Pierce action review

[jpmimproved]

So recently I was in the market for a Remington style custom action and was looking at the Pierce actions. Very little information was available online that actually showed much about the action, mostly people just throwing out opinions who had never seen one in person. I have no intention of comparing one action against another, just going to review the Pierce action for those looking at one.

The action I received was a Remington 700 pattern SA, no extra features besides a 20 MOA rail, just their base model. It took right around 3 months to arrive, and cost $1100 all in. Pinned recoil lug was included, also included trigger pins. Action, bolt and rail weight 1 lb 11.5 oz.

Bolt: the bolt is stainless and fluted. The flutes are cerakote black. I believe it is a piece bolt. It comes with the Pierce enhanced firing and aluminum shroud. It has either an m16 extractor or Sako extractor, not certain which by looking at it. The firing pin hole is very tight around the firing pin, in fact you can't see any gap around it whatsoever with the naked eye. There are small reliefs on each side of the bolt lugs, my assumption is to catch any dirt/carbon to prevent any binding.

Action body: the action accepts a 1.062"x18tpi tennon. The rear action screw is not exposed from the top like a traditional 700. The rail that I received with it is pinned with solid pins, not roll pins. Side bolt release.

The bolt/action mating and timing is about as phenomenal as I've seen. Lots of people talk about how smooth custom actions are, the Pierce is extremely smooth, but I don't personally feel that adds a significant amount to an action. After working the bolt several times, you can see that the bolt handle makes contact on the camming surface throughout the length of the surface for good primary extraction. The bolt lift is a little hefty, but without it being in a stock, it's hard to judge.

 

[butchlambert]

I have 2 Pierce receivers at this time. One is a custom wood stocked rifle in 6.5X47L.

I also have a Titanium receivered one in a Brown Precision Kevlar stock.
It is in 280AI.
They are fantastic receivers.
All of my receivers are a little hard to cock without being in a stock regardless of brand.

 

[rardoin]

That is one gorgeous rifle Butch!

 

[Archer]

So recently I was in the market for a Remington style custom action and was looking at the Pierce actions. Very little information was available online that actually showed much about the action, mostly people just throwing out opinions who had never seen one in person. I have no intention of comparing one action against another, just going to review the Pierce action for those looking at one.

The action I received was a Remington 700 pattern SA, no extra features besides a 20 MOA rail, just their base model. It took right around 3 months to arrive, and cost $1100 all in. Pinned recoil lug was included, also included trigger pins. Action, bolt and rail weight 1 lb 11.5 oz.

Bolt: the bolt is stainless and fluted. The flutes are cerakote black. I believe it is a piece bolt. It comes with the Pierce enhanced firing and aluminum shroud. It has either an m16 extractor or Sako extractor, not certain which by looking at it. The firing pin hole is very tight around the firing pin, in fact you can't see any gap around it whatsoever with the naked eye. There are small reliefs on each side of the bolt lugs, my assumption is to catch any dirt/carbon to prevent any binding.

Action body: the action accepts a 1.062"x18tpi tennon. The rear action screw is not exposed from the top like a traditional 700. The rail that I received with it is pinned with solid pins, not roll pins. Side bolt release.

The bolt/action mating and timing is about as phenomenal as I've seen. Lots of people talk about how smooth custom actions are, the Pierce is extremely smooth, but I don't personally feel that adds a significant amount to an action. After working the bolt several times, you can see that the bolt handle makes contact on the camming surface throughout the length of the surface for good primary extraction. The bolt lift is a little hefty, but without it being in a stock, it's hard to judge.

Thank you for taking the time to post this review. I, like you, have been considering the purchase of this action but was unable to find much current review info on it.

 

[butchlambert]

Thanks rardoin. Thought I had pics of the 280ai, But no! It is just all black and a working rifle.

 

[usftr]

Pierce actions are high quality. I fully recommend them. John is a really nice guy to deal with too.

 

[nosualc]

I have 2 Pierce receivers at this time. One is a custom wood stocked rifle in 6.5X47L.

I think I have commented on this before, but THAT is a damned pretty rifle.

-nosualc

 

[Rustystud]

John Pierce's a professional at everything he does, his actions are excellent.
Nat Lambeth

 

[dbduff]

John Pierce's a professional at everything he does, his actions are excellent.
Nat Lambeth

He's easy to work with. Put my Brux barrel on his action into an Elisio platform I provided. No sweat, no problem and answered my calls and emails promptly. What's not to like. Great to do business with.
David Duff

 

[jpmimproved]

Can anybody explain to me why so many people are concerned with how "smooth" an action is? A clean raceway is great, but I don't see that accuracy wise it makes a huge difference. Even the worst Remington actions don't bind due to them not being smooth enough, not even causing bolts to run slower when firing quickly.

 

[284winner]

Can anybody explain to me why so many people are concerned with how "smooth" an action is? A clean raceway is great, but I don't see that accuracy wise it makes a huge difference. Even the worst Remington actions don't bind due to them not being smooth enough, not even causing bolts to run slower when firing quickly.

I personally like a smooth action. I own a couple Weatherbys that are very smooth. Doesn't make them better than another. It's just to me a very nice trait to an action. Some guys like the pretty stocks on Weatherby too. I don't. I prefer synthetic. I think it's just a preference. My Remington's are smooth and my savages not so much. Doesn't make them accurate or inaccurate.

 

[butchlambert]

Can anybody explain to me why so many people are concerned with how "smooth" an action is? A clean raceway is great, but I don't see that accuracy wise it makes a huge difference. Even the worst Remington actions don't bind due to them not being smooth enough, not even causing bolts to run slower when firing quickly.

Jim, the Remingtons do not bind. They are made loose and worn out. If you are running them to stay on top of a condition, your rifle needs a smooth bolt and smooth receiver races.

 

[SheepDog]

That is a blanket statement that does not always apply. I own three Remingtons and not one is a "loose" or worn out.

 

[FatBoy]

Looks like all the surfaces are radiused. The blind rear action screw is a nice touch too.

Butch,

That rifle looks too nice for field use.

Chris

 

[butchlambert]

That is a blanket statement that does not always apply. I own three Remingtons and not one is a "loose" or worn out.

Chuckle, chuckle, Set your rifle securely in order that it won't move. Put an indicator on top of the bolt shroud. Indicate it before and after cocking your rifle. It will tell you the slop in your bolt.

 

[Joe R]

This is a splice from a previous thread:

Seems like everyone has great things to say about Pierce Engineering, and I'm glad they had great experiences, I didn't.

Last May I received two rifles assembled by Pierce using their tube gun actions and Eliseo chassis. These rifles were the first time I had a custom rifles built for me so I really didn't know what to expect. As soon as I received it and noticed that the bolt was a sticky when extracting even before the first firing. I have never owned a Remington type rifle so I could only compare it to my Savage. The Savage was much smoother.

I started using the .308 right away, I thought it was because it was a tight fit and after a break-in period it would work itself out. I was wrong. I have put 3,300 rounds through that rifle and it is still sticky. I have called Pierce back and explained my problem to Jim Ayers (at Pierce) and he offered no solution other than having a gunsmith look at it. In all fairness I did not demand that they do something, simply because I don't want to ship my rifles from Texas back to Michigan. Additionally, the 308 rifle shoots really well.

My other rifle, a 6mm Comp Match has only had 10 rounds through it an is just as sticky as the 308. Both of these rifles had barrels that were cerakoted. On Tuesday (2/3/15) I took my 308 to the gunsmith to have a new barrel installed. I explained my problem to him and he said that he's had another client with the same problem with a Pierce action and its because a tiny amount of Cerakote got inside the action making sticky and it needs to be removed. It should work flawlessly once that is done.

My point is this, those rifles should never have left Pierce's shop in that condition, and IMO it reflects badly on Pierce. YMMV.

Regards,

Joe

 

[germanlongbow]

I traded a STI racegun for a 6mmDasher Pierce tube gun action. Nice. Smooth and reliable. No complaints here.

 

[284winner]

This is a splice from a previous thread:

Seems like everyone has great things to say about Pierce Engineering, and I'm glad they had great experiences, I didn't.

Last May I received two rifles assembled by Pierce using their tube gun actions and Eliseo chassis. These rifles were the first time I had a custom rifles built for me so I really didn't know what to expect. As soon as I received it and noticed that the bolt was a sticky when extracting even before the first firing. I have never owned a Remington type rifle so I could only compare it to my Savage. The Savage was much smoother.

I started using the .308 right away, I thought it was because it was a tight fit and after a break-in period it would work itself out. I was wrong. I have put 3,300 rounds through that rifle and it is still sticky. I have called Pierce back and explained my problem to Jim Ayers (at Pierce) and he offered no solution other than having a gunsmith look at it. In all fairness I did not demand that they do something, simply because I don't want to ship my rifles from Texas back to Michigan. Additionally, the 308 rifle shoots really well.

My other rifle, a 6mm Comp Match has only had 10 rounds through it an is just as sticky as the 308. Both of these rifles had barrels that were cerakoted. On Tuesday (2/3/15) I took my 308 to the gunsmith to have a new barrel installed. I explained my problem to him and he said that he's had another client with the same problem with a Pierce action and its because a tiny amount of Cerakote got inside the action making sticky and it needs to be removed. It should work flawlessly once that is done.

My point is this, those rifles should never have left Pierce's shop in that condition, and IMO it reflects badly on Pierce. YMMV.

Regards,

Joe

Who cerakoted them ?
I have experienced what your saying on a cerakoted barreled action. Personally I think the company that cerakoted it shouldn't have applied the cerakoting so heavy in the raceway area or bolt. It's essentially ceramic coating and does not wear down after much use. I believe the gentleman that cerakoted the gun, never should have let it leave the shop before fixing the problem. I suppose if that's the actual problem and John Pierce or someone in his engine shop cerakoted them, you are correct. They shouldn't have left in that condition. Ultimately it's not the barrel installers fault that the action has cerakote in it from a previous gunsmith or shop. I read your thread and can't tell if you mentioned that Pierce actually cerakoted it. Sorry. Actually not sure how easy that stuff is to remove.

 

[Joe R]

Who cerakoted them ?
I have experienced what your saying on a cerakoted barreled action. Personally I think the company that cerakoted it shouldn't have applied the cerakoting so heavy in the raceway area or bolt. It's essentially ceramic coating and does not wear down after much use. I believe the gentleman that cerakoted the gun, never should have let it leave the shop before fixing the problem. I suppose if that's the actual problem and John Pierce or someone in his engine shop cerakoted them, you are correct. They shouldn't have left in that condition. Ultimately it's not the barrel installers fault that the action has cerakote in it from a previous gunsmith or shop. I read your thread and can't tell if you mentioned that Pierce actually cerakoted it. Sorry. Actually not sure how easy that stuff is to remove.

Actually, it turned out it that the cerakote wasn't the issue, it was something much easier than that. There were witness marks on the bolt, by using some 800 grit paper and rubbing it where the marks were it wore down just enough (maybe 1K) that the bolt opened and closed smooth as butter. IMO that if I buy an action from Pierce and pay them to build the rifle, you would think that they would take the time to properly fit the bolt to their action, wouldn't you? Well..., they didn't and that reflects badly on Pierce.

I'm not the only guy that this has happened to, if you search through the postings you will find others that have had the same exact issue and I've told them how to resolve it. If I were looking for a moderately priced action now, I would buy a complete action from Pacific Tool and Gage instead of Pierce and save myself $500 in the process. http://pacifictoolandgauge.com/292-ptg-blueprinted-short-action-combo-s-700

Regards,

Joe

 

[butchlambert]

Actually, it turned out it that the cerakote wasn't the issue, it was something much easier than that. There were witness marks on the bolt, by using some 800 grit paper and rubbing it where the marks were it wore down just enough (maybe 1K) that the bolt opened and closed smooth as butter. IMO that if I buy an action from Pierce and pay them to build the rifle, you would think that they would take the time to properly fit the bolt to their action, wouldn't you? Well..., they didn't and that reflects badly on Pierce.

I'm not the only guy that this has happened to, if you search through the postings you will find others that have had the same exact issue and I've told them how to resolve it. If I were looking for a moderately priced action now, I would buy a complete action from Pacific Tool and Gage instead of Pierce and save myself $500 in the process. http://pacifictoolandgauge.com/292-ptg-blueprinted-short-action-combo-s-700

Regards,

Joe

Save how much? And you still have a Remington.