What is the best poor mans action

Yotarunner

Yotarunner

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Eastern Alberta
So first off I'm going to be completely honest in saying I don't have a build planned or anything like that I'm just bored at work and curious as to everyone's theory on what the best non custom action is.
I have built off savage actions before and they work well but in the end still feel and feed like a savage.
Rem 700 seems to be the old standby but when you factor in all the extra smithing required to smooth, polish, true the action is it still the best economical choice?
Tikka is starting to get more and more aftermarket support to the point that a custom long range gun with a Tikka action is completely possible. Probably the smoothest action from factory. Is there better options or even a custom action maker that meets the same price point?
Curious to hear what everyone thinks.
 
Used Mauser action? My first 6.5x55Swede (surplus) cost me $90 and was good out to about 400 on irons from sitting. They cost more now but if you want poor man's rifle new ain't the way to go...
 
AikiNut said:
Used Mauser action? My first 6.5x55Swede (surplus) cost me $90 and was good out to about 400 on irons from sitting. They cost more now but if you want poor man's rifle new ain't the way to go...
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I guess that's fair. I should have specified it doesn't have to be the cheapest just not a $1500 full custom action. I built a custom varmint gun off a $200 savage axis I know what dirt cheap is haha.
 
If I had to build a factory or budget rifle I would go with a Tikka T3x CTR. I've been very impressed with them. Smooth and accurate

This is what I recommend to new shooters on a budget
 
Good olf Remington 700. You can buy complete rifles for $600. Sell the stock, barrel, trigger and bottom metal and it'll have cost you probably $300.
 
AikiNut said:
Used Mauser action? My first 6.5x55Swede (surplus) cost me $90 and was good out to about 400 on irons from sitting. They cost more now but if you want poor man's rifle new ain't the way to go...
Click to expand...

I was just about to type the same thing, until I saw you beat me to it!

A Swede Mauser sporter with an original military stepped barrel that's in good condition and bedded well is probably the sleepiest of the sleepers, and you can get one for less than $300.
 
The best is pretty subjective. I will always say Remington 700 for the upgrade path alone. But Savage is a good choice, I love my Howa 1500 as well there are tons of choices. Having a direction you would like to go is always helpful.
 
Tikka > Howa > R700 = Savage > Ruger = Savage Axis = R783 = etc

Tikka is the best go to for a factory action to build off of right now IMO. No additional smith work required, can build a SA, WSM/SAUM or LA off the same receiver, decently available at poor-ish mans pricing, no trigger upgrade required (besides $20 YoDave spring), lots of aftermarket support! The Howa is next for much the same reasons, except that it's a good idea to replace the OEM trigger and the aftermarket is a little lacking. As Buji88 says, the R700 is also a decent option, but you're going to have to do a lot of work to get that thing running as well as a factory Tikka or Howa. The rest are meh.

Kudu
 
I’ve gone with a Remington 783. Super cheap but residual parts are worth nothing...limited options for upgrades and I doubt they are worth more than the sum of their used parts when done (although are any of them?).
I also chose a Savage, for much the same reasons as the 783 (floating bolt head and barrel nut). More options and some value in take offs but I suspect the same end result as to sale value.
A budget build is after all a budget build...
Prefit barrel options makes these actions attractive to me as I no longer need access to a lathe (I.e.:gunsmith) to assemble my rifle, I can do it (an enjoyment and cost savings).
More prefits with barrel nuts being offered definitely opens this up but I still like the way I’ve gone.
I didn’t see Tikka or a 700 as a budget action, and I already had those...
 
Hard to beat a Tikka.
There are more budget custom actions coming to market this year that might change the game a little....
I have done a few Tikkas and am wanting to do 1 or 2 more BR variants on Tikka actions.
 
The tubular receivers are the modern precision standard - Musgrave, Sportco, Angel/Para/RPA/Swing.

(Military surplus actions haven't been competitive since the 1970s.)

The commercial equivalent would be a solid bottom Savage or a sleeved Remington.

Without scratching my cerebellum too hard, there are single shot bench rest actions which I'm sure would be perfectly suitable. Panda and Stoll are two names.
 
The Howa/Vanguard action checks a lot of boxes...big beefy action, one piece forged bolt, M16 type extractor, integral recoil lug, decent stock and trigger options. Barrel threads are metric but shouldn't be a problem for most smiths.
I don't dig the Tikka floating recoil lug...
 
vultr said:
The barreled ultimatum de facto is pretty compelling at just over a grand.
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+1 on that $1300 for action, IBI stainless barrel and trigger tech trigger. all Canadian to boot! I have their deadline and it preforms great so I think the DeFacto will be a winner.

Mac bros new stainless action should be a pretty good deal as well
 
Looking for myself as well... what did you end up purchasing?


Yotarunner said:
So first off I'm going to be completely honest in saying I don't have a build planned or anything like that I'm just bored at work and curious as to everyone's theory on what the best non custom action is.
I have built off savage actions before and they work well but in the end still feel and feed like a savage.
Rem 700 seems to be the old standby but when you factor in all the extra smithing required to smooth, polish, true the action is it still the best economical choice?
Tikka is starting to get more and more aftermarket support to the point that a custom long range gun with a Tikka action is completely possible. Probably the smoothest action from factory. Is there better options or even a custom action maker that meets the same price point?
Curious to hear what everyone thinks.
Click to expand...
 
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