On a whim I decided to pick up a Gunwerks GRB action for my next build. Since I haven't seen much info on these I figured I would give my initial impressions on it. I'm by no means an expert long range shooter or a gunsmith. My only basis of comparison are Remington 700, Savage, Ruger American, and Tikka T3X actions. I consider my Tikka T3X in 6.5CM to be my best rifle so there will be a good amount of comparing the GRB to the Tikka. In fact, upon first handling the GRB my initial impression was that it was like a hybrid between a Rem 700 and Tikka action. The receiver itself is shaped just like your standard 700 in that it's very open, not a lot of material on the top of the action. I can understand this since it's geared more towards hunters and less weight and a large ejection port would come in handy for loading one cartridge at a time. Just like my Tikka it has a side bolt release which I prefer over the standard 700 bolt release. The 3 pin recoil lug is an interesting idea and the recoil lug itself fits on pretty well with a tiny bit of play. The recoil lug itself is pretty hefty. The bolt is really nice, it has NP3 coating on the body to keep it slick and there is evidence of some lapping on the bolt lugs, the Borden bumps, and the surfaces contacting the cams near the rear of it. The adjustable bolt handle is a nice feature. Being able to index it can come in handy for just my preferred fit. I really like the field strippable bolt feature, this could come in handy for quick cleaning. At first working the action seemed little less than desirable, it didn't seem as smooth as expected and I was a little disappointed. After giving it a quick cleaning and some oil this changed everything. Now working the action is incredibly smooth, almost glass like. Compared to my Tikka, I would say that my Tikka bolt is silky smooth with a light bolt but the GRB is more glass like with a heavier feeling bolt. I feel like I can give this bolt a quick pull and push and the weight of the bolt can easily carry it over the glass like raceways. The bolt lift is pretty light, much lighter than a 700 or a Savage and comparable to the Tikka and the lock up is nice and tight. Overall, I'm satisfied with the Gunwerks GRB. At face value it may not look like much but I feel like the folks at Gunwerks prefer function over looks. This action has some great features at a very friendly price and I would recommend it to anyone who's interested in a more budget friendly setup.
