Zermatt Arms has established itself as a sought-after manufacturer in the precision rifle world. Renowned for their high-quality craftsmanship and innovation, their products are trusted by marksmen, hunters, and enthusiasts alike. With their reputation for creating cutting-edge rifle actions, many people wonder, does Zermatt make a single shot medium action? This article dives deep into Zermatt’s offerings to answer that question, while also shedding light on what makes their actions so highly regarded.
Understanding Zermatt Arms and Their Reputation
Before addressing whether Zermatt makes a single shot medium action, it’s essential to understand the company’s offerings and their position in the firearms industry. Zermatt Arms (often associated with Bighorn Arms, another highly respected name in the community) focuses on creating premium bolt actions tailored for precision rifle builds. Their commitment to quality is evident in the materials, durability, and customization options they provide across their products.
One of the standout traits of Zermatt actions is their modularity. They design actions that accommodate different stocks, barrels, and triggers, making them perfect for individuals looking to build custom firearms. Additionally, their actions are highly regarded for their smooth operation, upgrades like floating bolts, and enhanced recoil lugs—all of which contribute to improving accuracy in real-world conditions.
What Is a Single Shot Medium Action?
To determine whether Zermatt produces a single shot medium action, it helps to break down the terminology and understand what this type of action entails.
Single Shot Action
Single shot rifle actions are designed without a magazine well. This means they are only capable of firing one round at a time before the user manually loads another round into the chamber. Single shot actions are often favored in target and precision shooting. The absence of the magazine contributes to improved structural integrity, minimizing flexing or inconsistencies in the action. Many precision shooters prefer this design for the increased reliability and accuracy it offers.
Medium Action
The term “medium action” refers to the length of the rifle’s action, which is designed to accommodate rounds that fall between short-action cartridges (like .308 Winchester) and long-action cartridges (such as .300 Winchester Magnum). Medium action rifles are relatively niche, bridging the gap between these two profiles. They are especially common among shooters who favor medium-length cartridges, such as the 6.5 PRC or similar rounds designed for high performance at moderate ranges.
Why Pair Single Shot with Medium Action?
Combining a single shot setup with a medium action is an ideal match for those focused on precision shooting. The longer action lends itself well to ballistically efficient cartridges, while the single shot configuration removes potential areas for error in chambering and consistency. This combination is particularly appealing to long-range competition shooters and those involved in benchrest competitions.
Exploring Zermatt’s Lineup of Rifle Actions
Now that we’ve clarified what a single shot medium action entails, the question remains—does Zermatt make a single shot medium action? To answer this, we need to look at their flagship products and assess their compatibility with such a setup.
The Zermatt Origin Action
The Origin is Zermatt’s most popular action, favored by beginners and seasoned builders alike. This action is available in short and long configurations, but it doesn’t explicitly cater to medium-length cartridges. It features excellent modularity, offering compatibility with detachable box magazines or hinged floor plates, which makes it less likely to be a first-choice action for strict single shot configurations.
However, there are options to convert an Origin action into a single-shot setup by using aftermarket parts or custom modifications. While this can provide some of the benefits of a single-shot action, it wasn’t specifically designed for this use case, meaning some compromises might remain.
The Zermatt TL3 and SR3 Actions
The TL3 and SR3 actions represent Zermatt’s push into precision-oriented setups. These actions are designed with versatility in mind, offering options for long-range precision shooting. While they are primarily marketed as multi-shot actions with detachable box magazines, experienced gunsmiths and custom builders often reconfigure them to accommodate single-shot preferences.
Once again, these actions are mainly offered in short action or long action variants, which leaves a noticeable gap for medium-length cartridges.
Does Zermatt Offer a Dedicated Single Shot Medium Action?
At the time of writing, Zermatt does not produce a dedicated single shot medium action. Most of their actions are multi-purpose and designed for varying lengths, with a particular focus on short and long actions rather than intermediate configurations. However, that does not mean it is impossible to achieve a similar setup using their products.
Alternatives and Customization Options
If you’re committed to achieving a single shot medium action and Zermatt’s current lineup doesn’t provide a ready-made solution, there are a few alternative approaches worth exploring:
Custom Modifications
Many gunsmiths specialize in customizing factory actions to meet specific needs. A skilled gunsmith could take one of Zermatt’s short or long actions and tailor it to function as a medium action. Additionally, by installing a single-shot adaptor or creating a single-shot loading block, you could eliminate the need for a magazine, essentially achieving a dedicated single-shot rifle.
Other Brands
While Zermatt excels in many areas, they are not the only manufacturer dedicated to producing precision rifle actions. Some manufacturers specialize in features like single-shot configurations or medium-length actions. Kelbly’s, BAT Machine, and Ultimatum Precision are a few examples of brands that may offer products closer to your specific requirements. However, it’s worth noting that Zermatt still stands out in reputation and quality, especially for custom builds.
Building Around the Cartridge
Another approach is to identify the specific cartridge you plan to use with your rifle. Once you pinpoint the cartridge, you can investigate whether Zermatt’s existing actions can be adapted to accommodate its dimensions and performance characteristics. For example, a long-action Origin might be compatible with some medium-length cartridges even if it isn’t marketed as a true medium action.
Why Zermatt Remains a Top Choice
Even though Zermatt doesn’t currently produce a dedicated single shot medium action, their products remain highly sought after for several reasons:
- Precision and Quality: Zermatt actions are machined with tight tolerances, ensuring consistent performance.
- Customization: Their modular designs make it easy to tailor a Zermatt action to your specific needs, even if it requires some aftermarket tweaks.
- Reputation: Zermatt products are trusted by competitive shooters and firearms enthusiasts, making them a reliable choice for custom builds.
For these reasons, many shooters are willing to adapt Zermatt actions instead of opting for other manufacturers when seeking a unique setup, such as a single shot medium action.
Final Verdict
To sum up, the answer to the question does Zermatt make a single shot medium action is “not directly.” While Zermatt Arms produces some of the finest rifle actions on the market, they currently do not offer a dedicated single shot medium action. However, with their outstanding customization potential and the availability of skilled gunsmiths, it is certainly possible to create something similar using their existing offerings.
For shooters set on using a true medium action or those prioritizing a single-shot configuration, it’s worth exploring custom solutions or alternative brands. That said, Zermatt’s actions are still an excellent choice for any rifle build thanks to their precision, durability, and modularity. Whether you’re a competitive shooter or an avid hunter, Zermatt’s products provide the foundation for a rifle you can trust.
