Custom Rifle on M-704 Legendary Action Works in 9.3x62
by Ron Spomer
You do not need a custom rifle. But you might want one.
The simple truth is that today’s “starter rifles” selling for as little as $400 can and often do shoot as precisely as some $5000 customs. But many of us still love a fine custom like the Greg Krick 9.3x62 bolt-action built on the unusual M-704 controlled round feed action.
If you’re going to pay for a custom, you might as well base it on the foundation you most appreciate. Plenty of push feed actions can be made to shoot sub-MOA, but only a controlled round action can combine sub-MOA precision with the mechanical insurance of grasping and controlling each round during its complete cycle from magazine to chamber to firing to ejecting. And the Ed Brown designed M-704 does it differently than the Mauser M98, Winchester M70, or Ruger M77/Mark II.
Mauser-style CRF extractors are large spring bars riding outside the bolt body. The M-704 functions without this.
Unlike these three famous and respected CRF actions, the M-704 does not have a massive external extractor claw. Nor a flat, open bolt face. Instead it incorporates a large, M-14 style extractor hook in the bolt head and a recessed bolt face ala the Remington M700 with a twist. The bottom of the bolt face is open.
Photos will explain this better than words, so I’ll be brief. Imagine cutting away the lower 1/3 of the famous “ring of steel” on a M700 bolt face. This leaves a window for a cartridge to slide up and under the wide extractor when it is pushed free from the magazine. The remaining protruding “ring of steel” encloses most of the cartridge rim. When the round is rotated into battery, something unusual results…
The M-704 Legendary Action Works CRF bolt combines the recessed bolt face with an inset M14-style extractor, standing blade ejector slot, and gas escape port in bolt body machined from one block of steel. Notice there is no external extractor bar.
Because the extractor hook is inset on the bolt, it is free to rotate with the bolt head. This rotation positions it under the cartridge to which it still clings. The claw not only grasps the cartridge for full control in and out of the chamber whether the bolt is closed over it or not, but cradles it while in battery. Some claim this ensures better cartridge/bullet/bore alignment, and it might, but I tend to believe that a properly dimensioned and reamed chamber will do this itself.
The M-704 actions are essentially blue-printed, the front receiver ring squared to the axis of the bolt. The action body is a cylinder much like the M-700, making it much easier for gunmakers to square everything for concentric bullet-to-bore alignment.
The German 9.3x62 falls between the 35 Whelen and 375 H&H in size and power. It has proven so effective on Cape buffalo that it’s allowed in some jurisdictions that have set a 375 H&H minimum for dangerous game.
Some might argue that by removing the lower third of the bolt face ring one loses the protective “ring of steel” that should or theoretically might help contain gases or brass shards during any unscheduled case ruptures. And this might be valid. But the M-704 addresses this with a gas escape port in the front receiver ring on the left side directly where the gap in the ring rests while in battery. There are gas escape vents in the bottom of the bolt body, too.
Here you see the inset M14-style extractor hook that secures the cartridge against the bolt face. Notice the rim of steel around the rim of the cartridge itself.
Given today’s steel quality plus stringent gun and ammo manufacturing standards, case and action ruptures are rare. The features of the M-704 that interest me more are its smooth and reliable function. One can argue that a CRF is of questionable value, but anyone anticipating a close encounter with an unhappy bear, hippo, lion, elephant, buffalo or any other large and unhappy animal can appreciate the dependable function of CRF. Thanks to its one-piece milled bolt body and handle, the M-704 is about as strong as a bolt action can be. The receiver raceways are multi-step broached for smooth consistency you both hear and feel as you slide even the extra long bolt of a magnum length action. Short actions are so slick and quick you hardly realize you’ve run them.
Ultimately the proof is in the shooting, and all the M-704 actions I’ve shot — from one of the first Ed Brown versions in 2008 through those used on Legendary Arms Works rifles a few years ago to this Krick custom — have been MOA to sub-MOA accurate. This is particularly noticeable in this 9.3x62 firing Nosler Factory loads of 250-grain AccuBonds. I stuffed five into the magazine and ran them through without a hitch, both when firing and not firing. The standing blade ejector at the back of the action kicked empties as far as 15 feet. From a Stuckey Bench I managed two 3-shot groups right at or barely over MOA.
This is the Stukey bench from which I shot two 3-shot groups measuring MOA and a smidge over. Not bad for a first attempt with a new, larger-bore rifle with a bit more kick than the usual 243 or 6.5. Nosler 250-grain AccuBond loads flew true. Now if only I could get a ticket for a moose or eland…
Other attributes of the M704 that gun builders will surely value are its fit with many M700 parts. The receiver rings take M700 scope mount bases. M700 triggers — like the Timney on this rifle, — drop right in. I believe even M700 stocks fit with no or minimal adjustments.
One challenge I faced with this magnum was fitting a scope. The gap across that long action port exceeded the space between bells of most scopes in inventory. A 1.5x6 or something similar with no flared objective bell would have been easy, but none of mine fit the ring diameters I had. A bit of planning would have rectified this challenge.
Greg Krick, now owner of High Tech Gunstocks (I believe he operates under Krick Composites,) fittingly fitted this barreled action to one of his well designed safari style stocks with a wide, rounded comb and raised cheekpiece to moderate felt recoil. An aluminum pillar at the tang and aluminum block under the front receiver ring permit consistent metal to metal fit between the action and the stiff, hand-laid synthetic stock. I was pleasantly surprised by how well this build controlled recoil. With Talley quick detach rings and Swarovski 3-10x42mm scope, the rifle weighs just 8-pounds, 12 ounces, a bit light for a cartridge of this size. The Timney trigger broke at 3.5 pounds, just about perfect for a rifle that might be used in the heat of the action.
Raised cheek piece and wide, rounded comb control felt recoil beautifully on this Krick Composites High Tech synthetic stock. Note the aluminum bedding pillar.
If you’re looking for a CRF bolt-action chambered for a dangerous game cartridge that doesn’t kick as much as the 375 H&H and up, something like this M-704 in 9.3x62 might be worth a look.
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