• Watch Out for Scammers!

    We've now added a color code for all accounts. Orange accounts are new members, Blue are full members, and Green are Supporters. If you get a message about a sale from an orange account, make sure you pay attention before sending any money!

Lefty CRF Defiance build

HessV10

Private
Minuteman
Jul 11, 2020
9
5
Hi all. Long time reader but new poster. I’m planning on starting a new build in the next few months and I just wanted to gather some opinions on what everyone thought would be the right road to go. I have a FN SPR in .308 and it is one of my favorite rifles. However I am a collector of left handed firearms being left handed. I am attempting to some what replicate my SPR in lefty. I spoke with defiance and the claw extractor isn’t available at the moment but will be again soon. Adding a 3 pos safety and the claw extractor to the Rebel action is a decent replication of the SPR. My main question is I will be switching barrels occasionally and want to run mainly a SAUM or WSM cartridge as well as maybe a .308 or .260. Should I go with the defiance XM length action to get the extra length for hand loads on the short mag cartridges. Should I just run a short action, or even long action considering the m24 is a long action shooting short action cartridges and it gives me the option to jump up to a long action cartridge down the road if I’m inclined. My only concern with the XM action is the parts availability. Would the CRF help feed the short cartridges through a long action? I’ve been thinking on it for a while and am excited to get going. I want to hear everyone’s opinions as I want this to be a top notch build. I’m hoping this rifle will be the “one”. Until the next “one” comes along anyhow. :ROFLMAO:
 
The easiest option to switch barrels like you want is a Zermatt Arms Origin or TL3. Both are control round feed with a mechanical ejector. Bolt heads can be swapped for your magnum and standard cartridges. Shouldered pre-fit barrels can be ordered from lots of places. Both actions feed short cartridges better than just about anything on the market.

I run short action for 7 SAUM and you can get plenty of length with the non-binder mags to make the cartridges work well. I don't see the point in running a short mag in a long action. Might as well just run a full magnum cartridge at that point.

The Zermatt actions are not a great replica of your FN, but a great option for functionally accomplishing what you want.
 
Thanks for the response. I have considered the tl3 and actually the Mausingfield as well as it has a claw extractor. I also realize going defiance claw kills my ability to just buy shouldered prefits which is a big downside of attempting to replicate the FN so closely. I would probably have Robert Gradous spin the barrels for me as I live near him and he’s done excellent work for me before. Maybe i will reconsider the Tl3 as the bolt heads will be cheaper to swap than whole bolts from defiance as well. I might just settle on building a .308 on a CRF defiance just to have my lefty version of the FN and down the road build a SAUM switch barrel setup on a tl3. 7 SAUM is the one I’m considering as well so it’s good to know you can get the length out of your Short action.
 
Thanks for the response. I have considered the tl3 and actually the Mausingfield as well as it has a claw extractor. I also realize going defiance claw kills my ability to just buy shouldered prefits which is a big downside of attempting to replicate the FN so closely. I would probably have Robert Gradous spin the barrels for me as I live near him and he’s done excellent work for me before. Maybe i will reconsider the Tl3 as the bolt heads will be cheaper to swap than whole bolts from defiance as well. I might just settle on building a .308 on a CRF defiance just to have my lefty version of the FN and down the road build a SAUM switch barrel setup on a tl3. 7 SAUM is the one I’m considering as well so it’s good to know you can get the length out of your Short action.

I guess you hadn't heard that Robert had health problems the last couple months and passed away a couple weeks ago?
 
It was actually a week ago tomorrow.

 
  • Like
Reactions: Qtip
No I definitely haven’t. I haven’t talked to him in a good while. That’s terrible news. We have definitely lost a wealth of knowledge with his passing. I remember him showing me a reloading setup and working up a load for my first 30-06 hunting rifle when I was a young kid. We tested it in his backyard range. I still have the rifle and load data. This is sad to hear.