And…
I’m your opinion, with the right barrel, will the action choice have a lot of impact down range?? Having a Tikka or savage action, vs an entry level custom action??
Thanks
An action has very little role in accuracy WHEN the actions are built and functioning properly... ie nothing broken, bent, gouged, sticky, rusty, mismanf, etc... for the needs of games like PRS.
an actions role include feeding/extraction, initiating and containing the Kaboom. Lock up for all modern actions is similar and can offer similar benefits (poor QC and machining not withstanding)
About the biggest reason to pick action a over b is the trigger. many factory actions don't have super light triggers.. if that is what you want. many factory actions don't have the selection of accessories and add ons... if that is what you want.
I have competed with factory Savage SA's at the highest levels of F class for years (also, had a very nice high end custom). Compared to the high end custom actions, no difference on target or score. And the Savage functioned in some nasty, dirty conditions that fouled up a few tight fit actions.
Today, I run Rem 783s and factory trigger. For PRS, I don't mind a heavier pull. With a quality match barrel and handloads, it shoots as well as any custom rig I could build. And runs smooth and fast. The design and dimensions are also different from the typical 700 and offers me addn benefits which I quite enjoy.
The history of 'custom' actions starts with really crappy QC from Rem when building the 700s. So much was wrong and needed fixing, the cost of fixing got you close to what a true custom back then costs. So the custom was the 'easy answer'... today, we not only have well manufactured custom actions, aesthetics have really improved....
At the same time, many factory manfs have adopted better forms of manf which brings the QC within the realm of custom stuff.... but some TLC certainly doesn't hurt depending on the brand and type you choose.
I know the modern shooters love to chat up 'grades' of actions... as if, a more expensive type can lead to better performance. As long as they are built to suit the same games/end uses, their performance will be near identical in the long run.
Actions designed to excell in a pure accuracy game, are unlikely to survive in the muck and dirt of field shooting.
Better to think of actions like watches... if the watch tells time consistently and accurately, it serves the intended function... $50 or $5000, doesn't change the end result to the user. However, the user might appreciate the appearance, features or prestige of the more expensive item... and that is entirely ok too.
Barrels, bullets and bedding determine the down range performance of any firearm.
the rest of the machine is typically a compromise to fit within the rules of a game.
Jerry
