What Features Make an Action Accurate?

[Bottom Fodder]

With all the custom built and target actions out there what are some of the things they have that makes them more accurate than say just a plain 700 action. Basically what do you look for in an action to build say a bench rest or F Class rifle?
just trying to learn

 

[butchlambert]

This has been hashed out many times. The search function is your friend.

 

[Todd Earhart]

Consistent \ tunable ignition.
Todd

 

[Bottom Fodder]

But basically if the action is trued to the barrel and the bolt/ head is trued to the chamber and the action has good lock time what else need to be done to it to make more accurate

 

[butchlambert]

Ream the receiver bore, sleeve the OD of the bolt body, finish to the receiver bore, and bush the bolt face and fit an .062 firing pin tip to it. You will also need to install a bolt handle to replace the gawd awful factory one.
Now if everything is done, you could have bought a custom.

 

[ShtrRdy]

With all the custom built and target actions out there what are some of the things they have that makes them more accurate than say just a plain 700 action. Basically what do you look for in an action to build say a bench rest or F Class rifle?
just trying to learn

Good question. After reading Tony Boyer's book I got the impression that aside from having the reciever concentric with the bolt and chamber that the consistent release and fall of the firing pin is a big deal.

 

[Bc'z]

Ream the receiver bore, sleeve the OD of the bolt body, finish to the receiver bore, and bush the bolt face and fit an .062 firing pin tip to it. You will also need to install a bolt handle to replace the gawd awful factory one.
Now if everything is done, you could have bought a custom.

Butch here's one of those high dollar R700 bolts I just had finished by @boltfluter.
All total with truing action when barrel was changed, having @carlsbad bush the new firing pin and bolt face, I'd say I'm in the bolt alone for close to $600, for a action I already owned.
My wife's Bighorn TL2 action came complete with all these features for $900.
The other bolt goes in my buddies ratty ol Tika.

Now being me and what I do, you know I appreciate the craftsmanship it takes to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. Lol
Having the quality workmanship on my Remington by these craftsman was my end goal, cost wasn't the factor.
All that said, there are a slew of quality custom actions out there for $900-$1200 complete with bells and whistles.

 

[butchlambert]

I understand as I still have a couple. You need to add the cost of a side bolt release also.

 

[Bc'z]

I understand as I still have a couple. You need to add the cost of a side bolt release also.

Damn it Butch!!!!
Now I'm definitely sending this rife back to Zack for a side release.
I knew I was leaving something out!! Lol
Might as well get a Sako extractor installed while I'm at it

 

[JimPag]

With all the custom built and target actions out there what are some of the things they have that makes them more accurate than say just a plain 700 action. Basically what do you look for in an action to build say a bench rest or F Class rifle?
just trying to learn

The gunsmith who is working on making it a fined tuned instrument is the biggest factor. It's just like a great crewchief on a car. John Force didn't get where his is today without Austin Coil. Force was one of the biggest jokes out there in the beginning. The other drivers expected him to break something every time he made a pass and he didn't let anyone down. Sid Goodling told me when I first started that he had to massage every action that came thru his door. Some more than others.

 

[nmkid]

Butch here's one of those high dollar R700 bolts I just had finished by @boltfluter.
All total with truing action when barrel was changed, having @carlsbad bush the new firing pin and bolt face, I'd say I'm in the bolt alone for close to $600, for a action I already owned.
My wife's Bighorn TL2 action came complete with all these features for $900.View attachment 1454331View attachment 1454332
The other bolt goes in my buddies ratty ol Tika.

Now being me and what I do, you know I appreciate the craftsmanship it takes to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. Lol
Having the quality workmanship on my Remington by these craftsman was my end goal, cost wasn't the factor.
All that said, there are a slew of quality custom actions out there for $900-$1200 complete with bells and whistles.

Winner, winner!

 

[Webster]

With all the custom built and target actions out there what are some of the things they have that makes them more accurate than say just a plain 700 action. Basically what do you look for in an action to build say a bench rest or F Class rifle?
just trying to learn

Many good brands. $1200 and up.

 

[nmkid]

After all my years I finally had a rifle built with a custom action. If I can help it, I will never go back to have an R 700 gone through. Does a custom action shoot better? I don't know. What I do know is how smooooth they are. Wait 3-4 months as you save a little extra and get the custom action.

 

[BoydAllen]

There are several factors that contribute to the accuracy potential of an action. among them are good fit and squareness, a good ignition system, a shape that facilitates the best bedding, availability of the best triggers, to a certain degree stiffness.

 

[jelenko]

Butch here's one of those high dollar R700 bolts I just had finished by @boltfluter.
All total with truing action when barrel was changed, having @carlsbad bush the new firing pin and bolt face, I'd say I'm in the bolt alone for close to $600, for a action I already owned.
My wife's Bighorn TL2 action came complete with all these features for $900.View attachment 1454331View attachment 1454332
The other bolt goes in my buddies ratty ol Tika.

Now being me and what I do, you know I appreciate the craftsmanship it takes to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. Lol
Having the quality workmanship on my Remington by these craftsman was my end goal, cost wasn't the factor.
All that said, there are a slew of quality custom actions out there for $900-$1200 complete with bells and whistles.

Those are beautiful!

 

[butchlambert]

Damn it Butch!!!!
Now I'm definitely sending this rife back to Zack for a side release.
I knew I was leaving something out!! Lol
Might as well get a Sako extractor installed while I'm at it

You better, but forget the Sako extractor.

 

[dave@aDave]

Strong sidewalls (Don't flex) with heavy free floating barrels.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Butch here's one of those high dollar R700 bolts I just had finished by @boltfluter.
All total with truing action when barrel was changed, having @carlsbad bush the new firing pin and bolt face, I'd say I'm in the bolt alone for close to $600, for a action I already owned.
My wife's Bighorn TL2 action came complete with all these features for $900.View attachment 1454331View attachment 1454332
The other bolt goes in my buddies ratty ol Tika.

Now being me and what I do, you know I appreciate the craftsmanship it takes to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. Lol
Having the quality workmanship on my Remington by these craftsman was my end goal, cost wasn't the factor.
All that said, there are a slew of quality custom actions out there for $900-$1200 complete with bells and whistles.

It’s only money, you’ll make more.

 

[Bc'z]

It’s only money, you’ll make more.

Correct...
Some are invested more than others.
Some heavily all at once...
Others a lil along the way.
I'm a other.
I've got more invested that won't return compared to 1k custom.
Accuracy wise the firing pin/bushing job improved ignition and craters to primers.
The bling come standard on customs and and aids in accuracy nothing.

 

[357Mag]

With all the custom built and target actions out there what are some of the things they have that makes them more accurate than say just a plain 700 action. Basically what do you look for in an action to build say a bench rest or F Class rifle?
just trying to learn

BRX6-

Howdy !

Action' " stiffness " or lack of flexing is of value. However you best word that quality.

Actions have been tested for purposes of comparison; to determine those that are least affected by firing of the cartridge, recoil forces, barrel wt effects on the action; and so forth.
There's reasons why hyper accurate rifle's are out there, that are single shot ( bolt action ).
For one thing... there's no magazine cut out in the action to accommodate a magazine.
An example are: hyper-accurate, short range BR guns.

My Wichita WBR1375 single shot bench rest bolt action has really thick side walls ( round action ) and a large diameter 3-lug bolt. In its time, the WBR1375 was considered to be amongst THE most robust of all bench rest actions ( example ). Action diameter is 1.375".

Having said all that, there are bench-rest actions w/ more than one " port " in them.
Load in one port, eject from another. But again, the amount of metal that is present in these type actions is significant.

I like the idea of shooting an action with > 1.250" diam, but hey.... that's just me.
YRMV.


With regards,
357Mag