Action choice for hunting rig

[moondog]

Are there issues with Kelbly's ignition?
Just asking, I really like mine

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Defiance is hard to beat for a hunting action. One of the best ignitions around.

I wish they hadn’t dropped the Tennacity action. That was a workhorse at a bargain price.

 

[Tommie]

Get what I have. I live it.

 

[expiper]

the Kelbly actions are un-beatable,,,,bbs. can be ordered from any gunsmith that know his stuff ,,,reliable in bad weather or conditions.,,,,Roger

 

[Jr solocam]

I have no experience or opinion on Kelby actions, but have customs built on Defiance, Stiller, Borden, Mark V and Sako actions. Every year I hunt in 20° and sometimes -20°. Never been froze or locked up. Same for the M70. Keep them clean with prudent amount of lube, dry lube works well. I did have a Remington 870 freeze up once....Maybe I'm just lucky.

 

[B23]

I have builds with BAT, Kelbly, and Stiller. They all have been great but I'm partial to BAT actions and they are my first choice.

For a SAUM you can easily do it on a custom short action you just want to make sure it's one that has at least a 3.10 magazine port. I have a BAT Igniter short action 25 SAUM build and I'm using UM bottom metal that has a COAL of 3.150 which is plenty of length.

I think the available stock options for a short action R700 footprint is a fair bit higher then it is for a medium action.

 

[Kevin1990]

@B23 that's good to hear! I'm thinking of putting whatever action I get in a manners LRH. I believe the mag port of the Kelbly is 3.250. I'm just worried I won't have enough room for like a 168 Berger classic hunter and definitely not enough with the 180 to touch the lands. I have to research more about mag lengths and such. I don't know what is compatible with the Kelbly.

 

[L.Sherm]

Defiance is hard to beat for a hunting action. One of the best ignitions around.

I've got 3 of them, no complaints.
I do want to try a Kauger though.

 

[Matt_3479]

I have hunting rifles in kelbly, defiance, lone peak, and ks arms. I’ve used all in temps below 0c without issues. The lone peak and ks arms are my coyote rigs so they primarily are used in temps from +10 to -30c while the kelbly and defiance or big game rifles and are often used in harsher environments from rain to snow over 7-10 day time periods and none of let me down. If you’re happy with kelbly stick with it, they are fantastic.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I've got 3 of them, no complaints.
I do want to try a Kauger though.

The Kaugers a good option as well. Obviously Bats are great as well as many of the others mentioned in this thread.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Are there issues with Kelbly's ignition?
Just asking, I really like mine

No, Kelblys are good proven actions. There ignition is slightly different than most others, it works well. Just keep a fresh spring in them and maintain .250" of firing pin fall and they shoot.

 

[moondog]

No, Kelblys are good proven actions. There ignition is slightly different than most others, it works well. Just keep a fresh spring in them and maintain .250" of firing pin fall and they shoot.

Thanks Alex, I have 3, and don't have a clue what I'm doing. I did replace the springs in 2.

 

[Kevin1990]

Think I've narrowed it down to a Kelbly Atlas or a Bat ignitor. After some research I'd like to use the UM bottom metal and XL mags.. I have to make sure those are compatible with a manners pro hunter or LRH stock and a Kelbly. If it's compatible with both then I'll flip a coin, but I'm leaning towards the Kelbly lite though due to the weight and a 75 degree bolt throw.

 

[B23]

I can tell you first hand the BAT Igniter with UM bottom metal and their XL mags works perfectly fine with a Manners Pro Hunter because that is exactly the setup my 25 SAUM has.

Most of the newer custom actions have this so the Kelbly probably does as well but I know for sure the BAT Igniter has a modular bolt with interchangeable heads for different case head sizes.

 

[std7mag]

It was a balmy 7°f this morning for the last day of PA's rifle deer season.
The rifle and I were truly cold soaked by the time I went back to the truck.
Zero issues with unloading my Ruger 77 MKII.
The Savage 111 in 257 Roberts AI didn't have any issues in 20°f weather during bear season.

If I remember correctly it was in the high teens the other year that I took 2 deer with my Savage Axis II in 250 Savage.

Personally I'd save the custom actions for competition use. It's what they are built for after all.

 

[nockhunter]

My Zermatt (Bighorn) Origin hasn't "froze" up yet, it's a controlled round feed also.

Mike

 

[Kevin1990]

My Zermatt (Bighorn) Origin hasn't "froze" up yet, it's a controlled round feed also.

Mike

My PRS guys seem to love the zermitt actions. I've watched a few videos of people working the bolt and it looks like it's got some bolt slop, and I've also seen the question raised a few times. Any truth to that?

 

[nockhunter]

Not that I've noticed. Mine is the newer stainless coated actions.

Mike

 

[nockhunter]

Here is a pic of mine.

 

[Matt_3479]

My PRS guys seem to love the zermitt actions. I've watched a few videos of people working the bolt and it looks like it's got some bolt slop, and I've also seen the question raised a few times. Any truth to that?

I own a tl3 and yes it has some “slop” but it was designed to run in any condition as well so it’s not meant to be crazy tight. I do find it one of the easier actions to bind due to this “slop” with poor bolt manipulation