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Short action for precision rifle

Forward543

Dude
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 14, 2017
772
335
Idaho
Looking for a short action for a custom rifle. Needs to be accurate, under 1k, and i would like why. I want to be able to run double stack ai mags. The propsed gun will be a .260 ai.
 
Looking for a short action for a custom rifle. Needs to be accurate, under 1k, and i would like why. I want to be able to run double stack ai mags. The propsed gun will be a .260 ai.

Not sure if you are basing your build off this article: http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek046.html I started with the exact same spec reamer.that Terry used.......ended up throating my barrel and seating the bullets out farther than a short action magazine can handle. My original 260 Improved is based off a Remington Mil-Spec 5R. This rifle is now a single shot only. You can use the shorter OAL if using lighter weight bullets. If using the heavier pills......you may want to consider using a long action so you can set those long bullets out farther. To seat the heavier bullets and maintain a short action magazine length.....your bullet is seated too far into the case......cutting down maximum charge. I am now building another 260 Improved. This time, I'm using a long action and will be using a 30-06 based single stack magazine. I'm using a Defiance Mutant long action: http://defiancemachine.com/mutant-action/ And an Eliseo, Competition Macihne, inc. RTM stock: http://www.gotxring.com/tactical/ I have a Bartlein 1:8:5" twist, 32" finished barrel.

For me......I found a long tube, 30"-32", with 140-142 gr. bullets worked the best. I'm using H 4831 SC and pushing my pills right at 3100 fps from a 31" Bartlein 1:8.5" twist barrel. Even in the lowly 260.........the heavy / long projectiles perform amazingly well in terms of windage and elevation.

Good Luck,

Wayne
 
I think you're going to have a hard time finding a custom action sub $1k. If you're firm on that budget, I'd just get a 700 action and have your smith blueprint it. Honestly, it'll shoot better than 90% of us can shoot if it's done right.

If you can increase you budget a few hundred dollars, THEN your options open up. I'm particular to Defiance because they will spec it out just about any way you or your gunsmith wants for your preferences/needs. If you're trying to squeeze as much accuracy as possible, I'd look for something that has an integrated rail just because it adds rigidity to the action.

Really, ANY custom action is capable of incredible accuracy. The differences are more about preference than accuracy. What matters, when it comes to accuracy, is the smith you choose and the work he does. If you use premium components (no matter the brand) and a quality builder, you're going to end up with a accurate rifle.

Good luck on your build!


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Im doing the barrel work, so who knows about the smith quality, but thanks everyone for the replies. Ill probably bump the budget to include defiance, bighorn, and cadex.
 
I've used Brownell's Stryker Ridge actions in both long and short. They are made by Defiance and is basically their Rebel action. They're within $50 of $1000 and are nice, solid actions. You really can't go wrong if you want to stay in the $1000 range.