I'm going to build a new rifle, and need some assistance in selecting an action to use.

My local gunsmith has used the MRC 1999 action for several rifle builds. He feels that with just a bit of grinding and polishing "here and there" that it makes a fine basis and the price is right.

I've seen one Waffen. Hein rifle and it was fantastic. However, the action is 5 times the cost of the MRC 1999....

Is there a disernable difference between the two, and if so....what? What exactly would the increase in spendature gain me over the MRC?

Not here to stir up the pot, just really would like to know so I can make a more informed decision.

Appreciate the assistance.

Have you chosen a cartridge yet? If you want something on the .416 Rigby head-size (i.e. .460 Wby., 500A2, etc.) or larger (.505 Gibbs), the MRC action is too small. The MRC M1999 is fine though for .375 H&H length cartridges (.416 Rem., .404 Jeff, .458 Lott, .470 Capstick). The other plus is that the M1999 comes in stainless (although you can get stainless from Waffenfabrik Hein if you pay $500 extra).

Is a Mercedes better than a Chevy?

My 1999 is a very fine action. So are my M-70s and my Rem 721......I truly don't know what I'd get more of in a "5 times the cost" action...

quality seems to have exponential costs and diminishing returns after a point.....and you, sir, must determine that point.

If you'll actually feel better in the Mercedes then you should have one.

If you want great quality and an action totally machined from a block of metal and excellent customer support go with the Hein. I have a leftie 375 H&H on order with them right now. I also have a leftie 458 Lott stainless barreled action on order from MRC. Communication with MRC has also been very well.
I am going on sight unseen but if I had to do it all over again I just would of had Hein do the Lott as well. They make the action around the cartridge for perfect feeding and you can order them to hold 4 or 5 down for no extra cost.
Like the man said, only you can decide if it is worth the extra price. For the record all my rifles are used for hunting and they are not babied. If they are not stainless they are plated/coated and all are syn stocked.

It really depends on what you want out of this rifle, set-up, etc.....

I am in the same boat, building a couple of rifles... thought about it for a long time. In the end, I decided I wanted one of the newly machined actions.

I have not finalized all the specs. but I did place my order with Waffenfabrik Hein. They make make a quality product, from all accounts top notch.

Based on everything I have seen, you would be hard pressed to beat WFH's pricing for the quality. The WFH base rifle pricing is very competitive, in my view, and you can add options you wish to have at a reasonable cost.

If I were you, I would cost out each rifle based upon the specs. you feel are necessary to include and understand the differences. You may find WFH is not all that much more when you consider the quality, options, etc........

It has also been a pleasure to deal with Karl, Greg, and Dave. I have alot of confidence and trust in their ability to make a quality product even something new and different

I have handled both actions, and I bought two M99 actions to build prototype actions (both are .458 Lott, one LH and one RH). The Wff Hein action feels like a bank vault when you close it, or at least the action I handled did.

My M99s are OK, but not in the same class.

As above, it really comes down to what you want. It is good that your gunsmith has used the M99 action, I don't like to be the pioneer unless I definitely want to get out there in front for some reason.

I expect to have a Wff Hein rifle soon, and I will be able to comment on rifles built with either action.

jim

So Hein is truly a custom built. Looking at their site, I would indeed be better off having them build my rifle as it'll only cost a few hundred more than the action alone.

Thanks for the advice.