Well maybe you have a smith in your backyard but with the shipping issues now with firearms and the need to ship an action or barreled action to get barrled/rebarreled it's not worth it anymore especially for a match rifle. I can order a barrel and have it there and swap it at home when my last one dies. I do not want to be shipping and waiting. In 2024 buying an action that doesn't accept shouldered prefit barrels is not something I would ever recommend.
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best action under $1000
- Thread starter PRSDietitian
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Well maybe you have a smith in your backyard but with the shipping issues now with firearms and the need to ship an action or barreled action to get barrled/rebarreled it's not worth it anymore especially for a match rifle. I can order a barrel and have it there and swap it at home when my last one dies. I do not want to be shipping and waiting. In 2024 buying an action that doesn't accept shouldered prefit barrels is not something I would ever recommend.
because i have tubb spec 6xc dies and most have the 6xc II reamer. i also have peterson brass and the 6xc II reamer is better for alpha brass.
Just picking back up from where i left off 5+ years ago. Ideally i want the manson/tubb spec reamer and luckily a smith local to me has one so im good regardless.
You can always send the reamer to a smith to have him use to make a prefit and then ship it back to you. No need to send the whole action. If you have a smith local then consider yourself one of the lucky ones.
I live near houston and apparently there's like 5 good smiths in a 100 mile radius that i didnt know about. If I had the reamer on hand, i'd take whoever could chamber one the fastest for sure! Tbh depending on circumstances i may have one ordered and on hand. always nice to have a barrel chambered with a fresh reamer
I'm not recommending them, but they are "only" 750, if they are having them made by a known commodity, they likely don't need to be trued.
For example, the Nosler M21 action is made by mack bros. (they also made the Tempest action for GAP).
And for $900 you get an Origin that can take shouldered prefits and change bolt faces. The extra $150 will be saved in smith work right off the bat. For $1150 you get a barreled action from PVA that uses an action that can take shouldered prefits and bolt face changes. $750 to me for a Weatherby action is throwing away good money.
Never exposed to Mac Bros , I know Crownridge was using them, but I like the fact I can do my own barrel swaps with my Origins …. I agree with Rob $1150 is a good deal. But I also use barrel nuts and Savage style pre-fits so I try to go on the cheaper side
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No. AICS only.
Zermatt Origin Action - Zermatt Arms Website
ORIGIN is a friendly priced custom action that utilizes many features included in the TL3 and SR3 line of actions. This receiver is available in the following configurations: – SHORT, MEDIUM or LONG action – RIGHT or LEFT hand – 223, 308, Magnum or PPC/SPC (Valkyrie) bolt heads – Swept bolt...
www.zermattarms.com
Blah blah blah.
You can use a Rem-age barrel and do your own barrel swaps with the 307 and have minimum headspace guaranteed.
And yes, I would recommend the pva barreled action, but, since we are addressing the OP requirements, he isn't interested in prefits.
I have an origin, I'm not a hater.
LOL You can blah blah blah all you like but still doesn't make a little known factory action that you have to remage a better buy for a small $150 less.
And he thinks he isn't interested in prefits. When he gets into this and has to buy another action to use them he will see why actions that can take them are being pressed so hard here now to try and save him money in the long run.
Whatever.
I bought into the swapable bolt head, after buying one, I'll likely never buy another bolt head for it.
It's not worth the hassle.
As far as shouldered prefits you could just buy a short chambered barrel for any common action and finish it at the house and save money that way.
You don't have to swap the bolt head but you can easily swap barrels with the same bolt head. I have three boltheads I use for a .223, 6mm ARC and all my .308 sized cases. Easily swapped. Funny you call swapping the bolt head a hassle but want to finish chamber rifles and set headspace at home on barrels. LOL Yeah that's much easier than buying it ready to screw on. LOL
It's not just the bolt head, I'd just build another rifle. If your pulling the barrel off and installing a new one, finishing the chamber doesn't take that long.
Just yanking your chain in good fun.
You seem very passionate about increasing zermatt sales.
Personally, I'm not interested in pre-fits.
My smith was impressed with the machining and finish of the origin.
LOL Well if you have that skill set but my skill set is installing a new barrel and not having to chamber.
And I don't care about Zermatt sales but being a cheap bastard and wanting to get the most for my money they had a good product to recommend but if I was buying now you can get the same pros and a cheaper barrel by buying the Solus barreled action from PVA. I'd probably go that route.
Well, if you're OK with less than optimal headspace...LOL Well if you have that skill set but my skill set is installing a new barrel and not having to chamber.
And I don't care about Zermatt sales but being a cheap bastard and wanting to get the most for my money they had a good product to recommend but if I was buying now you can get the same pros and a cheaper barrel by buying the Solus barreled action from PVA. I'd probably go that route.
I think we may have derailed this thread just a bit.
Well, if you're OK with less than optimal headspace...
I think we may have derailed this thread just a bit.
It's funny but my headspace is set perfectly on all my prefits. I have two 6 Creedmoor barrels from PVA and they are the exact same. They were done about 6 months apart. Those machines are pretty good now. Maybe if it's a smith with a hand run machine in his garage they might be less than optimal but not with someone using modern machinery.
You're right. Actions and barrels done on cnc machines are incredibly well machined with very small variations that are mostly the result of tool wear.
I'm willing to bet the 307 action is cnc machined and edm cut with small tolerance ranges.
I really only brought them up because no one talks about them. I'm curious how well they are made, but then again, there is the solus which can frequently be had for less.
Times have never been better in regards choice in rifles/actions and really good entry level optics.
The Origin is not expensive. It is outclassed by less costly and similarly priced actions.
CDG is the best choice if you $1K budget.
CDG is the best choice if you $1K budget.
CDG seems to be the obvious choice for sub $1k
I'm waiting on almost the exact same build, only difference is a 24" barrel.
Does Sammy have a website or anything? I tried looking him up but didn't find anything.Sure am. Nope, the other is Sammy Stroh. But, I had forgotten about Tooter. Sammy has been building all my guns since Jimmy retired the first time like 15 years ago. When I called Jimmy to build another one after it got stolen, he told me had retired the year before, but recommended I use Sammy, and gave me his number. I had known Sammy from the gun store days, but had never used him prior-to. He does phenomenal work with fast turn-arounds. He lives in the town I work in, which is about an hour commute from where I live, so I can drop shit off in the early mornings on my way to work and pick it up on my way home.
He doesn’t, that I’m aware of. Gunsmithing isn’t his main gig, so that’s probably why. He’s extremely peculiar about who he does work for. He trusts people about as much as I do, which is pretty much not at all. You had to be an old customer from years ago (someone he knows and trusts), or introduced to him by someone he knows and trusts, for him to do work for you.
That's understandable. I live in TX not bama anyway. I just figured I would add to my list quality gunsmiths. Right now I am still in the process of picking out an action and reading this entire thread has just given me more doubt on what I should pick because everyone has a different solid opinion haha. I am basically looking at the same actions in this thread: Solus, CDG, Origin. Just when I think I am sold on the Solus people start talking about trigger issues or production issues with the CDG lol. (Don't get me wrong I am sure you all know what you are talking about and have the experience. I am not doubting that at all) I've never fired or owned a bolt action rifle before so all the information and different opinions start to get a bit overwhelming haha. I've been doing my own research for about 2 weeks straight now.
Just give Greg at southern precision rifles a call, great person to talk to. Talk to him about your needs, he carries almost all of the decent custom actions. He also stocks barrels from all the better manufactures. shouldered prefits are 8 weeks if you spin them on yourself (good thing to learn and do, easy!).
hell I have a friend local gunsmith who is top freaking notch at the whole 9 yards for precision rifles and I'm still going cdg for prefits so I don't have to waste his time every time I burn a barrel out(he's packed).
if I screw something up and need his help he does have my back. If his business slowed down I imagine all locals would use him exclusively as his prices are... insanely low at times. why limit your options if you aren't saving big money? now if someone handed me an old whatever action you listed for like 100$, then maybe..
I won't have my cdg or foundation Samson for a good long while but I've had mausingfields, super original old large shank and then V2 or m2 or m5 whatever he called it. They are top notch actions that run well and smooth. Hopefully the CDG will be similar (at less than half the cost considering inflation)
if I screw something up and need his help he does have my back. If his business slowed down I imagine all locals would use him exclusively as his prices are... insanely low at times. why limit your options if you aren't saving big money? now if someone handed me an old whatever action you listed for like 100$, then maybe..
I won't have my cdg or foundation Samson for a good long while but I've had mausingfields, super original old large shank and then V2 or m2 or m5 whatever he called it. They are top notch actions that run well and smooth. Hopefully the CDG will be similar (at less than half the cost considering inflation)
I went with shouldered prefits recently myself, for a similar reason. A friend and excellent precision rifle smith is so busy that the last one he did for me took almost a year. That’s ludicrous speed.
The CDG and a number of the newer actions are great for prefit with tenon tolerances tight enough that you basically just wait for all the parts to show up, screw on the barrel and go. It’s glorious.
The CDG and a number of the newer actions are great for prefit with tenon tolerances tight enough that you basically just wait for all the parts to show up, screw on the barrel and go. It’s glorious.
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that's literally what I did a few weeks ago.
barrel from PVA in 6 creed, proof comp contour 26" on their osprey blank.
ordered a trigger tech diamond flat and Foundation Samson dark distressed with the brass.
the hope is an *almost* off the shelf gucci precision rifle build that takes just a few months and I just screw it together as it arrives.
wonder what I'll get first, action, barrel, or stock.
barrel from PVA in 6 creed, proof comp contour 26" on their osprey blank.
ordered a trigger tech diamond flat and Foundation Samson dark distressed with the brass.
the hope is an *almost* off the shelf gucci precision rifle build that takes just a few months and I just screw it together as it arrives.
wonder what I'll get first, action, barrel, or stock.
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I’m more than happy with my Solus action. Ordered an 18 inch Brux chambered in 7-08 from Southern Precison/Bugholes, and it all shoots fine. Granted I’m not the most expert with lol the cool guy look at me options, but the Solus is plenty smooth and seems to be getting better with more cycles on it.
I’m about to start playing with some Barnes LRX bullets, so I’ll see if I can get better accuracy than I had with factory offerings so far. Granted 140 grain Winchester Deer Season XP with the poly tips left me with right at moa, and just a hair better at the end of playing with it and semi breaking the barrel in.
I’m about to start playing with some Barnes LRX bullets, so I’ll see if I can get better accuracy than I had with factory offerings so far. Granted 140 grain Winchester Deer Season XP with the poly tips left me with right at moa, and just a hair better at the end of playing with it and semi breaking the barrel in.
It's been discussed after that comment that you can single load an Origin/TL3 without issue. It's not a standard CRF.
As Rob said, origin is a different extractor set up that typical crf(hook extractor). That old style is prone to damage over time and has a little stutter when single feeding. Origin is similar set up as savage, as far as extractor mechanics.
One benefit of the replaceable bolt face is if you end up with leaking primers, and an etched face, it’s fixed easily.
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