Gunsmithing Aftermarket rifle actions? Good, bad, better?

[Sid Post]

I have an old Remington 700P in .223 that needs to be upgraded or replaced to support changes in my shooting a decade later. About 3 years ago, I sent a brand new "cheap" gunbroker Remington 700SPS to Pac-Nor for a true and rebarrel to the 338-06AI. It then spent some quality time at McMillan to be fitted to an HTG stock. I started considering going down this same path for a refreshed .223/5.56 bolt action however, reading Truing a Remington 700 question (in this forum) has me seriously considering a different path.

How do these actions compare to each other for a Tactical/Field/Competition rifle? Most use will be skill building against vermin to save the higher cost higher recoiling options for times when they are really needed. Actions under consideration are:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc">[*]Stiller Precision[*]Jim Borden[*]Allan Hall[*]Nesika Bay Precision[*]Defiance Machine (GAP, APA, Daniel Defense, etc. variants)[*]BAT Machine Co.[/list]

I have had very limited experience with the Stiller Precision Tac actions which seem to be priced right and high quality. I have also read glowing reviews about Nesika Bay Precision actions for many years and wonder about the new generation Defiance actions that are popping up everywhere with boutique builders. I need something that will work in the cold, wet, dirty, hot, etc. environments that it will see so, no super tight benchrest actions are under consideration.

What are the pro's and con's of these various actions? If I'm missing a good option, please let me know what it is and why it's as good or better then the others. Or, is my money better spent rebarreling and restocking my current rifle and using the money saved on ammunition or better glass?

 

[BBeyer]

Re: Aftermarket rifle actions? Good, bad, better?

In my experience a Rem gone over well by the right guy can be a very successful way to go. The big disadvantage of having a Rem. trued is that if you ever want to sell or trade it you realize quite a bit less of your investment than you would if you had gone with a good aftermarket action in the first place. I have only one Nesika and feel, unless they make an action designed for tactical use, they are a very precise action that may not be optimal for your use.

 

[Sid Post]

Re: Aftermarket rifle actions? Good, bad, better?

Thanks Bob! I generally don't factor in resell value in my rifles since I generally don't resell them (I've got firearms self purchased and as gifts that have been in my possession for ~30 years). My Pac-Nor rebarrel job would probably be a ~$600 loss if I sold it but, hey everyone starts their first custom somewhere! Hindsight being what it is, with all the throw away parts, I could have probably bought a custom action.

The one thing seems to set the actions apart is 90 versus 60 degree bolt lift. The Badger has a slight advantage there.

 

[SLUHstud]

Re: Aftermarket rifle actions? Good, bad, better?

from what ive seen and reaserched while planning for my builds i think that a custom action is the way to go unless you have a remingtion action already in your posession.

When i first decided to get into the bolt action world a few months back i started out looking at getting a remington 700, and then upgrading it from there. The more i looked into it, the more i realized that as the gun is upgraded the only part left is the action, and that you may or may not make much money back on selling the barrel and stock. So suddenly your action is 400, then having someone true it up is 200-300 depending on the smith. Add a 100 dollar base in and your at 800. Add in a new recoil lug, possibly pinning the lug, opening holes up for bigger screws to hold the base on better and suddenly you are at 1000+ for a remington action.

Yes it will probaly shoot just as good as any of the customs, but for the same money, I am going to go with something built tighter from the start, or that has more features that I think are important to me.

Again, my opinion, and worth what it cost. This was the reasoning i followed that led me to get an infidel on order from UGSW.

pat

 

[BradfromND]

Re: Aftermarket rifle actions? Good, bad, better?

I've built off of factory actions on all my guns until now. Now I don't think I'll ever do it again. I built a 308 this winter off a 700 action I already had. By the time I had the bolt threaded, firing pin bushed, action trued, put on a knob, quality rail, etc, I had $1100-1200 into it. It still has the factory bolt with untrued raceways.

I bought a Surgeon RSR for $925 with a Surgeon rail. I'm definitely money ahead for this next build and I have all of the good stuff done to the action right out of the box.

 

[turbo54]

Re: Aftermarket rifle actions? Good, bad, better?

Unless you can score a really great deal on a factory action, I think a custom is the way to go. As stated, by the time a 700 action gets all worked over - maybe even a new one piece bolt, you are DAMN near the cost of a custom. That said, I got a good deal on an SPR action and am building off it. I was about to give up my search and buy a Surgeon. They seem to be exceptionally well regarded. I believe Terry Cross rocks a Surgeon.

 

[BBeyer]

Re: Aftermarket rifle actions? Good, bad, better?

I think that of the actions that you have listed [with the exception of Defience which I nothing about] your best bet may be a Borden as Jim makes a couple of hunting rifles that may be able to take the type of conditions that you say you will be shooting in. As far as I know the others area benchrest type action and are built to very close tolerences.

 

[Muskox]

Re: Aftermarket rifle actions? Good, bad, better?

Everything is relative.

A custom M700 with a top builder marked on the barrel can be worth more than any custom actioned rifle built by an unknown.

A custom actioned rifle, built in a very standard configuration, even built by an unknown will always be worth something. IE: Nesika with a quality barrel and a Manners, AICS, or McMillan A-Series stock will always be worth something.

 

[Sid Post]

Re: Aftermarket rifle actions? Good, bad, better?

Does anyone know where to find a .223/5.56 action with a 60 degree bolt lift. I looked at the Daniel Defense M2008 actions but, they don't make anything smaller then .308 Winchester.

 

[223ai]

Re: Aftermarket rifle actions? Good, bad, better?

Look at Bighorn or Surgeon actions.