Custom actions

[M-61]

Can anyone tell me how the threads are cut in these custom actions? I don't need a detailed description but just wanted to know if for all that money do you wind up with action threads that are the quality you find in factory actions or is this where some of the money goes?

 

[spclark]

What specifically are you including when you refer to these custom actions?

There are several that are (or have been) in production on a limited basis. Nothing like numbers produced by Remington, Savage, Winchester, etc., I'd consider most to be custom by that measure.

I think it's safe to say that you generally get what you pay for when you pay for a custom. Certainly spending money to improve a factory action can be worthwhile but at what point does it occur to you that for what you've spent you might have done better with a custom?

I made a leap of faith back in 2010 buying one of a very small batch of new, very small production actions (CG INCH) imported into the US. I'd read about them here and elsewhere, decided the engineering was different enough to warrant the chance my investment might be iffy. Upon delivery I was a little disappointed in the finish evident on the bolt but once I got a barrel fitted and started shooting with it I forgot about appearances. Performance-wise it exceeded my expectations by a wide margin.

 

[dkhunt14]

I would want to think that they are better. I would also want to think that the top ones are CNC cut and the same from one to another. Matt

 

[M-61]

What specifically are you including when you refer to these custom actions?

There are several that are (or have been) in production on a limited basis. Nothing like numbers produced by Remington, Savage, Winchester, etc., I'd consider most to be custom by that measure.

I think it's safe to say that you generally get what you pay for when you pay for a custom. Certainly spending money to improve a factory action can be worthwhile but at what point does it occur to you that for what you've spent you might have done better with a custom?

I made a leap of faith back in 2010 buying one of a very small batch of new, very small production actions (CG INCH) imported into the US. I'd read about them here and elsewhere, decided the engineering was different enough to warrant the chance my investment might be iffy. Upon delivery I was a little disappointed in the finish evident on the bolt but once I got a barrel fitted and started shooting with it I forgot about appearances. Performance-wise it exceeded my expectations by a wide margin.

Specifically I was referring to Bat, Viper, etc. I have never seen one in person (except as a complete rifle) and therefore have not seen the threads in the action. I would say I have been surprised when I have purchased Remington and Savage actions and the internal threads in the action looked at best to be really rough. I wonder what is lost with screwing a beautifully single point cut threaded barrel INTO these actions that like I said appear almost crude. The smoothness of the bolt and finish on the actions on rifles that I have seen (Viper,Bat) had been 1st class. My concern is the threads in the action.

 

[M-61]

I would want to think that they are better. I would also want to think that the top ones are CNC cut and the same from one to another. Matt

Yes....that is what I would like to think also. It would be nice to see some really nice threads....the factory actions I have seen are really rough at best.

 

[dkhunt14]

Yes....that is what I would like to think also. It would be nice to see some really nice threads....the factory actions I have seen are really rough at best.

I have BATS, Stiller Viper, Lawton, Stolle Panda and a Borden. The threads in all of them look good. I have mostly Bats and I can take one barrel from one and screw on another. I can also switch bolts from one to another.

My buddy has a couple of custom actions from another maker and he can't switch barrels from one to another. The threads vary. Matt

 

[spclark]

My buddy has a couple of custom actions from another maker and he can't switch barrels from one to another. The threads vary.

Now that would (jobsite word) me off after spending $$$$ for such hardware.

I have an RPA Quadlite, a Gilkes-Ross and that CG INCH. Threads in all look perfect. Switching barrels entails wiping threads with a patch or two before mounting next one, I have yet to feel a snag or see a pulled thread.

 

[X Ring Accuracy]

Straightening the Rem, Sav etc threads is always good practice and makes for a smoother threading of the 2 parts together, but the nice match grade barrel with a square shoulder should meet a nice square action face. I think that carries more weight. But to the original question, most are cut with a CNC machine using a boring bar. Fast, accurate and smooth.

 

[IdahoCTD]

They are either cut on a CNC lathe with a ID threading tool or thread milled on a CNC mill.

 

[M-61]

Thanks guys,
Chuck

 

[carlsbad]

They are either cut on a CNC lathe with a ID threading tool or thread milled on a CNC mill.

I think this answers the OP question. However, there are various levels of CNC. Production rifles are also made with CNC machines. Thread cutting methods can vary.

The production focused CNC machine clamps piece after piece into the vice doing one or more operations to each one. A quality machine repeats the operation with great precision so the inaccuracy is only in how exactly the clamping is done. If you clamp a piece .005" different than the previous one, that is a large error. I'd call setup the critical step of a quality custom shop. Each action has to be set up exactly in order for the CNC operations to be as accurate as most assume they always are.

--Jerry

 

[Canadian bushman]

They are either cut on a CNC lathe with a ID threading tool or thread milled on a CNC mill.

This^^^

I feel the round actions with threads cut on a lathe have smoother, more uniform threads.

Maybe its just me.

 

[IdahoCTD]

This^^^

I feel the round actions with threads cut on a lathe have smoother, more uniform threads.

Maybe its just me.

I totally agree. It might be that mills can't make as smooth of a motion as a lathe.

 

[shortgrass]

I totally agree. It might be that mills can't make as smooth of a motion as a lathe.

Now, that depends on the machine tool, the tool holder, and the tooling in the holder. I am in agreement with X-Ring, the "squareness" in the barrel shoulder and action face junction (and the recoil lug, if it's an independent piece) is paramount.

 

[mgdietrich]

I have stolle Pandas, I switch barrels between the actions no problem. I had barnards before, and within certain serial numbers I could swap barrels between those actions as well. Machining on any of the major custom makers is very good and quite comparable.