• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Budget benchrest actions?

no one is mentioning a savage action ?
When my wife asked what I wanted for an anniversary present, I was kicking around rifles.( she got a car...) I was between a re-worked rem 700 in 6br. It was trued and blue printed. The other was a Savage PTA in 6 br with a Criterion barrel. I went with the Savage because it had fewer rounds and the remington was a tight neck and had a few more rounds. If I were doing it over, I would have went with the remington. It was in a McMillan stock and had a Jewell trigger also or I also see lots of really nice options at the Shooter's Corner too.
 
Best way to buy a used rifle is go to a match, see the gun, shoot the gun, talk to people about the gun...etc. Nothing against Shooters Corner but his knowledge of that particular gun might be pretty limited. The op is not a contributing member yet. Op, believe it or not, that means something here. The classifieds are worth it alone but lots of folks here will not deal with anyone that is not a contributing member here and there are rules about it as well. Just bite the bullet man. You'll be glad ya did. Go to a match and meet the people. Let them know you're looking to get involved and there will likely be multiple people more than willing to help you in several aspects of getting started. A gun is barely a start, but it's a start.
 
THere’s a guy named Bob White that has a list on the Shooters Corner website where you might find what you need. One thing that I learned about people is to ignore those who talk a lot. Ezell spends a lot of time on here gassing. I’m putting him on my ignore list.
 
THere’s a guy named Bob White that has a list on the Shooters Corner website where you might find what you need. One thing that I learned about people is to ignore those who talk a lot. Ezell spends a lot of time on here gassing. I’m putting him on my ignore list.
What the heck is that about? It sure has been a Monday on here! Are you that miserable with life, that you took anything I said, not even talking to you, as derogatory in any way. Simply trying to help the guy. I don't even have a clue who you are and I just stopped caring but just freakin WOW man! Just Wow! I don't even know what else to say. Yessir...Ignore is and has been your best option but if you ever want to talk, lets do it between us...You can PM, call or visit. Up to you. BTW, you don't need a button to ignore anybody. It happens as you grow older and care less, without one. Lots of people with anything to offer don't post at all. I'm really beginning to understand why they don't.

The biggest thing to take from this is that if I don't care for someone or what they have to say, I either don't let it bother me, ignoring it without a button...or I take it up with them. I never get on here and say things publicly about other board members, even if I don't agree with them. I think it's just how I was brought up to be. Far from perfect but I do not want to be "that guy" either.
 
Last edited:
Hi OP...I started my journey into mid to LR BR around 2019-20. I needed to jump from ruger rpr, a Begara and a savage LRP up to a custom gun.
I was a member (non contributing) on several shooting forums but this one had the best info and classifieds for BR stuff.
I bought 3 complete used LR rifles, (2 Bats and a Panda) 2 vortex GEs and a March 8-80 on here,,,North of $15K worth of transactions....thankfully I didn't need this gold member status thing to start this or I wouldn't have done it.
I despise paying Amazon and costco a yearly fee to buy more of there stuff !! {please note this is not aimed at the forum...this is my safe place)
Yep it's monday and I could go on that rant further and it would ruffle some sensitive little feathers but back to the OPs situation.
I could have gotten a real dog of a barrel on any of the 3 rifles but I know how to tune/shoot and all 3 shot lights out....thanks to the sellars. I've never gone to a 300-600 yard NBRSA match in oregon or washington thinking I didn't have a chance of winning out right or placing top 2-3-4-5.

All while learning BR competition...Not one time it was the USED rifles fault...reality is there's the wind and a couple other shooters up here in the NW that makes getting 1st fairly difficult :}
Hope this helps
Larry W
 
One thing that I learned about people is to ignore those who talk a lot. Ezell spends a lot of time on here gassing. I’m putting him on my ignore list.
Poor advice. While there are more than a handful of AS members with high message counts that bloviate, Mike is not one of them . I have always found his advice dead on the money when it comes to gunsmithing and SR BR competition. My guess is you misspoke and are referring to someone else.
 
I apologize to Mike. I reacted in a poor manner to the comment on Bob White. He is respected in the gunsmith community and provides a good service to rifle shooters through his inventory. I don't know of another source where there is a better selection of used quality BR guns.
 
What do you mean "bolt clearance"?
I mean bolt clearance. Most BR actions have .002 or less such as the Panda. While the Atlas has .005. I'm told that the this could contribute to vertical stringing. Would I know? Probably not, but buy once cry once is what I'm hearing here.


Edit: just wondering what Kauger BR actions had.
 
Last edited:
I apologize to Mike. I reacted in a poor manner to the comment on Bob White. He is respected in the gunsmith community and provides a good service to rifle shooters through his inventory. I don't know of another source where there is a better selection of used quality BR guns.
Thank you and I didn't mean to imply anything negative about or toward Bob. He's got a great selection but he can't know much about every one he buys and sells is all. Although, he does know some of the guns well and does a good job of telling you an honest opinion of them. I simply like to buy from guys face to face, where I see the gun perform in person and talk directly to the owner. Tough to beat buying a gun that you know firsthand is a winning rifle and if you can shoot the gun, that's all the better. I've bought a few from Bob over the years. In fact, my first real BR rifle was a Teddy that came from him. That old gun was always a good shooting rifle. Odds are good, I'll buy from him again.

Again, thank you for the apology.
 
Anyone know what the bolt clearance is on the Kauger actions?
I don't know the answer but I'm sure they can tell you if you call them. My little experience with them is that they are very helpful about answering these types of questions. I recently called needing to know the thread classification for their actions. The gentleman seemed happy to get me that info.
 
I mean bolt clearance. Most BR actions have .002 or less such as the Panda. While the Atlas has .005. I'm told that the this could contribute to vertical stringing. Would I know? Probably not, but buy once cry once is what I'm hearing
My Atlas single shot is .6985 and the raceway is .7010. It's possible the mag fed Tactical ones are different. Kelbly's can tell you.
 
I mean bolt clearance. Most BR actions have .002 or less such as the Panda. While the Atlas has .005. I'm told that the this could contribute to vertical stringing. Would I know? Probably not, but buy once cry once is what I'm hearing here.


Edit: just wondering what Kauger BR actions had.

I have been told that bolt fit is in critical because the trigger slaps the back of the bolt vertically upon release. I think if you were to ask Adam at Kauger He could give you that number. I will just say this, their actions are as tight and as smooth as anything I've tested and I've tested them all. At least the ones that are Remington 700 footprint compatible. Their action is right up there with anybody's. And I know they shoot because I shoot them and have customers that shoot them. Adam and Tim stand behind their product and they're just nice guys. If I did not buy from them I would probably buy a Kelby, because they make an incredibly good product and they have great customer service and are genuinely nice people.

After some encouragement Adam made a Remmage compatible bolt face so now their actions can be compatible with all of the Rem 700 style nut barrels on the market. Not only mine, but others like Criterion and Shilen.
 
My Atlas single shot is .6985 and the raceway is .7010. It's possible the mag fed Tactical ones are different. Kelbly's can tell you.
Ian just got back to me. He said.

"The bolt head is .698, the bolt body is .700 and the action bore is .7031. This can vary due to hand fitting and lapping."
 
Lastly, even if excessive bolt clearance did cause vertical stringing, is this going to show up in short range?
 
Lastly, even if excessive bolt clearance did cause vertical stringing, is this going to show up in short range?
Oh yeah...... ;) In general, aluminum bodied actions seem to be a bit more tolerant of it. To a point, anyway.

The issue is more of the top lug unloading as the back of the bolt pivots up when cocking. The top lug then slaps the lug abuttment when the back of the bolt moves down when fired.
 
Last edited:
I would start with a used rifle with a quality used action and stock combination you like, sell the barrel regardless what the owner said about it…
Good advice… try and source one from a local/reputable gunsmith that can then rebarrel the action for you.
 
Leadfarmer, you're asking all the right questions, sir. :) Also look at parts availability and customer service...very important when things aren't what they should be. Having been 'batted' around by one particular action maker, I appreciate the service and attention Kelbly's delivers.

On the topic of bolt clearance, even a great aluminum action may at times benefit from reduced bolt clearance. This is one of my Kodiaks...Mike Bryant fitted the bolt with a sleeve. It's one of what quite a few of us refer to as the Law Of The Threes.
pelBOS4l.jpg
 

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Forum statistics

Threads
167,124
Messages
2,227,564
Members
80,224
Latest member
Mildot1
Back
Top