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Action choice for hunting rig

Kevin1990

I figured I'd ask to see what you are all using. I've acquired a few bolt guns over these past few years and only have one that's actually a repeater. (Kelbly Atlas tac.) I read on a forum that a guy got his Kelbly Atlas action wet and in sub zero temps, and the TG ejector froze in the outward position, not allowing him to chamber a round.

Looking to do a 7 Saum repeater early next year. Any advice on a repeater action that you'd trust with your life or the hunt of a lifetime on? Is the story above B.S? I like Kelbly because even with the slim chance something does go wrong the customer service is other worldly and it gives me that warm fuzzy feeling. But just looking for opinions.

Thanks fellas
 
I don't know what action could survive getting wet and then froze.... there's also been talk on another forum of the barrel end getting wet and thin layer of ice freezes, they shoot, and barrel explodes.

No matter what action you use i would do my best to weather proof/lube it.

Couldn't that guy stick the bolt in his pocket and it would thaw in 5 minutes?

Impact nbk would be my choice, they are built to keep functioning in the harshest use conditions and competitions.

A simple model 70 with the old exposed trigger has a field strippable bolt. I grew up on them and love them, but I don't build my customs on them. They sure are simple and work well though.

7 saum can be tricky to get to feed from offset bdl and so I'd use hawkins hunter mags.
 
Kevin1990 said:
I figured I'd ask to see what you are all using. I've acquired a few bolt guns over these past few years and only have one that's actually a repeater. (Kelbly Atlas tac.) I read on a forum that a guy got his Kelbly Atlas action wet and in sub zero temps, and the TG ejector froze in the outward position, not allowing him to chamber a round.

Looking to do a 7 Saum repeater early next year. Any advice on a repeater action that you'd trust with your life or the hunt of a lifetime on? Is the story above B.S? I like Kelbly because even with the slim chance something does go wrong the customer service is other worldly and it gives me that warm fuzzy feeling. But just looking for opinions.

Thanks fellas
Click to expand...

On my magnums I run a melonited Kelbly Atlas Lite, Defiance Anti, Defiance AntiX, 700, and PTG Valhalla. If I were to build another magnum, the melonited Kelbly Atlas Lite will get the nod. I certainly like the floating ejector for it's merits. It feels like it runs smoother than the rest.

The magnums are 7RM, 30Nos, 300WM, 26Nos, and 338NM in the order the actions are enumerated.

As far as getting a rifle wet in sub zero temp, my guess a part or two from any action will most likely freeze up
 
If I were to build a hardcore hunting rig right now it would be on an ARC Mausingfield action. Best of all worlds. But, I have hunting guns on Ruger 77 tang safety, Rem 788, 1917, rem 700. My 1917 is the most bomb proof, but its an 11+lb gun in a boyds stock and 26" barrel. Mausingfield has CRF and is available in dbm.
 
Been using a lot of defiance anti X but there’s a lot of good ones. I have a few rifles built on tikka actions, that and Kauger actions for lower priced quality actions. Bat and Defiance are the two I’ve used a lot for top shelf builds, I’ve been nothing but pleased with all of those actions. multiple actions are offered by most companies, a discussion with your builder or the action company might help narrow it down as far as what fits you best for this build.

If weight is factoring into the decision then you may want to take a look at something Titanium.
 
My hunting rigs are all simple, off the shelf actions. Some are rebarrelled and with different stocks.
Rem 700, Rem 600, Win M70, Ruger M77, CZ550 and Savage. All have been in rain, snow and freezing, though I have not used or tested any of my guns below 20°F.
As far as the Atlas freezing, I'm with the suggestion of putting it in your pocket. However, I would ask, why wasn't a round already chambered?
 
+1 kelbly atlas long action for 7 saum! Always keep your rifles clean and dry! Tape the barrel in bad weather conditions.
 
Even though I hunt saber tooth groundhogs (;)), if my life was on the line in a hunting situation, I would prefer a control feed Mauser action. However, if a lion was charging me and I didn't get off an effective first shot, I am not sure I could make a second shot because I would probably lose my bowels. :( Since I have never been in that situation, I would defer to those who have.

I have had on two occasions where a buck of a lifetime presented itself to me. I bagged both with a 308 Model 700 Rem in moderately cold weather. I have always considered reliability both in a rifle and ammunition to be a key element for a hunting rifle.

Over the years, while I have not seen that many, the most significant culprit I have seen in firearm malfunctions (non-mechanical defects) is over lubrication. When hunting in sub-freezing temperatures I always made sure the rifle was free of any standing lube or grease. I know this is going to meet with disfavor of many on this forum, but I stop lubing bolt lugs years ago. I found that it attracted carbon forming a "mud" and really wasn't necessary if the bolt is probably fitted to the action. Removing lug lube at least for cold weather hunting conditions is something I would suggest you consider. Also, most experienced hunter know that you never lube the trigger assembly.

I've hunted in freezing rain conditions, the most unpleasant hunting experience I ever had, but I did not have the action lock up on me. I always use masking tape on the muzzle to prevent rain from enter the bore. I have tested this on target, and it does not change the POI as long as the tape is not applied inside the bore.
 
First, what do you consider "hunt of a lifetime"?
For hunting rifles I go with, Remington, Winchester, Mauser and a Weatherby (because it’s a 460).
Even hunting Africa shots are seldom over 100 yards, usually under 50, and if the gun shoots 1” or 0.1” under field conditions it really doesn’t matter.
7 SAUM is a great hunting cartridge but if it goes missing in transit it’s impossible to find. I like the common old rounds if not traveling in my own vehicle, then the weird stuff goes with me.
 
I’ve shot most of the production brands in sub 20 degree F weather and don’t recall one ever failing to go bang. I’m sure you could cover them with water, freeze and there’d be some that fail but that seems like a very specific situation. In general weather conditions I don’t see it happening.
 
Remington would be my go to for the field, I prefer to be able to just drop a round in and chamber over controlled feed, BDL LA mag box is generous.
I know Tikka is great but I really don't like thier plastic magazines,and I'm not a fan of the noisy clunky sounds that come from a DBM.
 
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