Target Sports

RIFLE REVIEW: AVENGING ANGEL

Created on 27th May 2009

TIM FINLEY is impressed with Roedale Precision actions from Germany

PETE LINCOLN is an ex-REME Armourer, having qualified as a Class 1 Armourer in 1992. He is now the proprietor of Roedale Arms, a specialist custom rifle building company based in Germany. He also has the German qualification of Master Riflesmith, so he knows his way around a rifle or two.

Last year was something of a landmark year for Roedale Precision, as Pete finally left his day job at the European Space Agency and went full time as a riflesmith. He has worked as a consultant in the past for Sniper Weapon System (SWS) and Schmidt & Bender, and it was his technical ability that drove him to have his own actions manufactured. Pete has been the official Howa customiser in Europe for some time and he also uses Remington and Barnard actions. The biggest problem, as we all know, in the custom rifle business is waiting for all the various bits to come together. It can be eminently frustrating being left for months, held up by one part for your dream rifle. However, having rifle actions manufactured to his own specification opens up a whole new world. Barrels are no problem as he has a long-term relationship with Lothar Walther, whose barrels are, as again we all know, very good indeed. Pete also offers helical fluting on barrels.

Action stations

I first saw Pete's new actions at the IWA show in Germany in 2007. The Avenger action has the look of the venerable and highly regarded Tikka 595. Pete increased the base size and the Avenger can also be made as a dedicated WSM action, as well as much bigger, to take the massive 408 Cheytac and 50BMG rounds. The Roedale Avenger S is a single-shot action, specifically designed for long range F-Class competition. It is a flat-bottomed design and incorporates an integral recoil lug. The Roedale Avenger R shares the same basic design as the Avenger S but is a repeater. These actions are specifically designed for long range shooting, be that in competition, on the hill or indeed on the battlefield. Tolerances and features, such as bolt fluting, are incorporated to ensure reliable operation in the worst of environments. Bolts can be straight or helically fluted as an optional extra, which Pete recommends for field use.

The tactical series uses the reliable, readily available AICS Magazines, giving a capacity of either five or 10 rounds. It can also take the Badger Ordnance magazine system and can be fitted into the ACIS stocks. All Avengers accept Remington configuration triggers, pinned through the action. Roedale fits CG triggers from Peter Jackson as standard equipment unless otherwise specified by the customer.

They are available in four lengths for cartridges from .223 up to .50BMG. The actual designations are:
• Avenger SS = Short Action
- calibres .223 to 6.5x284
• Avenger SR = Short Action Repeater
- calibres .223 to .308 Win
• Avenger SM = Medium Action
- calibres WSM etc
• Avenger RM = Medium Action Repeater
- WSM etc
• Avenger SL = Long Action
- calibres up to .338 Lap Mag
• Avenger RL = Long Action Repeater
- calibres 30-06 to .338 Lap Mag
• Avenger S50 = Large Action for .408Chey Tac or .50BMG
• Avenger R50 = Large Repeater Action .408 Chey Tac or .50BMG
• Avenger Switch = Slot in-Switch Barrel version of the Avenger L

For surface coatings and finishes, three types of coating are available:
• CrN giving a matt stainless colour
• TiAIN giving a dark anthracite colour
• TiN giving a gold colour

Bolt

The bolt is of one piece, full lug diameter and gives exceptionally smooth travel. It has forward locking lugs, a short throw 60° bolt with sliding cam extractor for positive extraction and a plunger-type ejector (if required). The bolt handle screws directly into the bolt body, several styles being available. The bolt on the Avenger is a three lug and the action can even be made as a drop port style bench rest action: that rather novel type of action, chambered in 6.5x284 Norma, is the subject of this review. The other two basic actions Roedale makes are a dedicated F-Class action called the Stinger and a single shot benchrest action called the Javelin. Both are cylindrical/round.

The Avenger Short Action is very clever too, as the stock bolt hole spacing on the Gen II version has been made to match the ubiquitous Remington 700, potentially opening the action to any stock that can take a 700. Pete seems to have thought of everything, and in his own words: "Long have the likes of BAT and Stolle been the benchmarks of target actions, but I aim to give them a run for their money. They are designed to be the best they can be, but at an affordable price."

Drop port

The test rifle, as mentioned before, is a drop port Avenger in 6.5x284 in a McMillan Tooley MBR stock. Have you ever seen a 6.5x284 drop port before? Neither had I! The barrel is a Lothar Walther 32mm outside diameter select match F-Class barrel, with one in 8.5 twist, four groove rifling. The stock is a bit of an eye-catcher in white and red, with an English flag on the butt. Pete did put a bipod stud in for me so I could shoot off a bipod if I desired. For initial range testing I mounted a T36 Weaver and used some handloaded ammo made for another 6.5x284 rifle. This meant the COL was a little long for the rifle. Even so, the rifle shot outstandingly at 100yd - and it was not even run-in either. Later I made up some 123gn Lapua Scenar bullets to the correct COL for the rifle and I shot a one-hole, three-shot group of 4.42mm centre to centre at 100yd using Vihtavuori N560 powder. With a little more tweaking of the load I know I could get this even better.

The action itself is very well machined from a solid billet of Scandinavian high-grade ordnance steel, which is then hardened and Nitride-coated to enhance smooth operation, wear and weather resistance. The scope rail has been designed to be bolt-on rather than integral (the Gen 1 rails were integral) depending upon the customer's requirements: 0 up to 40 MOA of angular adjustment is available, to enable your scope to retain its full adjustment whatever range you intend shooting at. This is to keep the cost of the actions down without compromising build quality. The test gun had a bolt-on rail and the performance, as can be seen from the groups, has not been adversely affected.

The trigger on the test gun was a Jewel and broke cleanly at 14.5oz (408gr). Avenger repeating actions have a safety fitted, but the single shot target actions do not. After using this action I have ordered an Avenger R Tactical in 6.5x47 Lapua and a Manners stock. (Roedale is the European agent for the renowned American stocks, which are standard equipment on the rifles. Pete also has an alloy modular stock design, which will also be available shortly, for those who prefer laminated wood.)

Prices for single-shot rifles of the Avenger action start at £1,850, up to £2,200 for a repeater. If I were Pete I would make these actions available to a few specially chosen riflesmiths in the UK, as demand for them will swamp Roedale, leading to bigger waiting times, even though Pete is now working full time at gunsmithing. Overall an impressive action, an accurate rifle and a new start for Roedale - it could well be its time to join the big boys of custom riflesmithing in the world. With such high-quality, accurate actions, it's entirely possible.