Borden Mountaineer or Terminus Zeus

[PA Shootist]

Border Mountaineer or Terminus Zeus.
Which would be the better action for a 6GT and 6mm BRA? Looking for opinions on these 2 only. I'm from PA and supporting local.

UPDATE: Jim is building one of his SS6 actions for a 6BRA. Thank you all for the advice. I'll keep the thread open for after rifle is built and put to use.

Borden Super Short 6 Action introduction:​

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Whats the intended purpose?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Never handled a Terminus but Bordens are made in Pa. by Jim Borden. He is the designer AND the manufacturer. I do like them, and their accuracy has been proven in BR competition. So you can't go wrong there.

 

[GNERGY]

I just bought a Terminus Apollo Lite and really like the fit and finish. It is my first custom action. It is all DLC coated and really smooth. I am a machinist and really couldn't find any flaws. It is a 3 lug action and I am going to build a long range hunting rifle ( switch barrel 6.5/300 WSM and 300 Ultra mag ).
Tarey

 

[PA Shootist]

Whats the intended purpose?

I just bought a Terminus Apollo Lite and really like the fit and finish. It is my first custom action. It is all DLC coated and really smooth. I am a machinist and really couldn't find any flaws. It is a 3 lug action and I am going to build a long range hunting rifle ( switch barrel 6.5/300 WSM and 300 Ultra mag ). Tarey

Whats the intended purpose?

 

[PA Shootist]

Whats the intended purpose?

Match shoots and woodchuck shooting.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Match shoots and woodchuck shooting.

Borden has stood the test of time and is not the flavor of the week

 

[PA Shootist]

I agree. I'm not much of a groupie. Just like to use what works and has longevity.

 

[carlsbad]

Bordon fan. Greek mythology isn't a bad thing but not familiar with that action.

edit: OK I googled zeus.

1. doesn't have a trigger hanger so cannot be timed for different triggers. don't know what trigger the trigger pins are spaced to be timed for.
2. Not available with sako extractor. Sako is much lighter and slips over the rim easier, especially on the light cartridges you want to use it with. my preference.

My 2c.

Jerry

 

[boltfluter]

I personally would get the Borden and purchase the trigger from Jim and have him time it at the same time. A win win in my book!

Paul

 

[PA Shootist]

I personally would get the Borden and purchase the trigger from Jim and have him time it at the same time. A win win in my book!

Paul

Thanks Paul. I have a triggertech diamond I plan to use. I live about 40 miles south of them so I could just hand deliver a trigger if I go that route.

 

[PA Shootist]

Bordon fan. Greek mythology isn't a bad thing but not familiar with that action.

edit: OK I googled zeus.

1. doesn't have a trigger hanger so cannot be timed for different triggers. don't know what trigger the trigger pins are spaced to be timed for.
2. Not available with sako extractor. Sako is much lighter and slips over the rim easier, especially on the light cartridges you want to use it with. my preference.

My 2c.

Jerry

Thanks Jerry. I have both Triggertech Diamond and Jewel triggers at home to choose form. Likely use one of the Diamonds. I'm not familiar with trigger timing so I'll have to research that some. As with the sako, that is how my brother set up my 700 actions so I one where you're coming from. Good point.

 

[Carolina Hillbilly]

I have a Zeus and several Borden Rimrocks. The Zeus shines if you want cheaper prefit barrels, otherwise the Borden is the way to go. Jim has chambered several barrels for me without the action. The price and turnaround were better than average, and completely fair considering the quality/accuracy. But, for $500 prefits, the Zeus is king. Accuracy seems to be on par with the lower price.

 

[carlsbad]

Thanks Jerry. I have both Triggertech Diamond and Jewel triggers at home to choose form. Likely use one of the Diamonds. I'm not familiar with trigger timing so I'll have to research that some. As with the sako, that is how my brother set up my 700 actions so I one where you're coming from. Good point.

Nothing wrong with 700 actions. I shot them in competition for years and won. I did a lot of work to them and made them as close as possible to what custom actions offer. The one thing I couldn't add is a trigger hanger. Trigger timing is moving the trigger forward and back so that it engages just a few thousandths of an inch before the bolt reaches the closed position. This takes the minimum effort to close the bolt. Most Remingtons engage sooner which causes the bolt to be harder to close. of course the 60 degree cocking ramp on the zeus will be harder to close also. So millions of rifles are out there being successfully shot for pleasure and competition without a trigger hanger, but in the price range you are shopping in, I'd expect one.

--Jerry

 

[PA Shootist]

Nothing wrong with 700 actions. I shot them in competition for years and won. I did a lot of work to them and made them as close as possible to what custom actions offer. The one thing I couldn't add is a trigger hanger. Trigger timing is moving the trigger forward and back so that it engages just a few thousandths of an inch before the bolt reaches the closed position. This takes the minimum effort to close the bolt. Most Remingtons engage sooner which causes the bolt to be harder to close. of course the 60 degree cocking ramp on the zeus will be harder to close also. So millions of rifles are out there being successfully shot for pleasure and competition without a trigger hanger, but in the price range you are shopping in, I'd expect one.

--Jerry

Jerry,
Great explanation. Yes, my 700's are great which i thank my brothet for. But like you said for the money get the most you can. And that's what I would expect. I don't cut corners in life.
Jared

 

[PA Shootist]

I have a Zeus and several Borden Rimrocks. The Zeus shines if you want cheaper prefit barrels, otherwise the Borden is the way to go. Jim has chambered several barrels for me without the action. The price and turnaround were better than average, and completely fair considering the quality/accuracy. But, for $500 prefits, the Zeus is king. Accuracy seems to be on par with the lower price.

Thanks for the info. I'm not looking to use prefit barrels. Having a gunsmith brother who can thread and do the chambering helps.
With all the feedback I'm getting the Mountaineer is looking the best. Plus I see Erik Cortina uses the Mountaineer for his PRS action and he's an expert.

 

[dnellans]

You should ask Jim if the mountaineer with hook extractor will eject a GT. It will not extract a BR unless you get a Sako extractor bolt. Make sure you specify - and talk to him about this before you order one.

 

[PA Shootist]

You should ask Jim if the mountaineer with hook extractor will eject a GT. It will not extract a BR unless you get a Sako extractor bolt. Make sure you specify - and talk to him about this before you order one.

Thanks for the advice. That is what my brother installed on my 700 bolts. I did talk with Jim and that is what is going on the SS6 bolt.

 

[Oleg S]

Border Mountaineer or Terminus Zeus.
Which would be the better action for a 6GT and 6mm BRA? Looking for opinions on these 2 only. I'm from PA and supporting local.

UPDATE: Jim is building one of hos SS6 actions for a 6BRA. Thank you all for the advice. I'll keep the thread open for after rifle is built and put to use.

Borden Super Short 6 Action introduction:​

Borden.

 

[DangerRanger]

fwiw The Terminus stuff is timed for Triggertech

Nice on the ss6 decision. Was worried he had stopped making those as the dedicated ss6 page is gone on his site. Cool action