Not another custom action thread!

flandersander

flandersander

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I'm just wondering, what does a custom action "feel" like? I've shot, Remington's, savages and Tikkas. For me, bolt lift defines the experience when shooting a bolt action. On all three of these bolt lift was mediocre at best. All quite heavy, the tikka having the nicest lift. I think the savage has the best sliding action.

Anyways, is a custom action, 1 finger bolt lift falls into battery type experience? That would be the cats meow!
 
Personally, the custom action I've ran I wasn't overly excited about.

Tighter tolerances can mean more precise movements required. I guess you are supposed to run them hard and that's where they shine. Definitely bolt lift and drop isn't easy. There is much less play when bolt was being moved or pulled back though.

I've only shot them for about a day so I can't say for sure. I find my remy good enough. It's smooth, it works, and I can run it the way I like to. I guess that means it works for me.
 
No doubt they work. I liked my rem and I like this savage. I guess im searching for the holy grail of bolt guns. Super easy bolt lift and lower, and sub 1/16 moa. Okay maybe not that last part.
 
I love my savage, I tried being gentle with it and thought it was TERRIBLE, then I realized they are built to be worked. Get a little rough with it and now I love it.
 
Thing is I keep and re-use my brass, as I imagine most on this forum do.

I can't exactly slam it up and slam it back. That's the problem I have with bolts that don't natively run smoothly. I lift slow and pull back slow. I'm not tacticool. I don't want my brass flying so I have to pick it up. I'll admit I feel my ##### enlarge when I do that though.

I suggest you wait for people who actually own custom actions. I refrain from mentioning brands for that reason. I simply don't think they are for me.
 
Shibby! said:
Thing is I keep and re-use my brass, as I imagine most on this forum do.

I can't exactly slam it up and slam it back. That's the problem I have with bolts that don't natively run smoothly. I lift slow and pull back slow. I'm not tacticool. I don't want my brass flying so I have to pick it up. I'll admit I feel my ##### enlarge when I do that though.

I suggest you wait for people who actually own custom actions. I refrain from mentioning brands for that reason. I simply don't think they are for me.
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Mind if I ask what you shoot? I'm the same way. Like the saying goes. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Im kinda hoping somebody chimes In that has an action like I'm looking for.
Its worth mentioning I have been looking into polishing contact points and bolt lift kits and other things for my savage, but I feel like I wont get it to a point like I've described.
 
They are nice and smooth but tolerences are quite tight. So any grit or dust in them and they get tough to cycle. Pretty tough to beat a properly prepped C14 action though.
 
Well, maybe take the day off and drive over to Calgary to visit Alberta Tactical Rifle Supply. If you could demo their Infidel action for me that would be great. ;)
 
O and I have a Stiller Tac 338 action on my personal rifle. Its on par with tuned and blueprinted Remington 700. Pretty smooth. Very satisfying when you close the bolt.
 
I'll only comment on this because you said holy grail lol.
AI 60 degree actions are pretty darn slick. I own an AW and it has the smoothest bolt throw I have ever tried. That said I have yet to try out a PGW rifle but hope to add one to the safe next year.

This vid shows the AW's bolt lift in action.
 
I'll actually be rolling through Calgary next week. May have to make a stop. If I do I'll ask about the infidel action.

So it sounds like pgw and ai actions are the top dogs?

I hear ya about tight tolerances and dirt.
 
Barnard P is the best I have. PGW's are very, very smooth and working down in price points a bit the Defiance and Stiller are noticeably smoother than the Remington 700.
 
flandersander said:
Anyways, is a custom action, 1 finger bolt lift falls into battery type experience? That would be the cats meow!
Click to expand...


Somewhere between the 1 finger lift and drop into battery on closing, the bolt need to be cocked. 2 jug actions are usually easier to open and close. Actions with 3-4 or more locking lugs are usually and little harder to open and close.
 
I have a pierce engineering short action and a defiance machine long action. The pierce's bolt feels like it is gliding on ball bearings and the tolerances are quite tight. The defiance has a bit more clearance between the bolt and receiver , it's not as smooth as the pierce but still better than a rem 700. Defiance really did a good job with the timing of the action and the bolt lift is noticeably easier than a stock 700 also.
 
flandersander said:
I'll actually be rolling through Calgary next week. May have to make a stop. If I do I'll ask about the infidel action.
Click to expand...

Stop by when you can. Rick, dustin or any of the guys will show you their actions and if you are lucky you can see them being made. Last time I was there they were stacking a box full of them in a production sequence. I enjoy the mechanical side of things so I find most interest in the cnc's and lathes whirling. (ok, spinning is a better word)

I know they are working long hours to keep up with demand but will take the time to show you around.
 
I have used alot of custom actions & top factory rifles in the 308 class chamberings , Badger 2008 , Surgeon , Parker Hale M85 , Sako TRG-22 , AI AW etc .
And in a rifle using a 10rd magazine , YOU will not find a better/smoother running bolt action than the AI AW , from 1st to last round out of a 10rd mag , its super smooth , so smooth that MOST 1st time users of the AW , find them selves thinking it has NOT picked up a round , only to find that when the open the bolt they are ejecting a live chamber round , and this is also mentioned in the Users Manual , THATs how smooth they are .

But thats not what you wanted to hear , also there is a lot to be said of buying a rifle that has been built as a single design by the makers ie Factory , buying bits and pieces from different companies and then getting gunsmith to work his magic is not as simple & straight forward as a top end factory rifle /\.

I feel I can comment , because I have custom built rifles using the best compotents , ie Surgeon , Badger 2008 , AI AICS stocks & Bartlein barrels etc , all top end companies , and factory rifles from the top companies , ie AI , Sako etc .

And in hind sight , the best thing would have been ,
1 ) Top factory rifle ( AI ) , if in std calibres
2 ) Top factory rifle ( AI ) , and custom barrel , if in a calibre NOT made by AI .

And believe me , thats hard won info , and info most who are dreaming of a custom build , DONOT what to hear or know .

Just my 2 dollars ,


Later Chris
 
ChrisF308 said:
I have used alot of custom actions & top factory rifles in the 308 class chamberings , Badger 2008 , Surgeon , Parker Hale M85 , Sako TRG-22 , AI AW etc .
And in a rifle using a 10rd magazine , YOU will not find a better/smoother running bolt action than the AI AW , from 1st to last round out of a 10rd mag , its super smooth , so smooth that MOST 1st time users of the AW , find them selves thinking it has NOT picked up a round , only to find that when the open the bolt they are ejecting a live chamber round , and this is also mentioned in the Users Manual , THATs how smooth they are .

But thats not what you wanted to hear , also there is a lot to be said of buying a rifle that has been built as a single design by the makers ie Factory , buying bits and pieces from different companies and then getting gunsmith to work his magic is not as simple & straight forward as a top end factory rifle /\.

I feel I can comment , because I have custom built rifles using the best compotents , ie Surgeon , Badger 2008 , AI AICS stocks & Bartlein barrels etc , all top end companies , and factory rifles from the top companies , ie AI , Sako etc .

And in hind sight , the best thing would have been ,
1 ) Top factory rifle ( AI ) , if in std calibres
2 ) Top factory rifle ( AI ) , and custom barrel , if in a calibre NOT made by AI .

And believe me , thats hard won info , and info most who are dreaming of a custom build , DONOT what to hear or know .

Just my 2 dollars ,


Later Chris
Click to expand...


That's a much appreciated piece of insight. So in your opinion, a guy is better off just ordering a rifle from ai and being done with it?
 
In short YES .

I have gone both routes , and I know most BUILDERs donot want to hear the truth , but thats IT , as far as I am concerned , I still have most of my rilfes , BUT my go too rifles are AIs , by main rifle at the moment is a AWF ( 308 , with a 4-16x50 PMII ) , and I am thinking of getting a 260 barrel for her as well , as my 308 load is going subsonic at around 950m .

Of my 308 rilfes , the 2 I would grab the most are a Parker Hale M85 & a AI AWF , and of those 2 , the AWF gets the most use .

Look at the custom build as , getting a Ruger 10/22 and spending a fortune on it , to get it near a Volquartsen , only thing with a build is you can spread the payments , buy bits over time , BUT its not going to give you the BEST rifle , the best rifle is the Voquartsen , so its best to save up & buy the Volq , , custom 10/22 or Volq , still cost you the same in the END , but the Volq is a far superior rifle .

In the end wether its a custom or factory rifle , the cost is going to be close for a top rifle , so given that , just buy a top factory product .

You may note that both by choices use a 10rd , double stack , double feed magazine .



Later Chris
 
ChrisF308 said:
, so smooth that MOST 1st time users of the AW , find them selves thinking it has NOT picked up a round , only to find that when the open the bolt they are ejecting a live chamber round , and this is also mentioned in the Users Manual , THATs how smooth they are .

Later Chris
Click to expand...

Its too funny he mentions this, because that is exactly what was happening when I first started shooting mine. I would run the bolt and could not feel it picking up the round. After endless press checks I stopped worrying about it, it always goes bang.
 
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