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....

 

[turbobrick]

Every time I've gone Savage I've hated myself after. If you want a 6arc, I'd seriously consider a Howa mini and slap it in a chassis of your choice. My 6arc has a Carbon6 barrel, C6 considers the Minis as prefit-able, I sent mine to them, and they installed the barrel for $40. Obviously, the Mini and that bolt face limits what you can do with it other than the Grendel based cartridges, but its cheap and fun, great cartridge. One gun that i have now, that I think gets way under appreciated is the Sig Cross. Its pretty affordable, naturally a chassis system, takes prefits, or you can set up barrels just like a Savage or Remage if you have gauges too. I got mine in 6.5cm, sold that barrel but kept the extension, bought a pre-fit 6cm, and had a 338federal barrel made that I set to the original extension so its now pre-fit and I can go back and forth between them.

 

[MT_Chad]

Every time I've gone Savage I've hated myself after. If you want a 6arc, I'd seriously consider a Howa mini and slap it in a chassis of your choice. My 6arc has a Carbon6 barrel, C6 considers the Minis as prefit-able, I sent mine to them, and they installed the barrel for $40. Obviously, the Mini and that bolt face limits what you can do with it other than the Grendel based cartridges, but its cheap and fun, great cartridge. One gun that i have now, that I think gets way under appreciated is the Sig Cross. Its pretty affordable, naturally a chassis system, takes prefits, or you can set up barrels just like a Savage or Remage if you have gauges too. I got mine in 6.5cm, sold that barrel but kept the extension, bought a pre-fit 6cm, and had a 338federal barrel made that I set to the original extension so its now pre-fit and I can go back and forth between them.

If Howa made left handed guns I would probably do the mini. My options for a lefty are extremely limited. Basically savage, remington, tikka, and custom actions. I currently have a savage model 12 in right hand that this gun will replace. I've switched all my other guns to left hand and I am used to the left bolt at this point, so the last righty has to go. I actually don't mind that model 12, it's pretty smooth (for a savage) and my handloads shoot about 1/2 moa.
I go back and forth about every half hour which way I should go. My gut tells me buy once, cry once and don't fall for the upgrade later fiasco, since it cost more in the long run.

I'm not set on the 6 arc, but it does check the boxes for me (other than the odd ball bolt face). As I mentioned above, also thinking about a 6mm BR Norma. Hell, I would take a 223 if I could find the one I want. I just want a small 6mm or 22 variant to practice with and shoot prairie dogs and coyotes. I have a 6mm Rem AI that is my barrel burner for deer.

 

[turbobrick]

I forgot about your LH needs. Makes total sense to me, no reason to keep a RH action around. I really liked my 6br, its an amazing cartridge. I built it to be a fun long range plinker to shoot when I was letting my serious hunting guns cool down at the range. I ended up barely using it, turns out I'm just not that into heavy chassis guns. I wish that I'd just built a fast twist 223 in a light stock, and might do that anyway.

 

[MT_Chad]

I forgot about your LH needs. Makes total sense to me, no reason to keep a RH action around. I really liked my 6br, its an amazing cartridge. I built it to be a fun long range plinker to shoot when I was letting my serious hunting guns cool down at the range. I ended up barely using it, turns out I'm just not that into heavy chassis guns. I wish that I'd just built a fast twist 223 in a light stock, and might do that anyway.

That's what I'm leaning towards is a light-ish gun I can pack around and do hunting scenario shooting in the field along with varmints. I'm thinking a krg bravo for weight and cost along with a light varmint barrel around 22". I should just do a 223 or 223 AI in an 8" twist since I already have all the shit for 223. That 6mm ARC is tempting though, I have tons of 6mm stuff laying around from years of tinkering with a variety of 6mms.