PRS Action - Impact 737 or Kelbly Atlas Tactical?

[lazyMlazyK]

I'm planning for a future build. I was lucky enough to win a free chamber job from a company, but don't have a custom action that I'm building off of yet. In the future, I'd like to move away from my Savage 12 to try something different. Right now, I'm trying to decide between the Impact 737 and the Kelbly Atlas Tactical. The main difference that I see it that the Kelbly uses a TG style extractor, which in my mind, could make it a tad bit more dependable after many rounds downrange (no extractor springs to break from my understanding).

Does anyone here have experience using both of these actions? What are some pros and cons of each? Which would you recommend, based on quality, and aftermarket support?

 

[JOE360]

I just biult a rifle with Atlas tactical. Its a 223 rem. With 3 prs matches with the rifle so far the tg ejection works great when you do your job. Litte short stroke and the case doesn't clear the action. But the last match it only got me one time. The tg ejector is awesome for checking headspace and setting up for your shoulder bump. Kelblys is really nice to deal with after using there video instructions for measuring firing pin fall and being .030 short of the spec they sent me a new trigger hanger for free. Only other thing is I'm getting more primer crateing then expected, I'm also pushing the little mouse cartridge pretty hard.

 

[ballisticdaddy]

Can't go wrong with either product nor manufacturer. The main difference in my opinion is that the Impact has a one piece picatinny rail and recoil lug while the Atlas does not. They both are guaranteed to proper headspace for pre-fits. The Atlas is about $350 less than the Impact but once you buy a rail and recoil lug the gap is pretty close.

 

[rijndael]

Shouldered prefit barrels for the 737 are more common than the Atlas.

If you like to use one smith for all of your barrels, it could be moot, all you need is one. If you like to deal shop, your 737 options are far more plentiful.

 

[moondog]

Can't go wrong with either product nor manufacturer. The main difference in my opinion is that the Impact has a one piece picatinny rail and recoil lug while the Atlas does not. They both are guaranteed to proper headspace for pre-fits. The Atlas is about $350 less than the Impact but once you but a rail and recoil lug the gap is pretty close.

Mine came with the rail and lug

 

[okie]

Mine came with the rail and lug

mine did as well

 

[JEFFPPC]

Not saying anything negative about the other company but based on 25 years of 3 Kelbly actions with no problems even though I have had various cartridges and upgrades made by Kelblys I would be hesitant to go to any other brand. The service is just too good to leave.

 

[Sheldon N]

Impact is far more commonly used in the PRS game and the availability of off the shelf prefits is a significant benefit.

There’s also a pretty decent secondary market for lightly used barrels when someone changes their mind in a caliber. Both barrels I am running right now were sourced from other shooters at a significant discount and because they are prefits they headspace perfectly.

Impact also has a superb reputation for staying reliable in the most adverse dusty field conditions. The PRS season championship series has been won by Impact actions 5 years running.

 

[SweaterDood]

As mentioned already, the biggest benefit will be availability of chambered prefits for the Impact. I have a 737 and 2 Defiance (Tenacity XM, Ruckus SA) and have played with quite a few more Impacts as well. In my mind almost all of the customs are dead even in quality, smoothness, etc. The tolerances have been worked out for PRS conditions on all the new actions, and triggers are likely to be the first point of failure if not maintained. I personally like the 100% integration of lug and rail on actions, but against others where the lug and rail are pinned, I’m not sure there will be a notable difference in performance.

Buy either with confidence.

 

[Monday shooter40]

I play PRS. I shoot an Impact. I don't regret anything about my purchase. Tate and his crew make a very dependable product. I've had mine about a year now and probably have 3k + rounds on it. 2 barrels. It just works all day every day. Plus barrels are on everyones shelf. If PRS is the game you're playing, then its a no brainer for me.

Im sure kelbly makes a great action too. There's no denying they know how to make a action perform. If your not playing PRS, this might be good option too. I'd love to play with one personally,

Im sure you won't be disappointed by either company.

 

[Matt_3479]

I own both actions. The atlas in a 6 creed and the impact in a 6bra. Both actions are incredible! Kelbly’s service is second to none though! I find the atlas slightly lighter bolt lift and both are wildly smooth. Both run great in dirty conditions. The atlas comes with a lug and rail so it’s cheaper then the impact. Buy either with absolute confidence. I prefer my impact build as I prefer the 6bra, but the kelbly action is incredible to run

 

[jobhopper66]

I have no opinion on action choice as I know nothing about the PRS game but I think the replies so far do show that as shooters we are fortunate to have so many good options when it comes to building a rifle. So many manufacturers have upped their quality that now the decision of which component to buy may come down to availability.

 

[lazyMlazyK]

Thanks for all the replies, folks! It doesn't seem like a guy can go wrong with either of those two actions, but I think I'll plan on going with the Impact 737. I've been jonesing for one for a couple years now, but a new shooting buddy runs a couple of Kelblys, and he recommends them, so I thought I'd ask you all about them as well.

 

[Mauser06]

If you're comparing the Impact to a Kelbly action, it should be the Prometius not the Atlas Tactical IMO. The Atlas uses a pinned rail and recoil lug. Prometius and Impact are 1 chunk of metal. To me, that's not a huge deal but to some it is.


I have an Atlas Tactical and an Impact. I have around 2k through the Atlas Tactical. Only 100 or so through the Impact.

I find the Atlas to be smoother and lighter to run. The Impact is new so I expect it to get better. The Impact isn't bad...don't take it that way.

I have found I can bind the bolt on the Impact and I can't replicate that on the Atlas. Again, not sure if that'll go away once it's broken in. I have to try to bind up the Impact...but if you put side pressure onto the Impact, it comes to a dead stop. Running the bolt properly cures that.


I expect the Impact to get better with time.
The Impact is built like a tank.


Like was said, more profit options for Impact. But that's not an issue to me. To some it is.

Impact IS probably the leader of PRS. Is it THE BEST? I don't know that. I've realized PRS gear is often skewed by sponsors...sponsored shooters, sponsored matches...prize tables. I did decide to try an Impact because of that. They clearly work for many of the top shooters. And Impact supports many matches and prize tables. I think supporting companies that support the sport is important. I also won't run anything I don't have complete confidence in.


I'll be running the Impact the rest of the season. Then I'm going to decide what I personally like best.

 

[lazyMlazyK]

Thanks for that info, Mauser06! I didn't know that about the Prometheus. Let us know how you like the Impact after using it this season!!

 

[Matt_3479]

Thanks for that info, Mauser06! I didn't know that about the Prometheus. Let us know how you like the Impact after using it this season!!

I agree, I’ve heard the Prometheus is just a beefed up 1 piece atlas and I think that’s a slightly more fair comparison as technically there more similar. I have the opposite of Mauser06 as I have 2400 rounds plus thousands of dryfires on my impact, and only 400-500 on my kelbly with another 1000 or so dry fires. I can’t bind either of them but could see an arguement for the kelbly possibly being smoother.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Kelbly will be around once the impact banner disappears from the matches and folks move on to the next vanilla action that advertises. If you want the best get a mausingfield. No shortage of savage barrels that fit it or shouldered prefits are available. You get one in your hands and youll see where the extra money goes i assure you.

 

[NiteQwill]

Kelbly will be around once the impact banner disappears from the matches and folks move on to the next vanilla action that advertises. If you want the best get a mausingfield. No shortage of savage barrels that fit it or shouldered prefits are available. You get one in your hands and youll see where the extra money goes i assure you.

Impact will be around for a long, long time. If you talk to Tate, he cannot keep up with the amount of orders coming in for his actions from dealers. It has the greatest support for pre-fits that are readily available from multiple barrel smiths/makers, including Impact themselves (spun by Stuteville himself).

At a PRS match, you can see a field of Impact actions. Everything else is just a sprinkle.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Impact will be around for a long, long time. If you talk to Tate, he cannot keep up with the amount of orders coming in for his actions from dealers. It has the greatest support for pre-fits that are readily available from multiple barrel smiths/makers, including Impact themselves (spun by Stuteville himself).

At a PRS match, you can see a field of Impact actions. Everything else is just a sprinkle.

What was the last one though? No doubt they are good but what makes them any better than any other action used in prs? Is there something about them that makes them better than the last ones?

 

[NiteQwill]

What was the last one though? No doubt they are good but what makes them any better than any other action used in prs? Is there something about them that makes them better than the last ones?

Better is subjective. Having shot PRS literally across the country, I have yet to see an Impact action go down in the crap, snowing/sleet/rain weather of the NE, the fine moondust of Idaho and Utah, or the grainy sand of NM and TX. The support is wide, you can literally ask any major barrel smith (Bugholes, SJA, PVA, A-Team, A&O, etc.) to spin an Impact Pre-fit without issues. Or just order one from Impact themselves and have it to your doorstep the next day.

Whether it's advertising or not (I rarely see Impact "advertised"), goes to show what actions are working across the field when you show up to big 2-day national matches.