stiller

[jofus]

has anyone tried the new stiller predator actions and how much better are they than a trued remington

 

[butchlambert]

I really like mine.
Butch

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

I have a TAC300, which is the tactical LA version of the Predator. Been shooting with it since last spring. Great action. I'll buy another Stiller for my next project. The only way that I'd go back to truing an M700 was if I already had the action and wanted to proceed with a build using it. Other than that, if you start from scratch and have to buy a new action the Stiller just makes more sense.

 

[tightneck]

has anyone tried the new stiller predator actions and how much better are they than a trued remington

Better?? I don't know that they are better than a properly trued 700. I use Dave Kiff bolts for my Remingtons and do true them up so that they are akin to a custom action. This is however a lot of work and may not be the best choice for a paying customer, depends on a few things. A good blueprint job with a Kiff bolt will cost about as much as a Predator action, with the cost of the 700 in the price. For a hunting rig, the Predator would be the way to go IMO, but not necessarily so for a varmint or target rig. The nice thing about Kiff is that he will make you a bolt however you want it, not so for Stiller. I like my bolt to raceway fit to be in the .001-.002 range and I also like coned bolts. The Predator has more clearance than I like for the bolt fit and you can't get it with a coned bolt. I don't have any Predators, so I can't give an opinion, but they do have a BIG following so they can't be too bad.

 

[SongdogHunter]

I have as a .243Ai and have a TAc- 30 on order. Better I think so. I also think they hold their resale value much better than a trued M700 will do. As others have said a trued M700 without the expense and hassle.

SDH

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

has anyone tried the new stiller predator actions and how much better are they than a trued remington

Better?? I don't know that they are better than a properly trued 700. I use Dave Kiff bolts for my Remingtons and do true them up so that they are akin to a custom action. This is however a lot of work and may not be the best choice for a paying customer, depends on a few things. A good blueprint job with a Kiff bolt will cost about as much as a Predator action, with the cost of the 700 in the price. For a hunting rig, the Predator would be the way to go IMO, but not necessarily so for a varmint or target rig. The nice thing about Kiff is that he will make you a bolt however you want it, not so for Stiller. I like my bolt to raceway fit to be in the .001-.002 range and I also like coned bolts. The Predator has more clearance than I like for the bolt fit and you can't get it with a coned bolt. I don't have any Predators, so I can't give an opinion, but they do have a BIG following so they can't be too bad.

The Stiller Predator,and TAC series) actions use Kiff bolts. Probably the same ones that you're using in your M700's!

Stiller purposely makes the bolt to raceway fit a little looser in these actions so they will function more reliably in the field. They are advertised as hunting and tactical actions and are not intended for use in range queens. I haven't asked, but Jerry might make one up with a tighter fit if you asked him, but for target,and perhaps varmint) shooting he'd probably recommend going to one of his other offerings like a Viper or Diamondback.

Another nice feature on the Predator,and TAC) is the side bolt release that comes standard with the action. A very nice feature that any shooter who's fumbled with a factory M700 bolt release while wearing gloves would attest to. Modifying an M700 to add this feature would cost about $100+ when done by a pro.

If you can do this stuff correctly yourself it might be wise to start with an M700, but maybe not! I suppose that would depend on what your time is worth

 

[shcal]

What Billy said. I think if you really wanted a coned bolt Jerry would order one from Kiff for you since he makes the bolts anyway. The Predator, as Billy rightly said, is a hunting and tactical action, Stiller has other options for BR.

I love my Predator, just the ticket for my hunting gun. Just ask any smith who has built rifles around them for their customers.

 

[tightneck]

has anyone tried the new stiller predator actions and how much better are they than a trued remington

Better?? I don't know that they are better than a properly trued 700. I use Dave Kiff bolts for my Remingtons and do true them up so that they are akin to a custom action. This is however a lot of work and may not be the best choice for a paying customer, depends on a few things. A good blueprint job with a Kiff bolt will cost about as much as a Predator action, with the cost of the 700 in the price. For a hunting rig, the Predator would be the way to go IMO, but not necessarily so for a varmint or target rig. The nice thing about Kiff is that he will make you a bolt however you want it, not so for Stiller. I like my bolt to raceway fit to be in the .001-.002 range and I also like coned bolts. The Predator has more clearance than I like for the bolt fit and you can't get it with a coned bolt. I don't have any Predators, so I can't give an opinion, but they do have a BIG following so they can't be too bad.

The Stiller Predator,and TAC series) actions use Kiff bolts. Probably the same ones that you're using in your M700's!

Stiller purposely makes the bolt to raceway fit a little looser in these actions so they will function more reliably in the field. They are advertised as hunting and tactical actions and are not intended for use in range queens. I haven't asked, but Jerry might make one up with a tighter fit if you asked him, but for target,and perhaps varmint) shooting he'd probably recommend going to one of his other offerings like a Viper or Diamondback.

Another nice feature on the Predator,and TAC) is the side bolt release that comes standard with the action. A very nice feature that any shooter who's fumbled with a factory M700 bolt release while wearing gloves would attest to. Modifying an M700 to add this feature would cost about $100+ when done by a pro.

If you can do this stuff correctly yourself it might be wise to start with an M700, but maybe not! I suppose that would depend on what your time is worth

Actually, Jerry has posted on this forum or benchrest.com,I don't remember which) that he will not do a coned bolt or have it turned to a different diameter, probably because it would cost more. I have no problem with that, I just like my actions set up a little differently. To each his own.