What are your thoughts on a surgeon action?

[Frankr]

i been looking at a surgeon 591 action for a 6 dasher build.
at this point its still just a thought.
just wondering about the surgeon actions and know no one who has one.
im really likeing that 591...

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

I have a 591 and it is AWESOME. Very well designed and built, when building up my rifle my gunsmith, Richard King, commented several times (it was the first one he had worked with) how impressed it was with it...

 

[dreever]

I have two. One a repeater on my GAP Hospitaller, the other a single shot on my bench gun. I really like the Surgeon actions. One thing you may need to use higher rings than normal with a 56mm objective to clear a HV contour barrel. I'm using Badger 1.125 high rings which leave about 3/8 inch clearance.

Danny

 

[280man]

I have had mine since 2008. I mainly use it for F-class competition and it has served me very well. I have a new 591 WSM action on order right now for the new rig.

Get one I dont think you will be disappointed

 

[skeetlee]

I may be way wrong but wont you have to go with a right bolt right port with a surgeon? Since your building a dasher i would assume you may want to shoot this rig off a bench once in a while. If so a dual port is my choice, and i dont think you can get a dual port with a surgeon?? Like i say, maybe i am wrong. I thought surgeon was more of a tactical type action. They are very solid and well made. No question about that! Lee

 

[Frankr]

skeet can you tell me why you would sugguest a dual port.?
im running a right,right on a 100/200 LV bench rifle.
i have looked at the dual ports and really like them but what if i want to extract a loaded round and i run a tight neck chamber and worry about denting or dinging my necks on ejection, thats why i never went with a dual port.
hate to say this but i might be leaning tward another haverkamp, i allready have a 20moa rail for one and dont think i will use it on the one i have now.

 

[Scott Harris]

I bought a 591 and an RSR. I was disappointed for several reasons. My CG Jackson trigger did not work very well: lots of issues. The primer strikes were off-center by quite a bit on both actions. I sold them and replaced with Defiance actions. The CG triggers work flawlessly, primer strikes perfectly centered and I've never looked back.

 

[brian427cobra]

My 260 has a 591 action, in the Tactical Games the Surgeon 591 is the best there is.

 

[skeetlee]

I guess it all depends on how your shooting style is. If your a picker then no real need for a dual port i guess. If your a runner when the conditions hold, then a dual is probably faster. Here is the main reason i like dual port actions. To me form is everything. When i get behind my rifle i dont move!! I want that rifle to hit my shoulder the same ever time it recoils. I freeze up behind my rifles. I dont even move my head until my five shots are off. With a dual i can move my left arm and i dont have to brake form with my right shoulder. I still have to work the bolt but i dont want to go fishing for rounds if i fumble one. I just feel like i can be more still with a dual port as apposed to a right right. There again it is all up to the shooter and what you need and what your used to. I put down a soft mat so my brass doesnt get dinged up. I also set my ejector so it doesnt throw my brass a half mile.
The haverkamp is a good choice as you well know. For the money they cant be beat. Tom is now making the bolts coned and i think that is huge. He is also offering dual ports so i hear. I told tom long ago he needed to offer these two things and he didnt want any part of it. I guess when gordy told him he needed to he listened. Either way i am glad to hear he is now doing it the way a bench action needs to be. I may even buy another. One thing for sure is that they are straight and true. I can tell you i know a very competent smith that loves surgeon action and shoots surgeon action, but this smith who i wont say who, checked a surgeon action for trueness and it was not. it wasnt off a lot but it was off. This smith still shoots surgeon actions. So take that for what it is worth. No much really! Toms action are no question straight. i know of a couple smiths that have checked them for this and they were dead nuts!!!! Also the haverkamp has the cocking angles were as the bolt lift is oh so smooth. A nice touch for sure! Heck of a lot of action for the money! Tell tom i said hello!! Good luck, it doesnt sound like you can make a bad choice here. Everyone has opinions and these are mine. Another action worth looking into would be a Borden. Lee