I'm new to the custom rifle scene and have been looking to build one. With everything I do, I like to have the best. Buy once, cry once have been words for me to live buy. That being said, on paper, the Big Horn and ARC actions have looked great. What is it about Defiance that has so many of the "PROS" using them so much? I mean, they are all great actions, but on PAPER the other two look slightly better. Thanks
What The Pros Use
- Thread starter EliteGunner
- Start date
Pros = PRS shooters? As in that's what you want to do?
My vote is go shoot with whatever gun you want and learn the sport. WHAT they use is pretty irrelevant, half is having a reliable well functioning rifle (pretty much all the actions out there) and the other half is fashion show and chasing what the cool kids are doing. Winning/losing is not connected in the slightest to what action you run. You won't know what the cool kids in your area run until you get out and meet them and shoot with them, and that will strongly influence what you think you want for a comp gun.
If you aren't totally focused on competing, agree with the recommendation for an AI as being the "best buy once cry once" purchase.
My vote is go shoot with whatever gun you want and learn the sport. WHAT they use is pretty irrelevant, half is having a reliable well functioning rifle (pretty much all the actions out there) and the other half is fashion show and chasing what the cool kids are doing. Winning/losing is not connected in the slightest to what action you run. You won't know what the cool kids in your area run until you get out and meet them and shoot with them, and that will strongly influence what you think you want for a comp gun.
If you aren't totally focused on competing, agree with the recommendation for an AI as being the "best buy once cry once" purchase.
There is not much in the realm of customs today that doesn't work. I'd say find an action that you like, put hands on it make sure you like it, go from there.
In theory a lot of the actions look better than others on paper but it doesn't always translate to the feeling you'd expect or want from a custom. That's not saying any of them are bad, some just feel better than others to me. Most people for instance that i know personally at least, do not like my Tempest because of the hitch or cam over when closing. However when ran hard it goes unnoticed and i've yet to find an action that i've felt as remotely smooth as my Tempest. That is out of owning Bighorns, handling surgeons, BAT, and defiance. Still want to get my hands on an Impact and some ARC stuff.
In theory a lot of the actions look better than others on paper but it doesn't always translate to the feeling you'd expect or want from a custom. That's not saying any of them are bad, some just feel better than others to me. Most people for instance that i know personally at least, do not like my Tempest because of the hitch or cam over when closing. However when ran hard it goes unnoticed and i've yet to find an action that i've felt as remotely smooth as my Tempest. That is out of owning Bighorns, handling surgeons, BAT, and defiance. Still want to get my hands on an Impact and some ARC stuff.
If you're not specifically looking to compete, get an Accuracy International as others have said above. If you're looking to compete as the main goal, then you'll have to build custom and that'll be a journey that you probably won't get perfectly right the first time.
First off, in the capacity that we are talking about, their are no "professional" shooters. They are Joe plumber by day and hobby shooter that competes on the weekends and happens to receive some sponsorship support. I hate that the word "pro/professional" is used in the PRS world, it's pretty disenginous to imply that these shooters are professional.
Second, actions are very subjective once you get to a certain level. You will see different regions have different preferences for actions - this is based off of what the local sponsored shooters shoot and push, the actions the local gunsmiths push, the stores push, etc.
Honestly, it's a lot of group think. Lots of great actions out there. Choose the action that has the features that you want and rock on.
Second, actions are very subjective once you get to a certain level. You will see different regions have different preferences for actions - this is based off of what the local sponsored shooters shoot and push, the actions the local gunsmiths push, the stores push, etc.
Honestly, it's a lot of group think. Lots of great actions out there. Choose the action that has the features that you want and rock on.
Will an action determine how tight the groups are, or is that the barrel and the gun Smith that puts everything together?
Hi,
Group size is determined by the trigger to brain interface.
You could have "best" of all components and gunsmiths in the world but that will not overcome poor wind reading or improper shooting techniques.
Edited To Add:
What is your "buy once, cry once" budget?
Sincerely,
Theis
I have to disagree with you there. When a guy shoots 9 national 2 day matches and wins 5 of them and places 2nd in 3 others I consider him a professional. I think you can say that about several of the top guys shooting prs style matches.
As to your other point t about picking an action I agree. Find one that has the features you want and if you can get your hands on it to see if you like the feel of it and go with that. Most of the top custom actions are extremely well made and are separated by minor differences.
Although good shooters no doubt, they do not fit under the definition for professional.
It's a very grassroots sport. When a guy can pick up the sport in 1-2 years and come in near the top - I would hardly call that professional. You can't do that in baseball, football, (insert any professional sport here). No makes their living by shooting PRS matches. They just happen to be the best of the hobbiests for that specific shooting discipline.
Buy an off the shelf gun and run it till it drops. After shooting a couple thousand rounds what you need will start to become self evident. You can't buy precision - what works for a professional might not work for you until you have his perspective and experience.
Start simple and work hard....the shooter, the person, is the weakest link. My gun is cheap yet it still can shoot sub MOA way out there. I'm the weak link and it won;t do me any good the spend $10K because I won't realize that precision yet. Better to spend $2K and another bunch on ammunition and range time.
Start simple - work up. Spending $10K on a gun and "stuff" won't make you a precision shooter.
VooDoo
Start simple and work hard....the shooter, the person, is the weakest link. My gun is cheap yet it still can shoot sub MOA way out there. I'm the weak link and it won;t do me any good the spend $10K because I won't realize that precision yet. Better to spend $2K and another bunch on ammunition and range time.
Start simple - work up. Spending $10K on a gun and "stuff" won't make you a precision shooter.
VooDoo
I agree with this whole heartedly. You don’t see any machinist Mon-Fri, Doctor on the weekends only - because it’s something I enjoy doing. The REAL professionals are people doing this for a living at an expert level. Whether it’s the gentlemen at the tip of the spear, to the AMU, to the various branch service members traveling the country shooting on their teams in civilian competition, etc. Even people on the civilian side who shoot for a living- like Miculek, Leatham, etc. I’d argue people in the training area are professionals as well. Frank certainly earns his living training marksmen, and various other Frank activities directly involving precision rifle stuff. He’s just one example.
Back on topic now! Sounds like you have your choices narrowed down already. Draw names from a hat or whatever your game of choice is. Until you can get your hands on the various actions, you really are relying on the theoretical knowledge that one is “better” than the other in your very specific opinion. That said, I’ve been behind a few customs, defiance, surgeon, tempest, bighorn, and AI, trg. I could tell they were head and shoulders above a Remington, that was about it. It’s just a delivery system.
