Stiller spectre bolt/body clearance accurate enough?

[yeahboy10101]

Hi,

First time poster here but long time reader. I've read everything I could find re this topic but am still unsure so I was hoping there might be some people with personal experience that could help me out.

I am currently putting together my first custom! I've got a jae 700 coming this week and I am looking at a stiller spectre action because in a stroke of luck a local gunsmith will have one in stock in a few weeks (extremely fast for a custom action Aus it seems).
I'm planning to chamber it in 6.5x47 or possibly a 6 dasher. I know I'm asking a lot but I'm hoping it will be accurate enough to have a crack at benchrest comp as well as f class and general long range varminting.
My question is, with a good barrel and load development what sort of accuracy could I expect with the .004 - .006" body/bolt fit of this action? There seems to be varying opinions on how important bolt/body clearance is.
Also wondering if anyone that has used/owns one could comment on how the action feels overall ie is there much slop when cycling it? I'd just be pretty disappointed if it didn't feel much different than my tikka t3 action when I'm paying nearly $2k for it. I've tried to check one out first hand but the dealer wants 50% upfront (which is ok) and I haven't encountered a stiller action before at the range.

Thanks

 

[jcallan]

Call Russ @ stillers 972-429-5000 and he can answer all your questions.

 

[Lrdchaos]

I'm currently having a custom rifle being built by AO. After talking with Mark I went with the SPRCTRE action, he had nothing but praise regarding Stiller products. He sells Defiance and Pierce so he had other options to sell me on. He said the tolerances were as tight as any other action. The Spectre does have the integral rail, if that is something you don't want you could always go with the Tac30. AO and bugholes have them in stock so you could have one shipped. The Spectre is cut for ai/aw mags if that interests you.


If you're paying nearly 2k for the action you need to shop around. I talked to a few guys and have seen pics if targets shot by the action. You can expect .5moa or less from the action, if you can hold it steady.

 

[buffybuster]

Bolt slop is no indicator of accuracy or quality.

If you want "Benchrest tight" bolt fit, then buy a BR action, but don't be surprised when they won't run with any bit of grit or dirt. The "slop" is built in for the bolt to run in field conditions.

 

[diego-ted]

Unless you really know your stuff, it will be tough to feel the difference from your Tikka because the Tikkas are butter smooth.

 

[leadbullet]

it is only"sloppy when the action is being cycled, when it is closed they are solid with no slop and that is when it matters for accuracy not when the bolt is open
cheers.

 

[branson1369]

Spoke to Russ today actions near ready to ship very much looking forward to mine which will be eventually living in 1 of 2 JAE I have on order but will live temp in a Manners T4 with mini chasis

 

[6Dasher]

Having had a few BATs for BR/F etc, I can vouch for the action no longer working if dust gets inside

 

[yeahboy10101]

Guys, thanks for the replies, much appreciated.

I do realise that Stillers tolerances are as good as anything on the market and that the .004-.006" clearance is built in deliberately for field use.
There must be something in it though if benchrest actions all seem to run around .015" clearances?
For arguments sake if I used a stiller viper ss instead could I theoretically expect it to be a bit more accurate? I know it's single shot and a much bigger stiffer chunk of steel too.

I know it's not ideal but I've only got the budget to make one real nice rifle for the foreseeable future and I'm trying to choose the most accurate/versatile combination!


Nice to hear that there's other guys out there ordering the spectres! Lrdchaos $1820 was the price I got, that's AUD.

Thanks again

 

[Lrdchaos]

I would say that theoretically yes you might get more accuracy out of a br action. I have seen Stillers shoot .2-.4 Moa, I don't know how much more accurate than that you're going to get. But you give up the ability to use it where it could get dirty, as stated above. I would either go with the Spectre or the tac30, I wouldn't take my chance on having a action the binds up when it gets dirty for minimal theoretical accuracy improvements. If you're not a professional shooter making a living I doubt you would know the difference. Shop a couple of sites, you can find better deals.

 

[6Dasher]

Yeahboy, what accuracy do you get now? You have to take into consideration that if you're shooting off a bipod then the action will not be the main factor in accuracy. If you have a decent action and a good barrel, the shooter is the limiting factor.

 

[yeahboy10101]

6dasher I can get (just) <1moa with my stock tikka .223 with bipod and bag on a bench but I will invest is a proper rest for the new build.

Lrdchaos what model stiller(s) did you see shooting that good and how were they shooting them ie off a bench?

Sounds like the spectre is the way to go, it definitely looks the goods. Still gotta decide what calibre though lol. Swinging towards the dasher.

Thanks again.

 

[Lrdchaos]

I have seen both tac30 and tac300 shoot .5 or less Moa. 3 shot groups, front bipod and rear bag and rest front and rear, all hand loads not factory ammo.


Do a search on AO website for the article about the build using the spectre. I think they were in the .18-.20 range.

 

[6Dasher]

I've shot two factory TRGs at 0.35moa consistantly (bench and bipod), we shoot customs (BAT mainly) in a prone discipline here that do <0.2moa from a rest and around the same 1/3moa from a bipod; so I would not worry about the accuracy of the action being a factor if shooting from a bipod. I've had BATs and Surgeons, and they all were sub 1/3moa off the rest. PS: I have a Spectre on order for my own practical rifle, and Stiller facebooked this week that they were finished (yeehaa). Use a good barrel and a good gun smith and shoot bugholes.

 

[Lrdchaos]

I've shot two factory TRGs at 0.35moa consistantly (bench and bipod), we shoot customs (BAT mainly) in a prone discipline here that do <0.2moa from a rest and around the same 1/3moa from a bipod; so I would not worry about the accuracy of the action being a factor if shooting from a bipod. I've had BATs and Surgeons, and they all were sub 1/3moa off the rest. PS: I have a Spectre on order for my own practical rifle, and Stiller facebooked this week that they were finished (yeehaa). Use a good barrel and a good gun smith and shoot bugholes.

That's awesome. AO emailed me today and said my spectre build was almost complete. I'm ready to shoot some one bugholes.

 

[ShtrRdy]

I don't know if any of this makes a whole lot of difference in the accuracy department. I was looking at a couple local benchrest rifles at the range recently. They were BAT actions and had a port on the left to feed rounds, and a port on the right to eject rounds. With big holes on either side of the action, how much difference would it really make not having a port on the bottom to feed rounds?

The regular Stiller repeater actions don't have a super smooth bolt movement. Better than a stock Rem 700 but not as nice as a Tikka T3. I don't know if the Spectre action is different.

 

[gewehr]

I have a spectre and my buddy has one too, way smoother than my tac-300


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[yeahboy10101]

You guys have well and truly put my concerns to rest, looking forward to it arriving now. Thanks again for the advice!