Help me pick an action!

[Cakes]

I'll also go +++ on the Borden BRM with my Barnard and Pierce fighting for 2nd. The timing and "smoothness" of a Borden while quite subjective are the tops IMO. Eric in DL

 

[Endyo]

Sounds like were are talking about 3 things, open, close, and fore/aft. Fore and aft has to do with the surfaces rubbing one another. Naturally the harder those surfaces the less friction there will be. Also a little extra clearance helps too. For bare stainless the Bordens are the hardest and also smoothest in my experience. Nitrided actions are even better. The old vipers are great, anodized on chrome. The close function is all about ignition timing, Bordens are the only action timed from the factory. Open is a function of cocking can helix angle and spring force. Bordens open stiffer as they have a steeper can angle (necessary to properly time the ignition) and also the stiffest spring out of all others. Jim has a new spring that we are testing that will help, but it has to be proven to not effect accuracy first. So it comes down to personal preference. My first choice are Borden actions. Second are the Kelblys and Pierce. Pierce is building me a BR action, stainless body, rb,lp,re, and heavy tang. We'll be giving it away in August for the championship match, as well as a BRM.

Alex, that is a good summarization.

I've read many of your posts on the different actions. I was curious how you ranked the Borden vs. the Pierce. I never seen you make a direct comparison.

What you explained makes perfect sense. The steep cam angle that makes the ignition timed is also what is increasing bolt lift.

For reference bolt lift on Borden BRL = 10.5# with a Lyman Electronic trigger pull gauge.

This is still less than a Bat and about equal to Panda. My Savage Target is less.

I would be VERY interested in the reduced recoil spring.

 

[Endyo]

The Pierce has a great extraction cam. It has some cock on close, but it is the least obnoxious of them all. The bolt fit is a little looser than on the Borden. They don't offer a stainless action so that stops me from using them more often. They are very different actions. The ignition on the Pierce is basically a longer spring with a lower rate. So its easier to cock and "should" have equal energy.

Great info. Something to chew on. I'm strongly considering a Pierce for the next rifle build, but this one will be a Borden.

I've been telling myself I can only afford one and to get it right.

I'm already conceding that is likely not going to happen...

What you've described sounds like what I'm looking for. I just came across Pierce late in my research. I wouldn't mind some cock on close if it reduced extraction cam or "bolt lift".

 

[chevytruck_83]

Sako trg is my favorite.

 

[holstil]

For long range BR, the actions I've owned or shot, the 2 lug Melonited BAT M with the cam bearing was tops (16lb. spring). I have a lapped BAT M that is very smooth but won't match my Melonite B (both 18lb. spring). I like the Pierce also. Primary extraction design and smoothness are important to me. IMO the BATs and Peirce have better extraction than the Borden SSR that I owned. I will add that shooting the gun is the best way for me to know for sure how smooth an action is, not just cycling cases.
I have never shot a Blazer or Sauer but am very curious about these as well for different purposes.

Jim