GEN 1 VS GEN 2 ACTIONS

Carefully select your rifle action, as it serves as the core of your custom firearm. At Blackland Precision, we’ve worked with various receiver brands over the years, recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of each. While we can build on any action of your preference, we’ve formed partnerships with two leading manufacturers in the industry to create our private-label custom actions.

Our first-generation actions, crafted by Defiance Machine, offer extensive customization. These Remington 700 semi-clones, constructed from 416 stainless and 4140 CM steel, boast features like an M-16 style extractor, side bolt release, fluted bolt, spring/plunger-style ejector, and 2 lug, one-piece bolts. You can personalize them with options such as bolt knobs, rail configurations, ejection port configurations, feed port configurations, bolt fluting, and, on select actions, controlled round feed and mechanical ejection.

These Gen 1 actions are available in various configurations, including right and left-hand orientations, long, medium, and short action lengths, and bolt faces accommodating 223 Remington through Norma and Lapua Magnum, including PPC/ARC/Grendel. While they come standard as polished stainless receivers, a nitride finish is highly recommended for enhanced durability, corrosion prevention, and lubricity. Note that the bolts are not stainless and require protective finishes like Cerakote, Nitride, or DLC.

Our Warden actions, characterized by traditional round body receivers with screw-on Picatinny rails, include the more affordable Warden Classic with a pinned recoil lug and other Gen 1 actions with integral recoil lugs. Ranger actions, with flat sides, integral Picatinny rails, and recoil lugs, represent an upgraded option.

Moving to our second-generation actions by Kelbly, these are slightly less customizable but maintain high quality with unique features. Standard features include a nitride finish, one-piece bolt, Sako-style extractor, FAILSAFE Tilted TG Ejector, trigger hangers on Warden heavy and all Rangers, interchangeable bolts, and impeccable tolerances.

Gen 2 Wardens have round body receivers with pinned and screwed-on Picatinny rails and dual pinned recoil lugs. Gen 2 Rangers feature flats on the side, integral rails, and recoil lugs.

The Gen 2 failsafe ejector eliminates springs, providing control over brass ejection force. For benchrest shooting, a gentle pull allows brass to fall nearby, while a forceful pull expels brass for quick follow-up shots in the field. This ejector design also reduces side load pressure on the cartridge, potentially improving rifle precision.

Gen 2 Warden Heavy and all Gen 2 Rangers use a trigger hanger for easier trigger maintenance. With just two screws, the trigger can be removed, allowing for swift replacement in the field if necessary. Many competitive shooters carry a spare trigger mounted in a spare hanger for quick swaps.