Action choice help?

[emn83]

Hi all. Finally decided to bite the bullet and begin gathering the parts for a custom build. The plan is a 7mmWSM build....I am totally stuck as to what action to choose. I know this is probably a dead, beaten zombie horse, but I'm totally stumped. I am debating between the BAT VRRPTEPIC , a Borden Alpine magnum, or Defiance Deviant. At this point I really like all 3, but would like some input from y'all outntherenwho have experience with them, pros/cons versus each other.

Thanks,

Erik

 

[Popapi]

If you plan on running tha 180's you MAY want to consider a LONG action! BigHorn, Pierce, Stiller, or Surgeon for me......

 

[emn83]

If you plan on running tha 180's you MAY want to consider a LONG action! BigHorn, Pierce, Stiller, or Surgeon for me......

Planning on running 140s to 168s, it's going to be a long range deer gun and mid range elk gun, if I ever get out west....thanks for the tips

 

[Mikecr]

Advice; Look at actions allowing a larger/magnum barrel tennon (1 1/8, 1.125) for the WSM.
For BAT this would be the HRRPTRPIC, I can't find it in Borden or Defiance.

If you don't get enough barrel steel around the WSM chamber, you won't reach designed performance from the cartridge. You'll get early extraction issues.

 

[emn83]

Advice; Look at actions allowing a larger/magnum barrel tennon (1 1/8, 1.125) for the WSM.
For BAT this would be the HRRPTRPIC, I can't find it in Borden or Defiance.

If you don't get enough barrel steel around the WSM chamber, you won't reach designed performance from the cartridge. You'll get early extraction issues.

Thanks, I didn't even think about that, being a 308guy, this is all new

 

[Edd]

Thanks, I didn't even think about that, being a 308guy, this is all new

Now that you've thought about a 1.125" tenon, think about a 1.250" barrel breech diameter being too small.

 

[JeffVN]

Now that you are thinking long action, don't forget the BAT HV, Bighorn, and a fairly newcomer to the action business, Short Action Customs.

Mark Gordon at SAC does a great job and his proprietary actions are excellent.

Short Action Customs | Your Foundation for Precision

Jeffvn

 

[canderson]

I have had a defiance and still have a couple of BAT's. I have also handled a Borden some. My favorite is the bat. Defiance and bat are both very smooth. I feel like the bat is about a good as it gets. Never had a problem with any of them shooting lights out. The bat seems to be able the handle hotter loads a little better. I have shot the same barrel on a bat and defiance. The defiance had some primer cratering show up. Any that you have mentioned will be heads above a factory action. If you go with the BAT, might want to think about melonite treatment. It makes the action slicker and virtually no galling problems, if you don't mind a black color.

 

[Mikecr]

You might also consider a brand that has truly worked out the challenges in WSMs -SAVAGE
They departed from their standards for WSMs, and their adjustments can be your lessons.
And don't forget --Savages shoot--

A Savage WSM action:
Larger barrel tennon, and shank
Controlled round push feed
Standing blade ejection
SS, accutrigger, floating bolthead, fine 20TPI barrel threading, barrel preloaded AWAY from boltface, plenty of aftermarket and DIY potential.

Try finding all that in a 'custom' 'aftermarket' action. No, forget it, you won't.
I have/had a Savage WSM action, unfortunately held in limbo at the Canadian border(for 8yrs now!) & overall it was one of the finest actions I've put my hands on.

I've had a bunch of BATs, and love them. I use one now that I had made special for 6.5WSSM. It's an RS(magnum repeater they no longer offer) but single shot and with CRPF/blade eject, and bottom/bedding recoil lug, Jewell trigger. It has the larger magnum threading.
But as sweet as it is, it still lacks Savage's fine threading, barrel nut, floating bolthead, and DIY barrel fitting.
I can't just have barrels made on the side & replace when ready. I have to take the gun out of service to send it off to a gunbuilder for new barrel fitting... Back of another line....

 

[emn83]

You might also consider a brand that has truly worked out the challenges in WSMs -SAVAGE
They departed from their standards for WSMs, and their adjustments can be your lessons.
And don't forget --Savages shoot--

A Savage WSM action:
Larger barrel tennon, and shank
Controlled round push feed
Standing blade ejection
SS, accutrigger, floating bolthead, fine 20TPI barrel threading, barrel preloaded AWAY from boltface, plenty of aftermarket and DIY potential.

Try finding all that in a 'custom' 'aftermarket' action. No, forget it, you won't.
I have/had a Savage WSM action, unfortunately held in limbo at the Canadian border(for 8yrs now!) & overall it was one of the finest actions I've put my hands on.

I've had a bunch of BATs, and love them. I use one now that I had made special for 6.5WSSM. It's an RS(magnum repeater they no longer offer) but single shot and with CRPF/blade eject, and bottom/bedding recoil lug, Jewell trigger. It has the larger magnum threading.
But as sweet as it is, it still lacks Savage's fine threading, barrel nut, floating bolthead, and DIY barrel fitting.
I can't just have barrels made on the side & replace when ready. I have to take the gun out of service to send it off to a gunbuilder for new barrel fitting... Back of another line....

My current rifle is built on a savage, I thought about doing another, but wanted to do do a 700 clone this time, just for something different...

 

[emn83]

Just a quick update on my quest for an action......

.......becaus I'm a stubborn little Finn, and want to try. Togo short action if i can, I emailed Bruce Thom at BAT to see if I could get a VRRPTR with the 1.125"X16tpi threading that the HRRPTR has....waiting to hear back from him....Borden actions are 1.062, found that on their website

 

[Mikecr]

Bruce will understand and work with you. He's helped me out several times, way beyond what anyone would expect from a popular action maker.
I think you're making a great choice.

 

[Edd]

I emailed Bruce Thom at BAT to see if I could get a VRRPTR with the 1.125"X16tpi threading that the HRRPTR has....waiting to hear back from him....

I'm interested in the answer. He won't make an HR action with 1.062" threads.

 

[emn83]

I'm interested in the answer. He won't make an HR action with 1.062" threads.

It's been 2 days each time I emailed him....hopefully, I'll hear back tomorrow, I'll post what he tells me, hoping he's more willing to make the short action with the longer threads than he is to make the long action with the short threads...wil keep you all posted.