Action for 30-06

[Jonny V]

I was at the Washington gun show this morning and I saw the be-all and end-all of rifle actions. There was a guy with three Mauser 1908's, one of which was the Brazilian, one Chilean, and I don't know what the third was.

I'm a died in the wool Mauser 98 guy, and now I'm cursed with having to start a new build having just completed one, in the middle of another, and this 1908 will get my wife to thinking on kicking my ass up behind my ears!

 

[USSR]

The Remington 700 has the strongest action and is why the military uses them for their sniper rifles.

Uh, not quite. The reason the military went with the M700 is due to cost, oh and Remington was the only company bidding on the contract at the time.

Don

 

[benzy2]

If I'm doing a full custom build, I'd be looking at Kelbly, Barnard, BAT, Borden, Lawton, Pierce, Stiller, or Surgeon action, depending exactly what I was looking to do and what other parts I wanted to use. Some are true customs and others are 700 clones. All of them would be something I'd rather do than true/blueprint most factory actions.

If I was looking to do this at home on my own with minimal equipment I'd go with a Savage as it really is simple enough to do in a few hours with not much more than a go/no go gauge.

 

[mortablunt]

I vote M1903.

 

[ms6852]

Velocette that is quite a beautiful rifle you have. I have been toying around with the idea of building new rifle. Money is not a problem at this time but I do have two factory rifles in 30-06 that I use for hunting. My 30 year old Savage 110C and my fairly new rifle the TE Tikka lite. I have always been kind of a practical man so I never really went for the high dollar rifle when the low dollar rifle did the same job just as well. I have not decided whether I will build a new hunting rifle or a tactical rifle with a 26" barrel and a manners adjustable stock. Just waiting for reality to sink in.

As it is I do have a 10/22 rifle that I am building with exhibition type stock and Tony Kidd accessories. I do love wooden stocks. Everyone as always have been very helpful.

 

[35 Whelen]

If you want tough reliability, by all means go with one of the military actions. I own a Remington 700, my Dad a couple or more and while they make for an accurate rifle, to me they're too prone to problems under less than ideal conditions.
Dad loaded some rounds for his M700 Whelen with new brass. The shoulder of the brass evidently was set back when it was produced which caused headspace problems. One round blew a primer and trashed the crappy little stamp metal extractor. (Please don't tell me they must be good because the military uses them, what
i'm telling you is my experience)
On a different 700 the trigger seized while we were on an elk hunt in very cold weather...too many itty-bitty screws and small parts.
My first choice would be a a 1903 Springfield. I have one that's been minorly sporterized and it is one sweet, trim, reliable accurate rifle. This rifle with a receiver sight and handloads will group 1 1/2" @ 100 yds. I'm a huge fan of the simple triggers, the massive unfailing extractors and the fool-proof ejectors. I have two 03A3's both with isse barrels anbd they too are just incrdibly accurate though I have to admit they'd be a little more of a headache to turn into a sporter.
I love MAusers and have several hunting rifles built on them and they work 100% of the time, but to me thry're not quite as refined as the S'Fields.
I don't have any direct experience with the 1917 but they appear to be as good as the above mentioned.

35W

 

[Art Eatman]

The primary justification for a push-feed receiver is that the case head is fully enclosed. These are thus the "strongest" from the standpoint of not having a falure of the cartridge case from over-pressure.

The ascending order of failure from over-pressure in Remington's torture test at the time of the introduction of the 721 was, first, the '03; then the Model 70; then the 1917 Enfield and then the 721.

However, normal loadings create no problem with any rifle in '06. Sub-MOA is fairly easily attained with any receiver.

 

[Hi-Lander]

I have one built around a Winchester M70 action. IMHO it is hard to beat the M70.

 

[451 Detonics]

velocette ~ 451 Detonics has it right. The 1917 Enfield is a very strong 30-06 action that with a bit of work can be a fine strong sporter.
Plus you will have the joy of having created a very nice rifle with your own hands.

That is an outstanding looking sporter!