I've had my hands on two Curtis actions now and the Tempest would be the one I'd run, the ONLY thing that I don't like on the Tempest is the stupid bolt handle, it functions but I don't personally like it but as far as function it's one of the best three lug actions out there.
I have been shooting a Axiom for 2.5 months in PRS matchs and it has ran great. This last weekend at the JC steel match I happened to lay down and site in next to a guy running a tempest. We both looked at each other's actions and asked if we could check out each other's because we were curious how they compared.
This was not the first tempest I had ran but the first time cycling side by side. Both are great actions. Like you I do not like the bolt handle on the tempest, it looks out of place. The tempest was smooth as I would expect from a smooth bolt design.
The Axiom was just as smooth and it's not even DLC coated, bolt handle feels more solid, both feed and extracted fine.
When behind them both they felt good, the Axiom felt more solid. Not saying the tempest is not, I think the bolt handle makes it feel that way...probably more mental than actual.
I do not like the exposed cocking pin that sticks out of the Tempest, just a looks thing for me. The owner also said he is still playing with trigger hangers to get it to feel right. It has a little bit of cock on close feel.
The tempest felt a little sticker when running because of the cerakote on it.
Both are great but I will not be selling my Axiom to buy one. Heck, how much Joel has helped people on this forum over the years, it's a no brainer to me, call Joel and order an Axiom!
If you have specific questions don't hesitate to ask, I have put this action through as many tough firings as I can to find faults.
Willys46