custom rifles?

[slickest]

When you buy a custom rifle it seems they are almost always built one a 700 action. Why is that? is it just because they are that common? or is it because they are that accurate?

Ive just been looking around and its seems like that is the main option.. Also as most of you know im left handed but their are alot of different actions out their such as tikka, ruger, browning, winchester, cz, savage and some more im sure im missing.  It still doesnt seem like any of thoose are brought up besides the winchester model 70 action and i didnt see much about the winchester action at all.

I guess i just really dont understand why the 700 action is so popular. Everyone I know had me talked to into buying a 700 but after picking one up and playing with it i really didnt think it was that nice. the bolt seemed sloppy compared against the browning i was looking at.

This is just my opinion and im not trying to start fights with anyone But I thought the browning A bolt medallion felt much nicer compared against the 700CDL as far as the action of the gun. That is the only reason i havent bought a new gun yet. the way people made it sound is remington is the way to go but I didnt like what I picked up in the store so im kind of thinking custom now if i went remington. Any other suggestions anyone?

[Rangr44]

[Why is that? is it just because they are that common? or is it because they are that accurate?]

Accuracy has a lot to do with it, but IMHO it's mostly because they're  easy.

Easy to bed, easy to set up, and a good trigger from the factory, all add up to the "smith" being able to spend less time/energy to turn out a "custom", ergo, earn a better "bottom line".

IMHO, its also why most M700 "customs" carry plastic stocks, ILO high grade, hand-carved, wood.

It's quite another thing, to get the square - bottomed Mauser 98/Winchester 70 bedding correct/just right - without resorting to a mud job(glass-bedding). Ditto, feeding and scope mounts.

[7x57mm]

I am a CZ fan, so bear that in mind, but then, a Ruger fan will spout the virtues of his favorite action as will a fan of the Remingtons or Winchesters. If you would take a few moments and go to www.hunting-rifles.com, the website for American Hunting Rifles, Inc., you'll see the company uses CZ actions exclusively. My only complaint about CZ is that it is a tad more heavy than other actions. My CZ 550 American in 7x57mm will put three 162 grain Hornady SST slugs pushed by H414 powder and sitting .01 off the lands into a group less than a half inch at 100 yards. At 300  yards it will print a group slightly less than 2.5 inches center-to-center. I just cannot argue with accuracy like that. CZs do seem to be substantially accurate rifles out of the box. As far as custom, again, I would advise you to look at the American Hunting Rifles, Inc. website. The photo below shows the accuracy level of my CZ rifle.  Tom Purdom

[Brithunter]

When you buy a custom rifle it seems they are almost always built one a 700 action. Why is that? is it just because they are that common? or is it because they are that accurate? 

     Hmmm I would think it's more like Cheap and cheerful.

     I am not a fan of tube steel recievers they remind me too much of the Sten gun whcih hwas made that way to save time and money. I also find it strange that the old time stockers and gunsmiths didn't seem to have problems inletting the stocks to properly fit the old style forged flat bottom actions but then again they didn't have some smart assed get rich quick and hang the qualty accountant riding their backs all the time either. I now have one rifle with a tube reciever which I have yet to shoot, it's an Australian made Sportco model 44 from the 1970's, a heavy barreld target rifle made when OMARK owned Sportco.

[lucky guy]

Remington XR100 in 204 ruger.

[Catfish]

I do have a custom rifle built on a 700 Rem. action, but I also have them built on 98 Mauser actions, a Turkish Mauser action, a Moslin Nigant action, M-77 Ruger action, a Savage action, and a 40X rem. action. You can build a good hunting rifle on about any action. If your after a real tack driver starting with a better action will save you money on smith work making it cheaper in the long run. If your wanting to build up a custom barrel burner I would recommend the Savage action. The reason being they are the easiest to rebarrel, and in fact if you have alittle mechanical ability you can rebarrel them yourself.

[ssghelmick]

While easier is correct so is accuracy. Because of the design it is far easier to keep the center line on a 700 than it is on a flat bottomed receiver.

[beemanbeme]

Certain smiths get used to working with certain actions.  Far and away the most common (in the USA) is the Remington custom smith.  For the simple reason there are more Remingtons around than anything else.  That isn't to say that there are not other smiths that specialize in other actions.  Figure out which way you want to go and google up a couple of specialist to talk to. 
For what its worth, I wouldn't have a 700 specialist run me up a 98 custom nor vice versa.

How the action feels in an over the counter rifle has little to do with how it will feel after a good smith has laid hands on it.