Best custom 700 action?

[kyotekiller25]

After doing a lot more research and thinking over the night and today, I've been looking more at the Impact 737r or the kelbly prometheus. Not really interested in the zermatts origin/tl3. It will probably be a set and forget rifle, meaning changing calibers/bolt faces probably isn't likely. I also like the idea of integral scope rail and recoil lugs. I've also been reading/seeing where the floating bolt head styles are not quite as accuracy capable (1/4 MOA) as say the 1 piece fixed bolts like the Impact and Kelbly. If I'm going full custom, I expect better than the current 1/2 MOA I get from my current R700s.

It's my understanding the impact just has more options for prefits than the kelbly. That's about the only main discernable difference between the 2 im seeing, unless I'm missing something?

It's probably going to be a 6 GT, and it will be used for coyotes, LR steel out to 1200 at my home range, and a few local PRS/MOA matches. The 6 GT just covers a lot of bases for me and is practical/efficient when it comes to pure accuracy and barrel life. I would probably just end up selling my 6 Creed to my dad once I got this built as the ballistics aren't much different.

So with that said which would you go with, the Impact 737r or the Kelbly Prometheus? I'm kinda leaning towards the Kelbly as it's $1170 vs $1470 for the Impact. Both have 1 piece bolts, integral rails/lugs, trigger hangers.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

After doing a lot more research and thinking over the night and today, I've been looking more at the Impact 737r or the kelbly prometheus. Not really interested in the zermatts origin/tl3. It will probably be a set and forget rifle, meaning changing calibers/bolt faces probably isn't likely. I also like the idea of integral scope rail and recoil lugs. I've also been reading/seeing where the floating bolt head styles are not quite as accuracy capable (1/4 MOA) as say the 1 piece fixed bolts like the Impact and Kelbly. If I'm going full custom, I expect better than the current 1/2 MOA I get from my current R700s.

It's my understanding the impact just has more options for prefits than the kelbly. That's about the only main discernable difference between the 2 im seeing, unless I'm missing something?

It's probably going to be a 6 GT, and it will be used for coyotes, LR steel out to 1200 at my home range, and a few local PRS/MOA matches. The 6 GT just covers a lot of bases for me and is practical/efficient when it comes to pure accuracy and barrel life. I would probably just end up selling my 6 Creed to my dad once I got this built as the ballistics aren't much different.

So with that said which would you go with, the Impact 737r or the Kelbly Prometheus? I'm kinda leaning towards the Kelbly as it's $1170 vs $1470 for the Impact. Both have 1 piece bolts, integral rails/lugs, trigger hangers.

Here’s one more with those features you’re wanting.
https://bulletcentral.com/bat-machi...t-std-picatinny-integral-20-moa-integral-lug/
Don’t forget for the accuracy your wanting, the barrel and GunSmith may trump the action.

 

[kyotekiller25]

Here’s one more with those features you’re wanting.
https://bulletcentral.com/bat-machi...t-std-picatinny-integral-20-moa-integral-lug/
Don’t forget for the accuracy your wanting, the barrel and GunSmith may trump the action.

BATs are super nice, just a little spendy. I've looked at them also. I'll take another gander however.

I'm really liking the looks and sounds of the Prometheus. Can get them for around $1175-1200 which is a good $300 less than the Impact, and $600 less than the BAT. And the bolts are cheaper also, provided you wanted to switch calibers. Not a deal breaker there. But with all 3 actions having the same features, but the Kelbly is $300-600 less, seems like a really good deal. Unless you guys can convince me the BAT or Impact is worth the extra $3-600 over the Kelbly, I'm about 90% set on the Prometheus right now.

I'll be going with a Bartlein 28" Rem Varmint 7.5 twist to start with. My smith is only a 30 minute drive away, a retired machinist who now puts custom rifles together for guys all over the country, and specializes in target/match rifles, R/Os a lot of the matches when hes not putting rifles together. He makes some very good shooting rifles. I have confidence he can get the job done. He did my R700 223 Wylde last year, and he's done a slew of guys builds locally that I've shot with and they've got a lot of wins. The last MOA/KYL match I went to, the top 3 place shooters, including myself were all spun up by him. Plus the turn around time is like 2 days if you bring him everything he needs. And he is very fair on pricing. $150 to cut/chamber. Not a bad deal all the way around honestly.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

BATs are super nice, just a little spendy. I've looked at them also. I'll take another gander however.

I'm really liking the looks and sounds of the Prometheus. Can get them for around $1175-1200 which is a good $300 less than the Impact. And the bolts are cheaper also provided you wanted to switch calibers. Not a deal breaker there. But with both actions having the same features, but the Kelbly is $300 less, seems like a really good deal. Unless you guys can convince me the BAT or Impact is worth the extra $3-600 over the Kelbly, I'm about 90% set on the Prometheus.

I'll be going with a Bartlein 28" Rem Varmint 7.5 twist to start with. My smith is only a 30 minute drive away, a retired machinist who now puts custom rifles together for guys all over the country, and specializes in target/match rifles, and R/Os a lot of the matches when hes not putting rifles together. He makes some very good shooting rifles. I have confidence he can get the job done. He did my R700 223 Wylde last year, and he's done a slew of guys builds locally that I've shot with and they've got a lot of wins. The last MOA/KYL match I went to, the top 3 place shooters, including myself were all spun up by him. Plus the turn around time is like 2 days if you bring him everything he needs. And he is very fair on pricing. $150 to cut/chamber. Not a bad deal all the way around honestly.

Your very fortunate, that’s beyond fair pricing nowadays.

 

[kyotekiller25]

Wanted to thank all you guys for the help and suggestions. I feel like I have a lot more knowledge and better understanding of custom actions now. Now I just need to start saving my penny's over the next year!

 

[Rob01]

I've also been reading/seeing where the floating bolt head styles are not quite as accuracy capable (1/4 MOA) as say the 1 piece fixed bolts like the Impact and Kelbly. If I'm going full custom, I expect better than the current 1/2 MOA I get from my current R700s.

That is not true at all. If you can shoot 1/4 moa then a TL3 or Origin would too. Same with integral everything. My 700 action that I bought in 1993 has had the same Badger Ordnance 20 moa rail on it since about 2004 and never moved. It’s been flown around the country and beat up at matches and it holds. Most of the non integral in custom actions are also pinned so they won’t move. I know you have made up your mind but in case anyone stumbles upon this doing their own research on what to buy I figured I would drop it in.

That said I know it’s your money and from your two choices I would go Impact. I have a lot of friends who use them and have known Wade from shooting matches with him before there was a PRS. Impact is a solid action that won’t let you down.

 

[Shotafterdark]

My 2nd Kauger VPR action arrives tomorrow in 60 days ...
They are that good ,,,,and the bolt heads are a whopping
60 dollars to buy from them ...you can have an outstanding
versatile rifle , ready to swap calibers on the fly .

The reason so many people rant and rave about Bergara rifles
are the precision and quality for a factory rifle....

Guess who makes their actions for them behind the scenes ??


Kauger !! out of Ohio.
super folks and a superb company .

 

[Shotafterdark]

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

Check again they are 60 dollars and tax ...I talked to them on the phone 3 weeks ago

 

[LuvDog]

I have both the Prometheus and the 737.

I agree for the price difference there isn't enough difference in features or how they feel or perform. Even if they cost the same, I can't say one is better than the other. If I had to sell one of them.... I'd probably sell the Impact.

And I know that when I call or email Kelbly, that I'm getting a response almost immediately from Jim or Ian.

You absolutely cannot beat their customer service.

 

[kyotekiller25]

I've made up my mind and going the Prometheus route. I don't see any advantage the Impact has over it for the extra $300. I appreciate all your guys time and knowledge in helping me over the last few days. A fine gentleman and sponsor here on this site has also reached out and helped explain more in depth on the differences of all the actions mentioned and some other questions I had. He offered me a great deal on the Prometheus that I can't refuse. So I'll definitely be going that route.

 

[Edd]

Has anyone talked about anti bind or anti jam features?

 

[LuvDog]

Kauger !! out of Ohio.
super folks and a superb company .

Kauger is out of Ohio?

I thought they were Georgia based on their website

 

[kyotekiller25]

That is not true at all. If you can shoot 1/4 moa then a TL3 or Origin would too. Same with integral everything. My 700 action that I bought in 1993 has had the same Badger Ordnance 20 moa rail on it since about 2004 and never moved. It’s been flown around the country and beat up at matches and it holds. Most of the non integral in custom actions are also pinned so they won’t move. I know you have made up your mind but in case anyone stumbles upon this doing their own research on what to buy I figured I would drop it in.

That said I know it’s your money and from your two choices I would go Impact. I have a lot of friends who use them and have known Wade from shooting matches with him before there was a PRS. Impact is a solid action that won’t let you down.

Not to start a pissing match here, but if that wasn't true, than the short range BR and Fclass crowd, which are arguably the 2 most accuracy minded shooting disciplines, would be using floating style bolt heads, and I don't think a majority of them do. Is that a safe bet to say?

 

[Rob01]

Not to start a pissing match here, but if that wasn't true, than the short range BR and Fclass crowd, which are arguably the 2 most accuracy minded shooting disciplines, would be using floating style bolt heads, and I don't think a majority of them do. Is that a safe bet to say?

No but you already made up your mind so no point to discuss the BR crowd.

 

[kyotekiller25]

Ok. We'll just have to agree to disagree then. Accuracy is still accuracy at the end of the day regardless of the discipline. And if the top shooters in the country use fixed bolts for the smallest groups, there's obviously a reason for it.

Also I find it odd that hardly anyone here uses or recommends the Kelbly Prometheus. Is there a good reason for that? I dont know. I think a lot of Impacts success was early on in PRS, some of the first to offer prefits, their marketing, and the bandwagon culture we shooters tend to gravitate towards to what the Pros use. You could give those Pros any action and they would still win or place in the top 5 or 10. If they all shot Prometheus, the following year everyone would be using them. I'm not saying the Impact is not a great action, I know they are. But no one can still answer as to why it's the better option than the Prometheus and carries a $300+ price tag over them. Anyway, it's all for discussion and learning purposes. Don't take it the wrong way.

 

[Rob01]

Ok. We'll just have to agree to disagree then. Accuracy is still accuracy at the end of the day regardless of the discipline.

Yup we will as I know the accuracy I can get from them and have shot standard bolts also in long range matches across the country. If I felt there was any accuracy issue I wouldn’t be shooting the Zermatts. Not sure if you need to tell yourself what you do to make your decision easier but I know the Prometheus will be plenty accurate as well so you will be fine. Not sure why you felt the need to jump back in and pick a fight about it.

 

[kyotekiller25]

Not trying to pick a fight. Genuinely curious and want to know more about all actions, and what's used is all. There's a lot of great options and I just want to educate myself. If there's a trend towards something it's usually for a reason. I'm not typically one to just hop on the bandwagon without doing extensive research is all. I like to weigh all my options.

 

[rickhirsch]

so I'm following this post and it's what i wanted to see thanks guys. where can i get a kelbly prometheus
action for 1200. dollars ? i was doing same thing looking at actions I wanted a bat or a borden action
but when think its up to a accuracy kelbly will shoot small. and i'm a old man i'm not going the nationals
and i just saw a erik cortina video where he said brass,bullets and barrels . So where can i get a action
for that price ?

 

[GT Accuracy]

I have one Prometheus left I’ll let go of for $1200 + shipping and fees