“best” long action option

[Slick8]

And as far as barrels go Bartlein hands down!

I agree if you don't want to go with the proof then a Bart would be high on my list.

APR is also working on their own carbon wrapped barrel but I'm sure you already knew that.

 

[adam32]

The new APR actions aren't much more in price then a m700 if you have to buy the action and pay for truing.

True, those are priced very nicely. I was comparing more against like a BAT, Defiance etc.

Pm me about their carbon barrels if you have some inside info...

 

[L.Sherm]

A trued up Rem 700 will do all you need for a lot less $$$

Depending on what you consider " trued up"

 

[arch408]

I'm with Adam 32. 700 all the way. I built a .338 RUM. Bought a dedicated Ultra Mag reciever. A buddy gave me a factory barrel that sombody had improperly installed a muzzle brake on. Bought a floor plate at a gun show. Bought a factory Rem SPS stock from CDNN for $30.00. Trued the reciever and lapped the bolt lugs to insure consistent contact with the reciever. Precision ground the recoil lug to achieve minimum headspace. Cut off crooked threads and retreaded muzzle. Made a muzzle brake out of an old 98 military barrel. I did all machine work. Total cost was about $500.00. Makes a nice fairly light weight hunting rifle. Muzzle brake works great. Recoil very manageable. Only thing I might do different would be to use a Wyatt magazine box. Wally World sells M700's for less than $400.00 which beats pawn shop prices. You will probably have to open up the feed rails a little to insure proper feeding. Brass is available and you can find ammo on sale for around $55.00 a box.

 

[lancetkenyon]

I have shot most custom actions out there. My personal next action will be the Kelbly Atlas Tac for a mid/heavy weight rifle. Freaking smoothest action I have ever had the pleasure to shoot. Running hot 28 Nosler loads pushing 195s, it is unreal how polished they are.

As for the cartridges listed, I like the .338Edge+P. I have shot a couple of them w. 300 Bergers and SMKs. Murder on targets and elk.

 

[bigngreen]

Remington, think I just threw up in my throat a little!! I understand that some guys get chubbed up on dollars saved vs performance, my brother is one of them, but for the life of me I don't understand the love affair with Rem when there is so many excellent options that leave nothing on the table when building a rifle from parts.
I get rebarreling an already existing rifle but starting from parts hurts my brain especially with the level of crapola the current Rem action is!!

 

[osok-1k]

And now for something entirely different, Whidden has Barnard actions which are pretty amazing. I believe Brian Litz uses one on his King of 2 mile gun in some 375 Cheytac variant (I think). I agree with the single shot opinions, they're fast to reload with a little practice for hunting and something not everyone has. I use Bartlein but Brux, Hart, Broughton and Rock Creek are excellent barrels as well. A Remington action is not long enough for some of the calibers you stated, it sounds like money is less of an issue as compared to having something different. I also like Kelbly Atlas

 

[L.Sherm]

Arch you said you did all the work yourself, that's different. You have to pay a Smith to work on the ramp, feed lips, oversize the threads, square it up, and time it then see what you have in a 700 compared to a custom.

 

[adam32]

Remington, think I just threw up in my throat a little!! I understand that some guys get chubbed up on dollars saved vs performance, my brother is one of them, but for the life of me I don't understand the love affair with Rem when there is so many excellent options that leave nothing on the table when building a rifle from parts.
I get rebarreling an already existing rifle but starting from parts hurts my brain especially with the level of crapola the current Rem action is!!

When you can get Rem's for less then $300 its a no brainer...and should be for you since you can do all the work yourself...a Rem 700 action in 338 rum built by you with a quality barrel will shoot just as well as a Defiance or BAT 338 rum with a quality barrel...

 

[ar10ar15man]

since you asked
i am finishing up a build for 2000 yd group and score
not a hunting rifle a bench gun, you could select a diff stock
lrb stock from wheeler accuracy
broughton 1/9.3, 28" a tad over 1" at the muzzle
kelbly golden bear in black
https://www.kelbly.com/actions-golden-bear.html
my reamer of a long 338 edge as in 4 inches with a 300 berger
the golden bear is single shot, SOLID AS A ROCK so you can actually
hit TARGET VS an area at long range.
anyone touting a rem 700 does not understand the difference.
"fun" is much better when you hit stuff vs shooting at stuff.

 

[loonie]

No matter how much time and money you put into a Remy, its still a Remy, and it will never equal a custom or hold its resale like a custom. Plus they don't seem to handle pressure like a custom.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I have done a lot of nice Remingtons, I have put more work into some of them for myself then I could ever charge a customer to do. No matter what you do to them, you can't get them to take the pressure of a good custom. I just dont recommend them any more. Best and cheapest dont go together. So are we after "best" or "best value"? And I wouldn't even consider a 338 edge on a repeater...

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Single shots are not slow

 

[ar10ar15man]

alex can answer your question. i build rifles as a hobby, he does it for a living.
there are other solid options beside the kelbly golden bear.
bat is an option