Custom Rifle/Bighorn Action

WNYBILL

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Jan 12, 2026
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WNY
Been fooling with Savage 110's for 30 years and am considering a Bighorn action for my next trip down the rabbit hole. Would like to correspond with anyone who has gone this route. Problems, would you do it again, how much improvement?

Bill
 
I've never tried the Bighorn action, it was always out of stock when I was building a new custom rifle. But, they are a nice action. I've built four rifles with custom actions, they all accept Savage style pre-fit barrels.
My first was a Shilen DGR action, it is made by Stiller for Shilen and it actually uses the same style bolt head as Savage. It's a nice smooth action, but there are better choices for the price.
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Shilen DGR action, Shilen select match 26" 6.5 CM barrel, Trigger Tech Special trigger, KRG Whiskey 3 chassis, all metal cerakoted in burnt bronze, 20moa rail, ARC M10 rings holding an IOR Valdada Recon 4-28x50 scope.

My next was an American Rifle Co - Nucleus action. ARC makes some damn good actions! Smooth as glass, controlled feeding.
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ARC Nucleus action, X-Caliber 20" 22 CM barrel, Trigger Tech Diamond trigger, KRG Bravo chassis, 30moa rail, ARC M10 rings holding a S&B PMII 5-25x56 scope

ARC - Nucleus 2.0 action - An upgraded action over the original, I like it.
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ARC Nucleus 2.0, Rock Creek 20" 223 Remington barrel, Trigger Tech Diamond trigger, KRG Bravo chassis, 30moa rail, ARC M10 rings holding a S&B PMII 5-25x56 scope

Last up is the ARC Archimedes action. I don't know if I'll ever need the pivoting bolt handle to help with a stuck case, but that is one of the upgrades that Ted invented for this action. All of my ARC actions are fantastic.
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Arc Archimedes action, X-Caliber 22" 25 CM barrel, Trigger Tech Special trigger, Woox Exactus chassis, 30moa rail, ARC M10 rings holding an Athlon Cronus 4.5-29x56 scope.

There aren't many negatives when it comes to building off a custom action. They are so much better operating than a factory action. The positives of using them over a Savage action is the vast choices you have in parts that you can buy since most custom actions share a Remington 700 footprint. I don't regret building any of mine.
 

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