Best Action for Custom Builds

[257wby257]

I'm going to have a gunsmith build three custom rifles for me. .257, .270, and .300 Weatherby Calibers and am currently getting plenty of opinions about the actions to use. So....since there are far more educated folks on this site than most I thought I'd ask for some help. Stiller, Borden, Badger, etc....Let them rip and please tell me why. All three are going to be hunting rifles.
Thanks!

 

[Edd]

BAT actions are the best. Why? Integral recoil lug, integral scope rail if you want one, they are available made from chromoly, if you want stainless they use a better grade of stainless than than the others, they have a larger barrel tenon, the extraction/ejection system puts the empty on the ground instead of bouncing it off your scope knob, The machining is as good as it gets.

 

[FEENIX]

Deviant Action « Defiance Machine

 

[The Oregonian]

Fwiw, Kirby recommended that I purchase a a borden or Defiance for a 30-06 build we discussed.

 

[MudRunner2005]

If I was going full-custom, it would be either a BAT or Defiance Deviant action.

But for my semi-custom builds, I'll stick with the good ole' tried & true Remington 700's.

 

[Timber338]

I am a huge fan of Borden actions. Jim Borden was a career mechanical engineer for lots of years before he quit to build rifles full time. He designed and analyzed all of his actions using finite element modeling and also applies all of his experience to the machining process as well. I am a mechanical engineer specializing in mechanisms design and analysis in the aerospace industry, and when I talk to Jim he blows me away.

What impresses me even more about his approach to making actions and rifles, is he not only has a bunch of benchrest world records and national championships, but he also is an avid hunter. So he knows what it takes to make an action/rifle accurate and functional for it's purpose. Jim built me a 300 win mag around his Timberline long action with a Hart barrel. It shoots consistent groups in the low .3's and many groups in the .2's at 100 yards. For a magnum hunting rifle that weighs 8 lbs (without scope) i don't think it gets much better than that.

 

[Hunter2678]

IMHO For target rifles...BAT, Farley, Kelbly, Barnard, Borden.

For hunting...Stiller, pierce, defiance, surgeon.

 

[adam32]

For my money I would buy a Borden, Jim is a pleasure to speak with and stands behind his product.

Second would be a Stiller, hard to beat for the price and then the rest of the 700 clones after...

I wouldn't buy anything with an integral lug, ever.

 

[Deleted member 46119]

I'm all for custom but given the calibers you want, have you considered Weatherby Accumarks? RC? MOA?

They can do 'custom' versions as well.

 

[MudRunner2005]

I'm all for custom but given the calibers you want, have you considered Weatherby Accumarks? RC? MOA?

They can do 'custom' versions as well.

I mentioned that to him last night in a PM, about contacting Weatherby's custom shop and having a set made wtih consecutive serial numbers. The WCS does some beautiful work from what I've seen.

 

[Timber338]

I mentioned that to him last night in a PM, about contacting Weatherby's custom shop and having a set made wtih consecutive serial numbers. The WCS does some beautiful work from what I've seen.

Considering all three rifles are going to be Weatherby chamberings, I think this is a really cool idea.

 

[bill123]

For my money I would buy a Borden, Jim is a pleasure to speak with and stands behind his product.

Second would be a Stiller, hard to beat for the price and then the rest of the 700 clones after...

I wouldn't buy anything with an integral lug, ever.

Why no integral recoil lug?

 

[Edd]

Why no integral recoil lug?

I'm going to guess it is because of something Jim Borden said.

 

[MudRunner2005]

I'm going to guess it is because of something Jim Borden said.

Same here. If Remington would introduce their 700 with a slightly extended reciever (length of regular 700+.200" lug) and put an integral .200" lug, that would be awesome! I'd be all about it. Also, switch-barrel setups would be ALOT easier, and smiths wouldn't have to pin any lugs, just headspace each barrel.