How much performance difference between a Rem 700 action and a custom?

[mao0720]

I'm sorry to beat a dead horse but I was hoping for some relevant answers to my scenario. I am looking to upgrade my FTR rifle from the semi-custom savage that I have now, to a a nicer system. I will also be using this rifle for some sling/irons prone matches. I would like to use an eliseo chassis, and my question is this: will I see a significant performance difference between a Remington 700 action, and a custom Remington 700 clone action (namely a Nesika model K in Remington SA clone dimensions), in tube gun. It seems like the tube gun system will narrow the performance gap between the two actions a bit. I don't mind spending the money for a custom, but I am also a value based thinker, and if the Remington action will perform 90%+ as well as the custom clone action, then I think that it is worth saving the money and getting the Remington.

 

[dkhunt14]

By the time you buy a REM and pay to get it trued you have just about as much in it as a custom. You still have a REM and maybe not the options you want. Matt

 

[ryanjay11]

Spend the money now or you will wish you did later. Especially if you decide to sell it. For a tube gun, there are a lot of actions that will work. I chose to go with a Barnard and I am very happy with that decision.

Good luck with your choice.

 

[watercam]

It all depends upon how accurate you want to be. I have a Barnard Palma rifle that shoots into the teens and twos on the few times it is benched in a year. I also have a back-up Palma rifle with a Winchester action (trued by John Whidden) that gets into the very twos and threes. For my purposes they are both able to out shoot me in a coat and sling. If you are a long range benchrest shooter, go custom. For Tactical, Across the course and conventional Long Range competitions a Remington action should equip you very well. Hell, there are more than a couple of successful Long Range shooters I know who don't bother having them trued...
Best of luck with your build
P.S. A trued Remington will run you about $700 ($450 for an action, $150-200 for truing plus shipping). A trigger adds another $100-200. Bolt work is up to you but not absolutely necessary.

 

[clowdis]

Kind of agree with the above post. Get a Remington, have the lugs lapped and the face trued, put it in the tube chassis and go have fun. If you're shooting nines from the sling it ain't the rifle.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Here's my take on it, it's simple economics.

Out of the entire system, the action is the cheapest because you only have to buy it once and if you ever sell it you will get 80%+- of your money back.

Get a custom action and don't look back. Even if a Remington can be 90% as good as a custom, when you get into high level competition, that 10% could keep you out of the winning circle.

 

[mao0720]

Watercam and Clowdis:
That was kind of my thought. Im not shooting BR but I do want to be competitive in FTR and prone, so accuracy still matters. But, I also dont need to (and am personally unable to) shoot 1" groups at 600 yd. I need to hold the x ring on the f class target so 1/2 moa is what I need. FYI I dont count trigger as part of the cost of the action since, regardless of whether I go rem 700 or custom clone, I will be getting an aftermarket trigger.
Erik:
I see your point, and another mark in the pro custom action dept. is that if it shoots better than my required 1/2 moa, that is just buffer room for a less than perfect shooter.

 

[Cort]

I think the custom action is worth the price. The fit and finish of a custom action is much better than a stock 700 action. I do believe that a 700 action can shoot as well as a custom but it takes a good smith and some time and money to get it there. The shorter the distance that you shoot reduces the difference between a custom and a stock action. Over the past few years, I have replaced all of my stock actions with a custom and have not been sorry. Unfortunately, my eyes are deteriorating so I can't wring the performance out of my menagerie. However, there is a certain pride of ownership ;-)

Cort

 

[jonbearman]

Trust me, I was always saying what's wrong with a Remington ,I say a lot. After buying a Kelbly Panda benchrest action and finding out how smooth it lifts and cocks so smooth. I changed my mind because it doesn't pull you off target due to the mechanics of the custom action. I still love my remmy's and savage's for what they are but the custom is worth the money in the long run. And like another poster says, if you sell it you will get almost all your money back providing you take great care of it as you shoot.

 

[watercam]

It will probably end up as a back-up rifle down the line anyway. Shoot the Remy, get your feet wet, learn all you can until you can shoot up to it's capabilities. By then you will know EXACTLY what you want and you can have Clowdis build you a work of art. Speaking from my meager experience. By the way, never used to believe in back-up rifles until I finally had an issue with my primary at a very large match. That Winchester saved my five days of shooting and the 1100 mile drive that went with it!

 

[mysticplayer]

What is a Custom Rem clone but a Rem with all the warts removed and all the needed tweaks added.

That's it.

when both are taken to the same level of trim, they do the same thing. If you can do the work yourself, have fun with a Rem and learn lots.

If you have to pay, especially if you want niceties like fluted bolt body, side bolt release and other such bling, get a custom cause it will cost as much (maybe less) with better future return vs that Rem.

I compete in FTR with Savage receviers. Just finished a new Pierce Titanium FTR receiver with a bunch of really nice features. Looks great, handles great, feels great.

does it shoot any better then my Savage FTR? No...Both shoot very very well. If I don't hit the 10 ring, its my wind call or driver error. That is all I can ask from any rifle.

Jerry

 

[PRECISIONWELDING01]

Check out defiance mutant action one of the slickest actions I have eve seen

 

[XTR]

I've got two F-TR rigs, a Defiance Rebel and a R700. The Defiance is prettier, and the bolt is tighter and slicker, Never have been able to tell the difference on the targets though.

 

[M14AMU]

Have you ever met a man that bought a new PU that said he didn't like it??

For those that have invested $$$$ in custom actions...well...they're the best thing since the wheel or sliced bread!

I've had good luck with just the standard Remington actions!

 

[mao0720]

Thanks everyone for the honest answers. In response to my question, a member PM'd me to war me against a Nesika action. He said that they lose their value tremendously. Is there something wrong with Nesika actions? I'd hate to make an investment in a custom action and find out it is a losing investment.

 

[watercam]

Had not heard that before...

 

[22BRGUY]

Try to buy a used Nesika and see what they are asking....they hold their value from what I've seen.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

Thanks everyone for the honest answers. In response to my question, a member PM'd me to war me against a Nesika action. He said that they lose their value tremendously. Is there something wrong with Nesika actions? I'd hate to make an investment in a custom action and find out it is a losing investment.

It might not be a comment on the quality of the action rather than a comment on the demand for Nesika as a used action. A used action is only worth what someone will pay for it. It seems to me that custom actions like Bat, Panda, Barnard, etc... have a relatively high demand in the used market and so hold their value pretty well.

 

[clowdis]

Some of the Nesikas made by Dakota weren't as high in quality as the originals. It's kind of a Remington clone that isn't. It also has an odd way of removing the firing pin. Otherwise they're great actions still used by some great shooters.

 

[GSPV]

Buy the best and cry once.