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Bat SV or Kelby Panda

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The action would most likely be used for F-Open 300-600 yds 6BR-308 range case size (possibly an F-class McMillian or Manners T-3) Looking for feedback on function, reliability, and durability, Am familiar with the Bat SV but was considering the Panda to save weight if all else was equal. Not shure which one is smoother to opperate.
thanks
Jer
 
F-class Panda

The F-class Panda is just rite....purpose built....20moa rail, integral recoil lug..etc...and can be had with "static" ejector ...smooth and reliable...light and great bedding footprint....what more culd you want...Roger
PS..any good gunsmith can chamber a bbl without sending the gun away.... you never have to be without a rifle....!!!

PS,,if there are those that want a SS action....Kelbly makes a Grizzly II which uses the Panda thread !!!! wink.....and the new Atlas has a compatable thread also....I can trade or buy bbls that are done professionally for these at any match or from a good gunsmith....someone mentioned the Teddy/Polar/old Grizzly (unlimited action) as being different,,they are correct..but these were made long before Kelbly "standardized" their threads(early 90's) for their current actions
 
panda over the SV any day. I dont like the little short firing pin in the SV action. Question should be BAT Model B or Panda. That makes it a little more tough!! Lee
 
well, the smith that built the rifle I have said he would use to be able to chamber barrels and send to customer with a BAT action without action in hand, he said he would no longer do that. Stated the last few years the tolerances aren't there like before and he couldn't do it. He would still chamber barrels and send out with kelbly actions, w/o having to have the action in house. you could also look at the Kelbly Grizzly action, it is stainless, like the BAT. My pick is Ford by the way, or pretty much anything besides GM or chrysler (jeeps included).
 
Thanks for the suggestions. WOW, I never expected to see the favor be in the Kelby corner against BAT. I have to say that I LOVE the feel of the Bat single shot actions. They lock up like a bank vault and being SS need little attention besided good lube. I was considering the SB being 1" longer for bedding purposes. However, I like the light weight idea of the Panda but have always wondered how fragil the actions are over time. I know they use steel inserts on bearing surfaces. So I guess my questions are
1. How do these hold up 5,000 rds later?
2. Also, how easy is it to ding up the outside of the action? I would hate to see a bunch of scratches/ dents just from putting the gun away in a gun bag with a little sand etc. in it.
3. Very important: how do they compare to the opperation/feel of the BATs?
thanks
jer
 
FryeGuy said:
well, the smith that built the rifle I have said he would use to be able to chamber barrels and send to customer with a BAT action without action in hand, he said he would no longer do that. Stated the last few years the tolerances aren't there like before and he couldn't do it. He would still chamber barrels and send out with kelbly actions, w/o having to have the action in house. you could also look at the Kelbly Grizzly action, it is stainless, like the BAT. My pick is Ford by the way, or pretty much anything besides GM or chrysler (jeeps included).
Click to expand...

If it is a newer Panda then he can do it. But if the Panda is more than 4 years old then I would not recomend it without a headspace issue. How do I know this? I own 5 of them dating back to 1988.
 
My over 8yr old SS Kodiak Hunter action has never fail to headspaced every barrel I've put on it, the fit has always been perfect. But then all of the barrels were originally chambered by Kelbly. That's one of the great feathers about Kelbly action the tension is the same on all their action except their 700 clone. So Panda and Kodiak barrels are interchangeable.

RJ
 
Thats because you are rebarreling the same action. Kelbly will only do that for actions they have already barreled. They keep good records.
 
superlight93 said:
FryeGuy said:
well, the smith that built the rifle I have said he would use to be able to chamber barrels and send to customer with a BAT action without action in hand, he said he would no longer do that. Stated the last few years the tolerances aren't there like before and he couldn't do it. He would still chamber barrels and send out with kelbly actions, w/o having to have the action in house. you could also look at the Kelbly Grizzly action, it is stainless, like the BAT. My pick is Ford by the way, or pretty much anything besides GM or chrysler (jeeps included).
Click to expand...

If it is a newer Panda then he can do it. But if the Panda is more than 4 years old then I would not recomend it without a headspace issue. How do I know this? I own 5 of them dating back to 1988.
Click to expand...

I'm curious...how much difference between the years?--Mike
 
I own three Kelbly's (2 BB Pandas and the 1st Atlas produced). I will have a 4th soon. 1 is dedicated to 1K prone; another for 600 prone and the third is a dedicated Palma rifle. The customer support and skill of the workmanship at Kelblys is second to no one. If you like a rifle that ejects the empty, you can't beat the TM static ejector. Drop the brass at your rifle or down the pants of some offending shooter at the next firing point, it's your choice. ;D
I hope this helps,
Lloyd
 
I completely agree with Lloyd. Not all of my barrels were orginally chambered for the same action. I was told when I contacted Kelbly that any barrel that they chambered would headspace and interchange between any Kodiak and any Panda.

RJ
 
1shot said:
I own three Kelbly's (2 BB Pandas and the 1st Atlas produced). I will have a 4th soon. 1 is dedicated to 1K prone; another for 600 prone and the third is a dedicated Palma rifle. The customer support and skill of the workmanship at Kelblys is second to no one. If you like a rifle that ejects the empty, you can't beat the TM static ejector. Drop the brass at your rifle or down the pants of some offending shooter at the next firing point, it's your choice. ;D
I hope this helps,
Lloyd
Click to expand...

Prone, prone, palma........... big difference..from F-Class or bench rest..you're bulls eye's are alot bigger.....
 
superlight93 said:
Thats because you are rebarreling the same action. Kelbly will only do that for actions they have already barreled. They keep good records.
Click to expand...

That is a question only you're smith can answer. I would not accept the factory drawings no matter who built the action.

Hands on is the only way to go.
 
When you screw on the barrel, remove the firing pin assembly and check with both go and no go gauges, you should have answered any questions you might have had concering proper headspacing.

RJ
 
sailhertoo,
You are correct, that is why Kelbly’s holds the super-shoot every year and a large number of Stolle actions show up in the winner’s circle at both benchrest and F-class around the world. Personally, I just like the precision of their work and I need all the help I can get!
Lloyd
 
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