Is there a best action ?

[Hammer]

Within the world of mass-produced commercial actions, e.g, Browning, Remington, Ruger, Sako, Savage, Tikka, Weatherby, Winchester, etc, is there a best action ?

An action that for the purposes of target or varmint shooting stands out shoulders above all others ?

Or is it six of one and half-dozen of the others ?

 

[BoydAllen]

I would have to say that the answer to your question depends on whether the action is to be left alone in a basically stock rifle, or used as a basis for a custom rig. If the latter is the case, then a Remington would be your action of choice, or one of the actions that are built to fit in a Remington stock. The main advantages are, the availability of the best triggers, and a large selection of stocks, as well as a relatively large number of gunsmiths that are familiar with building highly accurate rifles using actions of this brand and/or pattern.

If, on the other hand, your are going to stick to bedding and trigger work on a basically stock rifle, the Savage is an excellent value, that performs well.

For those with fewer budgetary restraints, starting with a custom action that has a Benchrest pedigree is the next step up.

 

[Shelley]

When it comes to the custom actions, there's probably no clear best. An action's job is to hold the barrel and cartridge square with the stock and scope. All of the custom makers have the basics down pretty well. With a custom action you can choose which bells and whistles you prefer.

If I were going to build a rifle on a mass produced action I'd start with the Remington as Boyd said and for the same reason's as Boyd stated. The Remington does need lots of help before it's straight and plumb.

Actually, instead of using a Remington, I'd keep saving money till I could afford a Remington clone such as the Stiller Predator, it's actually a custom BR action with a bit of extra clearance for use in the field where grit could cause a full race BR action to lock up. If a guy is going to pay a smith to get a Remington completely re-worked, the $750.00 Predator is probably going to be cheaper than buying a Remington action and paying to have the work done.

In my world, the things that'll keep me from using the amazingly accurate Savage is the trigger and the bolt. The changeable bolt head is a great idea but after that I have problems with the bolt. If you blank a primer, which is probable with the large diameter firing pin, the bolt is almost impossible to disassemble and reassemble within the time limits of any kind of competitive event. I suppose the firing pin hole could be bushed and then there'd seldom be a reason to field strip the firing pin and bolt.

 

[ReedG]

A question without an answer. "Target and varmint" would indicate casual vs. competitive target shooting, probably not requiring a full custom action. Once you start putting money and time into a factory action you are in the realm of buying a custom. Even a Remington "clone" available from most of the custom builders is a better investment than buying a factory action and "blueprinting" it.

No doubt the Remington 700 has the greatest assortment of pieces and parts available, though current actions may be the poorest quality in years.

The Savage is second in parts choices with enough pieces available to make it competitive. I personally do not find the Savage bolt a problem to disassemble. It only requires an Allen wrench and comes apart and goes back together quite easily. Most of the custom stockmakers now have a Savage inlet option.

I had a Tikka 595 that had the smoothest, tightest bolt action I have ever seen on a factory rifle. Some people have made tremendous custom target rifles from them. The Cooper is a super action, though I'm not sure they are available separately. Though a good Cooper might fit your need for a target/varmint rifle without modification. The new Savage Long Range Precision Varminter in several magazine tests by shooters who are "less than professional" has shot groups in the twos with factory ammo. They will definitely shoot and are easily optioned out.

Reality, though, probably would teach to find a clean, used custom-built rifle with a true custom action and quality trigger, then barrel and/or stock it to suit your needs. These rifles are regularly available in the $1,200 +/- range and are hard to beat when building a gun that will shoot. Even a well-tuned used Remington action in a custom rifle can be had for $700-800 and is a less-expensive alternative than starting from scratch.

If money is not an issue, then go for a full custom built to your specs. There is little that compares to squeezing the trigger on one that is "yours". Be prepared to wait, good gunsmiths are very busy and a year or two getting the pieces ordered and put together is not unheard of.

If the Savage LRPV is available in a caliber that fits your needs, it may be a good choice. It will shoot respectably right out of the box and give you some time to figure out how competitive you want to get. After you've shot out the factory barrel, you can go for a custom barrel that will make the LRPV shoot with most of the customs.

 

[outlawsix]

Speaking strictly factory. I have handled a Tikka 595. Smooth action, very well put together. My personal favorite is a Sako TRG-42 or 22. Both are super smooth actions from the factory.

If you go custom then it can be a very hard choice to label one clearly better than another.

 

[Rust]

Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

When building any rifle for accuracy based on a factory action, it's going to get blueprinted. While it is true that Remington has the largest aftermarket, unfortunately I've had a few that needed serious work. Complete blueprinting costs enough that had something like the Stiller been available back when, I'd certainly have gone with the Stiller.

Still, what matters most in a precision rifle is the barrel and it's bore first, the accuracy of the chamber being cut true to the bore, and the trueness of the barrel being mounted to the receiver.

 

[lukehalee]

I have a Savage Target action prepped by Fred Moreo with a 6BR Shilen barrel. 1's and low 2's are the norm if I can do my part. I have have a bone stock Savage 12 .223 that shoots regular 2's.

If you want a factory action, gotta look hard at Savage. If you want a Remy, you probably have to do a lot of work, I would go custom then.

 

[SlowpokeRodriguez]

Very tough question kind of like the Blonde's vs Brunette's question!!!LOL

I use the Predator in my sporter builds and the Python an the competition rifles.

 

[mysticplayer]

Box stock factory action - Savage or Stevens for me.

Spin on a quality barrel and they will shoot in the 1's and 2's. Smoothing the bolt lift is easily done. So far no problems with the orig firing pin but I don't go much over magnum pressures.

The accutrigger is a great factory trigger that can get very light depending on version. SSS and Rifle Basix are simple swaps that work very well.

See gun of the week #75 for why I feel as I do.

Rifles are still holding the X ring in F class if the driver can steer properly.

Jerry

 

[Mikem]

As stated above, doing you own work is a real plus with Savage/Stevens, not to mention cost, there hard to beat for the guy that likes to do his own work.
I have a Tactical H-S Precision HTR in 308, and I suppose you could call it a Remington knock off, as it fits the same stock, but it wasnt cheap, and shoots vary well. And I was considering using the action and switching it out to 6BR, but why, when I can get a new RBLP Savage SS target action for about $350. I have about 10 times that in the H-S with glass Etc. Plus I like doing my own work, if I can, and on Savage I can.
Mike.