ARC Coup de Grace: The Good, The Bad, The Almost Ugly
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 พ.ย. 2024
- In this final video on my review of the American Rifle Company CDG action, I go over my thoughts and experience with it as well as some things to be aware, some quirks, and some highlights.
Jump to 6:43 to get into the review portion
Thank you for watching and don't forget to leave a comment if you like what you see, or if you have suggestions!
Also ran into the same issue with the MDT 12 round 6BR mag in my Matrix Pro chassis with the adjustable mag catch.
I had to remove the mag catch and take it to the grinding wheel. Now it locks in and feeds with zero issues.
The only other issue I’ve seen with this action, is the mechanical ejector. With the shorter BR style cases if you run the bolt slow it will or rather it can drop the case back into the receiver and cause a malfunction. Secondly because the mechanical ejector is located at the farthest rearward area of the receiver it’s not optimized for the BR variant of cases. Other receivers with a plunger style ejector can be ran with a shorter bolt throw and there for a little faster all other things equal.
Having said all that I own two and have no thoughts of selling them at all. These things mentioned are just stuff that you have to be aware of, train and prepare accordingly.
Great video and thank you for sharing your experiences with the action. I’ll be running one this PRS season for the first time.
Thank you for watching and commenting! I have an origin action and the same thing happens with it when I’m running it slow. I’ve really only ever noticed it at the bench, the one match I shot either the CDG I had no issues, and the many I’ve shot with the origin I had no issues either.
This is a great little action but lie you said, it’s good to know what to expect.
I run mine in an mpa ba chassis with aw mags. Ive never had to touch a thing. Super smooth on feeding.
I did have to put a polishing compound on the extractor to clear up a slight binding. My action was shipped before they changed extractors.
On that though. I opened my mailbox one day and had new extractors in it for my actions. I never reached out, never knew it was a problem, they just sent them to make things right. I haven't put them in yet as ive had no issues after i polished mine.
They should run without any tinkering with AW mags. I can’t seem to find any and now I’ve modified my latches anyway lol
I have one in the long action with lapua bolt head. It’s at the gunsmith now. Having it chambered in 300 Norma improved. Really looking forward to getting it back and seeing how it functions.
Let me know how it goes! I’m thinking of getting one for a 7-300 norma
Can’t wait for more coverage of this action! I’m starting a new job, but a new rifle project will be in the works and you’re one of the only people covering this. I think a 223 trainer barrel and a standard short action are in the future! Thanks!
-Isaac
It’s a great option!
i just picked up mine. no kinks, best action ive ever tried.
i LOVE the inertial ejector.
i use AW mags and standars latch. just perfection.
Great to hear!
MPA. Is actually using the Coup De Grace in their latest iteration of the BA Pro 2 their chassis has an adjustable mag latch.
There’s also a company making custom AW mags for 6BR already blocked and extended with an adjustable Mag CATCH 🥰
Ya I spoke with them and they haven’t had issues with their chassis for that rifle, this is a lite weight version.
So, if I were to sum it up, once the extractor was replaced, the issues were with having to adjust the mag release in the chassis for AICS mags and possibly having empty cartridges ejected forward of the firing line. Otherwise the thing shot like a laser. I don't know how this action can be beat for the price.
It’s pretty hard to beat for sure! It’s got its quirks but man it’s a steal of price
I wish ARC didn’t discontinue the Mausingfield actions. I’ve ran mine in PRS since 2016. Only thing I’ve done with the action is replace the barrel when it got shot out
It has been a solid action from what I hear, but I think they are putting all their effort into this action.
Ha! Same disclosed issue here concerning the AICS magazines. I am using AccurateMag WSM magazines for a 6.5 PRC. I got tired of trying to sand the mag latch. I don't own a belt sander. Ignorantly, I sanded a notch on the magazine itself. It works flawlessly now. But, any upward pressure on the magazine binds the bolt. It's not a deal breaker since I don't compete.
I thought about doing something like that but decided to just get an extra latch which mdt sent free of charge BTW.
It looks like Ted has done some updates. I received my action at the end of June and the trigger hanger no longer uses the tapered pins to hold it in the action. It now has 4 small ears above the holes for the pins that engage the receiver and the extractor seems to be tapered more with no issues contacting the breech. The ejection pattern seems to be pretty consistent with brass coming out between the 3 and 4 o'clock positions but nothing forward. I did have to shorten the mag release on my chassis but since I only run AICS mags it wasn't an issue and allowed me to make sure the mags fit well with very little movement. It was a super good bargain at $899 but even at $1200 I think it is worth it.
It’s a good action, I am bummed to see such a jump in price. Honestly it’s hard for me to justify it over an impact or lone peak for just a couple hundred dollars. 500-600 was easy. Glad to hear some updates have been made.
@@ShootingTheBCMaybe ARC will have a BF sale.
I don’t know if they do that historically or not, but they may have priced themselves out of the market now
This is predicated on the fact that the only magazine fed bolt-action rifle I have much of any experience with is a fixed-magazine Rem 700. For some reason or another, all the others have been single feed.
1.) Isn’t the magazine full insertion problem a chassis problem, not a receiver problem? Or is the ARC chassis not designed/fitted deeply enough?
2.) Magazine availability might be difficult, but Jeff (? I think that’s his name) says he chose that magazine because it makes the first round feed smooth and easy; availability isn’t his fault. And if he chose the more (at least at present) available AICS magazine people would complain about feeding effort. No win. It’s something to complain about, but unless ARC is the only one to use them as a proprietary design/source then AW magazines in general, is the problem, not ARC specifically.
Probably like back in the ‘50 and ‘60s people complained about 10/22 magazines.
3.) Complaining about the ejection pattern, which you spend several minutes on - isn’t that inherent with a rifle with control round feed? Can’t have one without the other. Like buying a 4-cylinder engine family sedan, because it gets 37mpg, then complaining it can’t go 0-60 in under 7-seconds. It’s the nature of the beast. Aren’t ALL control-round feed rifles semi- random ejectors?
The only thing you can hope for is it not throwing brass forward of 3 o’clock. Unless there is a control-round feed with spring loaded ejection? Else you’d get occasional problems of failure to eject on slow-pulled retraction.
And I know a couple of bench rest shooters who want slow/no ejection. Those guys baby their brass. LOL
Though now that I think on it, I think my Marlin 39A has a spring loaded side (not plunger) ejector. Hmm. Again, my experience is limited.
The magazine issue is a design that Ted made so that it was optimized for aw and not Aics, it’s not really a knock on it just wavered to make sure folks were aware of what would be required to run AICS magazines even if you have adjustable latches.
Many people who are looking at this action may not be aware of what a inertial ejector does, and for prs it can be something to consider. Mt rifle seems to be about 2oclock most of the time but some did go closer to 1. I just wanted to make sure folks were aware that is what they tend to do. A rifle should eject at the 3 o’clock even if it’s an inertial ejector, some like my origin do better at that than others.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
I'm not sure how the action manufacturers intended it to be pronounced but the French phrase is pronounced phonetically coo de graw.
I don’t know either, but I’ve been told so many pronunciations I can’t keep it straight lol
Great video, what barrel vice and action wrench is that?
Thanks for watching! It’s the Viper barrel vice and the action wrench I ordered from American Rifle Company when I ordered my action
Much appreciation for your video. My rifle experience comes from 40+ years of sporter weight hunting rifles.....now getting enthused about target range time shared with my son. He's a math lover and geeking out over the dope calculations and corrections....having fun. I'm setting up a pair of lgs off-the-rack rifles for .308 (2) & 6.5CM (2) (HMR, RPR, TAC A1) in addition to a B14R. that we both really enjoy Each have 5-25x50/56mm glass with MIL/MIL turrets/reticles. Gonna have big fun together dueling it out. Also wanted something more "custom" and ordered a CDG. Picking it up today from my FFL. I have that same Viper vise and am also using Inline Fab mount.....love their gear. Using a TT Diamond 2-stage. Scored 4 AIAW mags from backorders. My 6GT barrel is "in production" and should be here next week. Topping it with Razor G3 6-36x56mm MIL / MIL in a M-Brace. Xylo chassis (my first chassis gun). Appreciated your points to consider...hopefully the mag-related stuff will be avoided here. Old dog learning new tricks. Going to be super fun. I haven't told my son about this particular rifle.......was gonna break it out on a range session after he was done whupping me on our head-to-head "matches" using the 4 similar .308 & 6.5cm's..........He'll go nuts.
That sounds like it’s going to be so much fun!!
Hey what is the chassis your friend was running?
anti seize on the barrel threads :D
It’s on there just didn’t show it
Any issues with the extractor getting over the case rim when single feeding? Didnt look like you were having an issue, but I figured Id ask.
Only reason I ask is because I own a couple of Nucleus's, a short and a long action. The short action with 6 CM has zero issues single feeding, bolt closes easily on it, and can literally slap the bolt closed. The long action is a 300 PRC, and when I go to close the bolt on that one, it sometimes takes a pretty good nudge to get brass to slip past the extractor. I suspect it has something to do with the massive Mauser style extractor the Nucleus uses, and the magnum bolt face has that much bigger of an extractor than the 308 size bolt face. In both cases the guns feed great from a mag as they are controlled round feed, ARC for the short action, Accurate 300 RUM mags for the long action. Ive been considering building a 223 gun with this action, and setting it up to just only run as a single fed gun and use a sled instead of a mag, and dont really want to have issues with the extractor causing potential issues with single feeding like my 300 PRC does.
It feeds really well single feeding actually. It’s hard to tell much if a difference personally. At a match last week we had a 12 rd stage we had to single feed and two of us with the CDG zero issues.
@@ShootingTheBC Thanks to the info!
Glad to help!
I can see where the barrel was marred because it slipped in the vice. ALWAYS use drywall tape around the barrel! It'll never scratch or get marred! And I'm an amateur.
I actually put this barrel on and removed it 5-6 times before this video with the drywall tape and it would mark it up sliding it in and out so I decided screw it. I’d have to get another vice type if I were trying to put barrels on other people’s rifles but since I shove my rifles in and out of barricades and such they get all scratched anyway. Thanks for the advice and commenting its really appreciated!
From everything I've seen professionals do, drywall tape will never mark it up if it's tightened properly. I think you need to tighten the vice way way more. It won't hurt the barrel. Just trying to help! Appreciate the video!
Oh you’re right as far as not slipping, this barrel marred from sliding it in and out of the vice as well, so I decided to forgo using it this time, it definitely slips in the video! Your comment is greatly appreciated!
And… some guys don’t care. Is that scratch going to make the gun less accurate? Nope
I can’t not scratch anything I own apparently
Does the rifle Come with a 2 or 3 position safety?
It’s just a 2 position safety
what is still a little bit annoying is that removing and inserting the bolt in the receiver is sometimes not easy as it should because of the ejector...any clue on how to mitigate this?
I’ve found that having the action horizontal like as if the rifle were sitting on bipods or such, and pushing the ejector from the outside to get it to go into position and the. Inserting the bolt helps. It’s definitely a gripe I have but not big enough to deter me from liking it
@@ShootingTheBC thank you! Same here fully in love with the thing, just a little annoyance sometimes
So I found to get it to go you just push slowly on it without touching the bolt release and it goes right in make shoe the slot on the left of the bolt its lined up and it goes right in
Once you figure it out it’s not so bad
So for a hunting rifle do you think this vs a lone peak action?
Well to be honest, I cancelled my lightweight CDG and bought a titanium line peak. The lone peak is hands down superior, just if you want to spend the extra coin. I have zero issues, no tinkering or anything and it is noticeably smoother.
Are you using 100 ft/lb on the barrel?
No. I’ve been using less lately and I personally don’t see any downside to doing so. Usually around 75 is what I do. The action wrench has a range and I feel comfortable doing it that way. I pull barrels off enough that the little less means it’s slightly easier to do so.
I run most of my actions at “snug” meaning I don’t use a torq wrench just give it a good turn and get it hand tight and that works for me. The action and barrel marry up tight and the explosion from the cartridge actually pushes out on the threads and doesn’t really seem to work loose at all.
I just like consistency. I know if I tighten it to 75 falbe everytine, I never have to wonder about that variable
MDT has AW in stock often. Adjustable mag latch lets you use AICS
Thanks!
It's surprised me...I felt my tikka action was much smoother than this one.
It’s close. I feel like mines been getting less smooth the more I run it. Can’t explain that one
@ShootingTheBC wow that's weird...my oiled his up and it feels like there's metal on metal and no oil. It's terrible. Didn't have the heart to tell him.
It was slick as butter when I first got it, I don’t run a lot of lubricant since the dust here in Utah gets everywhere.
Have you considered a dry lube? The finish almost looks parkerised so it will hold a lube.
I haven’t looked to much into it but I will give a dry line a try
Coo duh grahh
I’ve been told🤣🤣
To bad they just jacked the price up on this action.
I hadn’t seen that yet!
@@ShootingTheBC I think they are 1200 now.
That’s really too bad, I knew I should have bought a couple more lol
I hope Ted brings it back down to $899 for black fri. 🥹
It would be nice!
Now I'm hesitant to buy one...
I wouldn’t hesitate really, just know you might have a little tinkering to do I ran it last week in a match and it crushed!
@@ShootingTheBC but something like that action and the amount paid, oh and the supposed amazing engineering put into, it shouldn’t need tinkering at all. It means they either need to dial back over engineering their actions or go back to the drawing board. Especially when there are so so many actions at the same price point with zero issues. Just my take and don’t get me wrong, this can be and I wish was an amazing action. I’m not sure why but I’ll probably still buy one anyways, why…I don’t know, maybe cause I like Ted and fingers crossed I get a good one.
I don’t think it’s enough to scare me from it. I’ve already ordered a lightweight as well. I think if you run AW mags you’ll be golden.
@@ShootingTheBC ok, I’ll try that
👍
I think that’s the typical ARC MO. It never quite works. They sell a cool engineering story with their actions, and everyone eats it up, but then when the action gets out to people - there are always teething issues.
I’m not trying to be elitist, but that’s why I got a 737r. There is nothing really “cool” about it but it just works.
I like the odd engineering, but very much my lone peak is boringly reliable! Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@ShootingTheBC boring reliable is my favorite.
Me too!
I do not like where the 737R sends the exhaust should you blow a primer. It will blow the magazine off and destroy it.
Remington had that part right, there was no sense in changing it.
I’m not familiar enough with those design feature decisions, though I can’t say I’ve heard of many experiences of anything major happening with blown primers, and very few experiences of catastrophic failures of any kind in modern actions. I know it’s a feature that many people seem to have a strong opinion on though. It would be interesting to find out why they made that decision.
What's with the 80's porn music.
🤷♂️
Ain't gonna lie......was thinking the tunes had that Dirk Diggler vibe, lol. Great video, though. Much appreciated his coverage of the experiences he had with the CDG.