which custom action?

[GSRswapandslow]

i'm looking to build a dedicated single shot rifle. It will be shot from a bipod. i know the caliber, barrel, scope, etc..etc... but I can't decide on which action to go with. This is a single shot for varmints, possible white tail, steel, and paper shooting. No comps, just a do-all single shot (6br chamber).

My thoughts were to go with a Savage RBLP target or the Brownells single shot rem actions (but they're gone now)...but the more i think about it...the more affordable the custom actions become.

So..i want a single shot, coned bolt action. My thoughts have been about the Stiller Predator, Defiance rebel, Bat SV, Kelby Atlas, or the like.......under the $1200.

if possible, I will look for a used gun....but, if I can't find what i want...i'll be building

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

My choices and reasons:

1. Stiller PredatorV. RBLP, no ejector, coned bolt, so great for single-shot off a bipod. Rem 700 footprint, so stock availability is excellent. I have one of these in 6BR and love it. Many pronghorn and deer have fallen to it, and many small groups shot with it (300yd target in image below). Not sure how the delivery time is on these actions now.

2. Kelbly Atlas. Not available with offside loading port, but is available without ejector, coned bolt, has a trigger hanger, and has a Rem 700 footprint. Kelbly quality is second to none. Price and delivery time are good.

3. BAT SV. Varmint-type stocks will be harder to come by. Nice action, though.

I've never used a Defiance action. They look very well made. So many actions, so little time ...

 

[ShootDots]

For the 6BR chamber, you could hardly do better than the Pierce action. It is in your price range, it has a Remington footprint so getting a stock is easy, it comes in either a "regular Rem style" bolt OR a coned bolt and it is in your price range! Exactly what you ordered!

 

[Wirelessguy2005]

a Big +1 on the Pierce action! I have one of their single shot actions in right bolt left port and absolutely love it.

For the 6BR chamber, you could hardly do better than the Pierce action. It is in your price range, it has a Remington footprint so getting a stock is easy, it comes in either a "regular Rem style" bolt OR a coned bolt and it is in your price range! Exactly what you ordered!

 

[Phil]

Borden..............................

 

[GSRswapandslow]

My choices and reasons:

1. Stiller PredatorV. RBLP, no ejector, coned bolt, so great for single-shot off a bipod. Rem 700 footprint, so stock availability is excellent. I have one of these in 6BR and love it. Many pronghorn and deer have fallen to it, and many small groups shot with it (300yd target in image below). Not sure how the delivery time is on these actions now.

2. Kelbly Atlas. Not available with offside loading port, but is available without ejector, coned bolt, has a trigger hanger, and has a Rem 700 footprint. Kelbly quality is second to none. Price and delivery time are good.

3. BAT SV. Varmint-type stocks will be harder to come by. Nice action, though.

I've never used a Defiance action. They look very well made. So many actions, so little time ...

The predatorV was actually my first choice.........behind the bat (always wanted to own a Bat, no other reason for it to be the #1 choice though)

 

[Carolina Hillbilly]

Borden..............................

+1

 

[GT Accuracy]

Borden..............................

+1

 

[Carolina Hillbilly]

Borden..............................

+1

Jim is incredible to work with. He will match a trigger to it and chamber your barrel before he sends it!

 

[Big Mc]

Jim Borden is the way to go..

 

[NWnewguy]

Honestly you would have a hard time picking a bad custom action. If you think about the fact that even the factory stuff shoots better than people could have asked for 50 years ago, these custom actions are just unbelievable. I have a RBLP Defiance and it is pretty amazing. I also got an extra bolt with it for the WSM calibers and the price for the extra bolt wasn't too bad. I have a couple of Bighorn actions and think very highly of them as well. Mine are all repeaters, but he makes a nice single shot. The beauty of them is that they have a savage type replaceable bolt head (of course it's all made to custom action tolerances) so you can switch calibers very reasonably. I don't own a Borden, but I have a relative with one that was built by Jim and it is a pretty amazing rifle as well. You really can't go wrong. My recommendation is to go with the one you really want, somewhat regardless of the price, because over the course of time it will be really minimal compared to bullets, brass, powder etc… Lastly I would just ask if you're really hard set on a coned bolt. For shooting cases based on the 308, you really don't need it. They will feed just fine. If you are considering building it to shoot 223 type cases in a single shot then absolutely get a coned bolt. However, a coned bolt narrows your options for barrel swaps immensely. Just my thoughts, they're worth what you paid for them.

 

[mikecr]

I view aftermarket as different than custom.

To me, the aftermarkets are Rem clones, but with improved machining, and there is a definite advantage in standardization for aftermarket accessories(triggers, stocks, bases, etc).
Unless going actual custom gun, this is the way to go.

To me, custom is BAT. A BAT SV is perfect for 6br, and you can get it in many configurations. I recommend a Bix&Andy trigger. You can order it melonite treated. Bat offers great bases, rings, combined. And best of all, Bruce Thom will work with you and he will not lie to you. Awesome service & ethics.
Problem is -the stock. I don't know the answer for that one other than do some research beforehand.
In my experience, the stock/finishing is the biggest PIA for a custom.

This is just my views. All your choices are good.

 

[Drop Port]

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the actions mentioned. I currently have BAT, Pierce and Stiller and like all of them. I built a 6br for exactly what you are looking for, bipod field gun, live varmints and deer from the prone. If I had to do it over again I wouldn't change a thing.

Stiller Diamondback
RBLP- Drop Port

 

[Hydenseek]

Predator V would be a good choice, nothing wrong with the Borden Rimrock either.

 

[duck]

I just got in my bat vr not a coned boltface but I'll be willing to bet a critter can't tell the difference.love it smooth as my bat model b .

 

[wapiti25]

I have a Bat and two Borden's, I would go with a Borden.

 

[Raythemanroe]

You guys that have used a Bat and a Borden, which has the easiest bolt manipulation? If a guy had to build a Dasher for BR duty on either a Bat dual port or a Borden BR dual port, which would be the better action..


Ray

 

[Rustystud]

I build rifles every day. Borden, Kelbly, Pierce, Bat, or Barnard. All first quality actions. Some of the others mentioned I would leave alone for good reasons.

Nat Lambeth

 

[wapiti25]

My BAT is a three lug and requires much more force to open the bolt than the Borden's. The extra force may be because of the three lug, I have never handled a BAT 2 lug.

 

[R.Morehouse]

I have a Bat and a Borden.......I would give Jim Borden a call about your project, there will surely be something to learn from a Hall Of Fame BR shooter on the "best" way to get a nice 6BR together.