What makes the perfect bolt action? It’s a very subjective question and it’s often the preferences of the user that drives the conversation. There are some attributes that are mandatory in any action, like the receiver’s face being perfectly perpendicular to the raceway. Other “features” are shooter preferences, like a 90, 75, or 60 degree bolt throw or maybe an anti-bind rail or not. A lot of these features come at the cost of more complicated machining which ends up costing more, or having a heavier bolt lift in the case of a shorter bolt throw.
As a student of anything related to precision rifles, I’m always interested in what goes into designing and manufacturing the highly precise pieces of equipment I’m using. With my current interest in lightweight precision rifles, I was very excited to be able to follow the development of the SKLTN action from Pure Precision Rifles (formerly Mesa Precision Arms) and to be able to interview the designers.
The following interview is with Landon Gines, a long time rifle builder and now designer at Pure Precision Rifles. In this 20-minute conversation, he shares his opinions about action design, the must have features, materials, and tolerances, along with the pros and cons of different design characteristics. Watch the video below and join the conversation in the comments.
For more information about the SKLTN action please visit PurePrecision.com
Mike Semanoff is the writer behind Shooter Opinions, sharing firsthand firearm and outdoor gear reviews, hunting experiences, range reports, and industry interviews. A U.S. Army veteran who served in the 82nd Airborne Division, Mike draws on military experience and time in the field to discuss performance, comfort, durability, and practical tradeoffs. His reviews combine personal observations with photos and videos of the gear in use. Some articles contain affiliate links; qualifying purchases may earn Shooter Opinions a commission.