Stiller Action & PTG

[MT_Chad]

Hey guys, have a question for the group. Pacific Tool and Gauge has left hand Stiller actions on sale for 599. I've heard enough horror stories about PTG to be wary, but those were all on the Rem 700 rifles they bought and tooling they make. Im curious if experiences are better for actions they simply stock and sell. So, would the group roll the dice on PTG and Stiller or go my alternate route in a Tikka or maybe a zermatt origin.
For context, this will be a range trainer and varmint gun, something low recoil in 22 or 6mm cal. 6 BR is at the top right now.
Thanks guys!

 

[Hunter0925]

Stiller would be a stock action. I would order it at that price no problem.

 

[MTTW]

I ordered a Remington bolt that showed in stock. A month later I called and they said bolts are not stocked and are all built to order. Long story short, they are full of shit and the bad reviews are true. I did get the bolt several months later and at a good price. If you have a timeline I would skip them, if not then I believe you will eventually get an action.
Bottom line is the reviews are true, not just hot heads blowing steam.

 

[Camdu7]

I don't have any info on PTG but I do have a LH Stiller Predator as well as a couple of Origins. I would place the stiller and origin as close in performance although the origins are smoother. The origin is more flexible with the ability to change bolt faces. If your are looking to go the prefir barrell route the origin will give you way more options and you can spin a savage barrell on for a cheap second barrell. The origins are $900 and come with a pic rail so the price difference is less than 250. I would trust Zermatt to be around for support in the future.
My 2 cents

 

[Addicting]

All the ones I’ve bought the scope mounting holes were misdrilled. I have to use Leupold adjustable rear mounts to compensate.

One of them the bolt didn’t fit and we had to mail several back and forth.

All of them had some sort of issue. Especially what extractor was needed. They have their own size mini16.

Now on out I will buy a donor rifle and skip PTG.

 

[Fire_9]

All the ones I’ve bought the scope mounting holes were misdrilled. I have to use Leupold adjustable rear mounts to compensate.

One of them the bolt didn’t fit and we had to mail several back and forth.

All of them had some sort of issue. Especially what extractor was needed. They have their own size mini16.

Now on out I will buy a donor rifle and skip PTG.

These issues were on stiller actions?

I personally have had no issues with PTG and wouldn’t hesitate to order a stiller at that price.

 

[Addicting]

These issues were on stiller actions?

I personally have had no issues with PTG and wouldn’t hesitate to order a stiller at that price.

They were all the 700s. I missed that he was interested only in the stiller.

 

[turbobrick]

PTG nearly ruined my custom rifle build, it took almost a year from ordering an "in stock" action, to sending it back to them twice because it was out of spec, to sending it back the last time and finally getting a refund. Their communication is nearly non-existent, and I am seriously concerned about their ability to correctly read a micrometer. I cannot endorse anyone buying anything from them for any reason.

 

[MT_Chad]

I don't have any info on PTG but I do have a LH Stiller Predator as well as a couple of Origins. I would place the stiller and origin as close in performance although the origins are smoother. The origin is more flexible with the ability to change bolt faces. If your are looking to go the prefir barrell route the origin will give you way more options and you can spin a savage barrell on for a cheap second barrell. The origins are $900 and come with a pic rail so the price difference is less than 250. I would trust Zermatt to be around for support in the future.
My 2 cents

Thanks for the comparison, I was hoping someone on here would have experience with both. I really prefer the features of the Origin over the stiller for sure.
The stiller was only in the mix because of the price, finding a left hand donor rifle is going to run the same price as the stiller action.
I started this adventure trying to find a left hand heavy varmint rifle in 223 to build. They don't seem to exist anymore and the used ones on gunbroker aren't worth the price for a donor rifle.

 

[MT_Chad]

PTG nearly ruined my custom rifle build, it took almost a year from ordering an "in stock" action, to sending it back to them twice because it was out of spec, to sending it back the last time and finally getting a refund. Their communication is nearly non-existent, and I am seriously concerned about their ability to correctly read a micrometer. I cannot endorse anyone buying anything from them for any reason.

Your issues seem way too common, the reason for my concern. Since they don't make the stiller action, it would just be a matter of boxing it up and shipping. Still gives me some concern given their less than stellar reputation.

 

[turbobrick]

Your issues seem way too common, the reason for my concern. Since they don't make the stiller action, it would just be a matter of boxing it up and shipping. Still gives me some concern given their less than stellar reputation.

I was thinking the same, how could they mess up slapping a label on a box and sending you someone else's action? Then I remembered how many times I contacted them with no response, got tracking info for a package that never, ever moved, put on hold and nobody ever came back...... But, if you can't get the action anywhere else, and they'll give you a solid ship date, I'd roll the dice, but do a chargeback the instant they miss their first benchmark. You cannot give them a millimeter of leeway.

On a side note, I built my 6BR off a 700 from Cabelas and a Remage barrel. It shot great. The custom that PTG almost ruined ended up getting a Defiance anTi and is a better rifle because of it. I love Tikkas, and have built off them in the past too.

 

[MT_Chad]

I was thinking the same, how could they mess up slapping a label on a box and sending you someone else's action? Then I remembered how many times I contacted them with no response, got tracking info for a package that never, ever moved, put on hold and nobody ever came back...... But, if you can't get the action anywhere else, and they'll give you a solid ship date, I'd roll the dice, but do a chargeback the instant they miss their first benchmark. You cannot give them a millimeter of leeway.

On a side note, I built my 6BR off a 700 from Cabelas and a Remage barrel. It shot great. The custom that PTG almost ruined ended up getting a Defiance anTi and is a better rifle because of it. I love Tikkas, and have built off them in the past too.

I also love tikkas. My main hunting rifle is a lightly customized tikka. I wish tikka still had a varmint 223 in left hand...
I might cheap out, a guy local to me has a savage action sitting in a decent chassis for a decent price. NSS has some good deals on 6mm ARC barrels. I could build a decent practice gun that will likely shoot better than me for a lot less.
I want a custom, but it's hard to justify since it's not one of my primary hunting rifles. Decisions....