What's the safest modern bolt action?

[coloradoan]

What's the safest bolt action? I know safe can mean different things. I've commonly read that for all it's faults, the Rem 700 has the most effective system of gas handling ("three rings of steel"). The Savage 110 is also highly praised in this regard. On the other hand, the Remington has famous trigger issues. I've been reading through Stuart Otteson's book The Bolt Action, and it has a lot of interesting stuff to say about this. Unfortunately the book was written well before many of the actions we use today were created.

 

[K9kodi]

The rem 700 style action is very nice, when done correctly. Remington company may make the 700, but the action style is manufactured by others and may be done better. Money speaks.

The safest rifle is always pointed in the correct direction. Loaded or not.


I’m a big fan of a well done rem 700 based action, Winchester 70 based action or the old school Mausers. Unfortunately, if a low budget company makes a clone on that style and does it poorly it may never be good. Buy quality and practice Safetey.

 

[NSI]

It is not possible to classify a rem 700 action as “safe” when a new drop safe trigger cannot currently be purchased for any variant from any manufacturer.

I’d be looking at: Sako, Tikka, AI, Sauer, Blaser, MRC, and possibly the new gen gunwerks nexus.

-J

 

[JohnJohnson]

Safe in an overpressure event? I think the ARC Mausingfield (unsure about their other actions) does quite well there. But it's an R700 trigger system so hard to say it's safest overall.

 

[TxLite]

It is not possible to classify a rem 700 action as “safe” when a new drop safe trigger cannot currently be purchased for any variant from any manufacturer.

I thought the Geissele trigger was considered drop safe?

 

[Chris in TN]

The Remington extractor system is, IMO, the best ever designed from an overpressure gas leak safety standpoint.

I also believe that if anyone at Remington actually *wanted* to address the actual (not perceived) shortcomings with the 700 - meaning the dimensional variance, the poorly attached bolt handle, and the trigger - they could likely reclaim their place at the top of the pile of quality actions. Might as well swap the bolt release too but I see that as more of an operator issue. I said it.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

The Remington extractor system is, IMO, the best ever designed from an overpressure gas leak safety standpoint.

I also believe that if anyone at Remington actually *wanted* to address the actual (not perceived) shortcomings with the 700 - meaning the dimensional variance, the poorly attached bolt handle, and the trigger - they could likely reclaim their place at the top of the pile of quality actions. Might as well swap the bolt release too but I see that as more of an operator issue. I said it.

The bolt hand attachment thing is wild to me. I saw one pop off after getting rained on all day long then freezing while laying up agains a tree at night during a moose hunt. I figured water go into some sort of void then when it froze it just popped it off.

After that, I sent my only Remington to accu-tig to get rig welded on. When looked at it closely (before sending it out) I could see a large gap where water would easily get in.

I also had dual ejectors and an m16 extractor installed on that bolt. The Remington trigger was also replaced with a trigger tech.

 

[Chris in TN]

The bolt hand attachment thing is wild to me. I saw one pop off after getting rained on all day long then freezing while laying up agains a tree at night during a moose hunt. I figured water go into some sort of void then when it froze it just popped it off.

After that, I sent my only Remington to accu-tig to get rig welded on. When looked at it closely (before sending it out) I could see a large gap where water would easily get in.

I also had dual ejectors and an m16 extractor installed on that bolt. The Remington trigger was also replaced with a trigger tech.

The bolt handle thing is frustrating because it would cost virtually nothing extra to do it right the first time.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

The bolt handle thing is frustrating because it would cost virtually nothing extra to do it right the first time.

Absolutely, I read in the past that Remington claimed they didn’t weld it because they didn’t want to mess with the heat treatment of the bolt body but that really dosent hold up under scrutiny since it can easily be tig welded on there with no issues.

 

[NSI]

I thought the Geissele trigger was considered drop safe?

Correct. And it cannot be purchased anywhere except the used market where it is exceptionally rare. Same with the Jackson.

-J

 

[coloradoan]

The bolt hand attachment thing is wild to me. I saw one pop off after getting rained on all day long then freezing while laying up agains a tree at night during a moose hunt. I figured water go into some sort of void then when it froze it just popped it off.

After that, I sent my only Remington to accu-tig to get rig welded on. When looked at it closely (before sending it out) I could see a large gap where water would easily get in.

I also had dual ejectors and an m16 extractor installed on that bolt. The Remington trigger was also replaced with a trigger tech.

Doesn't installing an M16 extractor seriously compromise the gas handling system?

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Doesn't installing an M16 extractor seriously compromise the gas handling system?

I don't know, isn't the gas "handling" system just a hole in the side of the action??? I didn't trust the tiny little factory extractor Remington uses in their bolts, my buddy somehow damaged his and his rifle wouldn't extract the shell. When he tried to remove the extractor to replace it, he damaged the bolt since the extractor was pinned in there. The only fix was the m16 extractor install, he loved it so I did the same.

If it does compromise the gas handling system, I'd say it's likely. non issues since its a common conversion and half the Remington 700 clones used in custom actions have an m16 extractor in them.

 

[Rolando]

It is not possible to classify a rem 700 action as “safe” when a new drop safe trigger cannot currently be purchased for any variant from any manufacturer.

I’d be looking at: Sako, Tikka, AI, Sauer, Blaser, MRC, and possibly the new gen gunwerks nexus.

-J

Who is making these "drop safe" determinations?

 

[Wrench]

You can add a m70 style safety to a rem 700.....but a m70 is so simple and the trigger is so foolproof.

 

[TxLite]

Correct. And it cannot be purchased anywhere except the used market where it is exceptionally rare. Same with the Jackson.

-J

They brought them back earlier this year for the low price of $375. Currently showing out of stock though.