Pgw m15 versus other custom actions
- Thread starter Mike112288
- Start date
It would be helpful to provide some context and details around what you found superior or features you seemed to enjoy when compared to other actions.
What actions have you compared it to, and why did the PGW perform more favorably to you over those other actions?
Also curious what you are comparing to. Is a "custom" a trued Remington 700?
In all fairness, PGW is a great brand, it's not a big risk to go with PGW if they check your desired boxes.
But yes, I know of a few people that have learned expensive lessons about being beta testers for new products in a relatively junior industry for the sake of a maple leaf.
Yep. They are supposed to be pretty good too. There was a guy on here that ordered a 3 lug action not long ago. Hopefully he updates his thread with his thoughts. I'd take a KS arms over an ultimatum
What's the feature set and price of an action from PGW?
LoL, great insight. I was asking for the feature set and cost to see how it compares to other customs. Helps to see what your money gets you up here compared to the offerings from down south.
I just received a M15 action from PGW for rgv jr
I have a Defiance Elite and a Defiance Tenacity Gen1 to compare it to, and have owned a Stiller Predator (which I shot a lot), a Bighorn Origin (which I won at a match and sold), and probably the first Arc Nucleus in Canada (which I sold almost immediately. Too weird)
The M15 is a well made 700 clone. I like the closed top and heavy tang. I think I prefer the M16 style extractor of the Tenacity/Deviant than the Sako style of the M15 but not for any real reason. The Sako has the advantage that you can replace it with the point of your knife and nothing else.
The M15 does not have as smooth a primary extraction camming action as any defiance. It's more like a Stiller but if the Defiance Elite is a 9 on that scale, and a current Remington 700 a 4, the M15 is a 5 or 6.
The machining is very good. The feed ramp is notched so you can run non-binder plate AICS mags out of the box. The Bighorn is as well but the Stiller and Tenacity are not. Its a 5 minute job to do but most people don't take a mill to a brand new action.
It also came with the receiver drilled for a recoil lug pin, but the recoil lug did not have either a hole or a pin. Not really a big deal but odd.
I also think the bolt stop takes the impact on the pin rather than the receiver like it should but I need to have a better look. At least PGW doesn't have to offer a HD bolt stop like Kelbly does.
If installing a trigger is any indication to alignment and precision, the mounting holes and alignment are 100% correct and the cocking piece will only need a ch taken off to time to a TT 2-stage.
I have a Defiance Elite and a Defiance Tenacity Gen1 to compare it to, and have owned a Stiller Predator (which I shot a lot), a Bighorn Origin (which I won at a match and sold), and probably the first Arc Nucleus in Canada (which I sold almost immediately. Too weird)
The M15 is a well made 700 clone. I like the closed top and heavy tang. I think I prefer the M16 style extractor of the Tenacity/Deviant than the Sako style of the M15 but not for any real reason. The Sako has the advantage that you can replace it with the point of your knife and nothing else.
The M15 does not have as smooth a primary extraction camming action as any defiance. It's more like a Stiller but if the Defiance Elite is a 9 on that scale, and a current Remington 700 a 4, the M15 is a 5 or 6.
The machining is very good. The feed ramp is notched so you can run non-binder plate AICS mags out of the box. The Bighorn is as well but the Stiller and Tenacity are not. Its a 5 minute job to do but most people don't take a mill to a brand new action.
It also came with the receiver drilled for a recoil lug pin, but the recoil lug did not have either a hole or a pin. Not really a big deal but odd.
I also think the bolt stop takes the impact on the pin rather than the receiver like it should but I need to have a better look. At least PGW doesn't have to offer a HD bolt stop like Kelbly does.
If installing a trigger is any indication to alignment and precision, the mounting holes and alignment are 100% correct and the cocking piece will only need a ch taken off to time to a TT 2-stage.
So, at different times I've had rifles built on a Defiance, Surgeon and Stiller action. Other than the Defiance that seemed to get sticky in dusty conditions (anywhere in southern Manitoba), there was fundamentally nothing wrong with any of them. All of my PGWs work just fine with the sand and silt and keep driving tacks. PGW is local (and I am very biased) but for the same or cheaper pricepoint I have had exactly zero issues with multiple PGW products. As well, if I were to have a problem, I have no doubts that a quick call to Steve or Ross would remedy the issue. I like to buy local and this is one case where I can say local is excellent. I've tried a Cadex for what it's worth and it felt fine. A fellow shooter at a course had nothing but stovepipes all weekend, but that might have been user error.
I'm not much into the competition scene so the rgv's post above might be more in tune for what you're looking to find out.
Appreciate you expanding on your thoughts, and providing some context.
I agree that Defiance's (especially in the past), seem to have tight clearances which can make for a rough time in adverse conditions. My first PRS rifle was a GAP Crusader with a Defiance Rebel action (pretty early generation), and that would lock up at the mere sight of dust. I had a hell of a time had a few matches. Got tired of it, changed it out with a Mausingfield M5 and have been beyond happy with the action and it's reliability in adverse conditions.
There's definitely something to be said about good customer service and having a business local to you. I totally understand that. I would love to be able to just walk into a business front and deal with the company reps face to face - there's something to be said about that, and if I had a top notch action company located in my city, I'm sure they would get my business. I guess Surgeon is just north of me, they are about as local as it gets for me, but I hate driving into Phoenix (it's just ~2 hours north of me) and I'm not currently in the market for an action.
Enjoy your PGW's, they make great guns.
One thing is for sure, in the hands of a expert Marksman at matches like the Meaford LRSC or Connaught NSCC by DCRA or Mons Range PR matches or my matches in Garrison Petawawa, these custom actions rock. I’m super impressed to watch experts run those bolts. Kinda like a cool video while I’m RO’ing a stage.
All those actions you’ve mentioned above are just so cool to watch!
And yes, I’ve seen some bolt actions bind under stress, and that’s when I’m yelling (facetiously, of course), “Shoot Faster!!”. I stole that quote from ChalkRiver2
Cheers, Barney
All those actions you’ve mentioned above are just so cool to watch!
And yes, I’ve seen some bolt actions bind under stress, and that’s when I’m yelling (facetiously, of course), “Shoot Faster!!”. I stole that quote from ChalkRiver2
Cheers, Barney
