How do you figure out which custom action to buy?

Sort of like asking what is the best house, or vehicle. You want to haul 80,000 lbs of lead, you are not in the market for a Miata. You want to have a view of the water, I don't recommend the Mojave desert house.

So, centerfire, rimfire, smokeless or blackpowder?

Then, hunting, target shooting, or end of the world scenarios?

If your doing any type match shooting, I would go to couple matches and see what's being used. Other source would be gunsmith your going to use. I like Rem rifles and if I was to build hunting rifle, I would be looking at custom push feed action.

I have to agree with what the others said. Pick the action for the sport that you plan to shoot in. Go to a few matches and see what the winners are using. Talk with some of the shooters if possible.

Like @taliv states, decide what your intended use is then decide who your gunsmith will be, then have a conversation with him.

horsemen61 said:

Ok guys Im curious how does one go about deciding which custom action to go with?

If I’m spending a few grand it has to be the right decision you know

Do you look at reviews talk to people handle them I mean where does a guy start

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For me, it was fairly simple, which action has all the features that I want? For awhile, I was about to just give up and compromise, but then I stumbled on the big horn, and celebrated, however, I think maybe that just makes me easy to please? I simply wanted a crf that took savage barrels, I don't professionally compete though. Mausingfield was also a contender, but the wife finalized the decision.

As already pointed out on this thread: ya'gotta figggerout watcha want, and watcha gonnado withit. Your local gunsmith is a logical first stop. But don't count on local talent to build something truly custom because there tends to be a considerable disconnect between general gunsmithing and custom artistry. I recommend contacting the Custom Gun Guild and get a list of craftsmen specializing in rifles. They will have pics of their work that will give you a clearer idea of what's available. Their ideas and suggestions open a whole new world custom rifles for you. As an example, here are three custom rifles that represent widely diverse uses: A big game hunting rifle built on a Winchester M-70 action, a live varmint rifle built on a left hand Dakota action, and a target (benchrest) rifle on a BAT action.

He does have some very handsome firearms.

horsemen61 said:

How does one go about deciding which custom action to go with?

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I begin by looking in my wallet.
Then which one is prettiest...

Then I would get one that has a left handed, single push feed, Springfield ejecting bolt. That also has a dual port, integral lugged, Savage nutted, twenty degree railed receiver.
With a Seven Hundred foot print.
In red.


Of course that would be terrible for deer hunting.
Or dirt.

Or stocks that are not gloss Candy Apple flat bottoms with lead weights.

Things must match.

If you are still in the early planning stages, may I suggest you read through Frank de Haas' "Bolt Action Rifles" and Stuart Otteson's two-volume series "The Bolt Action: a design analysis". These books can't tell you what you'll like best, but they will provide an objective basis for comparing the strengths and features of numerous action designs. Different actions tend to have different design priorities, so as some other replies have recommended, the best choice really depends on the qualities you value most. Custom simply means made to your order. For you, does custom mean beautiful walnut and blued steel but rarely taken out of the house and fired? Does it mean perfectly fit, smooth, reliable, accurate -- but not necessarily pretty?

If you haven't developed your own action prejudices yet, I'd suggest going to a really big gun shop with dozens of different new and used rifles, preferably on a slow day. Find the oldest, most sympathetic looking clerk and explain that you'd like to handle different high-ticket rifles to feel how their actions compare. Imply that you might buy one. My $.02: try working the bolt on a modern Steyr CL action. I tried one once and haven't found a smoother bolt since. I don't know whether the action is particularly strong or durable, but as far as how the bolt moves in the action it's my current standard to compare all others against.

Knowing what you want to do with it, and letting us in on that plan, really helps focus the feedback

Take a look at Montana Rifle Company, they have a rifle called the American Legend that looks really good. It comes in many standard calibers. Add a good 13 ounce scope scope and you'll have a a classic rifle for something over two grand. I personally wouldn't buy a classic rifle without a 3 position Winchester type safety. This is a controlled feed action.

Most of the long range precision rifles have push feed actions which are admired by the younger shooting generation but they have a tendency to morf into something less than classic. They normally have long heavy barrels and heavy scopes. To get a more classic look they need to have slimmer barrels, lighter McMillan stocks, and traditional scope mounts. Take a look at Randy's Custom Rifles. They have rifles built on Borden actions which are top of the line push feed. The only problem with his rifles is that they are all mostly based on magnum cartridges which you may or may not like. His rifles are also expensive.

It's not hard to build an accurate rifle these days, but it's much harder to build an accurate rifle that feeds from the magazine properly, that feeds well in virtually any conditions even if with external forces applied to the magazine, that has a magazine that locks in solid but is easy to change and that doesn't fall out, that has a trigger and safety that works in virtually any conditions, and that puts the first shot from a cold, clean bore in the same hole as the 20th shot from a fouled, hot bore. As others have said, decide on the use and then find the best receiver you can afford to do that job well. For example, do you want a trigger safety or firing pin safety? Do you want 60 degree bolt throw or will 90 degrees work? Do you want push feed or CRF? Do you want to run a magazine, and if so what type? Do you want to swap barrels yourself or have a gunsmith do it? Do you want an integral recoil lug? How about an integral rail or will you use bases or screw on rails of some sort? Do you want a pinned rail if that's the direction you go in? Is weight an issue? How about corrosion resistance? Lots of things to decide before you land on a brand.

Don't forget that there are some turnkey options too, but don't assume that they're all fully vetted. I'm at the stage where I have zero interest in having a gunsmith build a custom rifle for me (revolvers are a different story), but I get why people go that route. The main reason is that you can't buy exactly what you want or can't easily change what you can buy. I had Bowen Classic Arms convert my Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan .454 Casull into something I couldn't buy and certainly couldn't convert myself so I do get the appeal of a quality custom that works for your intended use. I have a custom Kimber Talkeetna hunting rifle that I did a fair amount of work on myself, and my gf's Kimber 84M is at Proof having a CF barrel fitted. I'll be inletting a custom fiberglass/CF stock once I get the barreled action back. It's satisfying to take a factory production rifle and upgrade or improve it by adding useful features or simply making it perform better.

I've only ever bought one custom action and it was a Badger Ordnance M2008 which was kind of an AI rip off. I had a Krieger barrel and AICS stock for it but never got it built. I sold off the parts at zero loss so all's good. I've had two Remington 700 actions blue printed by Krieger and had Krieger barrels installed. Those rifles shot really well but I sold them once I got Accuracy International rifles. I hope this project works out for you and that you report back on what you end up choosing.

I have 2 rifles with custom actions and one customized rifle build off a commercial action.

The latter being my FN SPR. That’s also a route to consider depending on what you have in gun safe.

The post by Nature Boy, #16 on this thread, is an excellent example of current thinking on custom rifles. And also some of the best gun photography I've ever seen on this or any other forum.

Offfhand said:

The post by Nature Boy, #16 on this thread, is an excellent example of current thinking on custom rifles. And also some of the best gun photography I've ever seen on this or any other forum.

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Oh please

I’d wrap myself in your green blanket and sleep like I’d won the lottery knowing how many fantastic rifles have laid on it for their photo shoots.

(BTW, still waiting for @Offfhand to sign my adoption papers)

Edit: can’t take credit for those photos, they were taken by one of the ladies that works for the gunsmith for their Instagram page