Custom Actions

[tkd0331]

I have been looking to purchase a custom action. There seems to be many custom shops advertised on this site.Most of them ballpark in roughly the same price range. Does it pretty much boil down to a name? Is it like prefering a Ford, Chevy, Dodge, or Toyota? Thanks

 

[LarryDScott]

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and in your billfold. If you cant find the one you want in stock at a dealer, be prepared to wait,and wait and wait and wait somemore. Larry in western Ky.

 

[6BR]

I would recommend the following three custom actions;

1. BAT
2. Nesika
3. Stiller-The Stainless Steel Viper is very nice and has a built in 20MOA Rail and recoil lug making it very strong. It runs about $1300.00

 

[Liebetrau88]

I think you should give Custom Shooting Technologies a call. They are a new action manufacturer with a really solid product. I have had the pleasure to test their first palma rifle prototype,I was actually the first one to ever fire a round through the rifle) The action is a great and solid action. Imagine all the pros of every action put together, their are only two things that are 'cons' about it, one is that it weighs a little more than the average action, at just a touch over 2 lbs without the trigger,not really a con in my opinion.) The other thing is that the initial price is going to be a little high, probably around $1700 although they are trying to get that price down. The guys who run the company are stand up guys.

http://www.brkdnc.net/cst/tf1.html

That is the website with the info about the gun. The rifle that I tested is actually on its way to South Africa at the end of the month for a shooting match in Bloemfontaine with the US Goodwill Palma Team.

If you can't get a hold of them, just let me know and I will talk to Mike or Dave.

 

[dennisinaz]

For the most part, the custom action business is very competitive; you get what you pay for.

There are some really nice actions out there and some that are not as fancy, but well made and have their niche. Some of the Remington 700 clones can be had for <$700. If you add a solid one-piece bolt, the price will probably exceed $1000. Start adding built in picatinney rails and add another $100.

Import one from Europe or New Zealand and add another $200 or so.

I don't know of any bad ones but I know there are some that I would not own for personal reason. I have a Phoenix action that is supposed to be here next week. I ordered it in May.

I would have ordered a Surgeon but they don't make a long action.

If I were building a BR rifle, I would order a BAT or a Stolle or maybe a Viper. There are many choices for sure.

 

[Obtunded]

Nothing wrong with using a Trued Remington action either. Don't discount the XP-100 or the XR100 actions either!

Also, a properly measured Pacific Tool & Gauge custom bolt for an R700 gives you all you could ever ask for in action performance at considerably less than many customs, and without the long wait.

I have Nesikas and I love them but I have bought my last custom action, I don't see the value in buying a custom, and rifles are tools to me, not furniture.

 

[6BR]

Forgot to mention the Stiller Python. The Python is a Big Action for big barrels. The diameter is 1.650, perfect for big barrels. I am going to build a big 300WSM on this action.

 

[johara1]

This is very simple,just look at the action that set the most records and won the most bench rest matches.Look at equipment list of the top ten,you should find the panda by Kelbley.It has won more than the rest put togther.......jim

 

[johara1]

This is very simple,just look at the action that set the most records and won the most bench rest matches.Look at equipment list of the top ten,you should find the panda by Kelbley.It has won more than the rest put togther.......jim

 

[Macs]

Lawton set a 1000 yd world record and builds some very strong stuff.

 

[normmatzen]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Savage Precision Target Action.

My new gun is almost complete, just needs scope mount bases and they are 'in the mail.' My PTA is a right bolt, left port and I can't wait to shoot it. It has a Shilen 243 Win bull barrel.

Some winning shoots have been accomplished recently with one of the PTA's.

For $300-$400 it would be hard to beat even counting paying $100-$150 more to time and true it,it still comes out as an excellent performing but economical action.

 

[SongdogHunter]

Nothing wrong with using a Trued Remington action either. Don't discount the XP-100 or the XR100 actions either!

I have Nesikas and I love them but I have bought my last custom action, I don't see the value in buying a custom, and rifles are tools to me, not furniture.

True until you decide to sell them and you realize you can get almost full value for a Custom action rifle and not nearly as much for a Remington regardless what has been done to it.

SDH

 

[rayjay]

A fully massaged [ read expensive ] Rem 700 may shoot nearly as good as a custom but when you go to work the bolt the custom is so much smoother and easier that there is no comparison.

I have been competitively shooting a pair of Vipers for about 2 years. I recently bought a 30PPC HV bbl for my 6ppc LV Drop Port Viper and I didn't want to have to pull out the buttstock weight for our first match of the year so I shot my 6Beggs 40x that I built last year.

This rifle had only been to the range once back in Sept and the brass was fired formed but not much else as I didn't have the correct bushing at the time. I was very pleased with the way the rifle shot last Saturday but the roughness of the bolt opening and closing was a major distraction and time waster and surely adversely affected my agg.

Just the pleasure of using a custom action is worth the additional cost even if the accuracy was the same [ which it is not ]. The additional resale is a bonus also.

 

[LHSmith]

Even more important than re-sale value, The factory action,even after blueprinting) will not take the high pressures required when loading cartridges in the upper load window.......which is where most competition is WON these days.

 

[Klong]

You did not say how you plan to use the rifle. If you are not shooting bench rest competition, I would recommend the Stiller. I have most of the big name actions and all shoot well if put together by a competent gunsmith. Stiller is the best bang,no pun intended) for the buck,no pun intended). I have a Stiller Predator in a 7 WSM built by Chris Mathews that has shot several 3/8' 3 shot groups at 200 yards. It is also a very smooth action.