I not too long ago surveyed the 200 top-ranked shooters within the Precision Rifle Sequence (PRS) to be taught what gear they’re operating in long-range rifle matches. This huge pattern dimension represents the very best long-range rifle opponents within the nation.
This put up will concentrate on the rifle half that’s the absolute basis of any rifle: the motion. Maybe no piece of drugs can derail a match sooner than an motion. They only need to work each time with out fail! So what are these guys on the very high placing their belief in? (View different What The Professionals Use articles)
Let’s dive into the information!
Greatest Precision Rifle Motion for PRS Matches
On the chart above, the varied colours characterize the place a shooter landed when it comes to season rank within the PRS. For instance, black signifies shooters who completed within the high 10, the darkest blue is individuals who completed 11-25, and the lighter the blue, the additional out they completed in general standings. The chart legend itemizes the ranks every shade represents, however mainly, the darker the colour, the upper the shooter’s general rating.
57% of those top-ranked shooters are utilizing an Impression Precision 737R motion! That’s over 3 occasions as many as another model. Impression Actions had nearly as many shooters represented among the many high 50 as another model had over all 200 shooters.
5 of the highest 10 shooters have been operating an Impression motion: #4 Austin Orgain, #5 Austin Buschman, #6 Kyle Mccormack, #8 Ken Sanoski, and #9 Chris Kutalek. Impression additionally had 13 actions represented among the many high 25. So, they represented 50% or extra of the top-ranked shooters at each stage.
So what’s so compelling about an Impression motion? Listed here are two massive causes:
Have turn out to be the de facto normal for shouldered, pre-fit barrels. Impression holds very tight tolerances, even on assembled elements, which implies you should buy pre-chambered barrels off the shelf which are able to ship. No extra sending your favourite match rifle off to be rebarreled. They have been one of many first actions to ensure that pre-fit barrels would headspace accurately on their actions, again to the unique launch of the 737R in 2015. Different high-end, Rem 700 based mostly motion producers got here out with assured headspace actions round 2019, which gave Impression a big head begin. Right this moment, pre-fit barrels for Impression actions are extra frequent than another motion. If somebody is making high-end, pre-fit barrels, you’ll be able to guess they provide Impression Pre-Suits. (Study extra about pre-fit barrels)
Whereas Impression actions are held to tight tolerances, additionally they have acceptable clearances for reliability in dusty, field-style matches. Many high-end actions have minimal clearances between the bolt and the receiver, and dusty matches may cause them to run poorly and even lock up. Impression actions have been designed by two veteran PRS shooters, Wade Stuteville and Tate Streater, from the bottom as much as be dependable in dusty, field-style PRS matches. 2022 PRS Champion Austin Buschman says, “Absolutely the high precedence for my competitors rifle and kit is reliability.”
Like nearly all the actions on this checklist, the Impression Precision 737R is a brief motion based mostly on a Remington 700 footprint. Meaning you’ve gotten a ton of choices when it comes to chassis/shares and triggers which are appropriate with it.
Since Impression was so common, I’ll level out the checklist of options you’ll discover normal on an Impression 737R motion:
One-piece receiver with integral recoil lug and integral 20 MOA picatinny rail. (The 20 MOA rail helps extra of your scope’s elevation journey be useable. Study extra.)
Receiver is tough machined, warmth handled, bolt races electrical discharge machined, and end machined to make sure exacting dimensional tolerances
One piece bolt is designed with correct geometry and clearance to permit easy operation beneath area circumstances
Fluting on high and sides of bolt physique carry dust away whereas a easy backside portion ensures easy biking
Primarily based on Remington 700 footprint, so it’s appropriate with with most shares/chassis and you’ve got a variety of set off choices
Rugged bolt cease design can take abuse whereas not requiring modification to shares or chassis
Set off hanger permits simplified area upkeep to the set off
Black carbon nitride end improves operation by rising floor hardness and lubricity
Appropriate with each AICS and AW magazines, that means you’ve gotten the choice to run a real double-stack AW journal in them. (AW magazines are barely shorter than AICS magazines, which might generally be handy when capturing from varied barricades. You must take a look at the brand new AW magazines Grey Ops simply launched!)
There have been 5 manufacturers of actions that had not less than 5 or extra of those top-ranked shooters utilizing them, and the Impression Precision 737R brief motion is likely one of the lowest-priced choices amongst that group with an MSRP of $1,470.
One attention-grabbing stat is that 42% of these high shooters operating Impression actions stated they have been utilizing a pre-fit barrel. On the finish of this text, I’ll present a breakdown of what % of every motion stated they have been utilizing a pre-fit. (Study extra about pre-fit barrels)
The second hottest precision rifle motion was the Lone Peak Arms Fuzion, representing 16% amongst this crowd of elite marksmen. That did embody 3 of the blokes who completed within the high 10: #2 Andy Slade, #3 Morgun King, and #7 Jeff Guerry.
The Lone Peak Fuzion full-rail brief motion has many options which are much like the Impression 737R. Nevertheless, I’ve seen that a few of the producers making pre-fit barrels for Lone Peak Arms actions, like PROOF and Entrance Vary Precision, have this disclaimer on their Lone Peak pre-fit barrels: “Some older actions (made earlier than Fall 2019) shouldn’t have timed threads and headspace might range barely. It’s endorsed to double-check headspace after the barrel is put in.” So, it looks like Lone Peak made the modifications crucial for his or her actions to accommodate pre-fit barrels round Fall 2019. (Study extra)
The Lone Peak Fuzion brief motion has an integral recoil lug and 20 MOA picatinny rail. The brief motion can also be reduce to just accept both AICS or AW magazines. It options an M-16 fashion extractor and a light-weight 0.060” diameter firing pin that they promote as offering “the quickest lock time.” (Be aware: Lock time is the time between when a set off is activated and the firing pin hits the primer. It will possibly vary from 2.6 to 9.0 milliseconds in typical bolt-action rifles, and sooner is mostly thought of to be higher.)
The Lone Peak Fuzion motion has many choices and variations, together with a medium-length motion. Nevertheless, solely the brief motion model with the total rail comes normal with the receiver physique having a nitride end. Nitride is a {custom} choice on different Fuzion fashions.
One distinctive side of the Lone Peak Fuzion is the underside of the motion isn’t merely cylindrical like most Rem 700 based mostly actions, however is what they name “multi-flat.” Mainly the identical faceted design that you simply see on the highest half of the motion continues on the underside half. Brian at Lone Peak Arms advised me some shooters like that characteristic due to the way it imprints within the bedding. You possibly can see a 5-star bedding job by TS Customs within the photograph and the way the a number of flat angles on the underside of the Lone Peak motion imprint into the bedding.
The Lone Peak Fuzion has an MSRP of $1,450, which is the lowest-priced choice of any of the actions utilized by 5 or extra of those top-ranked PRS shooters.
Defiance Actions have been the third hottest motion amongst this group of top-ranked shooters at 9%. That included Nick Gadarzi, who completed tenth general within the 2023 PRS Season Standings.
Defiance has been one of the common actions among the many high PRS shooters for the reason that PRS was based in 2011. It was the 2nd hottest motion on the very first set of “What The Professionals Use” articles I revealed based mostly on knowledge from the 2012 PRS season (see the information), so Defiance actions have been represented for the reason that very starting!
Defiance has a ton of various mannequin actions, however the fashions which are frequent to see within the PRS are pictured to the proper, every with an integral recoil lug and an integral picatinny scope base. I did attain out to Nick Gadarzi particularly to ask which mannequin he was operating, and he advised me it was the Defiance Deviant Tactical.
The Defiance Ruckus Tactical motion is the newest addition to the lineup, launched in late 2019. It is extremely much like the Deviant, however the Ruckus has assured headspace – which implies you should buy pre-fit barrels for it. The Defiance Motion comparability web page says the Ruckus encompasses a “One-piece bolt machined in a single operation enabling assured headspace tolerance of +/- .001 inches” – however the Deviant fashions don’t have that headspace assure.
What’s attention-grabbing is that the Ruckus Tactical is priced $150 decrease than the Deviant Tactical ($1,595 vs $1,745). I learn every kind of opinions on-line about why that was, however I merely referred to as Defiance and requested them immediately. They stated it’s just because the bolt on the Ruckus was moved to a extra modernized machining course of, and it’s made in a single machining course of – in comparison with the Deviant bolt, which is an 11-step course of. In fact, even on the lowered worth of $1,595, the Ruckus Tactical motion remains to be the most costly motion that 5 or extra of the highest 200 ranked shooters used.
Defiance actions have extra customization choices and variations than another model, which might be good – or complicated. The short-length motion (Rem SA) is obtainable with an AW journal reduce. In addition they supply two completely different sizes of medium-length actions plus a protracted motion. If you wish to customise an motion to have some area of interest options, Defiance appears to have infinite choices. You possibly can customise the bolt knob, the bolt nostril, the bolt fluting, the bolt shroud, how heavy the tang is, a number of size choices, completely different journal cuts, and extra.
5% of those top-ranked shooters have been utilizing a Terminus motion, together with the man who took 1st general, Kahl Harmon.
Kahl stated that he was utilizing a Terminus Zeus motion, which is their flagship mannequin. They describe it as “an over-engineered tactical one-piece motion.” This one is a 3-lug design with a 60° throw on the bolt. Terminus does say that their Zeus motion has “receiver headspace tolerance and timed threads permit pre-fit barrels to be put in by the shopper.”
One distinctive factor in regards to the Terminus Zeus is that the receiver and bolt are each DLC coated (Diamon-Like Carbon Coating), whereas many of the different actions and bolts on this checklist are nitride-coated. I referred to as Terminus to ask about that, and Joel advised me that they initially used a nitride coating on their actions. He stated DLC coating is about 5 occasions the price of nitride, which is why you hardly ever see a whole receiver that’s DLC coated. DLC coating produces a better lubricity (decrease coefficient of friction) and is healthier at defending the motion from untimely put on. He additionally stated they noticed some very slight motion in some elements on account of nitride coating. Joel defined that the elements have been checked to fulfill sure specs, however when dipped within the 1100° nitride bathtub, they’d transfer barely. He stated the applying temperature of DLC is 312°, which isn’t sizzling sufficient to maneuver or change any of the elements. Joel did add the disclaimer that he’s not claiming nitride coating impacts or strikes all elements, however that was their expertise and why they moved to DLC – regardless of the additional expense.
One other novel characteristic of Terminus actions is their patented threaded set off pins, as an alternative of the older hammered-in fashion pins. The Impression motion encompasses a set off hanger, however these threaded pins appear to be one other answer to simplify area upkeep of a set off. Terminus additionally says they’ve a fast change barrel choice, or you will get the Zeus with normal, full-length barrel threading.
MSRP on the Terminus Zeus is $1,575, which makes it one of many dearer actions on this checklist – however not the best.
6 of those high 200 ranked shooters have been operating a Curtis Customized motion. That included 3 shooters within the high 25, however there weren’t any within the high 10.
The flagship competitors motion from Curtis Customs is the Valor Quick, which is one other 3-lug design with a 60° bolt throw and has an integral recoil lug and scope rail.
Right here is Curtis Customized’s abstract of the Valor brief motion: “The VALOR is a fruits of 4 years of Improvement with aggressive precision rifle capturing at its coronary heart! Enhancements made out of previous fashions are: Improved feeding with a proprietary Magwell design, which all however eliminates any journal binding or interface with the bolt. Permitting each AI and AW journal programs to work in conjunction with out modification. Inner tolerance and completely different machine strategies assist enhance general bolt carry and cycle. The ejection port is lengthened to permit for longer COAL. The cocking piece is a brand new design that can also be black nitrided for extremely easy operation.”
Curtis says they maintain headspace dimensions inside 0.001” on this motion, which implies you’ll be able to order shouldered, pre-fit barrels for it {that a} buyer can set up (be taught extra). Much like the Zeus, Curtis Customs advertises that you would be able to get the Valor Quick with a fast change barrel characteristic or full-thread tennon choice.
Chase Curtis, the proprietor of Curtis Customs, advised me they not too long ago moved all of their ending in-house, they usually use a proprietary course of to use a DLC coating. Beforehand, Curtis actions had a nitride coating. Chase stated their value per motion for the DLC coating is greater than double what nitride was costing them, however he believes it’s a greater end.
The Curtis Customs Valor Quick Motion has an MSRP of $1,474.
Facet-By-Facet Spec Comparability of Prime 5 Manufacturers
These 5 manufacturers characterize all the actions utilized by 5 or extra of those high 200 PRS shooters. These actions are related in some ways, however there are additionally distinctive options or choices. A number of years in the past, RECOIL journal had an article with such a side-by-side motion comparability, and I discovered myself referencing again to it a number of occasions. So, I believed it’d be useful to see a side-by-side comparability of the pricing and specs for every of these. You possibly can’t discover all of those specs on-line, so I referred to as every producer to fill in any of the blanks.
Now, I’ll share the extra motion manufacturers a couple of shooters stated they utilized in my “What The Professionals Use” survey.
BAT actions are legendary within the Benchrest world, and three of those top-ranked PRS shooters use them, with 1 of these ending within the high 50.
BAT provides so many various fashions of bolt actions that I wished to have the ability to share with my readers which mannequin the highest BAT shooter was operating. So I reached out to John Indellicati, who positioned forty fifth within the 2023 PRS Open Season Rankings utilizing a BAT motion. John stated he’s utilizing the BAT TR Mannequin with a 308 bolt face and nitride end. I requested what he favored about it, and John stated, “They’re very strong and of very prime quality. I like that they’ve an adjustable set off hanger and have a pleasant tight lock-up really feel. I exploit AW magazines, they usually run very easy when you get the mags tuned.”
I additionally noticed BAT launched the BAT Hammerhead motion in January, which is their latest repeater motion that’s purpose-built for competitors. Corson Piper, who completed twentieth within the 2023 PRS Open Division Season Rankings and is at the moment ranked 2nd within the 2024 standings, stated he not too long ago began utilizing the BAT Hammerhead in matches.
Right here is BAT’s description of the Hammerhead: “Quicker working than ever earlier than with our famend BAT Precision. That includes a shorter 75 diploma bolt carry that doesn’t compromise motion power or really feel. The Hammerhead consists of a normal size bolt cease or a brief journey bolt cease for BR/Dasher size cartridges. The shorter place reduces journey by .350″ thus enhancing biking pace. An adjustable and detachable screw is fitted to the journal port to permit for the usage of AICS magazines with out the feed-lips contacting the bolt.”
So, the BAT Hammerhead motion has a couple of distinctive options:
It’s a two-lug motion that encompasses a 75° bolt carry (most two-lug actions are 90°). Some individuals want a diminished throw angle as a result of they consider it’s sooner to function – which is a part of the draw of a 3-lug design that has a 60° bolt carry. However there are different cons that may include a 3-lug motion. So, it looks like BAT has launched a 3rd choice that will have the advantages of each.
Comes with two bolt stops: normal size + one other one that’s diminished by 0.35” to chop down on how far it’s a must to run the bolt for the shorter BR and Dasher instances.
Adjustable cease to optimize the usage of AICS with out the feed lips contacting the bolt (whereas nonetheless being appropriate with AW double-stack magazines)
Whereas a lot of these actions are similar to each other, I can actually respect somebody bringing some novel options to the desk – particularly people who appear very related to PRS capturing.
The BAT TR mannequin that John makes use of has an MSRP of $1,785, and the BAT Hammerhead has an MSRP of $1,885. That makes these the most costly actions out of this complete checklist.
3 of those pro-level shooters stated they have been utilizing an motion made by Zermätt Arms (previously referred to as Bighorn Arms). That included 2 within the high 100 however none within the high 50. Large Horn Actions has been a mainstay on this checklist of actions the highest shooters have been utilizing for the reason that very starting of the PRS in 2012.
These actions are managed spherical feed and have a mechanical ejector, which appears to be distinctive among the many different actions on this checklist. In addition they characteristic a floating, interchangeable bolt head, that means you’ll be able to change from one dimension bolt face to a different by merely changing the pinnacle of the bolt. The entire Zermätt Arms actions characteristic a pinned picatinny scope rail as an alternative of an integral rail, which is completely different from just about all the different actions on this checklist. The Zermätt Arms flagship motion, the TL3 motion, does characteristic an integral recoil lug.
The TL3 motion is priced at $1,300, which makes it one of many lowest-priced actions on this lineup.
2 shooters have been utilizing an motion made by Billet Precision Rifles. That features the proprietor of Billet Precision Rifles, Lane Shelley, who positioned twenty ninth general.
Right here is the outline of the LS1 motion: “A precision-built bolt motion receiver based mostly upon the 700 footprint. Quick motion caliber reduce for AICS magazines with an built-in recoil lug and a 20 M0A pic rail. End coating out there in a polish or gunmetal grey.”
MSRP on the LS1 motion is listed at $1,250 on their web site, which implies it’s the lowest-priced motion on this lineup of actions that was utilized by greater than 1 of those top-ranked PRS shooters.
2 shooters stated they have been utilizing a Falkor Protection motion, and a type of particularly famous it was the Falkor Protection 7even Quick Motion.
The Falkor Protection Seven brief motion is priced at $1,499.
Different Actions With 1 Shooter Represented
The manufacturers talked about above represented 95% of those 200 top-ranked PRS shooters, together with any motion utilized by greater than 2 or extra of the highest 200 ranked shooters. However, there was a fairly lengthy checklist of different actions that 1 of those shooters stated they used on my survey, and people are proven under.
A number of of those have been competing within the Manufacturing Division, which implies they have been utilizing a manufacturing unit rifle that was beneath a particular worth level – they usually nonetheless shot nicely sufficient to position within the high 200 within the Open Division. That simply reveals how succesful a few of the manufacturing unit rifles are lately. No person is claiming a manufacturing unit motion is pretty much as good as an Impression motion, however these are clearly able to precision!
How Many Are Operating Pre-Match Barrels On Completely different Actions?
Most of those actions are assured to headspace accurately on shouldered, pre-fit barrels. Undecided what which means? Learn this text.
So now let’s have a look at what number of of those top-ranked PRS shooters have been truly utilizing pre-fit barrels based mostly on what motion they have been utilizing.
First, the chart under reveals each model of motion that had 5 or extra shooters represented, together with what share of every stated they have been operating a pre-fit barrel.
That could be very attention-grabbing! 42% of the top-ranked shooters utilizing an Impression motion have been utilizing a pre-fit barrel, however the different manufacturers have a a lot decrease share of pre-fits represented.
The chart above is one view, however it doesn’t provide you with any perception into the place these shooters utilizing pre-fits completed. Had been solely the lower-ranked shooters operating pre-fit barrels? The reply is determined by what motion you’re speaking about. The chart under reveals all the individuals who stated they have been operating a pre-fit barrel (not one which was custom-chambered for his or her motion), and this chart is color-coded so we are able to see the place they ranked.
You possibly can see Impression Precision had 3 shooters within the high 10 and 5 within the high 25 that stated they have been operating a pre-fit barrel on an Impression motion. Nevertheless, the one individuals operating a pre-fit barrel on a Lone Peak motion have been ranked above fiftieth. There have been 6 shooters utilizing a Lone Peak motion within the high 50, however none of these individuals have been utilizing a pre-fit barrel.
There was 1 individual utilizing a pre-fit on a Terminus, who completed thirty ninth general on the season, and 1 individual utilizing a pre-fit on an LS1 motion from Billet Precision Rifles, who completed twenty ninth. Aside from Impression, Terminus, and Billet Precision, there weren’t another high 50 shooters operating a pre-fit on another motion.
The charts above present such a pointy distinction when it comes to each the % of shooters utilizing pre-fits and the rating of those that are that I’ve to surprise if these high shooters merely have extra confidence in pre-fit barrels made for Impression actions than these made for different manufacturers. In fact, that’s conjecture, however I’m undecided what else to make of the developments. When you have ideas on what is likely to be behind this, please share these within the feedback!
After I revealed my final article on pre-fit barrels, I can let you know that is undoubtedly a sizzling matter! There are many clever individuals with sturdy opinions on each side. Clearly, these motion producers have taken discover and are available to market with new merchandise to assist pre-fit barrels. If nothing else, it will likely be attention-grabbing to control this development over the approaching years.
The Manufacturers That Fell Off
There are a couple of names that have been on this checklist of actions the professionals have been utilizing for years that went lacking this yr. After I first revealed the information after the inaugural 2012 PRS season, Surgeon actions have been the favourite among the many high shooters. “Surgeon” is a type of old-school names that new shooters might have by no means even heard of at this level, and that is the primary survey the place there wasn’t a single one of many high riflemen who stated they have been utilizing one.
Stiller Actions is yet one more title that was on the unique checklist of actions and was well-represented among the many precision rifle neighborhood for a few years. They’d fallen down the checklist fairly a methods and solely had a few shooters represented the previous couple of occasions we regarded on the knowledge, however this marks the primary yr they’re not represented.
Accuracy Worldwide additionally sometimes had fairly a couple of shooters represented and had for the reason that very starting. Nevertheless, none of those high shooters stated they have been utilizing an AI motion this yr. AI rifles are actually able to competing at this stage. My guess as to why AI may need fallen off the checklist is that AI’s full rifles are pretty costly (beginning round $6500), they usually have very restricted chassis/inventory and set off choices. In contrast to nearly all different actions on this checklist, AI actions aren’t based mostly on a Remington 700 footprint however are a proprietary design.
Coming Up Subsequent
If you happen to loved this content material, there’s extra to come back! Over the following few months, I’ll be publishing a ton of information on what the highest precision rifle shooters are utilizing. Take a look at the opposite “What The Professionals Use” articles which have already been revealed.
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