FN Action for Custom?

[15Tango]

Anybody ever do a custom build off an FN action? CDNN has the SPR action with bottom metal and trigger for $350 right now. It's been a while since I've handled one of those rifles but it's a Mauser which is kind of a negative (for strict target work) but it has an integral recoil lug, is forged and comes with the adjustable trigger and one-piece rail.

It has me curious and makes me wonder if I should get one just to have to build something off some day.

Opinions? Thoughts?

Wayne

 

[357Mag]

FN Action for Custom?

15T -

Howdy !

While some certainly DO build custom rifles based on a "Mauser"-type action,
you won't see that done much in hyper accuracy circles.

Various M-98 action design realities/shortcomings are known.

I can say that ( former ) custom rifle smith Fred Sinclair patently refused to make
custom accuracy rifles based on Mauser ( or its ilk ) actions.

With regards,
357Mag

 

[Preacher]

Lots of nice custom rifles on the old 98's were built back in the old days.
With the amount of work involved to put one in top shooting shape, most folks would rather go with a proven action....
I have a few customs in the bunch, and one lonely old VZ-24 set up to shoot the .280 Remington....

 

[shortgrass]

That action is the same as a SA Win. model 70. I haven't looked at their 'dealer only ' web site today, wasn't in stock when I looked yesterday. These are good actions to build on. Need to be 'cone breeched', they'll use any aftermarket trigger designed for the Win. 70. This is the action used on the FN Patrol Rifles.

 

[FryeGuy]

shortgrass is correct. read the whole ad above, they are made by winchester. that is one nice action! it has a base and d. mag.

 

[15Tango]

shortgrass is correct. read the whole ad above, they are made by winchester. that is one nice action! it has a base and d. mag.

Yes, Shortgrass and Frye you are both right. I'm not inquiring about old K98 Mausers here, this is the new FN/Winchester action that the Model 70 is made from and FN rifles are made with. It's seems like a good action for a good price but I'm doubting it's as rigid as Savage's single shot action that I'm pretty set on getting, the cost and quality of the FN action in question is still tempting.

If this was for a custom hunting rig I'd certainly take this over the Savage action. Since I'm going for target stuff like I said, I have my reservations about it.

Maybe somebody that's thinking about building a custom hunting rig will see this and take advantage?

Wayne

 

[jpretle]

If I was partial to Winchester actions, I would not hesitate building a target/match rifle using one.

 

[FryeGuy]

I honestly think the FN action above would be stiffer than the savage target. If I remember correctly, the savage target was completely round, with an OD of around 1 1/4"? the action above is round on top, but extends down from each side flat, with the recoil lug as part of the bottom as well. This would really stiffen it up much more than just being round. gives you a much better base to bed as well. just look at the majority of the benchrest actions out there, most have a flat bottom. just my .02.

 

[HPMike800]

All I know is that the M-70 Highpower target rifles I shoot against can flat out shoot.

I think they are harder to work on and can't be sleeved so they wern't used for benchrest. Whatever short commings are, I'd like to know about them.

 

[shortgrass]

Don't see these yet today on the 'dealers only' web site. My have them if you call. The rails that have come with these actions, I've gotten from CDNN, are made by Near Mfg. The make real nice tactical style rifles in any of the .308 based cartridges, would do the 6XC very well, too. Only limits are in the mag box, limits OAL just like all the other box mags for bolt actions I've seen. These don't 'drop in' to your favorite synthetic made for the SA Winchesters, but are very close and don't require alot of work to get there. have the same barrel tenon thread as Win. 70. FN and Winchester are owned by the same 'holding company'. These are made in Soth Carolina or Alabama, don't remember which for sure. The come from the same plant Uncle buys M4s from. I do know those FN Patrol Rifles shoot very well for 'factory built'. Action doesn't account for everything, neither does the barrel or just a stock. As we know, accurate rifles are a 'system' of compatible components fitted together properly. These will take a Jewell Trigger where the Savage won't!

 

[HPMike800]

They should also take the new X-treme trigger.

 

[Heavies]

Pardon my ignorance, but this is a control fed with the claw extractor? Does it have to be fed from the magazine only, or can you single feed from an open bolt as well?
Also, it needs to be trued and worked over before being built, correct?
The price seems to be a good value, especially for the tactical type crowd.

 

[15Tango]

Insert Quote
Pardon my ignorance, but this is a control fed with the claw extractor? Does it have to be fed from the magazine only, or can you single feed from an open bolt as well?
Also, it needs to be trued and worked over before being built, correct?
The price seems to be a good value, especially for the tactical type crowd.

Controlled feed Mauser, yes. Depending on the chamfer on the extractor you can single feed them directly into the chamber - I do it all the time with the Rugers I have/had.

I'd assume to be a true custom you'd want the thing blue printed - maybe somebody else knows more about this particular action and its virtues.

I thought the value was really there as well. If it's the newer style trigger on the Winchesters from all accounts I've heard it's supposed to be a good adjustable trigger and it's included. I'd say it's the perfect action to build a tactical off of.

Wayne

 

[jonbearman]

Someone just had the same actions here forsale under rifles Etc. Check it out.

 

[shortgrass]

Insert Quote
Pardon my ignorance, but this is a control fed with the claw extractor? Does it have to be fed from the magazine only, or can you single feed from an open bolt as well?
Also, it needs to be trued and worked over before being built, correct?
The price seems to be a good value, especially for the tactical type crowd.

Controlled feed Mauser, yes. Depending on the chamfer on the extractor you can single feed them directly into the chamber - I do it all the time with the Rugers I have/had.

I'd assume to be a true custom you'd want the thing blue printed - maybe somebody else knows more about this particular action and its virtues.

I thought the value was really there as well. If it's the newer style trigger on the Winchesters from all accounts I've heard it's supposed to be a good adjustable trigger and it's included. I'd say it's the perfect action to build a tactical off of.

Wayne

These are production actions, not custom. Like any other production action they benefit from truing.

 

[Nomo4me]

The Savage Single shot action will be quite a bit stiffer than this one as it's not cut out for the mag box, per figures here on 6br.

I honestly think the FN action above would be stiffer than the savage target. If I remember correctly, the savage target was completely round, with an OD of around 1 1/4"? the action above is round on top, but extends down from each side flat, with the recoil lug as part of the bottom as well. This would really stiffen it up much more than just being round. gives you a much better base to bed as well. just look at the majority of the benchrest actions out there, most have a flat bottom. just my .02.

 

[Nomo4me]

I'm pretty certain these receivers were mis-marked from the factory for a special contract.
They had to pull the bbls and cash them out. I've seen these mentioned elsewhere (sniper's hide?), they have post-bluing markings in silver on the left side of the receiver.

 

[Heavies]

What is the thread pitch and size on these? Do they run metric?

 

[shortgrass]

1" x 16t.p.i.

 

[Mudcat]

I just finished building a nice deer slaying rig off one of these actions. Even used the $99 Hogue stock they were selling. used a Lilja 28 inch bbl in 6.5Creedmoor, then duracoated all the metal flat black then duracoated the stock in a GAP like camo pattern. Clowdis Precision (member here on the forum) did all the work, I just provided the action and the stock and asked for a 6.5Creedmoor as I shoot the round in HP competition, have the stuff to load plenty of it, and the round just flat out shoots.

I set it up to shoot mag length 140VLDs and using RE17 I get a leisurely 2950fps out of my hunting loads. I can get into the 3100 range but if I do that I start expanding primer pockets. Accuracy? Well, being a thin bbl'd hunting rig I shot 3 shot groups with it (normally its 20 shot groups, but not with this thin of a bbl!) and at 100 yards, its a cloverleaf and at 300, its still 1/2 MOA if I do my part. Of course, I have come to expect this type of performance out of anything Blair builds for me, but considering we went with a $99 unbedded stock, I was shocked....but very happy. I can now save the McMillan I have in a box for the next action I build up.....yeah, I bought more than one when I got these.

Here is a shot of the first deer I took with it this year. Shot was at 300 yards, thru both lungs and in typical VLD vashion, made a big mess of things!