Rem700 vs. Custom action

[30calDeath]

Me and my dad will be building a custom rifle some time in 2011, we are going back and forth whether to use a Rem700 action that has had everything done to it, or going with a custom action. Is a custom action really that much better than a worked over Rem700 action? Could you guys list the pro's and con's with going with either action, thanks!

 

[CK_32]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

Custom actions are 99% of the time 700 actions.....

 

[30calDeath]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CK_32</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Custom actions are 99% of the time 700 actions..... </div></div>

Can you elaborate on that?

 

[sobrbiker883]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KillZone45</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CK_32</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Custom actions are 99% of the time 700 actions..... </div></div>

Can you elaborate on that? </div></div>

I'd venture that he means that trued R700 actions are the base of 99% of the custom rifles.

 

[Hunt]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

If I already had a 700 action, I would use it for a custom. If not, I'd go full custom.

Full custom has attention to detail everywhere....One thing I have seen with a trued 700 action is that many times the firing pin hole is overly large creating cratering. Many 'smiths do not bush the bolt face unless requested to do so. That would by _my_ pet peeve if using a 700 in a custom.

 

[jbailey]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

I have seen some trued 700's shot extremely tight groups at 1000yds, like 0.5moa groups or better groups at that range.

I think it really comes down to a cost issue - if you can get a Rem 700 at a good price ($300-$400) you can get it trued for $200-$300, you have probably saved $300 or more over a custom. I would also venture to say that a Rem700, trued by a very good smith, will outshoot many of the off-the-shelf customs.

 

[Rob01]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

700 actions can be made to shoot very well. I have a couple myself as well as a couple of custom actions from GAP. All shoot great. The customs just have some little extras. If you have a 700 action already then build off it and rock on. If not and you want to go with a custom action then go for it. Just make sure you have a good smith working on it and you will be fine either way.

 

[Mr.Kirk]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

I just built a rifle w/ a remington action. I had "every thing done to it" I have only fired 200 rounds thru it so far and have yet to venture past 300 yards w/ it. Right now, it is out shooting my Surgeon based build.
If and when I decide to sale them the Surgeon action will bring a better price.
One easy way to even up the contest w/out matching the expenditure is to have Pacific Tool and Guage make you a custom bolt. That is part of my "everything" package.
I didn't have to buy any of the tools to do everything to it and don't know what they must cost. (buddies are gunsmiths)If you have access to the tools, then you have it made.

 

[CK_32]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KillZone45</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CK_32</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Custom actions are 99% of the time 700 actions..... </div></div>

Can you elaborate on that? </div></div>

Sorry. Yes I meant most if not all custom actions you see at huge rifle events on the line are usually trued worked on perfected 700 actions. Heavily favored actions with competition shooters.

 

[Bunnyack]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

I say the same. If you have one, use the remington. If not, I can recommend a Stiller or Savage action.

 

[Rob01]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CK_32</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KillZone45</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CK_32</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Custom actions are 99% of the time 700 actions..... </div></div>

Can you elaborate on that? </div></div>

Sorry. Yes I meant most if not all custom actions you see at huge rifle events on the line are usually trued worked on perfected 700 actions. Heavily favored actions with competition shooters.</div></div>

I think the term "custom action" and "custom rifle" are being used as if they are interchangeable. They aren't. Custom rifles can be built off of any action. Alot are trued Rem 700s actions but they are not custom actions. They are Rems who have been worked on. Customs actions are actions like the Surgeons, GAP Templars, Stillers etc.

Great shooting rifles can be built off of either a custom or a trued Rem.

 

[Katahdin]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

Either one will work well for the majority of the shooters out there. Really its a matter of how much is your budget? If your budget is a little tight, I would not hesitate to use 700 action, especially if you already have one to start.

 

[RTH1800]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

I have quite a few long range rifles and some are out of the box Remingtons, some are top end custom actions like Borden, Nesika and Surgeon. Some are Remingtons tuned by top notch builders like Greg Tannel and Mike Lau. All do their job very well. Given the choice, I actually prefer a 700 action tuned by one of the above named guys, with an early 700 trigger to any custom action and trigger. They just feel right to me. I would much prefer a custom action to a Remington tuned by Joe Blow. Oddly enough, the factory ones often shoot great as well.

I might also suggest that you consider purchasing a used rifle if your requirements are not too unusual. You can save a lot of cash for ammo. There are many out there to choose from and any Remington is only a barrel and bedding job away from being a tac driver.

 

[30calDeath]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Katahdin</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Really its a matter of how much is your budget? </div></div>

will be about $4300ish for the rifle not including glass.

 

[desertHK]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

What caliber are you thinking? With that budget, you can get alot. The Remy action is a good action, but it' s not as smooth as a surgeon, or AI's. It will get the job done however. Also, what are you going to do with it?

 

[broke_again]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

For that budget get a GAP or Underground Skunkworks or Surgeon and don't look back.

 

[macman2564]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KillZone45</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Katahdin</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Really its a matter of how much is your budget? </div></div>

will be about $4300ish for the rifle not including glass. </div></div>

Can you say AI AE MKII??

 

[Tackleberry]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

I am just a redneck who loves to shot and has too many toys. However I do fire a lot of rounds out of GAP 700 actions, Templer actions and Lawton actions. They all shoot great, one no better than the other. Every GAP I own will shoot 1/4 to 3/8 moa all day long so I say to pick whatever GAP poison you want and don't look back.

 

[30calDeath]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: broke_again</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For that budget get a GAP or Underground Skunkworks or Surgeon and don't look back. </div></div>

I really like UGSW rifles, also a fan of GAP, also been looking at the 1581 XL action from surgeon. This will be a long distance shooter, pops might use it to hunt Elk every so often. Caliber will be either 300WM/RUM, maybe 338Edge or maybe, just maybe a 308. But more so looking at the magnums.

 

[scotharr]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

This is a really simple discussion in my eyes.

If you already have a R700 action, then by all means use it and have a reputable gunsmith do the works.

If not, and you want to get the very best action for the least amount of dough, get a Stiller Predator with their new one-piece bolt. Now, if you are willing to spend a little more, then the choice of custom actions expands considerably. But, Stiller actions have a superb reputation and very modest cost.

Also, keep in mind that the action is a ways down the list in terms of impacting accuracy. Barrels, bullets, optics, mounts, and gunsmith choice are definitely more important than action choice.

One thing to be careful of with some custom actions is getting too tight of bolt to body fit. This will cause cycling problems in dirty environments. BAT machine known for having this problem.

PS. $4300? That's a no expense spared budget. In that case, my action choice is Defiance Machine with a picatinny rail made by them.

 

[Swan]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

Doesn't matter the producer, they are all great actions, if choosing from the big names (Surgeon, Stiller, Defiance, Gap, blah blah, etc.). Even a trued up Rem will be fine. Everyone has their own boner for whatever action they run on their own rifle and its all purely, subjective crap.

My advice, go to a match or "big shoot" and ask to check out as many actions as you can get your grubby mitts on. Hopefully, no one will care if you run their bolts and then you may find one you prefer.

One caveat. If you plan to resell, go custom.

 

[42769vette]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

ive only done one rifle so take my opinion with a grain of salt. i used a stiller because by the time you figure 400 for a action, and 300 for truing your into it for 700 and for 800 you can get a stiller predator. for the extra 100 bucks its got that much better resale. i dont plan on ever selling it but if i had to i think i could get a exra 100 bucks for it being a custom

 

[Jedi]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

based on your budget i would just call GAP etc and have them build to your specs
A trued rem action will never be as slick as a custom, i have both and to be honest the cost difference between trued rem and my defiance $300. The defiance is in a whole different class and for the difference i should of not bothered truing the rem.

 

[gugubica]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

From a value standpoint, its a no brainer. You could spend 10 grand on a remington 700 and in the eyes of a future buyer, its still going to be a remington 700.

A GAP will be a GAP and worth more. An AI will be an AI and worth more as well.

Honestly, for what I use a rifle for, I am done with customs or smith worked factory stuff. I don't hunt live game though, so take that for what its worth. I just hunt steel.

For the same money, you can get an off the shelf AE or TRG an have a better setup, better resale, hell for stout, accurate rifle.

If you want an exotic caliber, call George or APA or Skunkworks. If you want a standard caliber, call SRT, Mile High or Euro Optics. They have rifles in stock and ready to roll.

 

[ggmanning]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

Unless the 700 has sentimental value I would go custom......cost is close vs trued as stated above. I have a build going with a trued 700 but it was the action off the first rifle I ever bight so it meant something to me. The defiance actions that are signature actions for Roscoe, GAP, APA etc are real nice actions and I really like the Surgeons, too.

 

[30calDeath]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

I will not be starting with any sort of 700 action, I originally had a FNH PBR XP that I was going to slowly build but pops was like lets build a custom so I sold an HK and the FNH in preparation to go custom. If the difference is minimal say $300 give or take might as well go custom, I don't ever plan on selling BUT if I had to I'm sure I could get a few more bucks for the custom action. I could have built a gun off the FNH PBR action but figured why use that action when I paid $850 for the gun and all I was going to eventually use off of it would have been the action. So for $850 I could get a better deal than a stock FNH action.

 

[mb198]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

You won't see any accuracy difference between the two.

 

[BK7saum]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

For the price difference, go custom. I sent a 700 to the smith for a build and before he had a chance to get started on it, I went ahead and bought a Stiller Tac 300 and had it shipped to him. I was in the same boat as you. Had the 700 BDL in hand, but couldn't get past the fact that after all the work was done, it would still be a 700 to a potential buyer if I ever wanted/needed to sell it.

 

[BBsteel]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

I'm in the same boat and was dead set on a rem 700 to be "trued" for a 7-08 build. I think I'm going to jump in the Stiller group buy here and get a SA Predator instead. Seems about the same cost in the end and potentially a better action in the Stiller.

 

[krw]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

My way of thinking is the same. I'm gathering up parts for a new 260. I have a Rem 700ADL in 243. I can scrap the action, pay to get it trued up, pay for a custom tactical handle and have the same money in it as I can buy a Stiller Tac-30. Resale on the Stiller would be considerably more. It comes down to basic economics.

 

[frankythefly]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MB198</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You won't see any accuracy difference between the two. </div></div>

You can't really say that, when he just said custom action that pretty much means any possible custom action out there. If you are talking about a rem clone vs a blue printed rem then maybe but cant say that for all customs. Some customs out there are completely different in every way. I have a friend who has a RPA action IMO completely superior to the rem 700 action

 

[KE5MUJ]

Re: Rem700 vs. Custom action

I just got my first build done off my sps tactical.I already had an aftermarket trigger on it and had a smith ready for the build. 700 action was blueprinted and added a krieger barrel. It turned out very nice but its no surgeon action.

Since u don't already have an action to build off of its a no-brainer, go custom.

I just didn't have the patience...but I'm happy. Good luck on the build