Pedro,
Thank you for your summary. You may be the only source of this type of information anywhere in the world. If I'm wrong, I would really like others to chime in.
Here in the states, we kind of stick to simple solutions and they may not always be the best.
I think you will agree our actions are far simpler and easier for the hobbyist to work on than any of the European offerings.
But it may be time for us to look at other perhaps more sophisticated designs if we are to move forward.
After the release of the Anschutz 54 Super Match, Anschutz said there would be no more advances in rimfire accuracy until the ammo was improved.
Here we are again thinking the same thing. I hope we are wrong.
TKH
Tony,
European actions, at least the ones mentioned are great pieces of machinery with very close tolerances and a craftsmanship second to none.
The best ones, by far, both in terms of rationale and quality are the Swiss ones, G&E and Bleiker.
I never owned a 54:30 super match, but shot and worked on same. The major difference from the previous 54 actions is a smaller print, a threaded barrel, instead of pined, and a prismatic upper part, but with round base for a simpler bedding.
Never shot one that could deliver better than the previous, and from my perspective all that I shot would benefit from a barrel change. Not that Anschutz barrels are bad, on the contrary, but they are too long for BR.
Anschutz have released what they call the final action, the 22 max (see link below).
Can only speculate, as I didn't saw or shot any, but it looks like just a very optimised linear one, with a much clever closing bolt. It breaths ISSF disciplines where the smallest hand bolt movement is a most.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https://m.facebook.com/OfficialAnschuetz/videos/ansch%C3%BCtz-22max-premium-smallbore-rifle/214176807843848/&psig=AOvVaw0OrHxy9A0oD7if7CHyM_3S&ust=1695108359762000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBAQjRxqFwoTCMie-O7Qs4EDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE
One aspect that I'm seeing, and of course can be wrong, is the ability to overheat due to its smallish size. BR cadence/time is much higher than prone shooting, and being so small, doesn't have much metal to dissipate heat. Not that rimfire works with much heat, but it builds up quite fast, and if shot in hot days, maybe a source of trouble.
Answering to your question, Tony, I don't see it as the ultimate action.
I do believe also, if we want to move forward, a totally new action design should be done. And it can't be simple and easy to work with, because, those we already have.
European actions deserve a try, I mean a serious one. The big issue to overcome is having gunsmiths able to work on them.
G&E and Bleiker actions are complex ones, but their bolts are simpler and much more clever designed. They both have 3 lugs, on the bolt head, instead on the rear. Their operation smoothness is a dream, and imagine, in a couple of minutes you can change headspace on the range!
Cost is another burden, and being European, in the US, they are even more expensive.
G&E is harder to change a barrel, but better designed and sturdier than Bleiker.
Both triggers are top notch, equal or better than FF BR2.1, but not interchangeable. Bleiker one tends to suffer with dirt, G&E is bullet proof.
