New build.... Custom action or a Rem 700?

motoxno53

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If you were going to build a new rifle would you use a donor Rem 700 or a custom action?

1) is a custom work the added cost if I already have a 700 action?
2) would I see any accuracy from a custom?
3) what I see any wight savings?
 
If you were going to build a new rifle would you use a donor Rem 700 or a custom action?

1) is a custom work the added cost if I already have a 700 action?
2) would I see any accuracy from a custom?
3) what I see any wight savings?

If I was personally building one I'd just use a 700 action. I know I'll probably catch flak for saying that but that's what I'd use. They are very strong and accurate actions. They're also a lot cheaper than customs and besides I just like them.
 
If you ever sell your gun the custom will be worth it. As far as weight and accuracy they both can shoot the same and weight the same. I have had a lot of both and if a good smith does the 700 in will shoot as good and will be less money(and dont have the threads recut) just square and lap everything.
 
1. Sell the action and put the money towards a custom. Do not let anyone tell you that that value does not exist when it comes comparing factory to custom.

2. The custom will be smoother, hands down.

3. UNLESS you are doing your own gunsmithing and your labor is free, you will have less money in the custom when you compare similar features. Many just face the front of a rem action and call it blueprinting and then say it is the same a custom. Big BS

4. A tricked out factory action will only be worth $500 maybe 550 the second you leave the gunsmith after you spend way more. The custom will still be worth 90% or more of its cost.

5. The custom will be more reliable over the Remington riveted extractor. I had two break on hunts and then I had a nice single shot and had to carry a cleaning rod to knock the cases out.

6. You will never regret it!
 
Having owned both factory and custom...its really hard for me to get interested in building anything but a custom action anymore. The quality, feel of operation, features and resale they give you are worth the extra $$ IMO.
 
Having owned both factory and custom...its really hard for me to get interested in building anything but a custom action anymore. The quality, feel of operation, features and resale they give you are worth the extra $$ IMO.


^ This...I love remington 700's. I have three of them. One stock, one semi custom (Jewel trigger, Bell and Carlson Stock, bedded action), and one tricked out (Full action truing, Timney Trigger, benchmark barrel, PTG bolt, M16 extractor, DBM). They dont even compare to my stiller predator, that I regretfully sold. The stiller was so smooth, had a solid feel, and with its one piece construction and better materials made it more rigid and less likely to be affected by the harmonics of firing the cartridge.
 
My first build is on a 700 action. I do not regret it but after all the cost (investment) I will never get that back ( loss on investment). My OPINION is that if you are not attached to that gun save an get a custom action, if your budget is like mine I imagine blueprinting is better for you. It may not be as nice and pretty but a trued action is still an upgrade from what you've got. But that's just me.
 
My personal opinion on 700 vs custom...

If you already own the 700 action(s) or got them really cheap, then go ahead and build off of it. The machining and truing costs aren't much and you'll be in about 1/2 of what a custom action costs.

But, if you don't have a 700 action, and you want an action that's already machined and needs no truing, and is ready to thread a barrel on, and you have the money to drop on it, go with a custom, like a Defiance Deviant action.

I just happen to always have a spare factory action, or a rifle I bought cheap used in a caliber I don't care for, or a burnt-out barrel on one, so I just use them to build off of.

Browning A-Bolt actions are great custom actions, too...If you can find a smith that can work them. I'm fixing to have one built on my A-Bolt II once I get the cash for a new barrel.
 
...

2. The custom will be smoother, hands down.

3. UNLESS you are doing your own gunsmithing and your labor is free, you will have less money in the custom when you compare similar features. Many just face the front of a rem action and call it blueprinting and then say it is the same a custom. Big BS


6. You will never regret it!

Dern Tootin'


Having owned both factory and custom...its really hard for me to get interested in building anything but a custom action anymore. The quality, feel of operation, features and resale they give you are worth the extra $$ IMO.

I couldn't have said it better myself. My first "custom" was on a 700, it shoots great but, I also have a lot of $$ in it too.

If you already have the 700, rock on with it, it won't handicap you (I'd replace the bolt with a 1-pc PTG). If you don't have one; why NOT order a custom?


t
 
Are customs smother yes, nicer yes will they shoot better NO, not for sure. I have had both a custom stiller and defiance that where not true straight from them. Defiance told us that they do not have to make there actions true it was up to the gun smith to check and make sure they are. I live less than ten miles form them and thats is what they told my gun smith standing in there shop. The stiller was a predator for an edge and it was done by a smith that had 50 plus stillers in his shop that all where not true. So custom does not mean perfect.
 
Go with what you can afford, but look long and hard at Pierce, Borden and McMillan actions. We use all 3 and I can say they are worth the extra $$. A stock remmy has its fair share of issues that need to corrected (extractor, recoil lug, bolt knob) but they shoot very well after tweeking. The typical doner 700 will run min $400, truing and .25 lug runs $225-275, Sako or M16 extractor $185 or PTG bolt $225-275 depending on options. Tactical knob $125. You will be $960 +/- into your 700 without a rail. Most custom actions run $1100-1500 depending.
The bonus to a 700, no wait time! But is it really what you want? especially if you have to go find a donor action and pay market value for it.
Chris
Benchmark Barrels
 
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