Shilen DGA?

B

Boyd Allen

Active member
I am looking at doing a little horse trading, for a 6PPC that is based on a DGA, with a barrel that seems to be in excellent shape ( I have shot it.), and a 2 oz. trigger, glued into a Lee Six thumb hole stock. The over all condition of the rifle is very good to excellent. I am pretty sure that it was built for an older shooter, who had other rifles, and didn't shoot this one much.

What i am looking for is some feedback about the DGA action. It looks to be solidly built. Are there any problems that I should be aware of, that might be reasons to not do the trade? Also, what would you think that a realistic value would be for a rifle of this description, including Davidson bases, and 30mm Kelbly rings?

Thanks,
Boyd
 
Check Shooters Corner for current values. Bob has a few listed. DGA actions shoot very good as you already know. The only issue I have encountered is the firing pin hole on the boltface getting out of round. I sent my bolt to Shilen and they fixed it no charge. The downside is they do not have any parts leftover for the DGA.
 
The DGA's, (that stood for "damned good accuracy", so I'm told), are a very unique design, featuring multiple locking lugs, (4, in the same configuration as the Weatherby), up front that are in the horizonal when in ready to fire position.
There used to be a shooter at the old American Shooting center Matches that had one back in the '90's, it shot quite well. It was also on a thumbhole stock much like you are describing.

There is certainly nothing wrong with the actions, they were practically hand built, and by all accounts, dead on as far as things being straight. The extractor is a hidden extra long Sako style that is completely hidden when in battery.

As Kieth noted, they share no parts with any other action, I doubt if Wade and company have many parts laying around. But then, if it has servived this long, nothing is apt to break.

Aside from nostalgic reasons, there is not any specific value in these, a complete Rifle is probably worth $1200-$1500, if it tuuley does shoot well........jackie
 
According to Ottesons book on benchrest actions, the DGA is a very stiff action and has alot of bedding surface. I wish it had a trigger hanger so I could glue mine in. I don't like trigger pin holes in my stocks.
 
Jackie,
If they made any with 4 lugs I have never seen them. The 3 that I had were just standard 2 lug. Not saying they didn't make them, I never seen any.
Butch
 
Butch, the ones I saw, 2 of them, had 4 small in-line liugs in the front, and a Hall type bolt.. I cannot remember the shooter, but he used to shoot those American Shootying Center Matches in 1997-98.
The action had the look of a Rem 788. The bolt shroud was a big chunky looking thing.

I assume these were DGA's. Did Shilen make any other actions.?.........jackie
 
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Boyd Allen...I have a Shilen DGA shipped as a .222 Rem in July,1976. Later was rebarreled and chambered to 6-T. It's now a 6PPC with the action glued in with a standard Jewell trigger on a hanger.....gpoldblue
 
Anyone that has DGA #618 contact me, it was my old rifle from ????? I loved it, Outside of the custom actions that you can buy today, it was tops!!!!!!!!!
 
I have owned a number of DGA actions over the years - i had serial numbers 223,316,420 and a couple of others that I can't remember. Also had a little BPS which I wish I had not sold. They were all two lug bolts, and every one of them shot well. I still have one in a 220 Swift hunting rifle.
The DGA was an excellent benchrest action, but compared to the modern Stolle and BAT etc, are now a little antiquated.
 
Some history.

The original Shilen actions were of multi lug configuration ad were made in Dryden and Clinton Corners from 1960 to 1966, there were approx 275 made.

The DGA started production in approx 1974 and consisted of an investment cast bolt and receiver using AISI-4340 after a couple of years the bolt was changed from an investment casting to being made from bar stock and the bolt handle was a seperate part. Also the receiver changed from AISI-4340 to AISI-4140 and was hardened before machining.

Stuart Ottesons book "Benchrest Actions & Triggers" is a treasure........Ian
 
B J Atkinson said:
I have owned a number of DGA actions over the years - i had serial numbers 223,316,420 and a couple of others that I can't remember. Also had a little BPS which I wish I had not sold. They were all two lug bolts, and every one of them shot well. I still have one in a 220 Swift hunting rifle.
The DGA was an excellent benchrest action, but compared to the modern Stolle and BAT etc, are now a little antiquated.
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Brendon I think the Panda was made in several different versions since 1971 until Ralph Stolle retired in 1978 when he started producing them in larger numbers, that makes the design older than the DGA and I wouldn't call the Panda antiquated:D.....Ian
 
Shilen DGA

I have worked on several of these actions and have a friend that owns a complete Shilen .308 rifle it shoot very well...but if I am not wrong the action are investment cast not machined from bar stock...and all I have seen are 2 lug coned nose bolt...



Eddie in Texas
 
So far, except for the lack of parts availability, I have not read of any design issues. For those of you that have worked on them, have they seemed to be pretty straight? Also, are the firing pin springs similar enough to say a Remington, or Panda so that one of theirs could be adapted to the DGA? As far as the action body being cast goes, I guess that they have that in common with the Farleys. Were the early cast bolts a problem? Were there any hardness galling issues?
 
I owned one for a short time. It was a .222 with thumbhole BR stock and featured a non-coned bolt with two locking lugs. The only problem with it was that the screw holes for the mounts were crooked. It shot well. Good shooting. James
 
Boyd Allen said:
So far, except for the lack of parts availability, I have not read of any design issues. For those of you that have worked on them, have they seemed to be pretty straight? Also, are the firing pin springs similar enough to say a Remington, or Panda so that one of theirs could be adapted to the DGA? As far as the action body being cast goes, I guess that they have that in common with the Farleys. Were the early cast bolts a problem? Were there any hardness galling issues?
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We've got a pretty fair compliment of Shilen actions up here and several collectors. The DGA's were solid and I know of no structural issues. I've never seen any nor heard of any. Like lots of vintage stuff, OEM is preffered and non factory chamberings, stocks, etc are less desirable. I'd probably put your piece at $1000-$1200.
I looked for a pretty long time and own DGA #35 which is a .222 in the early LV type laminated pistol grip stock in as new condition. As has been mentioned it's a standard 2 lug configuration similar to a 700, except for the sculpted shroud and extractor.
 
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