• Frank's Lesson's Contest

    We want to see your skills! Post a video between now and November 1st showing what you've learned from Frank's lessons and 3 people will be selected to win a free shirt. Good luck everyone!

    Create a channel Learn more
  • Having trouble using the site?

    Contact support

Surgeon actions

First thing they need to do is remove the pimple for the bolt release.

It’s not 20 years ago that every action was handled like a baby to fit just right. Cutting/ shaving a stock or chassis in 2024 because the location of a bolt stop is 3/16” to low is foolish.

Yes it’s their brand / look but it makes them so hard to use across the board.

The specs are held tight but they don’t guarantee prefits. Again it’s 2024, cheap actions are able to use prefits.

And the kicker they won’t change any design even cosmetic.

Apparently the people who answer the phone believe the owner doesn’t want to change anything ever.

To bad, they were the original action that really started the custom/tactical market.
 
First thing they need to do is remove the pimple for the bolt release.

It’s not 20 years ago that every action was handled like a baby to fit just right. Cutting/ shaving a stock or chassis in 2024 because the location of a bolt stop is 3/16” to low is foolish.
The raised "fence" around the bolt stop is not cosmetic. It was designed to allow a larger bolt stop to be used and provide about 3 times more surface contact with the receiver when the bolt hits the stop. A properly designed bolt stop will transfer any bolt energy directly into the receiver instead of the bolt stop retaining pin. Most have figured this out but most are limited to a very small amount of surface contact due to the thin receiver wall. This inevitably results in the bolt stop deforming or the back of the receiver pocket being damaged.
Adding the fence around the stop allows the Surgeons to take more hard use without deforming the bolt stop or the back of the pocket cut out in the receiver.

It is actually an expensive feature because a larger piece of billet has to be used to allow for the additional material.

It works so well that Impact did not hesitate to use the same type feature in spite of the additional tool paths and expense.
Yes it’s their brand / look but it makes them so hard to use across the board.
Is it them or the chassis makers that need to accommodate?

Most chassis makers modified their designs to allow seamless integration of actions with trigger hangars, different size ejection ports and all versions of bolt handles. The KMW and several other chassis makers allowed for the bolt stop fences on Surgeons and Impacts.

If there is ever going to be any evolution in bolt action receiver design, the stock and chassis makers will need to conform to them rather than the other way around. You will be seeing this exact conundrum float to the surface in the next year or two with new stuff coming on line.

And the kicker they won’t change any design even cosmetic.
This is true.

There has been ZERO innovation or change to the original Surgeon actions since they were sold the first time. The new owners seem to simply be trying to squeeze every drop of juice from their acquisition without the expense of risk and development.
 
The raised "fence" around the bolt stop is not cosmetic. It was designed to allow a larger bolt stop to be used and provide about 3 times more surface contact with the receiver when the bolt hits the stop. A properly designed bolt stop will transfer any bolt energy directly into the receiver instead of the bolt stop retaining pin. Most have figured this out but most are limited to a very small amount of surface contact due to the thin receiver wall. This inevitably results in the bolt stop deforming or the back of the receiver pocket being damaged.
Adding the fence around the stop allows the Surgeons to take more hard use without deforming the bolt stop or the back of the pocket cut out in the receiver.

It is actually an expensive feature because a larger piece of billet has to be used to allow for the additional material.

It works so well that Impact did not hesitate to use the same type feature in spite of the additional tool paths and expense.

Is it them or the chassis makers that need to accommodate?

Most chassis makers modified their designs to allow seamless integration of actions with trigger hangars, different size ejection ports and all versions of bolt handles. The KMW and several other chassis makers allowed for the bolt stop fences on Surgeons and Impacts.

If there is ever going to be any evolution in bolt action receiver design, the stock and chassis makers will need to conform to them rather than the other way around. You will be seeing this exact conundrum float to the surface in the next year or two with new stuff coming on line.


This is true.

There has been ZERO innovation or change to the original Surgeon actions since they were sold the first time. The new owners seem to simply be trying to squeeze every drop of juice from their acquisition without the expense of risk and development.

100% chassis and actions mfgs need to focus and point in the same direction. I think the first “pair” that do, will gain market share while everyone is playing catch up.

The pimple is much stronger but like you say most don’t accommodate for it, so it’s the chicken or the egg ..and surgeon is the one loosing out, which sticks because the action is still a tank.

I can never understand how large this industry is but it’s still run like a mom and pop candy store in some respects
 
  • Like
Reactions: Indypendent
100% chassis and actions mfgs need to focus and point in the same direction. I think the first “pair” that do, will gain market share while everyone is playing catch up.

The pimple is much stronger but like you say most don’t accommodate for it, so it’s the chicken or the egg ..and surgeon is the one loosing out, which sticks because the action is still a tank.

I can never understand how large this industry is but it’s still run like a mom and pop candy store in some respects
Sorry, but I pick my action, then I find a stock that fits, that I like and I go from there. I like the shrouded Bolt release, so I bought into Impact. This not a race for the lowest common denominator, it is a quest for the best precision rifle. Of course people also have their preferences so we have choices and choices are good.
 
Proud owner of a Gradous 1086 surgeon switch barrel!🤗

In the process of turning my 1086 into a switch barrel as well.

*edited: my 'pics or it didn't happen'. Currently wearing a 24" 300WM barrel. Just bought my Manson 7/300 PRC reamer for barrel #2.
20240619_193743.jpg
 
Last edited:
AZ to Bryan/College Station is going to be a kick in the teeth, humidity-wise. Maybe the owner just wanted to be closer to Buc-ee’s? Can’t blame him on that one.

If they wanted to kick things off making money hand-over-fist, they would offer different maroon surface treatments (anodizing/DLC/cerakote). Aggies have the greatest number of color receptors for light waves close to maroon, so it makes it easier for them to find their cars in parking lots or their stuff after they’ve set it down.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: D_Lamz and kthomas
AZ to Bryan/College Station is going to be a kick in the teeth, humidity-wise. Maybe the owner just wanted to be closer to Buc-ee’s? Can’t blame him on that one.
For sure Buc-ees is the tits.

They had stagnated really bad in Phoenix and were paying a metric shit ton of $ on lease and utilities every month. I mean a LOT.

State and county offered really nice incentives for them to move to B/CS so they threw in the towel on Phoenix.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Coffee_and_Pipes
For sure Buc-ees is the tits.

They had stagnated really bad in Phoenix and were paying a metric shit ton of $ on lease and utilities every month. I mean a LOT.

State and county offered really nice incentives for them to move to B/CS so they threw in the towel on Phoenix.
Until seeing this thread, I hadn’t kept up with any of the news on their move, but I’d be interested in driving down there to see the shooting facilities; especially if they stick with the idea of adding on a Brazilian steakhouse.

https://www.kbtx.com/2024/05/22/str...ement-establish-worldwide-headquarters-bryan/
 
  • Like
Reactions: Terry Cross