sold.4121289/
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
Yes, I saw that. I commented on that. Most of my customers come to me and they're shooting matches in their clubs. They call that "short-range" because it's shot at short range (100, 200, 300). But they've never heard of the what you guys are talking about. That's what I was commenting on.
If the original poster was talking about "nationally sanctioned short-range benchrest" then that's fine too. I'm not taking it personally.
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
I agree.
It's my job to get people shooting, and hopefully get them shooting much better so they want to shoot even more.
FWIW-Actually there are at least three organizations that hold Sanctioned CF Benchrest competition : IBS (International Benchrest Shooters),NBRSA (National Benchrest Shooters Association), and UBR (Ultimate BenchRest). Last time I checked, the number of scheduled matches in IBS and NBRSA remains consistent, and UBR's match venues are on the rise.
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
Awesome!
I was simply speaking to the number of people who make stocks specifically for that game. Which, as far as I know is greatly diminished compared to where it was several years ago. Which is why if a person were on a budget he's most likely going to need a used rifle if you were going to compete in one of those sanctioned competitions.
Nothing at all wrong with club matches but if you build a gun around rules that do not fit within those of the official sanctioning bodies, you should do so with the clear understanding that resale value will likely suffer considerably. You are building a rifle that alienates all sanctioned shooters but buying it unless you price it cheap enough they are willing to pay for or do whatever it takes to make it legal...or for other purposes, such as a prarie dog gun. Again, not a thing wrong with that but it should be entered into knowing the pro's and cons of it.
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Easy. We agreed. It wasn't ONLY to you but to the same point. It's all good as far as I'm concerned anyway. Want me to delete it? Lol! It must be Monday.
Fixed it.
@RKS Has a 6ppc built by Old Dominion Custom Rifles for sale in classifieds.
The rifle is brand new on a Terry Leonard stock with Kelbly action.
Priced right
AlNyhus
Silver $$ Contributor
Don't get me wrong...the Mack is a very fine action for a 700 clone. Four things that would be an issue when considering it as a real deal BR action is it's stiff bolt lift, non coned bolt, limited port configs and a quirky trigger hanger that makes servicing the trigger with the barrelled action in the stock virtually impossible.
Again...they are very fine actions for a 700 clone for informal target use, 'dog shooting, etc.
Good shootin' -Al
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