We talk about barrel life all the time and different parts break at different times. However, I've never seen it cited how long an action lasts or what to look for as too much wear. Do they have a service life limit?
Rifle Action Service Life
- Thread starter 65shootmoor
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With modern materials and little to no abuse it has to be an impressive number.
I recall Jacob from rifles only saying his 1997 AW was on its 20th 308 barrel. So 100k plus rounds fired. And he’s a big proponent of dry firing. So probably many more dry fires.
The more truthful answer.
Till the next new shiny must have miracle action comes out and you dump your old action for it.
Till the next new shiny must have miracle action comes out and you dump your old action for it.
There are military surplus bolt action rifles out there that are over 100 years old. What does that tell you?
The OP asks a very good question. I am foremost a silhouette shooter and we usually don't shoot very high pressure reloads, but we shoot our rifles very hot at times, especially during practice. So we replace barrels often enough and at that time we can check lug setback or galling etc. From what i have seen over the years with the 6.5 x 47 or Creeds or the 708 308 type chamberings, factory actions will outlast me and my offspring for sure. BUT.. i also shoot long range steel and here is where i think we will start to see serious failures. Problems like lug setback on Remington 700 repeater actions chambered for the 338 Lapua. At our last competition 2 weeks ago, there were several Remingtons, Howas and Tikkas on the line.. some were running 338 Lapuas. This is madness. They are running 300gr bullets in them quite hard and all of those actions are running factory threads and 1.25inch tenon od's. What concerns me is that the Lapua brass masks pressure signs remarkably well, but i suspect that especially in the 338 Lapua chambering with the tapered case, there is a lot more bolt thrust. All of the rifles i had seen at the shoot, either had brakes or they ran suppressors. Brakes especially are masking what is really going on in the rifles. i have read (on this forum i think) where someone mentioned that his Ruger RPR was on his second barrel and that he had seen severe lug setback and was concerned that in his rifle at least, the action was too soft. I have no idea whether this is a more widespread issue or if it was only that one particular rifle. Ryan Pierce will not build any of his high performance rifles on a reworked factory repeater action. He stated quite emphatically that it is not safe to do so. I think it would be wise to heed his words.
So.. the answer to the OP's question, yes, there is most certainly a lifespan on the action. This obviously depends what it is, for example a Remington 700 chambered for a 338 LM for instance and where the owner has been shooting heavy 300gr loads? I am not bashing Remington, I think a Howa or Tikka rebarreled and rechambered for a 338 Ridiculous will also set the lugs back or destroy the action in a similar fashion. Point is, if you buy an used action for a build, buy it with the caveat that your gunsmith check it over. You could end up with a costly paperweight otherwise.
So.. the answer to the OP's question, yes, there is most certainly a lifespan on the action. This obviously depends what it is, for example a Remington 700 chambered for a 338 LM for instance and where the owner has been shooting heavy 300gr loads? I am not bashing Remington, I think a Howa or Tikka rebarreled and rechambered for a 338 Ridiculous will also set the lugs back or destroy the action in a similar fashion. Point is, if you buy an used action for a build, buy it with the caveat that your gunsmith check it over. You could end up with a costly paperweight otherwise.
I'm not planning on dumping mine, was asking to make sure I wouldn't need to. I have a Curtis Axiom chamber for 6.5CM and I don't run it hard. I was mainly curious if I could let mine pull double duty with different barrels and stocks.
The cost of the ammunition you would need to expend to wear out an action would exceed the the replacement cost of that receiver by a huge margin. I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it.
That doesn't even make good sense, but thanks anyway. I shoot more than enough to ask, but that wasn't the point. Just a curiosity.
