In terms of quality I would rate them as follows:

1. Granite Mountain and Waffenfabrik Hein (about equal)
2. Dakota
3. Winchester
4. Montana Rifleman

However, Gottfried Prechtl of Deutschland probably pays even closer attention to detail than GMA, so he would get the top spot.

I am going to agree with 500grains on his ranking, based on handling the actions and rifles made from them based on my handling them.

I have bought two of the M99s for a project, but cost was a major driver for those rifles.

There are some Johanson marked actions (made by Prechtl) for sale in the US -- remaider from a previous importer deal.

jim

Hunter Jim,
I would appreciate the name and contacts of the dealer you mentioned with Prechtl actions.

Guys,

What does a Granite cost?

Thanks,
Wes

GM is $3000.00 for the bare action. I have looked at a couple of rifles built by Hartmann & Weiss and those actions were a work of art. If they make them inhouse I would put them at the top of my list.

Thanks, John.

Wes

mufasa,

From your list I'd say Granite Mountain. If I could pick any action then it would be Hartmann & Weiss.

Regards,
Dave

None of the above...

MAUSER

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
None of the above...

MAUSER

Jawohl!
But is not the Granite Mountain supposed to be a true Mauser design, down to the self locking extractor?

If so, then Granite Mountain would win in that list.

KurtC, Mauser Meister Laureate, should pass judgement on this please.

The real question is how accessible a action is not which is the best. A limited production action that costs 3-4K should perform better that the common stuff. If the common stuff is then customized, there will only be the difference in cost which will still be considerable.

I would rate the Kimber 84M far above the Winchester action. The Kimber 8400 has a very steep feed ramp. Otherwise I prefer it to a Winchester also.

It all depends on the application and upon the riflesmith who's doing the work. Not all of these actions are created equal, but perhaps more importantly, not all of the riflesmiths who work them over are created equal, either.

For a cartridge such as the .416 Rigby, my top pick would be the Hartmann & Weiss action, but I'd never turn my nose up at the Granite Mt. action, either. You'll end up with a true best-quality action and rifle with either one of them.

For any belted magnum based on the .375 H&H case, my top pick is the Model 70 Classic action. The receiver is made of really superb chrome-moly steel that's forged for superior grain structure, then machined, and heat-treating is properly carried out as well. The Model 70 is a great foundational action, and it becomes a true world-class action that'll serve for generations once it's properly worked over by a riflesmtihs who really and truly knows what he's doing. This action has served me so very well that I simply can't criticize anything about it.

AD

For the cost and consistancy I will stick to my sporterized Mausers. They have never failed me.

Amen Ann. I still think that the pre-64 Model 70 is as good as any other.

Three words...
Prairie Gun Works... M-15 or 18 (short - long) versions or look at the big dog (TimberWolf Model) it handles any cartridge you can fit except .50 BMG.
Of course its only from humble ole Canada but just for chuckles check it out.
If your not impressed... oh well.
But I'll tell you what they impress the hell outa me!
By the way Jon Sundra has one he seems to like it fine.
Make sure to look up the trophy page some very nice pix there.

How about a CZ 550,is it worth a look?

Westcoaster...I agree about Spagrud's actions, but they are not CRF.

Cheers,
Canuck

I suppose the answer depends to a degree are you taking them as they come or in the manner in which Allen Day is referring, that is, after a competent gunsmith has been right over them.

For me it would be

1) Dakota. The reason being the Winchester receiver and my interest in the big Wby cases puts in front of the Model 70. I also assume that like the Model 70 it will take the Jewell trigger.

2) Winchester. I have never had a Dakota in my hands but even if a truck had run over the Dakota it could not be worse than the junk currently turned out by Winchester. The gap between the excellence of design and the poor execution of the design must be greater with the current M70 than any other action.

3) Montana, but way behind the M70 and Dakota. Being investment cast turns me right off. I realise investment casting is all OK but it just turns me off. Also the action is very new and after a few years in the field bugs will probably surface.

4)Granite. I hate Mausers because of their bedding configuration. Why someone would move the recoil lug half way back on the bedding surface and lose half the stock material that could have been there is beyond me and of course their small recoil lug. Then there is the tiny little tang area. The Mauser reminds me of a Model 70 whereby someone said "what can I do to this action to ruin its bedding configuration"

If the poll had not been restricted but had been your preferred action then like WestCoaster I would probably pick the Prairie Gun Works actions.

If I could have the action of my "design" it would be a Model 70 but made a bit bigger and the Push Feed and with vertical stack centre line feed....and well made.

Mike

Canuck
Agreed.... but I could'nt resist waving the flag a bit, how un-canuck like of me!LOL
Push feed or not they are things o beauty!

Out of the actions mentioned I like the Granite best........despite the fact I have never handled one, They look great.

As I sit here I am looking a a single C ring FN type Mauser marked FI, Firearms International, it's a very old rifle with a 2 diget serial number and that beatiful FI crest like an FN has....I found it for $275 in a pawn shop yesterday and it has a Lyman Receiver sight worth about $75.00 on it..Its an 06 with a rough barrel....I think I will make a 458 Lott out of it or maybe just a .458 and handload it with 450 gr. bullets at 2250 FPS, who knows but when finished it will be as good as any CFR on the market today...

Ray,

If I was given that action I would put the oxy torch right through the middle of it

Mike