Recommended actions?

[Justin Utherdude]

Howdy guys. I've been wanting to build a couple of longer range rifles for a few years now and with black friday coming up I figured that this would be a good time to keep my eyes open for deals. I've been doing some research online, but am looking for some experience and advice. I'm looking for remington 700 long action footprints and the ability to use pre-fit barrels and rifle chassis with aics magazines. I'd like to plan on building 3 rifles, but budget will probably not allow all 3 this year. I think I was originally looking at zermat/bighorn, defiance, and lone peak.

1.) ultralight long action for a 280ai build
2.) an action for a 7mm-300wm
3.) an action for a 338 lapua mag

Additionally, At some point down the road I'd like to build a 220 swift and a 50bmg wildcat, so let me know if you have recommendations for those. Do you guys know if aw50 actions were ever available by themselves?

Thank you for you time.
New and Naive - Justin Utherdude

 

[Walt Krafft]

Add Stillar to your list for good actions.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Defiance deviant ga hunter with tighter bolt fit and modified handle is my favorite. I dont love the newer straight handle. For the lapua, Bat.

 

[bgris]

Need to take a look impact actions as well

 

[lancexxx]

Check Falkor Defense. I had never heard of them and a Guy turned me on to them. I built a lightweight 6mm CM for night hunting. The short action is 19 0z. Pre fit barrels from proof. Total weight with 22" barrel, Mcmillian game warden stock with hawkins bottom metal is 6lb 1 oz. Shoots very well also

 

[357Mag]

Howdy guys. I've been wanting to build a couple of longer range rifles for a few years now and with black friday coming up I figured that this would be a good time to keep my eyes open for deals. I've been doing some research online, but am looking for some experience and advice. I'm looking for remington 700 long action footprints and the ability to use pre-fit barrels and rifle chassis with aics magazines. I'd like to plan on building 3 rifles, but budget will probably not allow all 3 this year. I think I was originally looking at zermat/bighorn, defiance, and lone peak.

1.) ultralight long action for a 280ai build
2.) an action for a 7mm-300wm
3.) an action for a 338 lapua mag

Additionally, At some point down the road I'd like to build a 220 swift and a 50bmg wildcat, so let me know if you have recommendations for those. Do you guys know if aw50 actions were ever available by themselves?

Thank you for you time.
New and Naive - Justin Utherdude

Justin -

Howdy !

As regards potential bolt actions to use for a notional .220 Swift
build....

If you intend to use the 'Swift on groundhog, you probably already have a preferred bullet in-mind. I mention this, because your bullet choice in this instance; can have an influence on you potential action choices..

If shooting " Soybeanus Digestus " w/ 55gr .224" cal varmint bullets, you could go with a single-shot " short " bolt action.
Cartridge oal would be manageable, albeit longer than a
.22-250 cartridge oal, when shooting the same bullet.
Operating free of magazine restrictions on cartridge oal holds some appeal, on its own.

The 'Swift has a .300"-ish neck lg, and some of the cartridge oal can be reduced... by seating bullets a tad deeper in the case neck; if so desired. If you intend to shoot longer heavy VLDs, some thought might be given to use of a " long " action ?

A used M-77 'Swift or Savage 112V could serve as a starting point for the build, but would likely need to be treated to a new barrel; for starters.

For my first custom anti-groundhog / target rifle, riflesmith Fred Sinclair had me go with a ( then new ) Wichita WBR1375 single-shot benchrest action, instead of using a sleeved
XP-100... which was my initial thought. Fred gave sage advice, and I never regretted going w/ the Wichita. See pic...

The Wichita...ostensibly a " short " action.... was chambered in my ".22-35 Remington " wildcat. I shot Hornady 55SX, seated
.125" into my wildcat's .250" lg neck. Worked great !
You might consider an action a step beyond an M-700 or clone?
If that graduates to being a benchrest-grade action, so be it.
Sinclair was known to say " buy the best, and cry once ".

One Indiana shooter, to another.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[357Mag]

Justin -

Had trouble sending pics......

You can see some pics of the Wichita-actioned rifle, under the post " Old school varmint rifles ".

I'll keep the trying to send some pics in response to your post..

Regards,
357Mag

 

[357Mag]

Correction -
" Old school long range hunting/varmint rigs ".

Appologies for the errors!


Regards,
357Mag

 

[Taylor Stratton]

Defiance deviant ga hunter with tighter bolt fit and modified handle is my favorite. I dont love the newer straight handle. For the lapua, Bat.

How tight do you spec the bolt fit for hunting in these? Any particular reason you don’t like the straight handle compared to the modified handle?

 

[WeatherbyFan]

Stainless Lightweight actions for the 280AI build I would look at Pure Precision SKLTN, Defiance Renegade with swept bolt handle, Defiance AnTi if you could find one since they’ve discontinued that model.

 

[B23]

An action that is top shelf but won't cause you to have to sell a kidney to afford it is the BAT Igniter. BAT makes the Igniter in both SA and LA with standard or mag rifle size bolt faces and they're Rem 700 footprint actions. I just used one for my 25 SAUM build.

For the 338 Lapua size cases in a Rem 700 footprint the BAT HR is my first pick and for a LR or ELR rifle in 338 I'd do a single shot action. You don't shoot big guns like that fast especially if you're shooting them LR or ELR.

Also, if you reload I'd skip past the standard 338 Lapua, IMO it's kind of a turd, instead go right to the "improved" version. Improving the 338 Lapua case to either a 35° or 40° shoulder is a pretty substantial increase in case capacity as well as the 338 Lapua Improved is one of the easiest cartridges to dial a load in for that I've ever owned and launching 300 grainers at over 3100 is a thing of beauty.

 

[FNSafari]

John Pierce actions might interest you...

Custom Actions | Pierce Engineering | Custom Actions | Custom Rifles

Custom actions are the heart of our business. Everything we produce is custom machined in-house using top brand components (triggers, stocks, scopes) .

www.pierceengineeringltd.com

 

[Gong guy]

I like my Pierce action. Left hand, 700 clone, long. I'd get another if I could justify it to myself.