TL3 & Deviant Elite (CRF) Compare & Contrast

[charnicus]

I’ve recently picked up a Bighorn TL3 after falling in love with the one on my Pop’s rifle.

Don’t see many, let alone recent, rants and raves about the Deviant Elite with CRF.

I’m curious to hear from someone who owns or has owned both as to how the Defiance rendering stacks up. For better or worse.

Thanks!

 

[Simia Dei]

The title of this thread sounds like an exam question, except I wish I got to comment on rifle actions on my exams.

 

[charnicus]

The title of this thread sounds like an exam question, except I wish I got to comment on rifle actions on my exams.

Shit don’t we all...

 

[swage2712]

Had a Bighorn TL3 nitrided action. I liked it, but you had to keep downward pressure on the bolt or it would bind. Sold it to a buddy who wanted it. I picked up a nitrided Deviant Elite. Mine was from the early run with the Defiance swept bolt handle, not the current version with the straight bolt handle. Cycles smooth without the need to keep downward pressure on the bolt. I guess it's all what you're used to. Never had issues with either shooting Dasher in the Bighorn and 6 BRA in the Deviant Elite.

 

[charnicus]

Had a Bighorn TL3 nitrided action. I liked it, but you had to keep downward pressure on the bolt or it would bind. Sold it to a buddy who wanted it. I picked up a nitrided Deviant Elite. Mine was from the early run with the Defiance swept bolt handle, not the current version with the straight bolt handle. Cycles smooth without the need to keep downward pressure on the bolt. I guess it's all what you're used to. Never had issues with either shooting Dasher in the Bighorn and 6 BRA in the Deviant Elite.

The curiosity to shoot 6 BRA is also what drew me to CRF. You still have the Elite?

 

[swage2712]

I still have the Elite. I only have a couple hundred rounds through it. No feeding issues at all. What I like about the CRF is it doesn't cant the case during ejection which marks up your brass from dragging on the bolt raceway. I'm using the MDT 6 BR mags and they've been flawless.

 

[charnicus]

I still have the Elite. I only have a couple hundred rounds through it. No feeding issues at all. What I like about the CRF is it doesn't cant the case during ejection which marks up your brass from dragging on the bolt raceway. I'm using the MDT 6 BR mags and they've been flawless.

That’s all really good to hear. What’s flustering is that MDT released them only in a 12rd version. (CA resident)

 

[swage2712]

That's ironic because I've yet to be able to get 12 rounds in them. The springs are very stiff.

 

[charnicus]

That's ironic because I've yet to be able to get 12 rounds in them. The springs are very stiff.

Interesting. I wonder what the reasoning is behind that.

 

[kthomas]

The curiosity to shoot 6 BRA is also what drew me to CRF. You still have the Elite?

You don't need CRF for 6BRA.

I have both a CRF and a push feed action in 6BRA, and they both work fine.

 

[charnicus]

You don't need CRF for 6BRA.

I have both a CRF and a push feed action in 6BRA, and they both work fine.

Just due to modernized push feeds? Legit question. For like the past week I’ve been trying to search this. Some people report horror others not and the rest are running CRF.

 

[kthomas]

Just due to modernized push feeds? Legit question. For like the past week I’ve been trying to search this. Some people report horror others not and the rest are running CRF.

Any of the good push feed actions with the appropriate mags (AICS + primal rights kit, MDT mags, Magpul AICS, etc) will handle the 6BR family of cartridges fine.

The push feed I have is a LP Fuzion, plenty of those running 6BR type cartridges. Same can be said for Impact and I'm sure Defiance as well, among others.

I love my Mausingfield + 6BRA, and I'm not trying to discourage you from getting a CRF action if that's what you want. But it's not absolutely necessary.

 

[Sheldon N]

Some people report horror others not and the rest are running CRF.

There are a ton of dudes running Impact 6BRA without issue. I know others running Lone Peak and Defiance push feed 6BRA. It's all in the mag setup. I run mine in a Bighorn TL3 and it does great. If I were to go Defiance I'd probably go push feed over CRF. Some of the Elite action I've heard don't eject brass well unless you run the bolt hard.

 

[charnicus]

Any of the good push feed actions with the appropriate mags (AICS + primal rights kit, MDT mags, Magpul AICS, etc) will handle the 6BR family of cartridges fine.

The push feed I have is a LP Fuzion, plenty of those running 6BR type cartridges. Same can be said for Impact and I'm sure Defiance as well, among others.

I love my Mausingfield + 6BRA, and I'm not trying to discourage you from getting a CRF action if that's what you want. But it's not absolutely necessary.

There are a ton of dudes running Impact 6BRA without issue. I know others running Lone Peak and Defiance push feed 6BRA. It's all in the mag setup. I run mine in a Bighorn TL3 and it does great. If I were to go Defiance I'd probably go push feed over CRF. Some of the Elite action I've heard don't eject brass well unless you run the bolt hard.

Thanks guys. This stuff is great to know!

 

[Forward543]

If it helps any, im running br cases with a push feed and a crf. My nucleus (crf) feeds them better, but it think it is the mag interface that causes the trouble.

 

[charnicus]

If it helps any, im running br cases with a push feed and a crf. My nucleus (crf) feeds them better, but it think it is the mag interface that causes the trouble.

What push feed are you running? Interference as in?

 

[Defiance Machine]

There are a ton of dudes running Impact 6BRA without issue. I know others running Lone Peak and Defiance push feed 6BRA. It's all in the mag setup. I run mine in a Bighorn TL3 and it does great. If I were to go Defiance I'd probably go push feed over CRF. Some of the Elite action I've heard don't eject brass well unless you run the bolt hard.

They definitely can't run them slow and gingerly, but we wouldn't go so far as to say you have to run them "hard." Because of how our CRF is designed to kick them out, guys who run them overly slow, or who stop mid process, have experienced times when the brass didn't completely eject out.

 

[LawnMM]

They definitely can't run them slow and gingerly, but we wouldn't go so far as to say you have to run them "hard." Because of how pur CRF is designed to kick them out, guys who run them overly slow, or who stop mid process, have experienced times when the brass didn't completely eject out.

Happens with the TL3 too, you don't have to rip it but if you don't run it at normal speed you can kick it loose without ejecting it from the action.

 

[charnicus]

Happens with the TL3 too, you don't have to rip it but if you don't run it at normal speed you can kick it loose without ejecting it from the action.

This ^^
I assumed that was just the nature of any CRF. As the name implies haha.

 

[kthomas]

This ^^
I assumed that was just the nature of any CRF. As the name implies haha.

I believe it is.

My ARC Mausingfield is the same. I can rip it so brass travels across the field, slow enough it doesn't even leave the action and everything in between.

 

[MarinePMI]

This ^^
I assumed that was just the nature of any CRF. As the name implies haha.

I don’t think it’s due to it being CRF per se, more so the mechanical ejector, that requires a firm pull to insure the case ejects clear of the port.

 

[6brshooter]

Pushfeed works great with br and dasher, used savage, tikka, and rem700 with them, no issues. I preferred the sako type extractor over the rem style extractor, even the 2 savage target actions had more consistent ejection than the rem style.

I get what your saying about the card not trying to eject till it hits ejector. I had an axiom that would crank brass over and gouge it up on lug abutments during ejection cycle. Obviously due to ejector pushing brass outward. Not a big deal if you are using factory and dont reload, or your running stuff hot that you dump brass after a few firings. Mine was in a wildcat that required sizing/fireforming to make and brass life was 15+ firings. Cases came out that had gouge rings on body and shoulder at 1:30-2:00 from lug abutments.

 

[BeAccurate]

For the Defiance, Brownells has a few in stock. When you apply their 10% discount code, a 1% activeJunky discount and then ~3% cash back on a credit card, it means you can get a deviant tactical for ~$1150. I'm pretty sure that makes it one of the cheapest integral lug, integral rail actions out there. The Brownells site even has the Elite line listed, albeit out of stock, if you don't mind waiting.

 

[GTMANN]

For the Defiance, Brownells has a few in stock. When you apply their 10% discount code, a 1% activeJunky discount and then ~3% cash back on a credit card, it means you can get a deviant tactical for ~$1150. I'm pretty sure that makes it one of the cheapest integral lug, integral rail actions out there. The Brownells site even has the Elite line listed, albeit out of stock, if you don't mind waiting.

What’s the current 10% off code?

 

[BeAccurate]

What’s the current 10% off code?

It rotates. I'd just sign up for the email.

 

[Steel head]

Happens with the TL3 too, you don't have to rip it but if you don't run it at normal speed you can kick it loose without ejecting it from the action.

My nucleus is the same.