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F T/R Competition Action Length

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Minuteman
How many of you guy are shooting short actions and how many are shooting long actions in your competitions?

I get asked a lot if I think a Long Action will hinder your score. What do you guys think?
 
Re: Action Length

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I get asked a lot if I think a Long Action will hinder your score. What do you guys think?</div></div>

I don't, but lets look at it another way. The Army uses what is called a Mann Accuracy Device to test ammo.

This is nothing more the an action with a extremely heavy match grade barrel. (The one I got from CMP is in 5.56, its 19 inches long and 1 1/8 in diameter, no taper) on a Rem 700 action.

I don't have the measurements of the 7.62 barrel, but its somewhere in the neighborhood of twenty inches long. 1 1/8 - 1 1/4 in diameter (don't know exactly).

You would think that if the short action was so much more accurate they would use a short action. That's not the case in the 7.62. They use the 1903a3 action. They do true it a bit, but its still a long action.

The most accurage target rifles I have are Model 70s with long actions.

Nope, I'm not buying the short action is more accurate assuming everything else is equal.
 
Re: Action Length

If you already own a long action and want to build on it go for it. If your buying a new action I would go with a short action.
 
Re: Action Length

If I were ever considering the possibility of doing caliber conversions, I would prefer the longer action; it gives more options, and allows longer COAL's with 'short action' chanberings, like .308 and .260, while also allowing 'long action' chamberinsg to be used, like the 6.5x55 and .280 Rem.

I agree that some aditional flex may be inherent in a longer action, but I think I can live with that. Neither my abilities nor my genuine needs are applicable to the kinds of arbitrary and absolutely minimal benchrest accuracy tolerances many others prefer. For me (and maybe for some of them) expending the resources necessary to meet such tolersances may be more an exercise in conceit than one in realizing practical benefits.

The simple fact is, most of us do not need the absolutely best equipment to shoot to our peak personal potentials. Insisting we do does little beyond massaging our egos. For me, and for many, raw accuracy need not be at the top of our list of demands of what a rifle need do to meet our real needs.

Greg
 
Re: Action Length

I use the action that will fit my ammo. I tried a friends 6.5X284 in a short action and I did not like it. It was a pain to get loaded ammo in and out of the rifle easily. His setup would not prevent me from shooting I just did not like having to fiddle with the ammo.
 
Re: Action Length

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Greg Langelius *</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
... Neither my abilities nor my genuine needs are applicable to the kinds of arbitrary and absolutely minimal benchrest accuracy tolerances many others prefer. For me (and maybe for some of them) expending the resources necessary to meet such tolersances may be more an exercise in conceit than one in realizing practical benefits.

The simple fact is, most of us do not need the absolutely best equipment to shoot to our peak personal potentials. Insisting we do does little beyond massaging our egos. For me, and for many, raw accuracy need not be at the top of our list of demands of what a rifle need do to meet our real needs.

Greg </div></div>

Sweet Jesus, I may make that my sig tag.
 
Re: Action Length

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: XTR</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Greg Langelius *</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
... Neither my abilities nor my genuine needs are applicable to the kinds of arbitrary and absolutely minimal benchrest accuracy tolerances many others prefer. For me (and maybe for some of them) expending the resources necessary to meet such tolersances may be more an exercise in conceit than one in realizing practical benefits.

The simple fact is, most of us do not need the absolutely best equipment to shoot to our peak personal potentials. Insisting we do does little beyond massaging our egos. For me, and for many, raw accuracy need not be at the top of our list of demands of what a rifle need do to meet our real needs.

Greg </div></div>

Sweet Jesus, I may make that my sig tag. </div></div>

Yes that is good stuff right there, I am constantly reminding myself that I should spend less time worrying about the nit pickery when reloading and more time on the range pulling the trigger.
 
Re: Action Length

I have a Palma rifle built on a long action Remington 700. It is every bit as accurate as any of my short action rifles. As others have pointed out, it is easier to tailor the COAL using the longer action, and if there is any downside to accuracy I have not been able to find it.