Which of the 3

[Matt_3479]

I know it’s been probsbly Beat a bunch, and everyone has there own opinion but debating on slowly collecting for the next build. It will 99% be a 30 cal magnum of some sort with the win mag leading due to 1300-1400 pieces of Norma brass I have laying around. I’m looking at a defiance deviant tac or elite, impact precision or bighorn tl3. Just as to the benefits from one to the other and why? A lot of money on this three actions and never handled 2 out of the 3. Rifle will be used for hunting.

 

[OLD308]

Hunting only rifle. Save that custom action money for scope or ammo. Go buy a Rem 700 ADL in a magnum for $300 bucks. Trash the barrel, stock, and trigger and go from there. Accuracy and precision are the children of optimal practice. Lot of practice available with all that money freed up. Just my thoughts. Not trying to be argumentative, just don’t see what they offer a hunter over a stock R700 or commercial model Mauser cleaned up other that price. Good luck on you hunting and build.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

I have to agree, I'd buy a premium factory rifle and call it good. Lots of options out there whether you're looking for a more LR oriented rifle, mountain, or combo of both. For a little over $2K it's hard to argue against a Christensen MPR which will do all types of hunting well.

 

[b6graham]

find a 30-40% seekins cert and get a havak. custom action. light for hunting. factory rifle

i'll give you a 20%, they're a dime a dozen

 

[Matt_3479]

I have had good factory rifles, and good semi factory rifles. It’s mainly cause I want a custom rifle. It will be shot for long range target but it will double as a hunting rifle while moose hunting in the back lakes where shots seem to be getting away from us.

I just mention it will be used for a hunting rifle so that you know dirt and grit can be a problem while picking this action

 

[b6graham]

I have had good factory rifles, and good semi factory rifles. It’s mainly cause I want a custom rifle. It will be shot for long range target but it will double as a hunting rifle while moose hunting in the back lakes where shots seem to be getting away from us.

I just mention it will be used for a hunting rifle so that you know dirt and grit can be a problem while picking this action

well there's a big different between an 18lb long range target rifle and a 9lb hunting specific rifle. stock/chassis, barrel, scope. there's gonna be a compromise somewhere

now, one thing you may want to look at is getting a Havak. then getting another heavier barrel and competition chassis and swap back and forth

 

[Matt_3479]

I’m already pretty set on a bbl, stock, trigger. Just debating on an action. Wondering if anyone’s had any luck with the three I’ve mentions in hunting situations. The rifle I mainly carry now is a 7mm rem mag loaded with 160gr accubonds. But when I get to some of these back lakes we have seen in the past 5 years some monster trophy moose but most shots have been a bit on the long side for a standard hunting rifle. im Looking at building a rifle to double down in the 12-14lbs range. 26-28” bbl, chambered in a 30 cal magnum pushing the 215 hybrids around the 2900-3000fps mark

 

[b6graham]

i'd pick the TL3 because i like CRF and mechanical eject and everyone at Bighorn is awesome to deal with.

 

[lennyo3034]

TL3 handles grit very well. I haven’t used the other enough to speak about them.

 

[Hoyt7mm]

Of the actions you are looking at, only 2 are available in long action, magnum configurations....those being the Defiance Deviant Tactical, and the Bighorn TL3. Of the 2, flip a coin. I've got the Deviant and love it, but have been eyeing a TL3. I'd also consider the 300 PRC over the 300 win mag. That's alot of Norma brass, and selling it would fund your action lol. I know when my 300 wm goes, my next barrel will be 300 PRC so I don't need to deal with a belted case.

 

[Matt_3479]

Of the actions you are looking at, only 2 are available in long action, magnum configurations....those being the Defiance Deviant Tactical, and the Bighorn TL3. Of the 2, flip a coin. I've got the Deviant and love it, but have been eyeing a TL3. I'd also consider the 300 PRC over the 300 win mag. That's alot of Norma brass, and selling it would fund your action lol. I know when my 300 wm goes, my next barrel will be 300 PRC so I don't need to deal with a belted case.

I didn’t realize impact didn’t have a long action. Someone was trying to talk me into it for the build I just sent off today and is the reason I through it in the mix. Originally it was the defiance or bighorn so I guess I’m back down to 2.

I also never thought about selling the brass. The 300 prc has peaked my interest. I don’t need the biggest 30 cal, and I want a standard size action not the Lapua for the Norma mag. I also want to be able to seat them out to optimize capacity but still run in a mag. I use to shoot a good factory 300. Win mag and stumbled across the brass at too good of a price.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Mine is almost exactly what you're thinking. Defiance 7 RM , Proof C.F. barrel in a Manners EH1 . It wears a 5-25x56 ATACR and comes in at 12 lbs with a full 5 round mag , Atlas bipod and sling.

It's my full time hunting rife and it's been to a mile on steel many times . It's perfect for me, a 300 WM would just be more of a good thing .

 

[ThePretzel]

If dirt and grit are a concern, get the TL3 over the Defiance.

Defiance actions are solid pieces, but they're not exactly know for handling dirt very well since they have such tight tolerances. The TL3, on the other hand, has CRF (good for hunting) and is proven to eat dirt all day without even flinching.

 

[NWnewguy]

I know it's not what you asked about, but I recommend looking at a Mausingfield. As a matter of fact, LRI has some special hunting configuration long actions in stock right now. I have about every custom action out there and the MF is my favorite. I'm not saying that they aren't all good, but I just really like the MF. There are a bunch of reasons for that and every body has an opinion and you can't account for taste but design wise, it's really well thought out.

 

[schmi015]

Mausingfield. I have one in 300wsm (short action) and the masuingfield just works. Used it for a week outside in idaho snow, rain, dust. When i pulled the trigger it went bang and my deer flopped dead. I let another hunter use it and it was another bang flop dead.

 

[LRhunter13]

find a 30-40% seekins cert and get a havak. custom action. light for hunting. factory rifle

i'll give you a 20%, they're a dime a dozen

If you have a 20% off cert that you’re giving away I’d love one. Was going to put an order in this week.

 

[skeetlee]

TL3 hands down!

 

[Matt_3479]

Thanks everyone! I didn’t realize how popular the bighorn tl3’s have become. I was looking 2 years roughly ago for a different built and the defiance looked to be top dog for as long as I can remember. Definately going to have to looking more into the bighorn.

 

[moosemeat]

Top action choices change a lot based on some things that matter and some things that don't. Defiance and Surgeon were kings a few years ago. Then Mousingfield came out with some new features and became "the" action for every thing. That doesn't mean the TL2, Surgeon and Defiance are not good anymore. Look at the features you want and go from there. The TL3 seems to be close to the Mausingfield in features. I really like CRF because every one I've ever had fed flawlessly and never had issues. I've heard that CRF needs tuned to run the cartridge. You may want to contact the Smith you plan to use and see what action they prefer.

 

[Matt_3479]

So with the bighorn tl3 then, is it better to get the dlc coated or there bead blasted one? Does the dlc coating have a benefit over the bead blast finish? One smoother then the other?

 

[ThePretzel]

So with the bighorn tl3 then, is it better to get the dlc coated or there bead blasted one? Does the dlc coating have a benefit over the bead blast finish? One smoother then the other?

I work for a Bighorn dealer and have felt both the DLC and bead blasted ones, both broken in and new out of the box. The bead blasted ones are smooth, but the DLC ones are like butter once they're broken in. It's also no extra charge on a TL3 to order it DLC coated, so it's a no brainer in my opinion (usually something like that is an upcharge).

 

[Matt_3479]

I work for a Bighorn dealer and have felt both the DLC and bead blasted ones, both broken in and new out of the box. The bead blasted ones are smooth, but the DLC ones are like butter once they're broken in. It's also no extra charge on a TL3 to order it DLC coated, so it's a no brainer in my opinion (usually something like that is an upcharge).

Awesome thank you. You said the “dlc ones are like butter once they’re broken in”. Are they a little rough new then or rougher then the bead blasted ones until broken in?

 

[ThePretzel]

You said the “dlc ones are like butter once they’re broken in”. Are they a little rough new then or rougher then the bead blasted ones until broken in?

From the factory they have an usual type of red grease almost on the lugs and raceways that make the actions sound a little bit raspy at first even though they feel smooth (both DLC and bead blasted). Once you clean that off and apply some lubricant that goes away and they feel great. The break in of just sending rounds downrange and dry firing just makes everything feel lighter and a little bit smoother. I'd say that the broken in bead blasted action feels a little better than an unbroken in DLC action, but the broken in DLC is the smoothest overall.

Either way you can't go wrong though, they're great either way (the shop owner has a well used bead blasted finish action that you can open pretty easily with your pinkie finger after firing a round).

 

[D2junky]

I just ordered one of their new magnum bolt heads and it came coated with whatever they are doing to them now. It went on a bead blasted action and honestly feels as slick as my full dlc sr3.

 

[kthomas]

I know it's not what you asked about, but I recommend looking at a Mausingfield. As a matter of fact, LRI has some special hunting configuration long actions in stock right now. I have about every custom action out there and the MF is my favorite. I'm not saying that they aren't all good, but I just really like the MF. There are a bunch of reasons for that and every body has an opinion and you can't account for taste but design wise, it's really well thought out.

This is where I would throw my vote. Consider also putting on the LRI extended bolt knob for the MF.

I think the MF is arguably the smartest design of any current action out there. I absolutely love mine (regular Mausingfield M5 SA). Very tolerant of harsh conditions, the CRF is a nice feature for hunting, robust extraction, etc.

That's the route I would go (LRI LA hunting MF) for a high dollar hunting rig. Defiance Deviant or TL3 are also great choices, not really a bad choice between the 3.

 

[BrentlyWhite]

i'd pick the TL3 because i like CRF and mechanical eject and everyone at Bighorn is awesome to deal with.

Second the TL3 for the same reason. Control round feed and mechanical eject.

 

[acudaowner]

just purchased mine with in the last 2 days could say more in a month or so when It arrives .

 

[Chargerguy]

I'd go with the Bighorn too. But I'm partial to the SR3. Sold 3 NIB TL3s and replaced them with SR3s for the wyatt box option. But I'm also playing around with long COALs requiring it.