New custom action?

[Frankr]

Well that time a year when we get a few bucks back from uncle sam is near.
#1 on my list is a new custom rifle action for a new rifle build.
So my question is what custom action and why??
The rifle we be a switch barrel rig with 4 barrels in mind and piller bedded in two stocks
the rifle will be for my personal enjoyment not for competition but we will adhere to the
10.5lbs short range benchrest rules for one barrel and stock. so one stock will be a mcmillian edge ultralite BR.So the big decision seems to be port configuration,and that has been a tough one, i have decided on right bolt right port,i have had 2 right left ports and feel good about speed with a right right.I guess if it was a decidicated competion rifle i would try a dual port.so its going to be a right right.. and i think i know what action i want but there are alot of them out there so thought i give a shout out and see what other people like and have used with good results. so what have you used and what do you like and why is what i am asking?

 

[Frankr]

Its alot to ask from one action i know. let me give you some more info, the first and main
barrel will be my standard heavy varmit/live varmit 1-14 6BR. second barrel will be for the sole purpose to make 10.5lb weight class so it will be a small short barrel also in 6BR. third barrel will be a long 1-8 6BR. forth barrel will be up in the air and much latter down the road. but the decision on port configuration is very tough because i want to try a right bolt left load right eject.but what happens if a year or two down the road i want to put a 6xc or .243 barrel on ,so im upside down on port configuration.so that why i feel right/right is my best choice.and with it haveing to be piller beded/switch barrel & scope rig it has to be a stout action. Im THINKING either the borden BRM or the Haverkamp?? There i said it.
any and all opinions would be appreciated.

 

[expiper]

There are lots of choices,,,,here is one of mine...it is a Kelbly F-class...308 BF....can be BR/PPC--243 or even load 30-06 as single shot.....it ejects out the left port...but can be configured with an xtra port on the right ....very versitale action....integral 20 moa rail...easily moved from stock to stock....scopes slide off the unertal rail in seconds....Roger

 

[Frankr]

expiper Thanks for the pic and info, gives me more to think about.

 

[expiper]

Your very welcome....im glad to help,,,there are so many great actions and port configurations that it becomes confusing...I hav a cupla differnt ones....like em all....it is fun to shoot a smooth working custom action...they dont work herky jerky like even a smooted/trued/triked out factory action that slows you down and takes your mind off the target.....you shuldnt hav to think about anyting but what the conditions are doing.....good luck with your shooting....(give Jim or Ian a call about thier acions and availability) Roger

PS..here is another view of the F-class ,,,it also has an integral recoil lug for the larger cals......

 

[MarkS]

FJIM,
I have had a few actions. I have had a RT, LT, RT eject. one thing I did not like about it , was a round can go all the way thru and out the other side. I now have just RT, LT port only. Of the actions I have used, I ended up with a BAT "B" and Siller Diamondback, but these actions may be too heavy for a 10.5 lb gun.
You did not say what stock you wre using for the second one. My guns are long range benchrest guns 17 lb class. I like the Shehane MBR. I have had many, like it the best for me. This stock would work great for your long 6BR barrel, and 6XC or 243. If you want something for longer range look at the 6BRX (6 BR IMP).

Mark Schronce

 

[Frankr]

Thanks for the info.. Custom actions i have owned are as follows: stole panda R/R, Nesika J
R/L, Lester Bruno R/L, Never cared for the right bolt/left port.Feel i can run a right right just as fast ..The one i have now is a old Hart(very old) Rem bolt right/right. its a 1.400 dia , 8.5in long.so its a big action.works very well.and yea with a 36x weaver and a smaller barrel i could make 10.5lbs with it. Im unsure of my second stock have a few ideas but they are further down the road.

 

[johara1]

I would use a F class panda also,if you use a round action it will need 2 pins for the recoil lug to use as a switch barrel. the only thing different i would do different, i would have draft on the sides of the action to have it go from different stocks better. square doesn't go it easy,but draft makes them work For scope rings i would use burris signature rings so you can get 10 min. of angle so you can go from 100 yds. to 1000 yrds...........jim

 

[juniorARshooter]

Sir
I am shooting a Stiller action and it is great - shoots well beyond my ability at 1000. For your info there is a Stiller Group Buy going on at snipershide.com. Great deal to save a few bucks.

Also have some freinds who are nationally and internatioanlly ranked and they swear by Bernard Actions (great price and you get a trigger) - you can see them at MT Guns www.mtguns.com.

Also depending on your ability there is nothing wrong with a Remginton 700 action. Less expennsive to start with (lot of parts available) and when you improve enough to need more accuracy, quite a few high accuracy actions have a 700 footrpint so you can reuse your gear.

Hope this helps.

 

[jonbearman]

HEY Roger when are you going to sell me that one,LOL That rig looks awesome,hope ya had a happy Christmas.I am still waiting for my present from you,LOL

 

[Kenny474]

I am currently trying to decide on a custom action as well, but for different purposes. Though I am still considering a tuned Savage action as well, due to possible financial limitations. I am in no hurry, and plan to research this for a bit so I end up with exactly what I want. But I will pass on some of what I have learned by talking to many who own these actions and also from reading many reviews and reports by those who have used them as well.

Since you want to build a very multi-purpose rig that must conform to a 10.5lb weight in at least one configuration, the aluminum Panda or Viper would likely be good choices to save weight. I was recently schooled on the Panda myself by several forum members (Thanks guys!), and it makes an excellent action for a short range BR rifle and works just as well on an F-Class or 600-1000yd BR rifle. The aluminum Viper is very similar to the Panda, with an integral rail on top, flat bottom, 30oz weight, stainless insert for barrel threads and the bolt face works with both standard and ppc size cases. One difference in the Viper that I believe is absent on the Panda is hard anodizing, which will help with wear and also fend off corrosion. The Panda has a very similar shape and many of the same features and weighs 30.5oz according to an older Kelby's catalog. They are both excellent actions that will do just as well in 100yd BR as they will 600-1000ydBR or F-Class.

In my opinion and based on what others have told me about these actions, either would likely serve you well, though a Panda F-Class with it's integral recoil lug may have added benefits as well.

There are also a few other actions worth looking at, such as a Borden RimRock BR with it's 29oz weight, Stiller DiamondBack at 32oz, or the Haverkamp, as well as a few others I'm sure. And since no action decision should be made without consideration of something from BAT Machine, a BAT SV or any of the other suitable actions they make in the 28oz to 34oz weight range may be a good choices as well.


For your purposes, considering this will be a multi-barrel, multi-stock rifle that must fit the 10.5lb weight class, as well as shoot long (I believe the purpose of the long 1-8 6BR barrel), I believe it will be hard to find an action that is truly a whole lot better than a Viper, Panda (standard or F-Class), DiamondBack, RimRock BR or Haverkamp.

In my opinion, a Panda F-Class with Burris rings to cancel out the 20MOA rail would be a good choice, and it has an integral recoil lug as well. After that, it's a toss up. They all appear to be excellent actions, and I have read great things on all of them.

My opinion likely means little, so take it for what it is. But I think I laid out some solid choices that would serve you well.

Kenny

 

[alf]

Bat dual port

 

[Frankr]

Thanks for all the input, it is appreciated.. When we get the $$ i will let you what i ordered.
Thanks again..

 

[GerryM]

Take a look at STILLERS WEB SITE. They have plenty to choose from.
The prices are reasonable too and the quality is there. The drop piorts are really slick, they drop the emptys right out of the bottom of the stock. You won't have to chase brass on those.

 

[Josh11]

Look at the "show off your Bat" in the forum. Lots of cool combos.

 

[skeetlee]

Tom Haverkamps new actions are really nice and affordable. Nice and straight and verry accurate. You wouldnt be sorry!!! Lee