Bat and Kelbly comparison

[wkdickinson]

I am not arguing that the Atlas is a true BR action, it isn't.

 

[Tommie]

Which is better? Both are great.
But when you consider service before, during and after the sale...Kelbly is amazing.

 

[Leadfarmer]

Speaking of kelbly, I just went on thier website and saw an order form for this? Not seeing anything on the web for it though. Looks pretty sweet, might give them a call tomorrow and then decide what to get as far as an action goes. Chris Mackey also has BAT Bs for sale. I'm just partial to Kelbly because I have a several atlas tacs.

Prometheus BR ORDER Form - Kelbly Rifles

Kelbly's new benchrest action. Designed for the modern-day competitor, giving you access to standard triggers, chassis, stocks, and pre-fit barrels.

kelbly.com

 

[1shot]

As @Rich S just stated, the Panda series of Kelbly actions are best suited for BR or F class. I have five. The Atlas line is geared more for the hunter/tactical crowd. I just got my first Atlas lite last month, had it chambered in 6 ARC by Kelblys and am loving it. Their CS as well as the attention to detail is second to no one.
I hope this helps,

Lloyd

 

[jimmymac]

Speaking of kelbly, I just went on thier website and saw an order form for this? Not seeing anything on the web for it though. Looks pretty sweet, might give them a call tomorrow and then decide what to get as far as an action goes. Chris Mackey also has BAT Bs for sale. I'm just partial to Kelbly because I have a several atlas tacs.

Prometheus BR ORDER Form - Kelbly Rifles

Kelbly's new benchrest action. Designed for the modern-day competitor, giving you access to standard triggers, chassis, stocks, and pre-fit barrels.

kelbly.com

That looks interesting. Thanks for the link.

 

[LVLAaron]

BAT DS with whatever features/configuration you want.

 

[Kevin1990]

I thought the atlas action used a panda bolt, and was held to the same tolerance and has the same ignition system as any other action they produce, also people use them and win with them. They definitely aren't the most popular that's for sure.


From an accurate shooter article:

Kelbly’s reports: “The new Atlas action is a Remington 700 clone made to benchrest standards. The action body is made of 416RS stainless steel. Bolts are made of 4140 alloy steel on the body and stainless steel on bolt handle. The Atlas action will come standard as a single-shot with trigger bracket for Rem-style triggers, aluminum bolt shroud, cone bolt on 222, PPC, and 308, flat bolt on .532 bolt face, and top safety cutout. The headspace is .692 without recoil lug. The thread will be 1 1/16 x 18 tpi.”

Sounds like they geared it to benchrest to me. Keep in mind I'm a nobody and have shot exactly 4 local club matches in my life.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I thought the atlas action used a panda bolt, and was held to the same tolerance and has the same ignition system as any other action they produce, also people use them and win with them. They definitely aren't the most popular that's for sure.


From an accurate shooter article:

Kelbly’s reports: “The new Atlas action is a Remington 700 clone made to benchrest standards. The action body is made of 416RS stainless steel. Bolts are made of 4140 alloy steel on the body and stainless steel on bolt handle. The Atlas action will come standard as a single-shot with trigger bracket for Rem-style triggers, aluminum bolt shroud, cone bolt on 222, PPC, and 308, flat bolt on .532 bolt face, and top safety cutout. The headspace is .692 without recoil lug. The thread will be 1 1/16 x 18 tpi.”

Sounds like they geared it to benchrest to me. Keep in mind I'm a nobody and have shot exactly 4 local club matches in my life.

This isn't a hill worth dying on, to me, so it's fair enough to say that any action one shoots BR with is a BR action. My first br rifle was a 6ppc on a Mauser, fwiw. It shot pretty well, too! I've built and seen many BR rifles built on Remingtons too, especially UBR Modified class rifles where a custom action moves you out of modified class. Several of those have shot remarkably well. Most of those are guns that have been around a while. Since the time when they were popular in br, there have been improvements in actions and outside of classes where they are mandated, I just don't see many sr br rifles being built on the same technology much these days. But, recoil lug position, action rigidity, ignition improvements and port configurations available today have proven to be worthwhile to the vast majority of those that compete with newer designs.

Bottom line, build what ya want, on what ya want and call it what ya want.

 

[Shooter13]

Will do! It also appears they are not making the SV anymore anyway until they get enough orders to make a run with them, at least that's what the website says.

Can't go wrong with a B/DS (same action except the B has a larger intake/ejection port). I have both, and a Neuvo........and a Mavrick............and a ........... LOL

 

[Kiwishooter]

I love the Bat SV, it has been as accurate as my B and my DS, I had the SV before I got the B and the DS.

The B and DS are longer actions than the SV and the B has a longer loading port than the DS even though they are both the same length actions
Having a shorter loading port on the SV means you have to be more precise when you insert a cartridge, even when it's a PPC and the BR is just slightly longer than the PPC, so this could be something to consider.

The Atlas is built to the same precision as the Panda and all the other Benchrest/target actions Kelbly have made.
With the length being the same as a Remington 700 short action and using the 700 footprint it is a lot easier to source a stock for.
The Panda is probably one of the winningest actions in Benchrest and has great ignition out of the box and the Atlas is the same, other actions seem to have a cottage industry around getting them right.

Either the Bat or a Kelbly action can be the foundation of an accurate rifle, so it comes down to personal choice.

As others have stated Kelblys give service second to none and I can totally agree with that

 

[AlNyhus]

I thought the atlas action used a panda bolt, and was held to the same tolerance and has the same ignition system as any other action they produce, also people use them and win with them.

The Atlas coned bolts are the same as Panda coned bolts. My Atlas has the optional spacer (.173 thick) that allows any barrel threaded for the 1.115" 'Panda' tenon to screw right on the Atlas and head space perfectly.

Also, you see quite a few 700 'clone' actions being used in registered HBR competition.

Good shootin' -Al

 

[Leadfarmer]

The Atlas coned bolts are the same as Panda coned bolts. My Atlas has the optional spacer (.173 thick) that allows any barrel threaded for the 1.115" 'Panda' tenon to screw right on the Atlas and head space perfectly.

Also, you see quite a few 700 'clone' actions being used in registered HBR competition.

Good shootin' -Al

Think I've narrowed my search to Kelbly. Looking at a panda or an atlas, just not sure if I'd see the added benefit of a panda, especially if they will make a dual port or RBLE for an atlas, I also don't like the rail on the panda, but I can live with it. Or maybe just step up to a Prometheus BR action. Decisions...

 

[AlNyhus]

Think I've narrowed my search to Kelbly. Looking at a panda or an atlas, just not sure if I'd see the added benefit of a panda, especially if they will make a dual port or RBLE for an atlas, I also don't like the rail on the panda, but I can live with it. Or maybe just step up to a Prometheus BR action. Decisions...

You can get an 'F' Class Panda that has an integral Picatinny rail.

 

[LVLAaron]

I thought Kelbly said they're discontinuing the panda?

 

[jimmymac]

I thought Kelbly said they're discontinuing the panda?

They are as far as I know unless they changed their minds. Could be a matter of using up remaining material. I hope that steel Prometheus BR action works out good for those willing to try.

 

[Cory porter]

I bet if you post in the classifieds you want a panda or a custom action in 6br for 300 yard f class I bet you have a few offers within a few days

 

[jamesdmock]

Listen to Michael Ezell (gunsandgunsmithing) because he is a builder of great shooting match rifles and he knows of what he speaks. Either the Kelbly Panda or the BAT B or DS have won many, many BR matches. There are new models of each with which I have no experience. I am presently shooting a 1994 Panda and it shoots great. I have three barrels for it (6PPC, and two 6mm Dashers) At 82 years of age, my competitive shooting days are very limited, but the rifle is still competitive. PS_ I shot Bat model B's for many years and found them to be great actions. Also, Jim Borden makes a great action. We are very fortunate today to have so many fine actions.

 

[James A. Kelbly]

Yes, we are discontinuing the aluminum actions. We are shaping the last of them this week and we will have some F-Class Pandas and BR Pandas still available. We also have a shelf full of Kodiaks, Big Bore Pandas ready to finish as well.

The Prometheus BR action which is a steel action, we have sold a number of them and the customers who bought them are very happy with the way they are performing. They all built LV rifles with no problem with weight.

Several of our customers are trying the Preferred Barrels in 6PPC and are shooting some small groups with them and the best part is they are only 285.00 a blank. I will be trying them this spring. I would suggest you take a look at Preferred Barrels especially at the price they are. We are all using the honed process and not the lapped process that they can do as well for an up charge. We have been using Preferred for many of our rifle builds in many different calibers and the customers have no complaints on accuracy. Preferred Barrels is a little know company that produces high quality barrels at the price a barrel should cost.

Jim

 

[jackieschmidt]

I have been around the accuracy game for a long time, and through the years the name Kelbly has always been on the forefront of superior products and superior service.

The only thing that, ( in my opinion), Bat has on many other manufacturers is they do use 17-4 for their action bodies along with their own in house heat treating.

 

[Hengehold]

I have been around the accuracy game for a long time, and through the years the name Kelbly has always been on the forefront of superior products and superior service.

The only thing that, ( in my opinion), Bat has on many other manufacturers is they do use 17-4 for their action bodies along with their own in house heat treating.

What is the significance of using 17-4 on action body?