QUICK!!! Where can I get an action.

[82nd airborne]

I am building a 338 lapua for a soldier who is coming home on leave from A-Stan here in about 6 weeks. It needs to fit a rem 700 stock. I would greatly appreciate any input on where I can get a good action to start the build on. Thanks in advance.
Aaron

[Johnch]

My gunsmith has told me
For him at least
It is cheaper to buy a complete rifle
Strip off the barrel and any other unwanted parts

Sell the barrel & parts and be $$ ahead

John

[Wayne Smith]

I think Midway is selling new Rem 700 actions, aren't they?

[frankenfab]

That is a bit of a toughie. As far as I know, there weren't very many of the factory rifles made.

Dan Lilja doesn't recommend that case head size on a 700 action.

http://www.riflebarrels.com/articles/custom_actions/378_weatherby_remington_700_action.htm

I think a Weatherby Mark V would be the best action for that caliber. I know of one great shooting fifle that was built on one. I know, pricey, and not a 700.

A Savage Ultramag action would be the most economical.

Jerry's has about 5 CZ .375 H&H actions in stock, and no .416 Rigby size.

Sorry to be of no more help.

[82nd airborne]

I would build it on a 550 or savage but he is dead set on a remington.
And he already paid $1000 for an AIC stock. I know brownells and midway sell 700 actions but I dont have their catalog on hand and thier search function is worthless. I have considered buying the complete rifle, then selling the stock and bbl and blueprinting the action and lapping the lugs and what not.
Another route im considering is starting with a custom action and bolt. It will cost more, but make for a little nicer rifle, but im not sure that it will be enough nicer to be worth the extra cheese. Thanks for the replies so far, keep em comin, any advice welcom.

[Gunaria]

Want some action? hahaha Here's a Defiance machine action on Gunbroker;

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=195889324

http://i922.photobucket.com/albums/ad63/fjcruisergirl/1903%20a3%201-19%203006%20brl/August%2031st/Defiance%20action/DSC00941.jpg

[82nd airborne]

That is beautiful, I wonder if the blanket comes with it?

[Hip's Ax]

They are spendy and he might not have one sitting there but some of the Borden actions are the same foot print as a Remington 700. Worth a call but hold on to your wallet. I bought a Borden Timberline action a couple of years back and its was $800 plus a trigger (Jim Borden will not sell an action without mounting and tweaking the trigger himself).

Maybe a pawn shop or used gun rack 700? I have a LR rifle built on a 700 that was a VS in 308 when I bought it used for $400.

I have a 300 meter free rifle built on a Remington 700 action. I went out and bought a bargan basement brand new Remington 700 in 308 figuring an action is an action. Found out afterward that the more you pay for the Remington 700 the more likely that action is to be closer to true. My poor gunsmith had to work his butt off to get my cheap 700 action "pretty good". He says many times 40X actions are already true.

Hope This Helps.

[waksupi]

If you can afford it, I can tell you the Defiance action is one of the best. The company is ran by a friend of mine. He was the developer of the Nesika Bay actions, and then was working with Dakota Arms. He then joined us at Serengeti Rifles. When Serengeti went out of business due to economic downturn, he started Phoenix Machine, still making actions. The company was then reorganized as Defiance. Glen is still in the same location. He has very strict access into the shop, and if you are not someone he knows, or a customer, you don't get in the door. Glen and Lisa are people I would trust with anything I own, and would do anything for them that they ever need.

[82nd airborne]

Thanks guys, cant believe the speed of helpful input here. He decided to go with a factory 700 already in lapua, then have me lap the lugs, thread for a can, and blue print the action, followed by installation on the aic stock. Some day I would like to build a custom on one of those pretty actions, or make my own for the heck of it. I would not do Lapua tho, as it is more pricey and no better than the 338 RUM. Not to mention, Ive never found anything I couldnt kill with an M24 in 7.62x51, or a Delta Company Arms LRASS for that matter. Thankyou guys very much.

[Matt_G]

Some day I would like to build a custom on one of those pretty actions, or make my own for the heck of it. I would not do Lapua tho, as it is more pricey and no better than the 338 RUM.

Have Kirby Allen make you a 338 Allen Mag.
It'll run circles around the RUM. :lol:
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/first-long-range-test-338-allen-mag-16633/

[waksupi]

Ever looked at the cost of brass for a .338 Lapua? Spendy! Used to be, anyhow.

[Houndog]

If you ever decide to go the custom action route take a look ay Kelby's Grizly and Jerry Stiller's Viper or Rattler actions. All of them will be on the upper side of $900, but WELL worth the money in my book.

[c3d4b2]

I was looking for an action fore a TubeGun and ended up with a Stillers Predator action. it was less expensive to purchase the Predator once I figured in the cost to get a Remington action and then have it blue printed and lapped.

[82nd airborne]

Loaded Lapua ammo is $120 for 20rds.
Sturgeon also makes some very nice actions, Ill probably do .308, as I dont need to kill anything further than 800m.
While deciding what to do for this build, I looked into all of the above mentioned custom actions. Man the machinework on some of those is exquisite!