Budget Friendly Action for Remington 700 Short Action?

[bulletpruf]

I'm ready to upgrade the action on my hunting rifle. It's a Remington 700 with a Faxon M24 profile barrel, Timney trigger, and MDT field stock. I'm interested in these - Bergara Premier, Zermatt Origin, and Mack Brothers. I think they are all somewhere around $900 and I'd really rather not spend any more than that.

Reason for the upgrade - I started with a factory R700, but I've upgraded everything but the action at this point, and I've kept everything else, so once I upgrade the action, I can take the original parts and reassemble the original rifle.

Any recommendations on what action to go with?

thanks

Scott

 

[bks22345]

No idea on the ones you listed. I was always interested in the big horn because I have numerous savage small shank barrels. As a backup f-class rifle I bought a Kauger which is a few hundred more than your budget, but the bolt runs like butter and I had it in 3 days.

I pulled an R700 out of a Kestros and it dropped right in.

 

[bulletpruf]

Runs like butter sounds mighty fine! The factory action runs like peanut butter mixed with gravel!

 

[Sniper338]

Runs like butter sounds mighty fine! The factory action runs like peanut butter mixed with gravel!

That was gonna be my question. Why?. I was going to ask what your trying to achieve.

 

[SVT_Tactical]

Kauger VPR

 

[Rob01]

Get the Origin. Runs smooth, tons of shouldered prefits you can put on at home, easily and cost effective bolt heads so you can have multiple calibers on one action and very reliable.

 

[Ryan66]

I’d add a Kelbly Atlas to your list as they are around the $900-1000 price point and run very smoothly as well. I’ve never used any of the Kauger’s but I’ve heard a lot of positives about them.

One thing to consider of the actions you mentioned :
Zermatt origin = savage small shank threads
Bergara/mack bros/kelbly = rem 700 threads
I mention this because it may affect what barrel you plan to use.

Personally I’m a Zermatt origin fan and have one. They are very popular and common which means countless prefit barrel options, interchangeable bolt heads for cartridge changes, a mechanical ejector (eject brass a mile away or dribble out next to you), and run very smoothly.

 

[jelenko]

Pierce actions are $9XX.

Before buying the new action, if would be interesting to see if you could find the cause of the peanut buttery gravel experience.
The two 700's I had both ran very smooth.

 

[troupe]

Kauger, give Zack a call at Old Dominion Custom Rifles. He is the Kauger man ! If the rifle shoots well, you can smooth up the 700 for a lot less than $900

 

[Webster]

I'm ready to upgrade the action on my hunting rifle. It's a Remington 700 with a Faxon M24 profile barrel, Timney trigger, and MDT field stock. I'm interested in these - Bergara Premier, Zermatt Origin, and Mack Brothers. I think they are all somewhere around $900 and I'd really rather not spend any more than that.

Reason for the upgrade - I started with a factory R700, but I've upgraded everything but the action at this point, and I've kept everything else, so once I upgrade the action, I can take the original parts and reassemble the original rifle.

Any recommendations on what action to go with?

thanks

Scott

View attachment 1720993

No reason to get rid of the Rem 700 action. Replacing it won't make the rifle more accurate. Personally I wouldn't put that kind of money in a hunting rifle. I consider a rifle a tool to get the job done. I have 2 REM 700 with a Kreiger barrel. Both shoot under .400" groups. I consider a quality name brand barrel the only upgrade I ever needed.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Some customs come with or without scope rails, so be careful on that option price wise.

 

[Walt Krafft]

Look at Stiller actions.

 

[bulletpruf]

I’d add a Kelbly Atlas to your list as they are around the $900-1000 price point and run very smoothly as well. I’ve never used any of the Kauger’s but I’ve heard a lot of positives about them.

One thing to consider of the actions you mentioned :
Zermatt origin = savage small shank threads
Bergara/mack bros/kelbly = rem 700 threads
I mention this because it may affect what barrel you plan to use.

Personally I’m a Zermatt origin fan and have one. They are very popular and common which means countless prefit barrel options, interchangeable bolt heads for cartridge changes, a mechanical ejector (eject brass a mile away or dribble out next to you), and run very smoothly.

Good point on the threads. I have a Faxon Remage barrel so I need Remington 700 threads.

 

[bulletpruf]

Did some searching and seeing a lot of positive feedback on the Kauger.

Thanks

 

[Rob01]

Good point on the threads. I have a Faxon Remage barrel so I need Remington 700 threads.

You shouldn’t do a remage on a custom action. Get a shouldered prefit and screw it on. No barrel nuts. Don’t buy an action based on a barrel you have laying around.

 

[jelenko]

shouldn’t do a remage on a custom action

Why?

 

[Rob01]

Why?

Exactly. Why? Why would you buy a custom action that can take shouldered prefits and the ease of just screwing it in like a nut into a bolt and being done versus dealing with a nut and having to set headspace every time the barrel is put on, have to possibly modify your stock to take the nut, and the just plain ugly look? The remage nut was always just a work around for people to buy a cheaper barrel and be able to install a barrel at home on their action that doesn’t have set headspace from action to action. If you are going to use a nut then just buy a Savage or used 700 and go from there but buying a custom and doing it is just ridiculous IMHO.

 

[jelenko]

Exactly. Why? Why would you buy a custom action that can take shouldered prefits and the ease of just screwing it in like a nut into a bolt and being done versus dealing with a nut and having to set headspace every time the barrel is put on, have to possibly modify your stock to take the nut, and the just plain ugly look? The remage nut was always just a work around for people to buy a cheaper barrel and be able to install a barrel at home on their action that doesn’t have set headspace from action to action. If you are going to use a nut then just buy a Savage or used 700 and go from there but buying a custom and doing it is just ridiculous IMHO.

Ah, right. I keep forgetting shouldered prefits don't require a gunsmith to install.

At the same time, don't the shouldered prefits tend to cost more than prefits with a nut?

 

[LuvDog]

Nut Prefits don't require a smith to install either, just a set of go/no-go gauges.

Zermatt Origin is a great action. Plenty of them out there and great support if you need it.

Can't say enough great things about Kelbly too. Great people who make outstanding actions.

I'd also give this a serious look. It seems a run of ARC CDGs for Midway

American Rifle Company Coup De Grâce Target M14 Rifle Action Remington

Whether it puts competitors out of their misery or puts and end to the confusion resulting from the myriad of other bolt actions with little or nothing...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[Eric Leonard]

Look at Stiller actions.

I like my Tac 30 for sure