Entry Level Build after CDG Price Bump

Berkenen

Berkenen

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Minuteman
Feb 11, 2022
58
17
Portland, OR
#1
Been out of the loop for a while after I sold my Curtis, and I know "search is my friend" but none of the starter/entry build threads were after the ARC CDG increased in price. If it was still the old price I would 100% get the CDG for $899, but now that it's almost the price of a TL3 does that change opinions on the go-to entry starter action?

Sounds like major contenders for this entry price point (R700 footprint) are still Origin, Solus, ARC Nucleus, any others I'm forgetting? Any thoughts?
 
#2
Probably everyone is going to tell you the solus. I’ve fondled one and it’s nice especially for the cost. I personally didn’t like it but I guess for the price maybe??? However buy once cry once always plays out. So the cdg or something used in the px is worth the extra jingle imo.
 
#4
Look it’s just my opinion but I felt the solus when I played with it was probably worth what it cost. For me I’m not building a full rifle and sacrificing a few hundred dollars on the action. I own two cdg and even at the new cost for me I would get it before the solus without question. Those on here who say there similar are simply smoking crack or some type of fan boy. At least I admit I’m an arc fanboy but it’s hands down nicer then the solus and worth the extra money imo.
 
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#6
Berkenen said:
Been out of the loop for a while after I sold my Curtis, and I know "search is my friend" but none of the starter/entry build threads were after the ARC CDG increased in price. If it was still the old price I would 100% get the CDG for $899, but now that it's almost the price of a TL3 does that change opinions on the go-to entry starter action?

Sounds like major contenders for this entry price point (R700 footprint) are still Origin, Solus, ARC Nucleus, any others I'm forgetting? Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Ah, I don’t think of the CDG as a “starter action”. It’s full featured and while barrels may come and go, you prob will keep a top qual action for a long time so…not where I'd look to pinch a penny.

Lots of good actions out there but IMO the CDG is worth its current price.
 
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#8
Baron23 said:
Ah, I don’t think of the CDG as a “starter action”. It’s full featured and while barrels may come and go, you prob will keep a top qual action for a long time so…not where ivv be would look to pinch a penny.

Lots of good actions out there but IMO the CDG is worth its current price.
Click to expand...
Not to stray too far from the "entry" level price point, but if I would go up to the current price of a CDG, and we're all in agreement on "buy once cry once", are there any thoughts on just going straight ahead to a Zeus? Always wanted a Terminus, and the QC seems nifty (gimmick or not). Although, I would lose the bolt-head change option that ARC CDG has.
 
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#9
At its current price point, I still think the ARC CDG represents the best value proposition if you're willing to spend the money. It's an incredibly feature rich action, there's still lots of value there at its current price. It was an absolute steal at $899.

The Origin is a solid deal at ~$900. Zermatt Arms and the Origin is a very well known quantity. I think this is the obvious answer if you want to keep it around the $900 price range. You can save a bit more and go with a MacBros action, but you are making compromises to get to that price point.

For some reason I'm having a hard time getting excited about the Solus. I wouldn't pick it over the Origin at a similar price point, but that's just me.
 
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#10
I have 3 Solus setups, waiting on a 4th to ship… Are they as smooth as higher priced options? Not right out of the box, but after sometime and lots of cycles to break-in, it gets really slick. Mine shoot good, as long as they have a good tube on them. 👍🏼
 
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#13
I'll be that guy.....

Entry level actions aren't the good deal their price tag suggests. If this is a temporary rifle or one you don't intend to shoot enough to burn out a barrel or two, then it might be worth it.

If you're putting a few thousand rounds a year on an action, Cortina said it best. Actions are basically free, barrels are cheap, ammo is expensive.
 
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#15
DairyDictator said:
I'll be that guy.....

Entry level actions aren't the good deal their price tag suggests. If this is a temporary rifle or one you don't intend to shoot enough to burn out a barrel or two, then it might be worth it.

If you're putting a few thousand rounds a year on an action, Cortina said it best. Actions are basically free, barrels are cheap, ammo is expensive.
Click to expand...
Preach it brother!
 
#16
Berkenen said:
Not to stray too far from the "entry" level price point, but if I would go up to the current price of a CDG, and we're all in agreement on "buy once cry once", are there any thoughts on just going straight ahead to a Zeus? Always wanted a Terminus, and the QC seems nifty (gimmick or not). Although, I would lose the bolt-head change option that ARC CDG has.
Click to expand...
I've had dinner with Joel Russo twice in PA. He was really there to have dinner w Frank but I was a tag along. lol.

I have no personal experience w Terminus action but was very impressed w Mr Russo and I would certainly trust him for an action purchase.

Have spent a career in pretty high tech and have had to work with a lot of very strange but exceedingly brilliant engineers, so I also like Ted and think he’s a hoot.

That’s all I have to offer you.

Cheers
 
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#17
Baron23 said:
I e had dinner with Joel Russo twice in PA. He was really there to have dinner w Frank but I was a tag along. lol.

I have no personal experience w Terminus action but was very impressed w Mr Russo and I would certainly trust him for an action purchase.

Have spent a career in pretty high tech and having to work with a lot of very strange but exceedingly brilliant engineers, I also like Ted and think he’s a hoot.

That’s all I have to offer you.

Cheers
Click to expand...
Joel is a standup dude. I knew him from way back in my LRH days starting back around 2008… Nice guy, hell of a stock builder, and Terminus are excellent actions. 👍🏼
 
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#22
Berkenen said:
Been out of the loop for a while after I sold my Curtis, and I know "search is my friend" but none of the starter/entry build threads were after the ARC CDG increased in price. If it was still the old price I would 100% get the CDG for $899, but now that it's almost the price of a TL3 does that change opinions on the go-to entry starter action?

Sounds like major contenders for this entry price point (R700 footprint) are still Origin, Solus, ARC Nucleus, any others I'm forgetting? Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
my thoughts are 100% try to come up with the coin for a CDG, they are really fantastically designed.
also played with the origin, very nice actions.
with the Soulless not feeling smooth, just fire it a couple thousand times and wear out a cheap barrel. clean and lube every outing. after that any action out there should feel smooth as butter. I've got a savage b22 that, I did polish and run the piss out of it, but you'd laugh at how smooth it is all around.
 
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#23
I’m curious about the Weatherby 307 builders action but can’t find much info at all from end users. The Wby 307 builders action is a Rem 700 footprint and takes the same triggers
 
#24
Dirty D said:
I’m curious about the Weatherby 307 builders action but can’t find much info at all from end users. The Wby 307 builders action is a Rem 700 footprint and takes the same triggers
Click to expand...
Weatherby is a garbage company that doesn’t care about their customers, or stand behind their products after they’ve gotten your money.

Spend your money how you wish, and buy what floats your boat, just giving you a heads-up from my own personal experience with their CS department.
 
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#27
Berkenen said:
Stupid question from a noob, having a non integrated rails like the Igniter and the 707 worries me, seems like areas of possible failure and annoyance. Am I overblowing it?
Click to expand...

Not a stupid question.

Yes, non-integral rails have the ability to come loose. There's ways to mitigate this, but an integrated rail isn't going to come loose, to your point.
 
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#28
Berkenen said:
Stupid question from a noob, having a non integrated rails like the Igniter and the 707 worries me, seems like areas of possible failure and annoyance. Am I overblowing it?
Click to expand...
those igniter rails are pinned, being pinned gives them very little chance to come loose. I wouldn't sweat it personally.
I actually like the changeable rails. Gives you the option to have different cant in the rails
 
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#29
Berkenen said:
Stupid question from a noob, having a non integrated rails like the Igniter and the 707 worries me, seems like areas of possible failure and annoyance. Am I overblowing it?
Click to expand...

These "custom" actions that have a removable but pinned rail will likely never give an issue and shouldn't sway you away from them.

With the actions and rails being precisely made from the same company fit and finish will be tops. They typically also use oversized hardware AND hardened pins. If you use a mild, removable thread locker you'll be GTG.

Some prefer this setup over an integrated rail because of the ability to change cant and have an extended mounting surface (rail goes beyond the face of the action).
 
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#30
I will say that I have a couple of actions with separate rails, and they haven't given me any issues.

One action did, an older Defiance Rebel. It wasn't pinned.

The people above make good points, if the rails have mitigations in place like pins, you should be GTG.

I would not be afraid to buy a 707 or Igniter on account of the rail not being integral.
 
#32
I have a Seekins Havak action, not common in custom guns but Seekins makes top quality stuff. Scope rail is pinned and has…if I remember correctly, 5 screws.

It did come loose. Cleaned it up, lock-tited it, torqued to their recommendation (wanna say 18 in/lbs but not certain) and it’s been fine since.

But I like integral rail (and lug) as I know for a fact it own’t move.
 
#33
Haters gonna hate, but most have zero personal experience with what they hate... They're just hating cause it's new and different and challenges their "normal" of what is known. Or, it's cheaper than their rig, and shoots just as good, and that pisses them off. 😂

I try to remain open-minded, and put my own hard-earned money on the line to try one, and It does everything I need it to.

2800 FPS MV with a Berger 133 Elite from a 20" barrel, while still putting down 1/3 MOA groups... Yeah, I'm good with that. 😏👍🏼

IMG_9754.jpeg
image_cropper_5778DA93-270F-417B-8F4C-1F100B7DEC98-10219-00001A80781EB6BB.jpeg
 
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#34
Baron23 said:
I have a Seekins Havak action, not common in custom guns but Seekins makes top quality stuff. Scope rail is pinned and has…if I remember correctly, 5 screws.

It did come loose. Cleaned it up, lock-tited it, torqued to their recommendation (wanna say 18 in/lbs but not certain) and it’s been fine since.

But I like integral rail (and lug) as I know for a fact it own’t move.
Click to expand...
If you don't want to use Loc-Tite, but want the screws to not back-out under recoil, Vibra-Tite a great option. And if you let it cure on the screws fully before reinstalling them, it will remain on there and functional, and you can remove and reinstall the screws a few times before having to reapply. I use it instead of thread-locker on my bases and then torque to the mfg. spec.
 
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#35
All good info, especially about the non-integrated rail, honestly I’m still pretty convinced to go with the “buy once cry once” crowd for an action and get a Terminus Zeus. I still have a barrel from my old Curtis Valor action I can use on it which would save some wait time.

Any opinions on a ARC CDG vs a Zeus? CDG still the wonder child?
 
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#36
Berkenen said:
All good info, especially about the non-integrated rail, honestly I’m still pretty convinced to go with the “buy once cry once” crowd for an action and get a Terminus Zeus. I still have a barrel from my old Curtis Valor action I can use on it which would save some wait time.

Any opinions on a ARC CDG vs a Zeus? CDG still the wonder child?
Click to expand...
I’ve had both. Zeus quick change barrel is nice, and I’m moving every few times a year so it’s nice not looking for a vice and barrel wrench every time I want a barrel change.

Arc is great if you want aw mags, if you shoot matches, you’ll lose more brass then any other action.
 
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#37
A mere $300 ($899 to $1199) is enough for you to reconsider the CDG?

$300 is ~2.5 boxes (50rds/box, or only 125rds total) of 6br Lapua Scenar-L 105gr ammo if you find a deal.

I shoot that in 3 range trips (sometimes two), and I don’t shoot that much compared to some around here.

So you sure you’re in the right hobby? Serious question.

I’d reread the below quote and really let it sink in
DairyDictator said:
If you're putting a few thousand rounds a year on an action, Cortina said it best. Actions are basically free, barrels are cheap, ammo is expensive.
Click to expand...

Disclosure: I don’t own a CDG, don’t love or hate them. ARC makes great rings, however.
 
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#38
kthomas said:
At its current price point, I still think the ARC CDG represents the best value proposition if you're willing to spend the money. It's an incredibly feature rich action, there's still lots of value there at its current price. It was an absolute steal at $899.

The Origin is a solid deal at ~$900. Zermatt Arms and the Origin is a very well known quantity. I think this is the obvious answer if you want to keep it around the $900 price range. You can save a bit more and go with a MacBros action, but you are making compromises to get to that price point.

For some reason I'm having a hard time getting excited about the Solus. I wouldn't pick it over the Origin at a similar price point, but that's just me.
Click to expand...
You miswell get a zues when I first started looking at custom actions. I wanted the zues. Ended up bye and origin building it, sold it got a tl3 built it, sold it….. finally purchased my zues qc and honestly should’ve just done it in the first place instead of trying to save money because in the end I ended up build 2 complete guns before get my zues.
 
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#39
Berkenen said:
All good info, especially about the non-integrated rail, honestly I’m still pretty convinced to go with the “buy once cry once” crowd for an action and get a Terminus Zeus. I still have a barrel from my old Curtis Valor action I can use on it which would save some wait time.

Any opinions on a ARC CDG vs a Zeus? CDG still the wonder child?
Click to expand...
not to brag but I'm in the tax bracket where I could have bought any action I wanted, including anything sako or AI.
I chose CDG and I have no regrets. in fact I'm so happy I'm about to order another one.
even if the CDG was 2k I'd still say it's the best designed action ever produced.
 
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#40
FuhQ said:
Haters gonna hate, but most have zero personal experience with what they hate... They're just hating cause it's new and different and challenges their "normal" of what is known. Or, it's cheaper than their rig, and shoots just as good, and that pisses them off. 😂

I try to remain open-minded, and put my own hard-earned money on the line to try one, and It does everything I need it to.

2800 FPS MV with a Berger 133 Elite from a 20" barrel, while still putting down 1/3 MOA groups... Yeah, I'm good with that. 😏👍🏼

View attachment 8526835View attachment 8526836
Click to expand...

I’m not 100% sure it falls under “open minded” to only preach about the Solus in every… single… thread.

I don’t think anyone is thinking the action will significantly affect accuracy. That’s the barrels job.
 
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#41
Hennig said:
I’m not 100% sure it falls under “open minded” to only preach about the Solus in every… single… thread.

I don’t think anyone is thinking the action will significantly affect accuracy. That’s the barrels job.
Click to expand...
Well, when it gets mentioned in the OP by the OP first, who wants to know about them, it gets mentioned by someone with experience with them…You know, what Internet forums are for…

But please, continue to be a douche…We don’t have enough of those on here. 🙄
 
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#42
I have or had Lone Peak, Terminus, Zermatt, ARC, Defiance, Kelbly, Impact, Tikka, Ruger RPR and Rem.

They all have their pros and cons, and I agree at the intro price for the ARC, it was a no brainer.

With the new price it's still an amazing action and I think a better value than most of the others.

But if price is the most important factor, then I think I'd say the Origin would be the place to start. You give up a lot of "features" but you don't give up a great shooting and smooth action. I'd say my origin is just as smooth as my other actions, but it also has the most rounds on it.

If you want integral rail and lug and you're comparing the ARC CDG to a Zeus, Fuzion, TL3, Deviant/Ruckus, 737, Prometheus, then I'd say get the CDG because you also get a couple of other features and it's cheaper than most of the others.

I can't comment on the Solus since I've never seen or handled one though.
 
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#44
carbonbased said:
A mere $300 ($899 to $1199) is enough for you to reconsider the CDG?

$300 is ~2.5 boxes (50rds/box, or only 125rds total) of 6br Lapua Scenar-L 105gr ammo if you find a deal.

I shoot that in 3 range trips (sometimes two), and I don’t shoot that much compared to some around here.

So you sure you’re in the right hobby? Serious question.

I’d reread the below quote and really let it sink in


Disclosure: I don’t own a CDG, don’t love or hate them. ARC makes great rings, however.
Click to expand...
I more look at it at 899 the CDG is a no brainer at 1199 it doesn't hurt to consider some other options. Seems like OP is heavily considering a Terminus Zeus instead.
 
#47
Berkenen said:
Been out of the loop for a while after I sold my Curtis, and I know "search is my friend" but none of the starter/entry build threads were after the ARC CDG increased in price. If it was still the old price I would 100% get the CDG for $899, but now that it's almost the price of a TL3 does that change opinions on the go-to entry starter action?

Sounds like major contenders for this entry price point (R700 footprint) are still Origin, Solus, ARC Nucleus, any others I'm forgetting? Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Definitely worth looking at:
macbros.com

EVO II Stainless Steel DBM Short Action | Mack Brothers

The Mack Brothers EVO II Stainless Steel DBM Short Action starts from a 416 heat treated billet, and is CNC machined in only two operations eliminating
macbros.com macbros.com
 
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#50
The Solus has dual ejectors, that’s a deal killer for me. My experience, they pressure up faster and they solve a problem that doesn’t exist. It’s dumb and the engineer that added that to the design should be fired. My 2 cents…

I’m in the Origin is pretty hard to beat camp and especially at @Front Range Precision prices. Owen had (s) them on sale and at that price it’s even a bigger no brainier.

Good luck!
 
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