Custom actions that I wish were still made.

[Will Henry]

I built four rifles on the Wichita Mini action in the late '70's. I really liked them. One of the rifles (sadly, not my own) was the best rifle I ever shot. I fired three five shot groups to test it and the largest group was .094". My own was good but not that good. The shellholder bolt meant you wouldn't be machine gunning, but I never did anyway.
As I recall, that action cost me $180. WH

 

[FNSafari]

I have one

Me too. Am looking for an extractor kit if you happen to have one or know of one's location. Tks

 

[Tommie]

Dunno how good they were but I always thought the old DGA action was sexy looking

 

[X Count]

I had a Hall M action that was pretty nice. It was a PPC bolt face so never really shot it. Called and asked about getting a .223 bolt but they said they were all lapped / matched to the actions so wouldn't sell one seperate. They said they were made from stainless much harder than 416 that made them less prone to galling lugs. 17-4 maybe?

 

[357Mag]

One of my first custom actions was a Precision Rifles (aka Rosenthal) action built by Brad Rosenthal and Bob Dodd. Actually, I had two of these and with one, I shot my smallest group in competition. Another action that was great was Dr. Marsh's short aluminum action. It was great and was very well made. For us right-handed shooters, the Stiller P1000 was a great value. It came only as RB/LP/RE and was offered in 1.35" or 1.55". I wish I had one today. Another great action for those who do not glue in their actions is the Kelbly Teddy. Some call it a long Panda, but it certainly was a great action.
The action that I am now shooting was last made in 2005 and it is still very accurate. It is a Stiller Cobra...an aluminum short version of their Viper. Maybe it is just nostalgia, but I miss these actions. I have owned four BAT-actioned competition rifles and I understand that they are dropping the SB and MB models. I have wanted a MB for a Dasher build for a long time, but I am too old to start again. We are certainly blessed to have such diverse options in custom actions.

Jamesd -

Howdy !

+1 on what WIll Henry said.

And, I'd like to add to the list.....

Wichita WBR1375. This was a fairly new benchrest action, back when I wanted Fred Sinclair to build my first full custom, no-kiddin' varmint rifle ( for use on groundhogs ).

I was going to go w/ a Davidson-sleeved XP-100, but Fred though I would be better served by the Wichita.
Mine is s/n 15.

I have had 4 different barrels on my Wichita, in 3 different calibres ( all for varmint / target use ).

The WBR1375 is a 3 lug, which was something fairly new in the mid-70's.
Fred put an M-16 style extractor in mine, and the action of course accepts Remington pattern triggers/hanger.

A nice, nice action !


With regards,
357Mag

 

[257ack]

Started off with a sleeved XP. very accurate but could not get the shots off fast enough in changing conditions> Next was the original Nesika. Once had an RFD (still have an RFD rest). Early model Panda and now a Borden for LV. I also have a Hall M on my rail. Very good action but I never could learn to shoot it fast enough

 

[Phil]

Wasatch........

 

[Will Henry]

The Shilen DGA was a great looking action and was the first custom action I bought. A fellow shooter showed up with one and I liked it. Didn't hurt that he won with it. I ordered one and it showed up in due course. This was a 222 bolt face so I decided to build a 222. I had a Hart barrel waiting and I stayed in the shop late to fit it up. I was beyond disappointed when I screwed that barrel in and I could see daylight on one side of the barrel shoulder! I had a mandrel, made from a piece of barrel and turned between centers. I used it to get a quick and dirty read on alignment. I pushed it into the action and had a look through it; I couldn't even see through the barrel!
I called Ed Shilen and he sent me another, right away. I sent back the crooked one. The replacement was damn straight and was a nice action. It was a bad luck action though and I never won a thing with it. I shot more 4 shot zeros than with any other rifle though. I saddled it with a new 25xLyman scope that turned out to be an absolute turkey. The scope was cured when a fellow tripped and knocked the rifle down at a match one day. With the replacement scope the rifle was vastly improved! WH

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I think by reminding me of all the actions from the past on this thread it just goes to show that if an action is good itll have staying power. Think of the stolle panda and how long its been on the line. Actions that dont win always disappear- some stay around longer than others, its just according to how much money the maker wants to throw at it trying to break on thru. Bat actions overwhelmed the firing line almost immediately upon release. I was there to see that from the start, and all these years later they listen to customers and still make improvements to stay on top. A lot of times folks think back at some old equipment and say man i used to do good with that or whatever, but they dont remember the winning aggs were .350 back then.

 

[Will Henry]

Dusty,
There is little doubt that makers are doing a better job on actions than they did 45 years ago. BAT doesn't produce crooked actions. Actions I have bought in more recent times are very good but are no better than the Wichitas I used. I do think modern actions are better though and I've been very impressed with the actions I've seen in the last five years or so. I should probably admit, the newest action I personally own is still twenty years old!
Hart actions were great actions in their day, but they were not even close to a modern custom action.
Of course, the thread title asked what custom actions did we wish were still around; not why are BATs better. WH

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Dusty,
There is little doubt that makers are doing a better job on actions than they did 45 years ago. BAT doesn't produce crooked actions. Actions I have bought in more recent times are very good but are no better than the Wichitas I used. I do think modern actions are better though and I've been very impressed with the actions I've seen in the last five years or so. I should probably admit, the newest action I personally own is still twenty years old!
Hart actions were great actions in their day, but they were not even close to a modern custom action.
Of course, the thread title asked what custom actions did we wish were still around; not why are BATs better. WH

All i did was explain why the ones we miss are no longer around.

 

[joshb]

I have an old Wichita. It’s built like a tank. I like it!

 

[Sechrist2015]

Ive had a couple cubs. Bolt pistols must have fell off the map to the kelblys like stocks, polishing, rings, etc

If you contact Ian at Kelblys they will still make one. I believe it's $1400 and a 6 months lead time? I had asked them about it 6 months or so ago

 

[Doug Beach]

Not benchrest, but I hope the Barnard Model P goes back into production.

 

[accuracyman]

Here is a Kelbly Cub for a trip down memory lane. It's been resting in my safe for years. It was built to shoot at Kelbly's pistol matches back when they were promoting the pistol class. It did indeed make a few of their matches. Great shooting gun. This one is currently chambered in 22 PPC. This little guy is heavy. It has two stocks. The one you see is intended to ride a standard rear bag and the other has a flat plate that rides on a delrin block with a slot milled in it that fits the flat plate. Interesting times back then. I hate that it now sits in a safe.

 

[Iowa Fox]

That Cub makes my mouth water accuracyman. Bruce W has a blur stocked one just like it if I remember correctly.

Wonder what put the ca-bosh on the pistol matches?

 

[accuracyman]

I don't know but they did push it really hard. I guess not enough guys built pistols. It was short lived. Too bad, they are a blast to shoot.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Here is a Kelbly Cub for a trip down memory lane. It's been resting in my safe for years. It was built to shoot at Kelbly's pistol matches back when they were promoting the pistol class. It did indeed make a few of their matches. Great shooting gun. This one is currently chambered in 22 PPC. This little guy is heavy. It has two stocks. The one you see is intended to ride a standard rear bag and the other has a flat plate that rides on a delrin block with a slot milled in it that fits the flat plate. Interesting times back then. I hate that it now sits in a safe.

Thats very awesome right there

 

[accuracyman]

Here is my other benchrest pistol. It has a Remington XP action in a McMillan stock. Obviously missing a barrel at the moment. They are really fun to shoot. This one too just rests in the safe.

 

[accuracyman]

Thanks Dusty. The red paint was done by Tom Meredith. It tracks the bags nicely.