Best custom 700 action?

[kyotekiller25]

Looking at a full custom build for my next project. All my current builds are from R700s I've had, and 1 Weatherby Vanguard. While their is nothing wrong with them and they shoot, I'd like to try a custom action next. With that said, there are soooo many choices these days. All I know is I want a 700 type footprint for the aftermarket support (stocks/triggers) and I want one of the top tier actions. Rifle would be used for long range hunting, steel, and maybe PRS.

Also, does a guy go with a removable bolt head if he doesn't plan on switching calibers? I've read some good and bad on them. I guess something about more moving parts and potentially less accuracy? Is that true or no?

I also would not be doing pre-fits. I prefer blanks that are chambered from a smith to my preferences.

So with all that said, what are say the top 3, 700 clone type actions and does a guy want a version with a swappable bolt head or not?

Thanks guys!

 

[6.5 forever]

Lone Peak. I replaced my Rem 700 actions with a Fuzion. I will only go this route on future builds.

 

[tikkaman308]

KAUGER

 

[nmkid]

Kauger

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

I was impressed a few days ago. I called the manager at Pierce Engineering the other day. Fellow on the phone said, I'm sorry, he's on a machine right now. Heck, that impressed me. I don't own one, yet but I am leaning heavily towards one. don't know about changeable bolt head....

 

[Steve Donlon]

Deviant, have a few of those made by Defiance Machine and a Lone Peak . They are both worth the money.

 

[Danley]

Kauger

 

[Rick Richard]

I’ve had numerous Defiance actions and they have all been good. I just recently purchased and built a PRS style rifle using the Bat Hammer Head….really nice.

 

[mtncwru]

It's really hard to go wrong with anything from Kauger, Zermatt, Borden, Kelbly, Defiance, BAT Machine, or Pierce. Worth a conversation with your preferred gunsmith to see what actions they're familiar with: some of the higher end actions can require particular thread or chamber styles.

Re. swappable bolt heads, I'm in favor for two main reasons:
1. Flexibility. I don't know for sure that I'll never swap calibers. Not needing to buy a new gun because I want to change bolt face diameter families has value for me.
2. In the event that something damages the bolt face, repair cost is just a replacement bolt head and not several hundred bucks in machining.

If I was putting together a benchrest gun then I might have a different set of priorities, but at least for my purposes (MR/LR prone, Palma, ISSF 300m) I'm getting plenty of accuracy with the floating head.

 

[Darkside]

Long action / Sa.
Mag. Bolt, face/ 308 face/ ultra mag.

I would ask Alex Wheeler
Just a thought.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Budget?
Why not go with an action with guaranteed headspace, a good Smith can chamber and shoulder a a barrel and send it back to you that way.

 

[SVT_Tactical]

Another vote for Kauger. Slowly Switch all my stuff to kauger.

 

[tikkaman308]

You can buy different bolt heads for the Kauger actions for about 100.00 shipped

 

[J.d. Popkes]

I think that most of the known names all make great ones.

In my opinion it’s about the smallest details.

For a br size case, I think a controlled round feed with a fixed ejection system is better because the plunger style ejection can in some cases drop the case in the raceway before it clears the port, think savage….

Trigger hanger, or pins?

Mag cuts?

Integral rail/lug?

Nitride/stainless, whatever finish?

Who’s established and probably going to support you in 20 years? (Kelbly probably)

Then finally, to me, it’s important to be able to call on the phone and talk to a knowledgeable human being that can take the time to coach you up, sell parts, answer questions etc.

I haven’t fondled all of them but love my Mac bros, bighorn, Kelbly.

 

[Clancy]

My experience is limited to Zermatt TL3 and Origin, Terminus Zeus and Mack Bros EVO ii. That’s at least a barrel through each. I’d rank them like this….

Mack Bros Evo ii
TL3
Orgin
Zeus

You may find that surprising as the list is almost backwards when ranked by MSRP.

I’ve kept two TL3 and two EVO ii for myself and started buying Tikkas for hunting rifles.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

what action length and what cartridge are you leaning towards? SS or repeater?

 

[gat]

I always had great luck with Stiller, Defiance, Kelbly, Pierce. A lot of times it boiled down to availability. I have 4 or 5 Rifles with Stiller actions and they're all 1/4 moa or better but that brings barrel selection to the forefront and that's not what this thread is about!

 

[LuvDog]

They are all great. The way to choose is to decide what is important to you

2 or 3 lug
90, 75, 60 degree bolt throw
Mag choice
Integral rail and lug
Trigger hanger or no
Weight - since you said hunting first and only maybe PRS

 

[kyotekiller25]

So to answer a few more questions here.

It would 90% probably be a short action, something I can shoot a lot, something like a 6 GT or maybe 22 creed I'm thinking, but leaning more towards 6 GT for barrel life. It would definitely be a repeater and use AICS type mags. Bolt throw I don't care one way or the other, standard 90 is ok with me, as 75 and 60 just feel kinda weird since I've used the 90 for all 30 years of my life already. 2 or 3 lug, that doesn't really matter to me as I don't know enough difference to go one way or the other honestly. I would like to use a trigger tech trigger that will go down to 8 oz to 1# so probably need a trigger hanger for that. I would like a built in 20 MOA rail. I like heavier rifles around 14-16# pounds since it's a dual purpose hunting/target rifle.

I was looking at Kauger last night, since I've never heard of them and that seems to be at least half of the recommendations so far. The CRS 2 with trigger hanger looks pretty nice for $1200.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I doubt you would need a trigger hanger for your application.