Thought I would start a new thread. I am needing to find a good action for my build. I was thinking about going with the savage target action mostly because of price. I don't know a lot about custom actions but I want to keep it under $1000 and I want one that I won't regret. I'm open to all suggestions and pros and cons on them. I won't have my barrel till the middle of April so I have a while to figure it out.
Target rifle build questions
- Thread starter Cnight21
- Start date
Target? 
There are more classes of "target" shooting than I can list off the top of my head. If by target you mean long range (F class or similar), then Defiance or Bighorn actions are very good, and of course Surgeon. If you mean XTC/military match, then WOA or RRA can supply you with a rifle. If you mean benchrest, then Stolle, BAT, Shilen, or Kelbly can supply a good one off the shelf. If you just mean informal target work, then Savage or Remington will do fine.
There are more classes of "target" shooting than I can list off the top of my head. If by target you mean long range (F class or similar), then Defiance or Bighorn actions are very good, and of course Surgeon. If you mean XTC/military match, then WOA or RRA can supply you with a rifle. If you mean benchrest, then Stolle, BAT, Shilen, or Kelbly can supply a good one off the shelf. If you just mean informal target work, then Savage or Remington will do fine.4runnerman
New member
Savage action and 30 BRX.
Well, Surgeon makes a darn nice rifle in any one of a number of good long range chamberings. AI will also sell you a world-class rifle. As will Montana Rifles. And Bighorn. Same with many other action makers, they will build you a rifle. Then you just have to get out and learn how to shoot 1000 yds.
Is your $1000 limit for the complete rifle?
Long range rifles built around old, used Winchester 70 actions shoot just as accurate as those using brand new expensive" high quality" expensive, single shot ones when tested equally. Get an old Win 70 then have a Kreiger match grade medium weight 26" 1:11 twist 30 caliber 'tight' barrel properly fit. Epoxy bed the receiver then mount a good low cost scope on it. Handload decent ammo and it'll shoot well under 10 inches at 1000 yards.
What barrel have you ordered? What cartridge?
I'd use the .308 Win cartridge as it is very accurate, gives great barrel and case life and fairly easy to reload and shoot accurately.
Long range rifles built around old, used Winchester 70 actions shoot just as accurate as those using brand new expensive" high quality" expensive, single shot ones when tested equally. Get an old Win 70 then have a Kreiger match grade medium weight 26" 1:11 twist 30 caliber 'tight' barrel properly fit. Epoxy bed the receiver then mount a good low cost scope on it. Handload decent ammo and it'll shoot well under 10 inches at 1000 yards.
What barrel have you ordered? What cartridge?
I'd use the .308 Win cartridge as it is very accurate, gives great barrel and case life and fairly easy to reload and shoot accurately.
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You should be able to get a Kelby Atlas around $1,000.00 new. The Panda, BATs etc. are running more like $1,250 and up and all are hard to find. No need for any truing on one of the custom actions. If you buy a Remington 700 action new (you can get a whole rifle pretty cheap at Walmart when they go on sale) the cost of blueprinting it will really run the cost up. Keep in mind you will have to purchase a trigger as these do not come with a trigger, just a hanger.
From a potential resale value, I am using actions that are RB, LP, RE that satisfy the needs of the shorter range bench rest guys, but the Atlas is not available in that configuration.
At 1000 yards, I think you will find a custom action a good investment, though the Savage model 12s do real well.
Bob
From a potential resale value, I am using actions that are RB, LP, RE that satisfy the needs of the shorter range bench rest guys, but the Atlas is not available in that configuration.
At 1000 yards, I think you will find a custom action a good investment, though the Savage model 12s do real well.
Bob
First...
You ordered the barrel, obviously chambered already (in 7-08)- but I'm not clear if it's ordered threaded for the Savage target action you said in your first post you were contemplating.
Clarify? If you have, then you're committed to the Savage target action . The target action is unique, uses a larger dia. barrel tenon.
Many other suggestions could follow, but need a clarification on the barrel you've committed to already. My guess is you could change your order anyway if you've just placed it...
Maybe...but even IF you could find a smith that would just thread the barrel, headspace it and screw it on (and I don't think you'd find many that would)- I would never do that, personally. I've read enough horror stories about "custom" actions so far out of true that it was scary. If you're going to drop that kind of coin, it would be penny-foolish to take that chance.
You ordered the barrel, obviously chambered already (in 7-08)- but I'm not clear if it's ordered threaded for the Savage target action you said in your first post you were contemplating.
Clarify? If you have, then you're committed to the Savage target action . The target action is unique, uses a larger dia. barrel tenon.
Many other suggestions could follow, but need a clarification on the barrel you've committed to already. My guess is you could change your order anyway if you've just placed it...
Maybe...but even IF you could find a smith that would just thread the barrel, headspace it and screw it on (and I don't think you'd find many that would)- I would never do that, personally. I've read enough horror stories about "custom" actions so far out of true that it was scary. If you're going to drop that kind of coin, it would be penny-foolish to take that chance.
I'm with Bart, you wont go wrong with the Model 70 Action.
Don't overlook the US Model 1903 series action either, there is a reason it was the action chosen for the Mann Accuracy Devices (device used to test the accuracy of military ammo).
Regardless of what action you choose one of the most critical things you can do is square the face of the action with the internal threads. Second is to lap the bolt lugs to insure the bolt is square with the action.
Again as Bart said, it 1000 yards is your max range the 308 would be my number one choice.
Don't overlook the US Model 1903 series action either, there is a reason it was the action chosen for the Mann Accuracy Devices (device used to test the accuracy of military ammo).
Regardless of what action you choose one of the most critical things you can do is square the face of the action with the internal threads. Second is to lap the bolt lugs to insure the bolt is square with the action.
Again as Bart said, it 1000 yards is your max range the 308 would be my number one choice.
I'm still confused. Seems that, threaded or not, if the Savage Target Action's tenon is bigger and unique, and you've already bought a barrel to fit it, you've committed to the Savage Target Action. Am I missing something?
Not that it's much relevant here, but wouldn't a new M70 short action be stiffer? Unless I'm wrong, the pre-64 M70s were all built on a long receiver, so I figured the newer ones would be a better way to go for a target .308.
Bart B. said:
Not that it's much relevant here, but wouldn't a new M70 short action be stiffer? Unless I'm wrong, the pre-64 M70s were all built on a long receiver, so I figured the newer ones would be a better way to go for a target .308.
Yes, the short Model 70 action is stiffer. Measure both so you'll know what the difference really is; it's easy to do.
Considering the fact that Win. 70 original long actions were first used for their .308 Win cartridge and match rifles built on them with .308 Win. barrels have shot the smallest ever series of several 10-shot groups at 600 yards (.7 to 1.5 inches) and equalled 1000 yard groups shot by modern heavy, stiff actioned benchrest rifles (under 6 inches at 1000 yards), their greater area to resist twisting in epoxy beddind does have an advantage.
Action stiffness means little or nothing as far as accuracy is concerned; they all are very reatable in how much they bend and twist from shot to shot. The most repeatable thing in a riflle is its barrel whip and vibrate frequencies and the receiver is tied for it; together, they make up the barreled action that whips and wiggles the same for every shot fired. Provided, naturally, that the barreled action is fit to the stock the same for each shot. Their amplitude they whip and wiggle at is controlled by the cartridge and the peak pressure curve it puts on both. There's lots of variables in the cartridge and only its case and bullet dimensions' variables be held to very close to zero spread.
Considering the fact that Win. 70 original long actions were first used for their .308 Win cartridge and match rifles built on them with .308 Win. barrels have shot the smallest ever series of several 10-shot groups at 600 yards (.7 to 1.5 inches) and equalled 1000 yard groups shot by modern heavy, stiff actioned benchrest rifles (under 6 inches at 1000 yards), their greater area to resist twisting in epoxy beddind does have an advantage.
Action stiffness means little or nothing as far as accuracy is concerned; they all are very reatable in how much they bend and twist from shot to shot. The most repeatable thing in a riflle is its barrel whip and vibrate frequencies and the receiver is tied for it; together, they make up the barreled action that whips and wiggles the same for every shot fired. Provided, naturally, that the barreled action is fit to the stock the same for each shot. Their amplitude they whip and wiggle at is controlled by the cartridge and the peak pressure curve it puts on both. There's lots of variables in the cartridge and only its case and bullet dimensions' variables be held to very close to zero spread.
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Did you order a 7mm barrel blank, or one chambered in 7-08?
If you're going to go with a Savage (either Target action or a repeater) you should have ordered (or change your order) to a pre-fit. No reason to do it any other way for a Savage, unless you want to have it fitted to the action without the barrel nut system.
If you're going with "other than Savage", just get the 7mm blank.
Let the smith thread it, ream it, headspace it, and fit it to the action properly.
I shoot a 7-08 with VLD's (162 Amax) and it's a good choice. But if you go custom, the barrel can be throated long and chambered tight for VLD's, even to a specific bullet if yo so choose.
If you go custom, find a smith and get your action ordered (usually the smith will do this). Get your place in line...that way, when the barrel ships, he should be ready to go.
If you're going to go with a Savage (either Target action or a repeater) you should have ordered (or change your order) to a pre-fit. No reason to do it any other way for a Savage, unless you want to have it fitted to the action without the barrel nut system.
If you're going with "other than Savage", just get the 7mm blank.
Let the smith thread it, ream it, headspace it, and fit it to the action properly.
I shoot a 7-08 with VLD's (162 Amax) and it's a good choice. But if you go custom, the barrel can be throated long and chambered tight for VLD's, even to a specific bullet if yo so choose.
If you go custom, find a smith and get your action ordered (usually the smith will do this). Get your place in line...that way, when the barrel ships, he should be ready to go.
Kreiger won't thread nor chamber their barrels without the action because a perfect and proper fit cannot be made otherwise. There's bolt clearance, headspace and tenon thread tolerances to deal with.
If you'll be reloading fired cases and want best accuracy, the bolt face should be squared up while in battery. Then the chamber reamed to correct headspace.
If you'll be reloading fired cases and want best accuracy, the bolt face should be squared up while in battery. Then the chamber reamed to correct headspace.