Sako for a factory gun.

There are other rifles besides the M70??? Who knew?

It seems that up to now, most of the responses have been based more on functionality than appearance. No question there are some very attractive bolts out there than are buttery smooth.

Favorite means different things to different people I would guess. Mine is a rem 700 because that is what my first rifle was/is, its what my brother dad, and 90% of my uncles shot/shoot etc.

That said I dont have much negative to say about really any of them, they all open/close, chamber/extract and fire a round. Probably the only gripe I have is my savage bolt sometimes hangs up while chambering a round, but its not bad and the more I have shot it the less it is an issue.

Beauty.

If we're just talking actions and not triggers mines pretty easy.

1. Remington 721 and 722 actions take top billing.

2. Weatherby MK-V.

3. Remington 700.

4. Ruger M-77 Tang Safety.

5. Pre 64 Model 70.

Best action trigger combination would be Remington Model 700, 721 and the 722.





There's just something about how the old Tang Safety M-77's feel in the hand. You better hope you find that 220 Swift before I do. One of the hands has an old M-77 220 Swift with a sporter barrel and he'll die before he let's it go. There's a reason I have so many old M-77's.

I have to say HWY_MAN nailed it, although I have very little experience with Ruger 77's. I'd substitute Sako in the #4 spot. Most of my love these days is for Ruger single-shots & I love their tang safeties also.

yep, the "OLD" Remington actions are had to beat. Reason 90% of custom actions are built off the 700 design.

The SAKO/TIKKA/S20 , Browning tri lug is a great design too. shorter bolt throw for the speed shooters and scope clearence

Even though I don’t use it as much as I used to, the Ruger 77V tang safety in 220 Swift may be my favorite. Yes, I have HWY MAN’s desired rifle. Very smooth action. The barrel, which was a bull barrel till I wore it out, was replaced with a Douglas #2 contour barrel by Rifles, Inc., and is so very accurate.

Next may be the Sako 270 that I hunted deer with for decades. The action locks up like a well oiled bank vault. My neighbor shot it recently and he said “wow”.

If I ever get to where I can’t hunt, I’ll offer the 220 to HWY MAN, unless he’s too old to hunt. It needs to be in the hands of someone that appreciates it.

You guys are starting to make me think I need to add a tang safety M77. Maybe an old dog leg Ruger.

Winchester M70 in. 270 Howa Thumbhole Stock in 308. Winchester M70 in. 223 WSSM

I own many different rifles. 700's in steel and Ti, 77's, pre-64 Winchester Model 70's, Sako, LAW 704's, Kimber, Savage.
Probably the "nicest" action is on my 1964 L61 in .264 Win Mag. It's ridiculous in the level of quality. Close second would be the old Model 70's.

The two I reach for most often are a 700 Ti in 7mm-08 and a LAW Professional in 6.5 CM. They both shoot and I can bang them around without feeling too guilty.

Curious: what causes the 721/722 to be rated higher than the 700?

Mainly it was the attention given when manufacturing, fitting and assembling individual rifles, kind of like the pre 64 Winchesters. I've yet to see a 721 or a 722 action that wasn't extremely smooth and tight for a mass produced rifle. My oldest 300 Weatherby started life before I was born, it was built off a 721 action. Pop hunted with it one year as a 300 H&H before sending it to Roy Weatherby and having him rechamber it to 300 Weatherby, that particular rifle has the smoothest action of any I own.

Everybody needs an old M-77 in the safe, they're a meat and potato's, working mans rifle.

I own every type of bolt gun imaginable and like the CRF Model 70s the best. The post 2007 Winchesters are better then any other bolt gun I have had my hands on but my most accurate bolt guns are all Remington actions or Remington patterned actions.

That makes sense. So using the same logic, would you rate the older 700s, maybe from the 60s and 70s higher than the more recently produced ones?

The question asked by the OP was which was my favorite actions not which was the best, had he asked which was the best in my opinion the 700 would be at the top of the list. Accuracy and trigger wise the newer 700's beat the older 721 and 722 but they just don't have that old smoothness and feel. It seems some of the finer details that were common on the standard older actions (Pre 64) have been left out on some of the newer ones. I understand the reason for it, if it costs more and doesn't add to reliability or accuracy it doesn't help the bottom line. That doesn't mean the newer 700's can't be brought back to the original smoothness of the old 721's, it's just an extra step the end user has to take on themselves.

There IS a different between BEST and FAVORITE you know. Point

There is no Best. It's all opinion.

Agree Scott, people ask for the best all the time and what is "best" for one might not be best for all.

Favorite is a very different thing, very subjective as to what makes something a favorite.

Smoothest bolt actions I have every cycled and there have been quite a few is the Mannlicher–Schönauer 1903, with it's split receiver it is a pain for scope mounting but those things are slick. the old Craigs were slick as well.

I put Cooper and Remington 788 as my favorites why well the cooper is slick, accurate enough (lives up to the sub half MOA guarantee) and a well made rifle with a good trigger. The 788 well it was my first boltaction, shoots half MOA with loads it likes, it and the cooper have 60 degree bolt throw and the 788 I just have full confidence in. Although I do not hunt with either much since converting a CZ527 to Grendel which is becoming my favorite the more I use it.

I'm with your on this. I have an M77 in 6.8 with a suppressor and I think it's going to be my favorite for most of the hunting I do. Grendel/6.8 are very pleasant to shoot and have plenty of power for deer under 300 yards.

my favorite has absolutely, without a doubt been Accuracy International.

Just saw a M77 tang safety 30-06 in the used guns at Cabelas in Allen $649

Tika 270

Remington 700 Varmint in 308. Maybe I got lucky, but my 700 (SPS Model) is incredibly accurate and the action, while not silky smooth like a high end of custom is still very good.