BAT SV vs Borden BR

[shaun1826]

I’m about to build a single shot 20 Vartarg and have narrowed my action choices down to these two actions (I think).

Has anyone had the pleasure of owning or using both? Did you have a preference of one over the other?

The SV is a little lighter and shorter but I’ve read the Borden is a little smoother. The difference in weight is not a factor.

Thanks for you input.

 

[Jetpilot]

I had a 6mmBR competition rifle built around a Borden Rimrock BRM action. I attended a few long range matches and even borrowed a couple of rifles to be able to have a shot with the aim to ask as many questions as I could. The group of shooters were very helpful and often offered up a few shots after the match or on practice days. There were many actions on the firing line but I will keep this to BAT and Borden, both actions are excellent and you cant go wrong with either. My Borden is smooth and I like that Jim Borden stands behind his products and is a family based company, don't know much about BAT but the workmanship is excellent as well. The guys who have BAT actions wont have anything else and the Borden guys will tell you they have no reason to change. As many has said its more about what your Gunsmith has access to or what he normally works with, the other point is which action is available. If you have the cash and the gunsmith can build you a rifle in smart order then take the action that is on offer, life is too short.

 

[Fyrchief]

I am also in the process of building a single-shot 20VT and chose the Borden based on my experience with a Borden Mountaineer RR and a BAT VR. Both are exceptional actions, but I find the Borden a bit smoother. My BR will be arriving within the next few weeks. You won't be disappointed with either one.

 

[Mark A. White]

Up

 

[GT Accuracy]

OP,

While both actions are absolutely stellar, there are a few differences. One being Zero/Neutral handoff vs cock on close. If bolt lift is an issue for you or your methodology, depending on the weight of your rig, the BAT will be easier to lift. That said, there is NOTHING like the feel of closing the Borden with the zero handoff. It just drops like butter.

To further split hairs, the Borden is hardened to a slightly harder level and has a tighter fit when in battery vs the BAT due to Borden Bumps. The bat has a built in recoil notch in the bottom of the action.

Moral of the story - you can't go wrong with either. I am currently looking at a 6 Dasher I built for a client on an SV and 3 on Borden BR's in various calibers. Both are going to be absolute hammers.

I don't envy your position as both will serve you well.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

It's hard to point out specific reasons without it sounding like one or the other is deficient in some way. Both are very good actions but I'm a Borden guy. I've owned both and built many of both. You cant go wrong with those two choices. I will add that as you aquire more custom actioned rifles, the ability to swap barrels between them is a big plus. I once dated the most popular girl in my hs class. She was a cutie and all but turned out to be a bitch and she's not as cute as she was back then. But at the time, I was cool because I was dating the popular prom queen.
Moral of that story is that popularity has some value.

 

[shaun1826]

OP,

While both actions are absolutely stellar, there are a few differences. One being Zero/Neutral handoff vs cock on close. If bolt lift is an issue for you or your methodology, depending on the weight of your rig, the BAT will be easier to lift. That said, there is NOTHING like the feel of closing the Borden with the zero handoff. It just drops like butter.

To further split hairs, the Borden is hardened to a slightly harder level and has a tighter fit when in battery vs the BAT due to Borden Bumps. The bat has a built in recoil notch in the bottom of the action.

Moral of the story - you can't go wrong with either. I am currently looking at a 6 Dasher I built for a client on an SV and 3 on Borden BR's in various calibers. Both are going to be absolute hammers.

I don't envy your position as both will serve you well.

That’s some good info. I am going to try and make the build on the lighter side so a lighter bolt lift may come in handy especially when shooting off a bag out of a truck window!

 

[6bra1k]

i have both i like both, but if you look at the br compettion world, bat is a much stronger showing on the line.
why not a 20 practical instead simpler to do

 

[shaun1826]

i have both i like both, but if you look at the br compettion world, bat is a much stronger showing on the line.
why not a 20 practical instead simpler to do

I have a 223 AI for when I want to reach out farther. Looking for something lighter with less noise and powder usage and can shoot longer strings of fire between cooling.

 

[7315br]

I have a 223 AI for when I want to reach out farther. Looking for something lighter with less noise and powder usage and can shoot longer strings of fire between cooling.

AFWIW...I have a BAT SV (Hornet bf) in 20 Mink. This is the best one I've built by far out of three 20 Minks I've had. I recently returned from a Sage Rat shoot. Had both the 20 Mink and a 20 VT amongst the group. Shot the 20VT a little over (200) times total. The 20 Mink (1250) times. The 20 Mink is still the best I've found for heavy volume colony varmint shooting at the shorter ranges. Less then 10 grs of pistol powder for 3100 fps and the 32 gr V-Max bullet. Little to hardly even warm bbl heat, 300 rds between cleaning. Low noise. 250 yds range to over 300 yds in good conditions. Long barrel life. For me much better aerial displays than my 17AH. Best of luck on your decision.

 

[jghoghunter]

I've never owned a bat, but I've owned two or three bordens a couple kelby's and a couple nesika. Most of my friends and bats I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

 

[shaun1826]

Thanks guys. I ordered a BAT SV. I was kinda already leaning that way as Manners inlets for them.

 

[Preacher]

Thanks guys. I ordered a BAT SV. I was kinda already leaning that way as Manners inlets for them.

Good choice..

 

[ckaberna]

Simple, just build both Bat and Borden. Then grab a panda.

 

[Gabe22BR]

The SV has a 1” shorter bolt..then the Borden..

 

[Evan]

The SV has a 1” shorter bolt..then the Borden..

Really? My Rimrock BR has an ~xp length bolt - a good bit shorter than a rem 700 short bolt already. Hard to imagine an SV being another inch shorter than that!

 

[Gabe22BR]

Here’s mine

 

[shaun1826]

Per their websites:

Bat SV action = 6.565 inches long
Borden Rimrock BR action = 7 3/8 inch

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

The Borden BR bolt is approximately
4.790 from end of bolt nose to back of to back of bolt handle. Not much difference in performance but the bat action is approximately 1oz lighter than the BR with mini ejection port. Again, not much difference but every bit help making a 10.5lb lv rifle. I can usually find an ounce somewhere. Not a deal breaker very often.

 

[searcher]

I had a 6mmBR competition rifle built around a Borden Rimrock BRM action. I attended a few long range matches and even borrowed a couple of rifles to be able to have a shot with the aim to ask as many questions as I could. The group of shooters were very helpful and often offered up a few shots after the match or on practice days. There were many actions on the firing line but I will keep this to BAT and Borden, both actions are excellent and you cant go wrong with either. My Borden is smooth and I like that Jim Borden stands behind his products and is a family based company, don't know much about BAT but the workmanship is excellent as well. The guys who have BAT actions wont have anything else and the Borden guys will tell you they have no reason to change. As many has said its more about what your Gunsmith has access to or what he normally works with, the other point is which action is available. If you have the cash and the gunsmith can build you a rifle in smart order then take the action that is on offer, life is too short.

The BAT guys are a family-owned operation as well. A number of years back, I was visiting Coeur D'Alene, Idaho and I decided to drop in at the BAT address to see what was up. I figured they might have a little store front or something. At that time, they were in Rathdrum, Idaho out in the woods - not what I had expected. I saw a small door on the side of a metal building and banged on the door. I was met by the owner's brother, whose name I cannot recall offhand (heck - I don't seem to remember much of anything). Anyway - he was like "well - who are you?" I explained that I was a die-hard devotee of their actions and I owned a number of them. Big smiles. He then took me on a 30 minute tour of their operation, explaining the process. It was way more than I expected to see and I got to joyfully hold a bunch of new models that no one had yet seen. Kid in candy store stuff. I can tell you - they are solid guys that like to hunt and shoot - and build beautiful actions. My rifles built on their actions are dear to my heart. Everything I have heard from the Borden fella is good too. We are lucky to have to two outfits like that to choose from.