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Gunsmithing Gunsmith: Action in hand vs Prefit

jackinfl

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 19, 2008
840
174
Fort lauderdale, Fl
Is there a difference in the overall accuracy of a rifle between a Prefit being chambered to a spec from the action manufacturer or when the gunsmith actually has your action in hand to fit the barrel to?

I am sorry if that sentence does not read well. I understand that all barrels have run out and if the action is NOT in hand the run out could not be timed at TDC. Is this an issue? Is there a big enough difference to worry about?

Thanks in advance.
 
I am sorry if that sentence does not read well. I understand that all barrels have run out and if the action is NOT in hand the run out could not be timed at TDC. Is this an issue? Is there a big enough difference to worry about?

My gunsmith times my barrel curve to 12 o'clock and the engraving lines up on the stock line. He's never had my action in hand (BIghorn TL3), just chambered to spec from prior actions that he's had and gauged for headspace and clocking.

The way these actions are made with precision CNC cutting the action threads the threads end up being pretty much the same on every action.
 
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Unless your running a top shelf custom action, you want your Gunsmith to have action and barrel at the same time. And if its not a custom high precision action....it;s silly to not have him true up the action and bolt at the same time.

Cheers.
 
These are all from prefits I’ve done. I’d say they are pretty darn accurate. I don’t worry about timing the barrel to 12 o’clock unless I have the action in hand. It is usually a non issue. I do more prefits than anything else and have had great results. On certain receiver you can time the barrels, not all of them have the tolerances to do so.

You 100% do not need the actions in hand to get great results from a barrel on most custom actions.
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