Slightly late to the reply but here are the questions in a more organized manner:
The top factors #1 and #2 is what I need feedback for. The nice to haves I can more or less figure out from specs in a spreadsheet or from various user / anecdotal feedback and informal testing or just looking at the design / function.
Guess the top 2 factors for me will be
1. Won't bind on open / close or when working the bolt back and forth. So for example, I mention a CZ452 above that while it never actually gets stuck, it will bind a little here and there when working the bolt instead of just going straight back and forth. One or two T1x I tried had the same issue. I could also use a Savage 10 as another example (not the most refined gun, just an example) - this happens on multiple Savage 10's that I tried. Even after lubrication and polishing on my own, if I don't grab the handle in the right spot and push on the bolt a certain way, it will bind because it seems like the bolt is pushing laterally into the receiver instead of back and forth. Or it won't be one smooth action but rather slow at some parts and faster at others b/c it's binding ever so slightly.
2. Just works - not having to tweak triggers, polish bolts and raceways, or tune mags or rounds to an excessive degree. Or say use special lube or replace small components regularly just for things to work reliably. It doesn't need to be perfectly refined while doing the above. This is how I view the Tikka T3/x - could be more refined / betterer, but I've one I've tried just works.
Nice to haves in approximate order of importance:
3. Mechanical ejection.
4. Relatively easy to lift and close bolt with 60-80 degree throw, if possible.
5. Can single feed if needed.
6. Readily available pre-fits and chassis/stocks.
7. OK with sand/dust and ice/snow and triggers won't freeze or misfire in adverse conditions - i.e. it seems like most Win 70, Tikka, Sako, Weatherby Vanguard mk series, etc. are better in this regard than most actions based on a 700 design and I speculate this is also why a higher % of these show up more in hunting than they do in sport shooting.
8. Slight preference for Tikka double stack or AIAW over AICS mags, but not a big deal either way.
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Earlier comments re-organized:
I seem to see more feedback here and elsewhere that most ARC actions, especially upon release, may not meet #2, which matches my limited sample size of 2 experience. But when they work, they're great. My limited sample size of 1 with an unknown TL3 as mentioned above didn't meet #1 due to hard bolt open/close. Haven't tried Kelbly. Otherwise, it seems like the Bighorn / Zermatt TL3, Kelbly Prometheus, and ARC Nucleus 2.0 and CDG will meet most factors #3-6 and #8. #7 probably just won't happen with a R700 based receiver and trigger?
Or, I notice just looking around here and elsewhere that a lot of people seem to use the Impact 737r and Lone Peak Fuzion - I'm guessing this is a hint in it's own way and means "they just work" and forget the other features b/c not that important relative to "they just work"?
