As cool as ARs are and as satisfying as it is assemble a custom build, I’ve always wanted to own one really nicely made bolt action— custom action, custom stock, custom barrel, all that. Thanks to a springtime windfall of some cash, I was able to start a project that just last week saw the final parts come together.
The action I selected is the Zermatt TL3 short action with the “AW” cut for the AIAW magazines (which don’t really work well in a two-lug action, but it’s good to have the option). I like this action because 1) it uses Savage barrel threads for the shank so some of my existing barrels will work, 2) it has a modular bolt design that allows anything from .223 to a short magnum in the same action, and 3) they have a mechanical ejector that’s ideal for the shooting I do. They are also somewhat reasonably priced as custom actions go.
So we start here:
Into this action I installed a nice barrel I already had— a Bartlein single-point cut rifled 5R 7.5tw barrel with in .264 with a 6.5 creedmoor chambering. I adopted 6.5 as my first non-.223 centerfire long gun cartridge and invested heavily in loading supplies for it. It’s proven to be a superbly balanced cartridge that does everything I want to do just about perfectly. Alas, the barrel had previously been fired barely 100 rounds, so it’s about broken in a little else.
Then of course, we need a Stock. I loved the look and design of the Foundation stocks, so they were kind enough to make one and even personalize it a little for me.
The action is triggered by a Bix’n Andy TacSport Pro X trigger, with the textured shoe. The first stage has a pull weight of about 4oz and the 2nd stage breaks at about 10oz for a total pull weight just under a pound.
The trigger action is pretty crazy:
After carefully setting the headspace to just barely 0.0004 or so over SAAMI minimum (go gauge), I assembled the complete rifle and mounted my Golden Eagle target scope from Vortex.
This gives us the final build:
All that’s left to do is take it to the range and get a good zero.
So I had the chance to do just that this past weekend. I put together a mild load with an inexpensive Hornady bullet that’s worked well for me in another barrel and went to get my zero. I started at 50y because I don’t even have a boresight on this thing. After 5 shots, I was on paper and had a pretty decent rough zero. So I figured I’d shoot my first 5 round group “for record.”
Even at the unimpressive distance of 50y, five shots through essentially two adjoining bullet holes is enough to get me excited. And of course it earns a trip to 100y to refine the zero and see what she will do there.
I print my own targets on cheap copy paper— 1 MOA outer circle with a 1/2 MOA inner circle. The first group for record was 1/2” at 100y but the paper tore as I was taking down the target. So I only have left the other 5 shot group shot at 100y:
Obviously the sample size is small, but with the first 15 shots for record forming three consecutive sub-half MOA groups, I’m very encouraged and super excited. I think it might go a little tighter if I warm this load up a bit and maybe can dial out some of the vertical scatter at 100y.
This is not a benchrest rifle so it will never do those tiny groups that look like a single bullet hole slightly enlarged. But I can get a 100y target that looks about like that 50y target does, I will be satisfied that no reasonable improvement is possible and I’ll stop tinkering and just shoot. For now, 1/2 MOA is still better than my wind reading ability and enough to guarantee that I am the weak link in this system quite easily.
I can’t express how fulfilling this whole experience was— the rifle I specified, the parts I assembled, the ammo I loaded, the groups I shot. I love everythign about this rifle— the appearance, the trigger, even the way the spent cases eject so gently when you want them to. This gun is the most enjoyment I’ve ever had at a range.
If you don’t have one truly nice bolt rifle that you enjoy, sell off your seldom-fired guns and safe queens to get one that you cannot wait to burn out the barrel on. You’ll be glad you did.
If you’ll excuse me, I have many projectiles and some kegs of powder that need to be propertly disposed of….
The action I selected is the Zermatt TL3 short action with the “AW” cut for the AIAW magazines (which don’t really work well in a two-lug action, but it’s good to have the option). I like this action because 1) it uses Savage barrel threads for the shank so some of my existing barrels will work, 2) it has a modular bolt design that allows anything from .223 to a short magnum in the same action, and 3) they have a mechanical ejector that’s ideal for the shooting I do. They are also somewhat reasonably priced as custom actions go.
So we start here:
Into this action I installed a nice barrel I already had— a Bartlein single-point cut rifled 5R 7.5tw barrel with in .264 with a 6.5 creedmoor chambering. I adopted 6.5 as my first non-.223 centerfire long gun cartridge and invested heavily in loading supplies for it. It’s proven to be a superbly balanced cartridge that does everything I want to do just about perfectly. Alas, the barrel had previously been fired barely 100 rounds, so it’s about broken in a little else.
Then of course, we need a Stock. I loved the look and design of the Foundation stocks, so they were kind enough to make one and even personalize it a little for me.
The action is triggered by a Bix’n Andy TacSport Pro X trigger, with the textured shoe. The first stage has a pull weight of about 4oz and the 2nd stage breaks at about 10oz for a total pull weight just under a pound.
The trigger action is pretty crazy:
After carefully setting the headspace to just barely 0.0004 or so over SAAMI minimum (go gauge), I assembled the complete rifle and mounted my Golden Eagle target scope from Vortex.
This gives us the final build:
All that’s left to do is take it to the range and get a good zero.
So I had the chance to do just that this past weekend. I put together a mild load with an inexpensive Hornady bullet that’s worked well for me in another barrel and went to get my zero. I started at 50y because I don’t even have a boresight on this thing. After 5 shots, I was on paper and had a pretty decent rough zero. So I figured I’d shoot my first 5 round group “for record.”
Even at the unimpressive distance of 50y, five shots through essentially two adjoining bullet holes is enough to get me excited. And of course it earns a trip to 100y to refine the zero and see what she will do there.
I print my own targets on cheap copy paper— 1 MOA outer circle with a 1/2 MOA inner circle. The first group for record was 1/2” at 100y but the paper tore as I was taking down the target. So I only have left the other 5 shot group shot at 100y:
Obviously the sample size is small, but with the first 15 shots for record forming three consecutive sub-half MOA groups, I’m very encouraged and super excited. I think it might go a little tighter if I warm this load up a bit and maybe can dial out some of the vertical scatter at 100y.
This is not a benchrest rifle so it will never do those tiny groups that look like a single bullet hole slightly enlarged. But I can get a 100y target that looks about like that 50y target does, I will be satisfied that no reasonable improvement is possible and I’ll stop tinkering and just shoot. For now, 1/2 MOA is still better than my wind reading ability and enough to guarantee that I am the weak link in this system quite easily.
I can’t express how fulfilling this whole experience was— the rifle I specified, the parts I assembled, the ammo I loaded, the groups I shot. I love everythign about this rifle— the appearance, the trigger, even the way the spent cases eject so gently when you want them to. This gun is the most enjoyment I’ve ever had at a range.
If you don’t have one truly nice bolt rifle that you enjoy, sell off your seldom-fired guns and safe queens to get one that you cannot wait to burn out the barrel on. You’ll be glad you did.
If you’ll excuse me, I have many projectiles and some kegs of powder that need to be propertly disposed of….
