Which custom action for hunting rifle?

[goinghunting]

What is your preference?

Defiance Hunter, Tactical, Bighorn, Surgeon, etc.

Planning to do a LA 300 WIN.
Or SA 7mm Sherman Short, can't make up my mind.

Assuming it's paired with a Traditional Sendero Contour steel barrel in a EH1 or similar stock with BDL bottom metal.

Or should I do a Proof Sendero? Too many options and I can't make up my mind.

Did about 60 miles last fall over a week carrying a Factory Sendero in McMillan Game Warden with AMG on it, so that type of weight is no issue at all.

Need someone to sway me one way or another.

 

[Ledzep]

There's a Mausingfield Hunter in the works. Seen pictures of one but no word from ARC. I'm sure with the Nucleus it may be a while before that becomes commonly available.

I'm a crf nut so besides that I'd be stuck between a pre 64 M70, maybe a Nucleus, and a Bighorn TL3.

ETA: I'd go #3b bartlein or a #4 contour. Enough meat to have muzzle threads at whatever finish length you want. For low-round count strings you won't have any accuracy/zero walking issues with a quality manufacture barrel.

 

[jda2631]

I went Bighorn TL3 for my long range hunting rifle. Proof chambered in 28 Nosler and throated for the 195's. Ordered a Manners EH1 back in Feb, so it's wearing the KRG Bravo until the Manners gets here. I couldn't be more happy with the action so far.

The reason I chose it was the floating bolt head and the consistent head space from action to action. 28 Nosler is a barrel burning son of a gun, so I only plan on shooting it for load development and hunting. But with the floating bolt head of the Bighorn, I am also going to get a 6.5x55 Swede barrel and standard bolt face for it. So during non hunting months I can practice with that rifle, same scope, trigger, and stock but shoot the 6.5x55 instead of the 28 Nosler. Only thing that changes is the barrel. For $600 I can get a barrel that's chambered and shouldered to my action shipped to me from PVA, without him ever seeing my action. Or go with a savage prefit from NSS if I really want to save some money.

Being that you want BDL bottom metal, I'd say go for the Bighorn SR3. What ranges and animals are you planning on hunting? You'd probably be perfectly fine with the 7SS, it's a really great round. But I love a long action magnum for hunting. It's not needed, but the animals tend to run far less.

 

[BurnOut]

I'm going to caveat this by saying that I have limited experience with custom actions... the only examples that I have any time behind are DTA, AI (AT), and Mausingfield. Obviously the DTA and AI actions fall outside of the strictly action arena, as they're integrated into their own chassis. So. The only true custom action that I have experience with is the Mausingfield.

That said, I am very impressed with it... I ended up having to single-feed it (because my magazines had not yet arrived), but it ran without a hiccup. Interestingly enough, I found that when run without a magazine in place, the Mausingfield becomes a bottom-eject action via the magwell. Kinda cool, but I'm unsure as to the practical use of that "feature".

In any event, I'd certainly look for a CRF option, as it seems to be a more "oh, shit"-resistant approach, and when hunting, you (obviously) want to mitigate as many failure/problem points as you can. It may not always be feasible to make sure that the rifle is oriented such that a push feed functions smoothly...

So, with that said, there are only a handful of custom actions that fit the bill... those from ARC, and a couple of models from Big Horn. My $.02.

 

[Another Casual]

I have a nucleus on order but that's for a target/hunting combination gun. For a straight up hunting gun I'd probably get a big Horn origin for $850, pick up a shouldered prefit for it from bugholes in #2/#3 and drop it in a manners EH8 and call it a day.

 

[surgeon260]

I just built a hunting 28 Nosler on a Surgeon 1086 and I am thrilled with it. Surgeons have always been 100% field reliable for me and they are oh so smooth. Manners EH1, 28" Proof Sendero, APA CIP bottom metal, AICS 338 CIP mags. I carry the rifle on a sling without a magazine so I get the streamlined carry profile of BDL and the convenience of detachable mags. I looked at the Borden actions as well in the spirit of going as light as possible, but the difference in weight once you add in a rail and a recoil lug was only a few ounces. Maybe that matters to you; it didn't to me. I chose the Surgeon because I value the added strength and rigidity of the integral rail/lug, as well as fewer pieces that could potentially fail. I don't have a scale, but the rifle is plenty light for all day carry in the mountains. Probably 9-10 pounds with rings, scope, and 338BA brake.

I've heard a lot of arguments for CRF in a hunting rifle, but push feed has always been 100% reliable for me. Then again I am not hunting leopard or cape buffalo.

 

[Edds]

Why does the Defiance claw extractor CRF bolt not get a mention?

 

[jda2631]

I just built a hunting 28 Nosler on a Surgeon 1086 and I am thrilled with it. Surgeons have always been 100% field reliable for me and they are oh so smooth. Manners EH1, 28" Proof Sendero, APA CIP bottom metal, AICS 338 CIP mags. I carry the rifle on a sling without a magazine so I get the streamlined carry profile of BDL and the convenience of detachable mags. I looked at the Borden actions as well in the spirit of going as light as possible, but the difference in weight once you add in a rail and a recoil lug was only a few ounces. Maybe that matters to you; it didn't to me. I chose the Surgeon because I value the added strength and rigidity of the integral rail/lug, as well as fewer pieces that could potentially fail. I don't have a scale, but the rifle is plenty light for all day carry in the mountains. Probably 9-10 pounds with rings, scope, and 338BA brake.

I've heard a lot of arguments for CRF in a hunting rifle, but push feed has always been 100% reliable for me. Then again I am not hunting leopard or cape buffalo.

We had damn near the exact same idea for a hunting rifle, just chose different actions... haha 28 Nosler with 195's and a CIP length mag is just awesome.

 

[surgeon260]

Great minds think alike! I just got my finished rifle from Gradous a couple weeks ago; I will try to get some pictures up on here.

 

[Edds]

Has anyone seen one of the "made in AZ" Surgeon Actions?

 

[surgeon260]

I have three Surgeons and they are all from Prague. I didn't know they started making them in AZ.

 

[b6graham]

switched my origin to a magnum boltface last week to resist the urge to make it another prs gun (at least right away). deciding between 6.5 PRC, Saum, or a Sherman SS/SST

 

[Edds]

I don't know if they have made any in AZ yet but they have stopped making them in Prague.

 

[BurnOut]

Why does the Defiance claw extractor CRF bolt not get a mention?

'cause I forgot about it.

 

[CMP70306]

Why does the Defiance claw extractor CRF bolt not get a mention?

Dunno, I'm on the fence between the Mausingfield Hunter and the Defiance CRF with 3 position safety for a future hunting rifle. I love my Mausingfield but I also love 3 position safeties so I am torn between the two.

 

[Jrb572]

I know it’s not on your list. I went with a Tikka and a proof barrel for my hunting rig. I really like it

 

[B-P-UU]

If you are wanting to go light weight, I prefer the 7mm's as they buck less. I agree with ledzep, sendero contours are overkill given the miles you're putting on.. 3b or #4-5 are plenty.

If it were my checkbook and was building a dedicated mountain rig, I think lone peak Ti fuzion and proof sendero or sendero lite would be seriously considered. I really like the EH1 for hunting rigs. Have an EH1 and EH1-A.. very comfortable.

 

[goinghunting]

Thanks for all the replies fellas! A wealth of knowledge on this site for sure! I also have a CRF FN 300wsm that I've been considering having trued and a Proof spun on to and dropping in an EH1... But I think I can get it to shoot if I just get time to do some load development. Bighorn with a 3b, 4 or 5 would work well, as will anything Sendero or less... Doesn't need to be a featherweight.

Love the 7mms and really like the idea of the 195s, etc.

Not sure if I wanna jump into the 28 Noslers and such, and Sherman Short's for that matter even though I like the idea. Too many options!

300 Win Mag is always an easy route too.

And I was just looking on bugholes.com the other night at all the options he had available, probably lean towards giving him some business!

 

[jbuck88]

Why does the Defiance claw extractor CRF bolt not get a mention?

I just recently seen that defiance offered a claw and 3pos safety. I grew up with Winchester's for hunting rifles and like the 3pos safety. I built a hunting rifle last year on a stiller and it shoots amazing. However I miss the 3pos safety and on the fence about selling it to fund another project.

 

[jbuck88]

I really don't like a magazine sticking out of the bottom as it always seems to snag everything and gets in the way. So I'd suggest whatever you get look for something without a full picatinny rail on top.

 

[PBWalsh]

If you already have a CRF FN 300WSM, I’d only use that. The only upgrade MIGHT be a Nucleus/Mausingfield IF you NEED an at home barrel change.

The FN actions give up nothing to customs besides a quick change barrel.

 

[huntsman22]

I'm doing a Bighorn in 6.5PRC, Manners EH6A bdl with Proof light sendero and LRHSi in M-10's. Haver the stock and scope/rings, waiting on the action and barrel...

 

[PatrickChewing]

I just got done building a very similar set up.

Bighorn SR3
300 win wag
Wyatts Extended Box Mag
Hawkins BDL
Manners EH-A carbon
Proof carbon barrel

My mind is blown how well it came together. I love the action and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

 

[Safety_3rd]

Check out the kelbly actions as well. They come nitrided and you can get them cut for a long internal box which i prefer for a hunting round. Plus it will save you a few hundred bucks.