Bighorn Origin vs Defiance Tenacity

[vigildom7]

Hey everyone this is my first post here. I've always creep on here and just read, but decided to ask a big question.
I've decided to get in to the custom action game and trying to decided between the origin or the tenacity.

I like to use the remage barrel system when installing barrels and have always had great accuracy with them out of my 700.
I would like to continue to use this system and the tools I currently have.
The origin I know is compatible with this system using savage prefits. NSS currently offers savage prefits made by shilen or criterion.
It also has interchangeable bolt heads and control round feed also salt nitride coated.

Well the tenacity uses the remington barrel threads. The only remage barrels I like are the criterion made ones. (open to other quality manufactors)
The tenacity is a push feed. But is 416 stainless steel.

I know both companies are known for their smooth bolt operation and quality.
Both receivers are 700 footprint so I'll be using my krg bravo stock and my kadex 2 stage trigger. Glass will be a vortex razor 4.5-27

I like to duracoat my barreled actions to match the stock camo pattern. Would that affect the action choice or smoothness of operation? Caliber will either be 6.5 creedmoor or 6.5x47 lapua. More than likely creedmoor because I already have plenty of load data and match dies.

I know bighorn offers military discounts which always a plus!

 

[aBetterTomorrow]

both bolts are chrome moly, only the tenacity receiver is 416 stainless steel

 

[Dai Bando]

The changeable bolt faces make the Origin an easy pick.

The Origin and Nucleus are clearly at the top of the heap in the low priced custom action market.

 

[Habituallinestepper]

I'm also leaning toward an Origin, for the Savage prefit options. Curious as to how you landed at the Origin as opposed to TL3. Slightly less expensive, but seems minimal in the long run.

 

[m6z]

The changeable bolt faces make the Origin an easy pick.

This.

PVA has shouldered barrels for the Origin actions as well as barrels for several other actions.

http://patriotvalleyarms.com/barrels/

I though one of the selling points of the Tenacity was constant availability, but that doesn't seem to be case.

 

[m6z]

I inquired about Tenacity availability and this was the response I just received.

We are currently shipping the Tenacity in about 2-3 months from time of order.

 

[Jaywelder82]

I have been looking at a tenacity. But like you said a very long lead time

 

[b6graham]

I have been looking at a tenacity. But like you said a very long lead time

especially for an action that was supposed to be in-stock upon release

Origin: savage prefit, shouldered prefit, interchangeable boltheads

 

[lennyo3034]

So who's going to buy an Origin, Nucleus, and Tenacity and do a shootout between the three?

 

[Codiekfx400]

I'm also leaning toward an Origin, for the Savage prefit options. Curious as to how you landed at the Origin as opposed to TL3. Slightly less expensive, but seems minimal in the long run.

The origin from what I was told by bighorn is a true Remington clone. It will have a recoil lug and a tang that will work in more Remington oriented stocks. The TL3 is great if it will fit in the stock/ chassis that you desire.

 

[Edds]

I think Defiance has been overwhelmed with orders. I just ordered a Rebel action and they told me the wait was about 8 months.

 

[vigildom7]

So who's going to buy an Origin, Nucleus, and Tenacity and do a shootout between the three?

I wish I could afford all three, but I went Origin.

 

[m6z]

I'm also leaning toward an Origin, for the Savage prefit options. Curious as to how you landed at the Origin as opposed to TL3. Slightly less expensive, but seems minimal in the long run.

$1250 vs the current $825 price is a $425 savings and IMO the only feature you're really missing out on is the integral recoil lug.

It was a $500 difference with the pre-order price of $750. More money to spend on glass.

 

[Jaywelder82]

I would like to see a write up on the tenacity but doesn’t sound like ther is a lot of them out there yet. I have been waiting on my defiance deviant la for my 300rum build, and I have a defiance Stryker ridge on a 30 nosler, and quite a few other custom action s..... the price is what intest me for anther build I want to start

 

[andrewsben]

I am just about done putting my tenacity together. Got my shipping notification for my origin and 2 nucleus's yesterday and today. Will try to do some side by side comparisons and whatnot once i have all 3 actions on hand.

 

[andrewsben]

Fun note. ordered origin and nucleus's on jan 24th, just got shipping info. Ordered tenacity in may and had in mid june (works been really crazy, have all parts on hand just haven't had time to put all together).

 

[flyer]

I will be looking forward to your review.

I only ordered one action; a Nucleus and just got the invoice.

I have almost all of my parts waiting for it. My chassis hasn't arrived yet but it will beat the action here.

One nice thing is my Nucleus will have a Barloc so I'll go from parts to rifle in about 1/2 an hour after I get the action home from my FFL.

 

[Eric32]

I just ordered a Tenacity Nitried finish, I hope it's good solid action. And i hope pre-fits from PVA will pop up soon, How is the bolt lift on the tenacity???

 

[trailrider121]

I plan to order a Bighorn Origin S/A soon. This would make a nice hunting long range rifle with changeable bolt heads.

 

[Heyitsclint]

Fun note. ordered origin and nucleus's on jan 24th, just got shipping info. Ordered tenacity in may and had in mid june (works been really crazy, have all parts on hand just haven't had time to put all together).

How are the builds coming? My eggs went into the Origin basket. My guess is that there isnt a loser among them. There were things i like about all 3 of them.

 

[chevytruck_83]

Savage because they started the floating bolt head prefit barrel craze. Haha. And the two stage trigger.

 

[vigildom7]

I went origin and havent looked backed.

 

[chevytruck_83]

Should the arc nucleus be in this conversation?

 

[vigildom7]

when I made this thread I was looking at sub 1k actions. I know the nucleus is at 1k.
now there is a variety of actions coming out below the 1k mark

 

[Banango]

I went origin and the bolt lift is pretty heavy on mine. Does anybody know if the tenacity or nucleus has a lighter bolt lift?

 

[BWB]

I went origin and the bolt lift is pretty heavy on mine. Does anybody know if the tenacity or nucleus has a lighter bolt lift?

You might want to check timing or have someone check timing. Bolt lift shouldn't be heavy at all, mine is as light as my TL3's. I'm pretty sure BigHorn would even time it for you if you mail it back with the trigger in it....

 

[Banango]

I might have to mail it back then since ive had light primer strike issues as well.

 

[BWB]

I might have to mail it back then since ive had light primer strike issues as well.

Yes, I know they will take care of you. Call them and ask for Ray!

 

[archangel485]

I am just about done putting my tenacity together. Got my shipping notification for my origin and 2 nucleus's yesterday and today. Will try to do some side by side comparisons and whatnot once i have all 3 actions on hand.

@andrewsben do you have any updates for us on your 3 types of actions by chance? Curious if you've gotten the other 2 and if you have any initial thoughts or if you've put any of them together? Thanks!

 

[andrewsben]

I have mainly been shooting the nucleus in 6mm Creedmoor (that one is my son's, I finally got my 7 SAUM barrel for my matching nucleus build a couple weeks ago and have it together but haven't used it yet). And that is just because I bought factory ammo to try it out at a competition and didn't have time to load. It shot hornady match very well. I have done some work with the tenacity and the origin though and both are very solid.

As of now I am working on another build on an origin, well starting to buy parts, have the action in now though. I think that the price to features on it is he best of the 3. Though the tenacity might be getting some more features soon, if the options they are putting into the special version of the tenacity used for the badrock south fork production class rifle (coned bolt face, control round feed, long action options, etc). Hopefully some of the options will migrate over to the tenacity without upcharges, but I would say they will get offered eventually but with an upcharge over the base price of the current configuration (just my guess). But if I were ordering another action today (as long as I don't talk myself into pre-ordering the ARC archimedes, thought i was good to make it till now, but then they moved the pre-order pricing deadline to 2/10) it would be an Origin. I really can't wait till they offer it in a long action.

Another option that is very intriguing is the MPA production class rifle built off the curtis action. Although it isn't just an action, for the price, based upon the components used, it seems very cost effective.

Anywho, sorry for the long delay in response...

 

[wil_pt]

Old post but thought I'd share my experience.
I have an Origin in 6.5CM. Had a couple of issues since I completed the build last July. First, firing pin broke while dry firing. Contacted Bighorn arms and Ray told me to send bolt assembly for repair. One week later, bolt came back with new pin assembly plus my broken one which Ray told me to use for dry firing. Second, bolt head pin broke just today at the range while testing new loads. I sent Ray an email about the issue but it's a Saturday and I'm not expecting his reply until Monday.

 

[hetzen]

Old post but thought I'd share my experience.
I have an Origin in 6.5CM. Had a couple of issues since I completed the build last July. First, firing pin broke while dry firing. Contacted Bighorn arms and Ray told me to send bolt assembly for repair. One week later, bolt came back with new pin assembly plus my broken one which Ray told me to use for dry firing. Second, bolt head pin broke just today at the range while testing new loads. I sent Ray an email about the issue but it's a Saturday and I'm not expecting his reply until Monday.

That’s strange. Sounds like they don’t recommend dry firing - if I’m reading that correctly?

Let us know what they say.

 

[Zermatt Arms]

That’s strange. Sounds like they don’t recommend dry firing - if I’m reading that correctly?

Let us know what they say.

We don't recommend against it in any way. We understand it's a totally normal practice technique and know people are going to dry fire a lot. If you have a broken firing pin, it's of no use to anyone for functionality so we just include the broken one with the new one when we send them back to encourage the use of the broken pin for practice. We still want to look at anything that breaks to see what we could change or improve on to eliminate future issues.

Dry fire away with confidence.

Thanks - Ray

 

[hetzen]

We don't recommend against it in any way. We understand it's a totally normal practice technique and know people are going to dry fire a lot. If you have a broken firing pin, it's of no use to anyone for functionality so we just include the broken one with the new one when we send them back to encourage the use of the broken pin for practice. We still want to look at anything that breaks to see what we could change or improve on to eliminate future issues.

Dry fire away with confidence.

Thanks - Ray

Knew that couldn’t be the case! Thanks for the clarification.

 

[wil_pt]

Got the bolt head pin replacement from Bighorn today. Excellent customer support. I hope nothing breaks anytime soon?.

 

[BWB]

I've got about 1000 rounds on my Origin and not a single issue. Just keeps getting smoother and smoother and smoother