Shilen Actions - Using Savage Barrels

It has recently come to my attention that Shilens actions are savage compatible because they have the same shank diameter and use a barrel nut.

Link to Shilen website and action page:
http://www.shilen.com/index.html
http://www.shilen.com/pricesActions.html

A forum post I found:
http://www.longrangehunting.com/foru...ctions-100009/

Has anyone here ever tried one of these actions?

As they are $950 I doubt very many people have tried them. Anyhow they look pretty sweet and would still allow you to switch barrels just like a savage/with savage barrels.

Thoughts? Opinions?

The action is a Stiller Predator, made to Shilen's specifications. It is basicly a Remington 40 clone, with a Savage barrel tennon.

$950 isn't a bad deal. That's about the same as what I paid for my LH Stiller Predator. Wonder if it comes with a scope base?

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Originally Posted by geargrinder

$950 isn't a bad deal. That's about the same as what I paid for my LH Stiller Predator. Wonder if it comes with a scope base?

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I don't think they come with the scope base as they have their bases listed separately. But they are not very clear on that.

Here:

http://www.shilen.com/pricesServices.html

I guess if you think about buying 2 or 3 barrels per action $950 doesn't sound too bad. They have the same footprint as a remington 700 so finding a stock should be easy.
If you look at this page they have more info on their actions and they actually talk about having a switch barrel action:
http://www.shilen.com/productsCompleteRifles.html

I am a couple hundred bucks from having the funds to get one order. Uses a remmy trigger. That means a jewel drops right in. M700 stocks. I am getting the DGV. I am a single shot guy. I already have a dozen barrels that will screw in it.

Tim

Seems they have taken the best of 3 actions and put it in one. Savage floating bolt and barrel nut, remington parts compatibility and bolt, stiller action. Is there a downside? It's pricey but it's custom quality for hell sake.

tiny68: You better give us a pick heavy review after you get it.

Never happy. Large shank 1.120" x 20tpi tenon threads would have opened choices such as WSM,Lapua,and Norma 300 Mag.

I considered this action but after contacting them, they said they wouldnt sell me a bolt head if I decided to change to a caliber with a different bolt face diameter. Bighorn has the same floathing head feature and would sell me one, but they wanted a rediculous amount for it.

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Originally Posted by redman

Savage floating bolt and barrel nut, remington parts compatibility and bolt, stiller action. Is there a downside?

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They dont use a Savage bolt head, the bolt heads are made by Stiller. They are modeled after a Savage style.

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Originally Posted by derbs

Never happy. Large shank 1.120" x 20tpi tenon threads would have opened choices such as WSM,Lapua,and Norma 300 Mag.

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Derbs. WSM's are built with small shank threads on a regular basis. Everything Remington makes in wsm is small diameter and uses a 1 1/16-16 pitch thread which cuts deaper than a 1 1/16 20 pitch. Many other manufacturers are using something close to the 1 1/16 thread size as well. If you are concerned about barrel integrity just do a nut delete where the large diameter of the barrel, after the tenon(behing the lug) is 1.250 or larger. You could always have your smith recut to the 1 1/8-20 threads.

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Originally Posted by 82boy

They dont use a Savage bolt head, the bolt heads are made by Stiller. They are modeled after a Savage style.

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I think all the Predator bolts are made by PTG. I'd bet these are too. If they are, I wonder if you could get them directly from Kiff.

Couldn't you possibly order a bolt head from stiller? Where shilen has stiller make these I would say that they don't carry much parts for them. They probably are nor trying to get you to buy a new action for each bolt head they just don't carry them. The bolt heads they do have are probably extras just in case there are a few warranty issues.

Wade Hull told me that they would supply multiple bolt heads with the purchase. $65 each bolt head. They was when they were still pre-production. I was talked to wade a couple times as they were getting ready to release them. Life happened and I had to put the purchase on hold. The last time I checked it was 6-9 months wait time from date of deposit. I don't plan to have anything soon.

Tag

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Originally Posted by geargrinder

I think all the Predator bolts are made by PTG. I'd bet these are too. If they are, I wonder if you could get them directly from Kiff.

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No, the bolt heads are made by Stiller and not PT&G. (This information I have gotten form a higly creditable source.) Yes PT&G makes bolts for many aftermarket action makers including Stiller.

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Originally Posted by 82boy

No, the bolt heads are made by Stiller and not PT&G. (This information I have gotten form a higly creditable source.) Yes PT&G makes bolts for many aftermarket action makers including Stiller.

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It was just my assumption since I know my Predator bolt is a PTG unit, and these look identical except for the bolt head.

If Criterion would chamber the 7mm SAUM in a small shank, I would be pretty excited. Also, if they gave more details on the bolt face and if they'll sell additional ones, I would be even more interested.

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Originally Posted by LRJammer

I considered this action but after contacting them, they said they wouldnt sell me a bolt head if I decided to change to a caliber with a different bolt face diameter. Bighorn has the same floathing head feature and would sell me one, but they wanted a rediculous amount for it.

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Same reason I didn't buy on from them last year. They weren't exactly friendly about it either.

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Originally Posted by jc

Same reason I didn't buy on from them last year. They weren't exactly friendly about it either.

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They werent friendly with me about it either. I dont see the point in having the capability, but not giving your customers the opportunity to take advantage of it. Then, the way they reacted to the request was the final straw and decided to take my money elsewhere.

I just received a Shilen action in right bolt left port yesterday. I had them include there competition trigger 2-6 oz and the once piece scope base. The bill was 1200 shipped to my FFL. The scope base uses the larger 8-40 screw and is also pinned to the action front and back. It also comes with a pinned recoil lug.

Assembly was just as easy as doing a savage action. Removed my 6br barrel from my savage repeater action and screw it right on.

I love my savages but i wanted to get a lighter trigger pull and the Remington foot print really opens up the options for stocks and trigger.

Really a good deal by the time you pay for a target action, have it timed and trued change out the bolt handle and bolt body to tighten things up.

I asked Shilen about bolt heads and they sent me to PTG who sent me to Stiller who told me that would have to come through Shilen. Stiller also said that they recommend getting a complete bolt and not changing out the bolt heads as it will loosen tolerances if changed often. Not sure if i buy the last part, but the Shilen action does feel a lot tighter and more solid then the savage does.

Just my .02 from what I have experienced. Thought i would share my experience as i have seen quite a few people asking and no real first had experiences posted.

Excellent review. They are still in the running for my next project.

I had a barrel action made by Shilen and received it earlier this year. When I was in discussions with them I wanted two bolts, for non-mag and mag. As mentioned above, they weren't happy with the idea of the changing the bolt head. There was going to be a very high price and a long delay if I got a second bolt, so I didn't go with that option.

The barreled action I had made is a 7mm STW and have since put together a rifle and run some factory ammo down range. I had to pack away reloading gear for the time being ...

I am pretty excited about this rifle and the concept. As expected it is first rate. The large magazine opening (3.95", as I recall), and side bolt release allow for this action to be used as a repeater for the long cartridges seen in 7mm STW. To do this with a Savage would have been more work than I wanted to do. The action didn't come with a base for a scope, although the website suggests otherwise. I orded a base before I realized what their website says.

I can't say that the people at Shilen are rude (and overall I'm a happy repeat customer), they just aren't ... warm and fuzzy.

I like their offering so much, I would use it again.

Only a couple more remaining questions for me.

1. Does anyone know if the action comes with trigger hanging pins? And does it take the Pre-2006 Rem 700 style triggers or the newer style?

2. Who chambers small shank barrels in magnum calibers? Criterion wouldn't do a 7mm SAUM in a small shank, so that put my whole project on hold.

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Originally Posted by Tackdriver

Only a couple more remaining questions for me.

1. Does anyone know if the action comes with trigger hanging pins? And does it take the Pre-2006 Rem 700 style triggers or the newer style?

2. Who chambers small shank barrels in magnum calibers? Criterion wouldn't do a 7mm SAUM in a small shank, so that put my whole project on hold.

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1. I had them install their trigger, so I don't know.
2. Even less help on the second question.

1. I had them install one of there triggers also.
2. I think any gunsmith can chamber you a barrel blank in 7saum. Cant imagine there being a problem as people chanber small shanks for 338 edge all the time. McGowan outlet has them in stock in the small shank also.

Will Criterion not chamber in that caliber or do they not have a reamer?

When I tried to order it through Jim, he said they wouldn't do it on a small shank.

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Originally Posted by Tackdriver

When I tried to order it through Jim, he said they wouldn't do it on a small shank.

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I just picked up my DGR today and I will be running .284 Win in a Shilen stainless select Savage drop-in ratchet-groove barrel (4-groove) but, as I recall, you can have Shilen chamber them in quite a range of different cartridges which are detailed here:

http://www.shilen.com/chambers.html

I can't say exactly which will be allowed in a small shank but a phone call is easy...

-Bryan

P.S. - for those that were curious, it does come with the trigger hanger pins. No base.

Did anyone end up picking up one of these actions? I'm curious if the firing pin is adjustable for depth or if they're set to the bolt head they come with.

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Originally Posted by Tackdriver

Did anyone end up picking up one of these actions? I'm curious if the firing pin is adjustable for depth or if they're set to the bolt head they come with.

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I don't believe the firing pin is adjustable. It is set only for cartridges with the base circle of the bolt head as-delivered. Bolt heads other than the one ordered are not really available either. Make sure you know what you want before you order.

-Bryan

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Originally Posted by Tackdriver

Did anyone end up picking up one of these actions? I'm curious if the firing pin is adjustable for depth or if they're set to the bolt head they come with.

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These actions are Remington clones, they just use a Savage tenon, and a savage design bolt head. It will have a Remington style firing pin, and use Remington ignition system.

Does anyone know the difference of the stiller to a stock savage.Could a savage be modified to fit.

Jon,

"Could a stock Savage be modified to fit?" Fit what? I don't understand your question. Tim

Anybody have any pictures of a rifle built off one of these actions? Was it easy to get shooting? Getting one of these actons would save a fella allot of money because no gunsmithing would be necessary and could use Remington parts, mainly stocks.