Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Best Budget Custom Action Currently

Looking at doing a custom in 6.5x47L and would like to go full custom, but would like to keep the action cost at $1K or less. Also, for ease, would like to stay with an action, in the Rem 700 footprint.

Who makes the best one, in that range, and who has the best prices?

Curtis Custom Axiom is close at $1095, no direct experience.

Go to PT&G, they have Stiller receivers from $590.

I don't know if its the best or not but I had a chance to fondle a Bighorn Origin short action a few weeks ago and was impressed with how it cycled and the fit and finish on it looked great. Plus it will fit in most any model 700 stock which makes it nice since you seem to have the most selection for 700's. For a street cost of $825 they are a good option IMHO. Or possibly a Stiller Predator? Seems some either really like them or not at all. They run about $1050 at Bugholes. Or lastly the Defiance Tenacity - its made by Defiance so you know its going to be a quality action - they run about $885 or so.

Bighorn Orgin without a doubt....
Stillers don’t even come close and anything Curtis is a crap shoot.

Gunwerks sells their GRB for like $800. Seems ok on two builds.

Origin is the best of the budget actions in my opinion.

I should have a LH Curtis Axiom for a customer shortly. I’ll report back.

Origin is very nice! But I wish they made a long action version of the origin.

Defiance has added a Long Action ($935) in their Tenacity line.

After 2 years of “we’ll have them out in 2 weeks tops” it’s good to see them actually hitting the shelves. Just hope they show up with a bolt.....

Thier CS sucked before Russo left. Time will tell which direction the company goes from there.

Agreed. Has the best features in my opinion on a budget action.

The new production M700’s actions are very good and can be had for $325+.

Yes they are, and they have a much more pleasing profile than the chunky looking cylindrical customs

remington actions that cheap leave lots of money to spend on others parts of a build.

I just had a 26 Nosler built on a new 700 action and had the smith check it out before barreling and he said it was very good. A very slight shave off the face and a standard barrel install leaves money on the table for other things, IMO....

Bob

Your right bob, my smith said the same thing on my last 700 build

The new 700 actions are pretty true from the factory but primary extraction/bolt timing is horrible. Easily remedied though.

Gunwerks GRB action is a solid choice and run smooth.

I did a .22 CM on an Origin.

Smith never even saw the action.

Pretty good place to be when this bbl gets smoked.

I have a bighorn origin I built into a 6mm creedmoor and love it. I also have several remington 700's that started as out of the box actions I built into prairie dog rifles, if the origin had been available then I'd pick it over the worked over remingtons without a doubt.

Pretty much everything about the bighorn action is better, it's a fantastic action for the money if you want a short action. By the time you get the remington anywhere near the quality level of the origin you'll have spent more money on it.

As an example:

The origin comes with a rail, gotta add one to the rem. Rail is pinned on the origin, more money if you want that done on a rem.
Origin is nitrided, remington needs finishing somehow, more $$$.
A couple of my rems need the firing pin bushed, origin is good.
One rem had to have the handle removed and tigged to fix the primary extraction, origin obviously good.
Origin gives you a choice of bolt knobs, rem is the standard rem one and $$$ if you want to change.
Origin is CRF and mechanical ejector if you care.

It's just a lot nicer action than a factory remington, hands down.

Origin is a nice action...😎

I’m real surprised no one mentioned the Kelbly Atlas actions. Well under $1000 and excellent in every respect.

Never smoked a snout, but enjoy collecting bone/fur... guess if I shot a lot it would be handy....

A lot of great suggestions on this thread. I had forgotten about several of these actions and I'm always looking to build another rifle I don't need.... now if I can just find time to shoot the ones I already have....

Bob

Bighorn Origin all the way

Interesting. I had a long conversation with Dan Armstrong from Accu-Tig, last week. Rem S-prefix and G-prefix actions are the worst of the bunch. The newer RR-series, especially those that have the QR code engraved on the under-side of the receiver are MUCH better according to Dan. That said, they do need some attention, but not nearly as much as the S or G actions. If you want a properly timed action, then Borden is your best bet according to Dan. I'd have to go with Dan's opinion - he seen over 12K actions/bolts in his time.

That’s what I’d do, and spend a little with the gunsmith to get it trued/squared up.

I bought a Tuebor Raider action several months ago. I really like it. It is a 700 footprint with a 70° bolt throw and a fancy ejection port.

Either the Bighorn Origin at $840 shipped directly from Zermatt Arms or Kelblys Atlas at $895 from

https://bulletcentral.com/product/kelbly-atlas-tactical-action/

The Origin is currently running at 3-4 weeks turnaround but should resume to 1-2 weeks once season demand is quenched in a month or two. I ordered an Origin in early May and it was ready to ship the day after they received my order. Also, if you do go with the Origin send them your trigger and have them time it to the action before they ship to you. They charge $50 for this service. The Triggertech's are nice, they should have a two stage trigger for release soon.

Regards,

SD