BAT Bumblebee success stories?

[Clancy]

I’m an oddball when it comes to rifles. I want a 10-12 pound hunting rifle that’ll shoot like a PPC (who don’t?) and I want them to look good. I’ve got a couple of BR variant builds that are sure enough .250 or better agg guns using Bart’s excellent bullets and I think asking any more than that is lunacy.

But, it’s time for a 3rd, and I keep looking at the handsome little Bumblebee, but I can’t seem to find a word about them other than that they do in fact exist. I’ll kick this off with tagging the knowledgeable @Alex Wheeler.

 

[Rubberduckie]

I've got one. Just got it back from my smith. 6 dasher. It looks, feels, and functions smooth. Getting a stock or chassis is difficult. I found someone to inlet an existing bell and carlson stock I already had. I however did not do a lightweight build as it has a1.200 straight barrel. I just wanted a repeater to shoot 300-600 steel from a bench.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

What do you want to know?

 

[Clancy]

What do you want to know?

Is it a success or failure? Why can I find only a couple of rifles built on it on the web?

Is it good enough to build a rifle capable of shooting .200 or better with regularity? I worry about them calling it a hunting action.

And, simply, do you like it?

Thanks

 

[jackieschmidt]

I believe Bat states that all of their actions are machined with the same level of precision and expertise.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Is it a success or failure? Why can I find only a couple of rifles built on it on the web?

Is it good enough to build a rifle capable of shooting .200 or better with regularity? I worry about them calling it a hunting action.

And, simply, do you like it?

Thanks

Look up the Vampire action on some of the hunting forums. Its the same action just a long vs a short. I build a lot more long range stuff so I have used a lot of the vampires, only one or two bumblebees. The Vampire is very popular.

They are great actions. They are durable, have not heard any negative feedback. They are actually smoother than Bats steel repeaters in my opinion. They are basically like any other Bat, the big difference in the aluminum body which I like. Really, most actions within each manufactures line ups are about the same action. The bolt and fire control usually is about the same. Its just the outside features that change. My only con I have about them and all repeaters from Bat now is the 2 piece bolt. But unless enough people complain I guess we are stuck with it.

I have been trying to get Bat to make an aluminum action for about 5 years. I was trying to get a B. They came out with the bumblebee instead. So I was trying to get a single shot drop port version of one which Bruce did agree to make. But then Chris Harris at Bullet Central got us an aluminum Nuevo. So yes, I do like Bats, and I do like aluminum action bodies. I will have the action I have wanted for a long time very soon.

 

[Clancy]

That sounds good to me, thanks for the time Alex.

 

[ronsatspokane]

My neighbor built duplicate ultra light hunting rifles out of them. We bore sighted them at 200 yards through the Nightforce scopes and in testing they were shooting about 1/4 MOA. He's a hardcore hunter. The kind of guy who hoofs it 5 to 15 miles back into the bush in snow and freezing temps to get his Elk and deer every year. Hunts in Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. I fish with him and that's bad enough what with the hiking in under head lights to fish at 20 degrees when the sun comes up. I ain't hunting with him. I'm not man enough. This guy can afford anything he wants and he used the Bumblebee for his builds. In seeing what they can do in an ultra light I have no doubt that they would shoot at PRS and F Class levels in a heavier build.