Top 3 Action Manufacturer's

F

Fred Nickel

Guest
I know that the answer to this "could" be rather subjective .... but here goes

What "3" Action Manufacturers are considered the "BEST" ..... by best I suggest this ORDER of importance ....

1. Which 3 have the least number of "after purchase" mods needed to fix problems

2. Which 3 have the most consistent specs and tolerences consistently

3. Which 3 have the "most shooter friendly" actions (smoothest, quickest, etc)

If you have any specific thoughts or comments please list them ....

Thanks
 
I can't wait the see the answers on this. My only experience with custom actions is Bat. Have two and am very impressed and happy with both. I need a left hand action so my universe is limited. Really looking forward to hearing other opinions.
 
I'm happy with all my Pandas. If I had the urge to get another action it would be a Panda 'cause that's all I know(except for a .22 Turbo).
Best,
Dan Batko

" Where are we going and why am I in this basket?"
 
I have several custom actions. A Panda, Rosenthall, Bat, RPA Quadlite, and a Nesika.

Of all, the Panda is the smoothest operating, Nesikia Bay SS is second, Bat third (only because it is a 3 lug), the RPA is a vault, and the Rosenthall is very smooth at two lugs and SS.

If I was to pick a best one that would be hard. For point blank, the Nesikia is awfully nice for a SS action and I would not want to give up my Panda. For LR shooting, the BAT or RPA are tops.

Have not had to do any truing work to any of them.

That said, my old 40X prone rifle puts them all to shame for smooth.

Bob
 
"Action requiring the least amout of Fixing" right out of the Box.....Panda

"Most reliable ejection and speed,......Drop Port Stiller

"smoothest"..... the older Farleys

As for consistant tolerances, do not assume that just because something is "CNC Machined" that everything is truly straight and square. .........jackie
 
In my opinion there is no "BEST" answer to this question. When one gets into Benchrest seriously, the equipment available such as actions, barrels, stocks, bullets, scopes, and brass, are all of such a high quality grade, that it becomes just a matter of personal preference as to what an individual chooses. Maybe it's the look, market availability, smoothness, past experience, or a friend's suggestion, that determines our final choice; but virtually all of the top grade equipment in this sport will be found on the winner's list at one time or another in Precision Shooting or the NBRSA Newsletter.

All of the top shooters in this game have won with certain brands of equipment, only to change for some reason down the road. There is so much "Top" quality equipment available nowadays for Benchrest shooting. that one can't go wrong picking any of the top brands available. And...if one still can't win...maybe learning to better read ole Mother Nature's conditions may help.

Read some winner's lists from the above sited sources, talk to some of your Benchrest friends, purchase your equipment, join in some matches, and start pulling the trigger. You'll learn more this way than any other. I have yet to participate in a match whether official or not, that I didn't learn something new (most of the time too late). But...this is the best way.:)

Good luck...virg
 
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I have a Hall and a Nesika, both are great. But the Nesika is very smooth, it has the Borden bumps.
 
Jackie please elaborate.
I thought that these high quality actions were suppose to be guaranteed to be straight. Otherwise we could just spend the money to square and true something like a Remington.
 
Well, I have been in this game for some time now and I suppose I have had my share of custom actions.
DGA Shilen - started with a .222, then a 6x47 then made it into a PPC. It was a 'Damn Good Action"
Wichita Mini - bought it off Ron Hoehn at Kelblys in 1980 - great little action but the shell holder bolt stopped any speed shooting.
Shilen BPS - great little action for Australian Sporter Class
Stolle Teddy - 1990 manufacture - now your talking!
Bat DS - now my No 1 action - smooth and great to use
Stolle Panda - on the rail gun, simply excellent

OK, none of the above actions required additional work, except for fitting an ejector to the Teddy.
You can buy Stolle or BAT with confidence I reckon.



Brendan Atkinson
 
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If the prime criteria is required after-mods, its gotta' be the Stolle Panda. If you take a tour of their shop and look at the manufacturing process, they are tops. They have all top quality machine tools and are operated by guys that have been doing just that for a decade or two, at least.

Besides, Mr George Sr. would not allow a faulty action to go out the door with the Kelbly name on it!!

I say this from having been involved in designing manufacturing processes myself since 1957.
 
JerrySharrett said:
They have all top quality machine tools and are operated by guys that have been doing just that for a decade or two, at least.
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There are lots of good actions out there. At this point in time, I think the main 3 or 4 true benchrest actions can all make the claim above. If you dont have top quality tools etc, you just cant be profitable.
 
My smoothest receiver was my Grandson's Stiller Diamondback. I should not have let it go. My Nesika was terrible, sent it back several times for timing problems and they never fixed it. My Pandas and Teddy were great and my Bats were OK. If I started over it would be a Panda or a Diamondback drop port.
Butch
 
I have shot DGA, Rosenthal, Hall, Panda, BAT, Borden, and many trued Remingtons. I hope to get one of Jerry Stiller's actions one day. All of these are excellent and of those that I have shot, I like the BAT followed by the Panda. The Borden action was very smooth and well made, but the port was a little small for my style of shooting. The Hall and Remingtons had right ports and that tended to slow me down.....so I now only shoot RB/LP in competition. Good shooting....James
 
stiller said:
There are lots of good actions out there. At this point in time, I think the main 3 or 4 true benchrest actions can all make the claim above. If you dont have top quality tools etc, you just cant be profitable.
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Right you are Jerry. It is a tough market and many of you do an excellent job.

Some of these earlier threads about reworks are just expressing concerns for perfection, that extra edge. And that keeps you action builders on your toes.

Action makers don't get taxpayer funded bailouts like GM when they get too lazy to even think, let alone try to do their best.
 
I always told Jerry when I built my first gun it would be on one of his drop port actions.
He was kind enough to get me a diamond back drop port and wheeewww it is slick.
No complaints...well maybe one,,,, I cant shoot well enough yet...
But I am working on that.
 
I have only BAT actions at this time and i truly love the way the feel. I have had a few stiller predator actions and they shot every bit as good as anything i have owned. I think my next adventure (when the time comes) might be a Borden rimrock. Jim has been very helpful to me to and i know he believes in what he is doing so i may give one of his a try. I would also love to try a stiller benchrest action but i dont think they make very many or should i say, make them very often. Every time i have a fist full of money and i give them a call they haven't had any. Maybe one day. I think the drop port idea is spectacular!! It just makes since!! I also hear very good things about Barnard actions for the long range stuff!! Lots of good choices these days!! My good friend tom haverkamp makes a good action! Nice and straight!!! Lee
 
Skeetlee
I just built a 30BR on a Haverkamp for my Dad and it looks like it is going to be a great shooter. I just have to do some load tuning and it will shoot with my Bat which really seems to do well. I did not see Haverkamp mentioned until you did and just wanted to say I believe they are great actions and great price. Just wish I could have got a dual port because he did not have any available at the time.
 
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