If you were to custom build a deer hunting gun in 308 for hunting in the south east....what custom action manufacturer would you use and why? There are lots do choices out there . Thanks!!

The one with the Rem 700 footprint 'cause there are a ton of accessories for those.

Yes it will be on the 700 foot print. Wanted to know people's thoughts on which company makes the best hunting actions.

Well, the 700 comes to mind. You can get a 700 action, blue print it and be in it for less money than an aftermarket. Stick a good barrel and stock on it and have yourself a very reliable half minute gun.

Borden, Defiance, Stiller and Surgeon are some to start with. If you already have a Rem 700 to work off, I would use it.

If you have to buy an action and can afford a little more, I would go custom simply for re-sale/holding value.

My personal favorite is the Surgeon 591(short) & 1086(long) actions - they are pretty much bomb proof!!!

Yes...looking for custom. Just looking for favorites and why you like them.

Thanks for the info already!!

I've often given thought to liquidating some guns and buying a Non-Typical from GAP, built on the Templar action from Defiance. Not that others can't equal their quality, but because the GAP rigs seem to hold a lot of resale value if you decide to try somethind different on down the road. You could still pick out the stock you want, barrel length, chambering, coating color, and so on. Plus, the ones I've seen on these forums really shoot well. Just a thought....

I have one rifle built with a Borden Alpine action - its a .243Win and I sure do like that action a lot. For building a lighter weight rig the Borden sure is nice, I think it weighs a little less than a 700, or maybe just looks it but I like it.

But like JPro said, the Templar could be nice especially on a Non-Typical. In fact I've started selling off a few rigs to do just what he suggests.

I have a Bordens Rimrock action for my 280AI and I like the action very much,plus Jim and Joan his wife were an ABSOLUTE PLEASURE to work with.
All of my other rifles were Rem 700 completely reworked by Karl at Kampfeld Custom.

For a Hunting rifle i would just use a standard 700 action , true the face , lap the lugs and barrel . It will be just as accurate for hunting as the custom jobs. Bench-rest maybe a custom action, hunting not worth the cost

Yeah, but I already don't have a rifle to build off of. After purchasing one, blue print the action, new barrel, install jewel trigger, and get a new stock....I figure I am close to a custom setup.

What would be the average cost if I had all the parts (McM stock, Jewel trigger, barrell, custom action, bottom metal) to put it all together for me?

Most custom actions don't come with a trigger or bottom metal

$500 or so should do it nicely.

i'm with bea175. an ADL or SPS remington with a decent stock added would do the job.

Buy yourself a Remington XCR or SPS stainless in the calber of your choice sell the factory stock and trigger purchase an HS or MCM stock and a jewell trigger send it all to Kevin Cram(Montour Co. rifles) have him bed and accurize it...do some load development go hunt be happy ! If you want to see some targets that I have shot with guns that Kevin has done this to drop me an email...they will shoot with my customs all day long !

Ball park prices:

Chamber, thread, crown & install barrel = $300

Pillar bedding = $250

Tune & install trigger = $40

Cerakoting of entire rifle = $250

What I just did. Ordered, at least!

I have two rifles with borden actions and cant imagine it gets much better, fit,finish and styling i think are second to none of the other actions out there in my opinion and Jim is first rate in customer service in my opinion.


gene

Stiller precision predator, least expensive custom action I found, $950, ship it to heart and have them screw a tube on it, $650, jewll trigger $230, McMillan stock $500. Save a hundred or so and go with a blind magazine. Save another houndred and go with a Rifle Basics trigger. Heart also dose coating. Ship the action and order the stock the same day and the stock will show up about a month before the barreled action. Hope it helps. Stiller's are made in Texas, which strongly influenced my decision.

I built mine on a Stiller Predator and am more than satisfied with it. Mike Bryant did the work and it is superb. I used the stiller on his recommendation. Mike builds precision rifles for a living and one of his rifles set the 600 yard BR world record, so he knows his craft. I have shot other custom actioned rifles (Nesika and Borden) and they are very nice too, but based on my sample of one, I can't see them being any better than the predator.

John

i would use a surgeon

There are better designs. Go and look at some M70's, Ruger 77's, Kimber, Mausers etc and see that their extractors don't break as easy, bolt handles stay on, safeties work better and triggers are safer as well.

They don't double feed and jam as often either!