Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

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Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by Wapiti » 07 Nov 2025, 10:08 am

Anyone else out there excited in this new bolt action rifle that has been designed and made by Wedgetail?
Marketed as a hunting rifle, and arguably chambered in the most effective hunting calibres initially, it seems to have all the needed features a patriotic Aussie actual hunter would want, like common magazine availability, great proven trigger design and an awesome stiff carbon fibre stock.
And a great hunting carry-weight at approx. 3kg or 6.6lbs without scope!
AND a L/H version, WTF?
And barrels made by Lithgow, not by some backyard maker...

Can't wait to see one in the flesh.
Wedgeturd.jpg
Wedgeturd.jpg (680.51 KiB) Viewed 3535 times

Excuse the photo of the magazine ad, I was too lazy to post an online link or look for one.
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by MG5150 » 07 Nov 2025, 10:39 am

Lol, why did you save the image as 'wedgeturd'?

These looked pretty cool at first. Someone in a facebook group posted a link to an almost identicle niche rifle maker in NZ whom I think they get the stock from. It seems overley expensive but it's a few grand cheaper than most of the other carbon fibre stock models from other brands. Would love to pick one up when I have spare cash.

I saw Lithgow have just announced a new 'Waler' model too.
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by jezzab » 07 Nov 2025, 11:42 am

Wedgetail teamed up with Hardy Rifles in New Zealand and Lithgow in New South Wales. The result is an ANZAC collaboration, Lithgow contributing their CHF barrels and recoil pads, Hardy producing bolt heads and precision components, and Wedgetail driving the design with a new flat bottom receiver, carbon composite stock, and mini chassis system.


https://precision-rifle.com.au/2025/09/ ... l-orion-2/
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by Wapiti » 07 Nov 2025, 4:20 pm

MG5150 wrote:Lol, why did you save the image as 'wedgeturd'?

These looked pretty cool at first. Someone in a facebook group posted a link to an almost identicle niche rifle maker in NZ whom I think they get the stock from. It seems overley expensive but it's a few grand cheaper than most of the other carbon fibre stock models from other brands. Would love to pick one up when I have spare cash.

I saw Lithgow have just announced a new 'Waler' model too.


Damn predictive text. Damn predictive AI. What's a Wedgeturd anyway?

Yeah, saw the ads for the "Whaler", but it's the same as the other copies of the Tikkas they make (though without the Tikka refinement IMHO, dont get me started) with a 16" noisemaker on it.
I was thinking about that thing just yesterday driving between our places, why would you want one of those attempts at a 16" "guide gun" concept with the awful Tikka single stack plastic "crackster" mags, painted finishes etc when you could buy an indestructible Ruger Guide Gun with controlled round feed, integral mounts, stainless steel and ACIS double-stack single feed mags?
And the guide gun concept? Wierd. Only for people of the bearded tactical disposition?

By the sounds, this effort from Wedgetail with Hardy of NZ may just be a beauty. The Kiwis are serious hunters and know what works and if that company there can make such a quality product, there is no reason Aussies can't get it right especially if they are leveraging from them.

Only downside I can think of is the magazine catch, slung across your back it will be a real bastard. And a hunting rifle is just unnecessarily heavier with a 10 shot mag, so a 5-shot will be needed but that'll cause a big hole in your back if you take a fall too. Its not called a Tactical rifle - as if we need another Frankenstein. I really would've liked a floor plate option, maybe there'll be one. Here's hoping.

And still hoping for a button release version of their Wedgetail pump in 308.... if that happened, it would make all the Turkanistan HMAS-made pot-metal junk obsolete overnight.
:D
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by deye243 » 08 Nov 2025, 2:48 am

Not at all interested hunting rifles require a floor plate makes carrying a lot easier than a crappy detachable box magazine JMHO
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by bigrich » 08 Nov 2025, 4:02 am

deye243 wrote:Not at all interested hunting rifles require a floor plate makes carrying a lot easier than a crappy detachable box magazine JMHO


yeah, i like traditional top feed/floorplate rifles too mate . but when i'm culling, the 10 shot lucky 13 in my t3 223 is a good thing. i use 5 round mags in my 308 t3 and they are a lot quicker to change out when your on a mob of pigs than trying to thumb fresh rounds into a top feed/floorplate rifle . horses for courses i 'spose

i'll keep a open mind on the new orion rifle . as wapati said , if the kiwi's have anything to do with it they are serious no nonsense hunters who don't settle for crap gear . the only lithgow i owned was a 22lr synthetic . most inaccurate rifle i've ever owned . as a stalking rifle i find lithgow centrefires too heavy . not quick to shoulder and point . probably fine as a long range rig however . JMHO

i look forward to hearing more about the new wedgetail bolt gun :thumbsup:
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by bigrich » 08 Nov 2025, 4:13 am

just did some googling , the orion has some tricky features , but they lost me when i read the receiver is aluminium . bloody why? i understand the need for a light weight rifle in enzed , but aluminium receiver :wtf:
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by Wapiti » 08 Nov 2025, 9:41 am

Having that floorplate set-up for the box mags will please the typical modern "shooter" who isn't a hunter really... Culling for someone is another thing.
So the inlet for it hopefully isn't one of the trendy "Badger etc" types that need a larger cut-out forn the bulky mag-catch set-ups these use. This means that a standard-type hinged floorplate would not fit into the inlet.

People say rightly, looks to be around $1000 cheaper than other carbon-fibre stocked quality rifles... but one I can think of I have here has a beautiful machined solid SS action with integral machined-in pic-rail, proper length for good ballistics barrel, box mag that sits flush and looks just like a floorplate without anything sticking out and can be topped up with the action open too... and weighs the same or less than what the Orion purports to be.

I think a hunting rifle is different from one that I'd call a culling rifle, where you just bomb up heaps of animals. That's not hunting, hunting is stalking and taking animals for personal use. So what is it?

In Australia, when you take into account the cost of wages, materials, regulations and deliberately restrictive governments, as well as a very confused and "fad" type market obsessed with American tactical culture and appearance, a new model better get it right where it sits.
Lithgows, trying to be "crossovers" have taken the easy route and lost a lot of customer interest.
The opportunity is very much there to get it right at the start, when you are spending the money anyway to develop a either niche gun, or al all-rounder in a market full of cheaper alternatives.
I hope they have read the market right, so far I'm concerned.
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by Wapiti » 08 Nov 2025, 10:03 am

bigrich wrote:just did some googling , the orion has some tricky features , but they lost me when i read the receiver is aluminium . bloody why? i understand the need for a light weight rifle in enzed , but aluminium receiver :wtf:


What? Why?
And the 223 version... I hope it just isn't a huge clubby 30-06 action blocked down to shoot the tiny 223, like I despise on Tikkas.
Somehow I think it will be a 308-length action cheaply blocked down, like the Lithgows.
Engineering-wise, this is a shortcut where the maker saves and the buyer pays...

Edit: Maybe that's why the aluminium... a bigger action than needed but lighten it up with a structurally less strong material to contain and align thinner structural pressure components?
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by bigrich » 08 Nov 2025, 1:12 pm

Wapiti wrote:
bigrich wrote:just did some googling , the orion has some tricky features , but they lost me when i read the receiver is aluminium . bloody why? i understand the need for a light weight rifle in enzed , but aluminium receiver :wtf:


What? Why?
And the 223 version... I hope it just isn't a huge clubby 30-06 action blocked down to shoot the tiny 223, like I despise on Tikkas.
Somehow I think it will be a 308-length action cheaply blocked down, like the Lithgows.
Engineering-wise, this is a shortcut where the maker saves and the buyer pays...

Edit: Maybe that's why the aluminium... a bigger action than needed but lighten it up with a structurally less strong material to contain and align thinner structural pressure components?


aluminium is great for light weight, which seems to be a big thing these days . dunno how modern man would've gone during WW2 lugging a military rifle or a bren through the highlands :thumbsup:
steel is best in my book . i've owned early sako's where the receiver is made in different lengths to suit different cartridges . less profit for the company , better quality for the customer . tikka weren't the first to use a long action length and use mag fill in's and different bolt stops to suit different cartridges . push feed model 70's have this feature, and the few i've owned have been great rifles . rem 700's use a 308 action for 222, 223 . early sako's , bsa hunters , and some brno's are the only rifles that come to mind with cartridge specific action lengths . i don't really have much of a point, just rambling after coming in from mowing the lawn :D
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by deye243 » 08 Nov 2025, 1:34 pm

Has anybody seen a bolt on one of these being an aluminium action I'm just wondering whether the bolt head locks into the rear at the barrel
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by bigrich » 08 Nov 2025, 3:44 pm

deye243 wrote:Has anybody seen a bolt on one of these being an aluminium action I'm just wondering whether the bolt head locks into the rear at the barrel


i'd say it'd have to . you wouldn't want to rely on your bolt head spacing properly if the lugs lock into a ally receiver . tikkas are great value for what they are , and i'm finding i'm liking my FN 98 a lot more with this current topic :P

innovation and new designs are great , but the simplicity of older designs is more reliable IMHO :unknown:
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by Fester » 08 Nov 2025, 3:51 pm

It may not be that design, as Lithgow barrels are just the conventional design where the lugs lock in at the usual point, as far as I know.
Sounds like they would just use off the shelf Lithgow barrels, rather than a whole new design.

I like the low-capacity flush-type Tikka mags, but I never had a 10-round one, as I just hunt deer and can buy extras if needed.

Like the first Wedgetail rifle that had some issues, from what I heard, I would wait until they are proven and know what the hard steel bolt lugs are closing against, surely a steel sleeve of some type.

I wonder how the lighter model hunting rifles from Lithgow compare in price.
They won't be as light
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by jezzab » 08 Nov 2025, 7:08 pm

6066-T6 aluminum is used on many AR's.

The original Wedgetail MSR and the new Mini use 7075-T6 for the receiver, what's the problem?
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by Wapiti » 08 Nov 2025, 8:52 pm

On the aluminium, it won't matter what grade is used, except for machining compatibility in so far as it will never be able to be used as the pressure components.
Locking lugs of the bolt, the corresponding mating lugs in the "trunnion" or action, or as has been mentioned, rear of the barrel.
For a bolt action firearm, I do not see any benefit to combining aluminium and chromium steel. Exceptions are things like these weird firearms that have the gimmick of interchangeable barrels, and that introduces other stupid expected problems such as needing to have the scopes attaching to the barrel to avoid the expected zero issues every time the parts are disturbed.
The AR15/10 example isn't so comparable to a bolt action. And the bolt still locks into a steel barrel extension.

Don't forget that the receiver needs to attach to the barrel extremely securely, and be very stiff, as the receiver is the attachment point of the whole barreled action assembly. So without steel all the way, the alloy component needs to be thick to give the required stiffness.

As far as the actions go, it isn't a chore whatsoever to scale for the cartridge sizes use. Actions today are machines in CNC gear, and it's a simple matter to just set up the design and programs to make a few different sizes. So economy isn't an excuse to make one huge action for all sizes, it's just corner-cutting.

When the first Lithgow advertising blurb was released prior to the first ones being finalised in their design, I thought, beauty, they have a clean sheet and can do all these things and make a first class, world class firearm here, but they didn't.
Same clubby large action for different cartridge sizes, one "crossover" barrel that's stupidly heavy for a real hunting rifle, and too thin to be a real varmint rifle, stocks with a strange design that point offhand like a Waratah Maxy Post. Then they prove this stock as not ideal for a PRS rifle or whatever is the fad nowadays by making the Frankenstein LA105 Woomera which has the ergonomics of a brick wall. Yeah, I know they are accurate. Now that they have solved their barrel splitting issues with work hardening fractures from their hammer forging methods.

I keep thinking back to Sako rifles, all models. Actions made in 4 lengths (5 maybe?) to beautifully suit the cartridge lengths. Staggered box mags that sit and look like floorplates and can be topped up through the open action. Pic rails or grooved receivers integrally machined into the actions to eliminate the tiny screws that hold cheap alloy pic rails on other lesser engineering ideas. Solid steel, no plastics or cheap alloys, no single stag mags that crack because they are made from melted down ice-cream buckets. Carbon fibre stocks that are insanely stiff. Or grades of walnut to make a custom rifle look like a fence post.
But people will still find ways to denigrate them, say that this quality isn't worth paying for, or any other excuse when they don't have one. Because this stuff costs coin.
Sh*t, I'd hate to be designing a rifle nowadays and have to work with people who have the opportunity to put all the best ideas together but don't.
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by bigrich » 09 Nov 2025, 4:51 am

Wapiti wrote:On the aluminium, it won't matter what grade is used, except for machining compatibility in so far as it will never be able to be used as the pressure components.
Locking lugs of the bolt, the corresponding mating lugs in the "trunnion" or action, or as has been mentioned, rear of the barrel.
For a bolt action firearm, I do not see any benefit to combining aluminium and chromium steel. Exceptions are things like these weird firearms that have the gimmick of interchangeable barrels, and that introduces other stupid expected problems such as needing to have the scopes attaching to the barrel to avoid the expected zero issues every time the parts are disturbed.
The AR15/10 example isn't so comparable to a bolt action. And the bolt still locks into a steel barrel extension.

Don't forget that the receiver needs to attach to the barrel extremely securely, and be very stiff, as the receiver is the attachment point of the whole barreled action assembly. So without steel all the way, the alloy component needs to be thick to give the required stiffness.

As far as the actions go, it isn't a chore whatsoever to scale for the cartridge sizes use. Actions today are machines in CNC gear, and it's a simple matter to just set up the design and programs to make a few different sizes. So economy isn't an excuse to make one huge action for all sizes, it's just corner-cutting.

When the first Lithgow advertising blurb was released prior to the first ones being finalised in their design, I thought, beauty, they have a clean sheet and can do all these things and make a first class, world class firearm here, but they didn't.
Same clubby large action for different cartridge sizes, one "crossover" barrel that's stupidly heavy for a real hunting rifle, and too thin to be a real varmint rifle, stocks with a strange design that point offhand like a Waratah Maxy Post. Then they prove this stock as not ideal for a PRS rifle or whatever is the fad nowadays by making the Frankenstein LA105 Woomera which has the ergonomics of a brick wall. Yeah, I know they are accurate. Now that they have solved their barrel splitting issues with work hardening fractures from their hammer forging methods.

I keep thinking back to Sako rifles, all models. Actions made in 4 lengths (5 maybe?) to beautifully suit the cartridge lengths. Staggered box mags that sit and look like floorplates and can be topped up through the open action. Pic rails or grooved receivers integrally machined into the actions to eliminate the tiny screws that hold cheap alloy pic rails on other lesser engineering ideas. Solid steel, no plastics or cheap alloys, no single stag mags that crack because they are made from melted down ice-cream buckets. Carbon fibre stocks that are insanely stiff. Or grades of walnut to make a custom rifle look like a fence post.
But people will still find ways to denigrate them, say that this quality isn't worth paying for, or any other excuse when they don't have one. Because this stuff costs coin.
Sh*t, I'd hate to be designing a rifle nowadays and have to work with people who have the opportunity to put all the best ideas together but don't.


you make a lot of good points mate . i agree on the lithgow , too heavy for a stalking/hunting rifle for sure . as for gun design , i reckon if the sako 85 had a two lug bolt with the reliable m16 style extractor it would be close to the perfect rifle for me . the ergonomics and balance of the 85's was beautiful , the top feed/removable steel magazines are brilliant . they stuffed the design with a three lug bolt moving the ejector position which changed the ejection angle creating ejection issues i've already discussed previously . the earlier L61, L461 , 591 and A series were accurate ,extremely reliable rifles with action lengths to suit the cartridge . and the recoil lug was cast into the base of the flat bottomed receiver , ensuring good bedding . the early stocks were too square cornered and blocky . the 85 stocks are perfection for fit , looks, balance. use the cast in pic rail idea of the sako 90 series . so there you have it , my rifle design . all the best aspects of the sako 85 series combined with the simple reliability of the early sako's . why they went to a 3 lug bolt baffles me . there was nothing wrong with the 2 lug design :crazy:

mind you , as CRF hunting rifles go i hear the "montana" model 70 copies are awesome :D
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by Wapiti » 09 Nov 2025, 8:11 am

Geeze mate, I'm a Sako fan as I've found them totally reliable in all conditions.
But I also love the Remington 700 design where some people find endless things to complain about them.

I must say though, that I only have experience with 85 and 90 models of Sakos in the hunting area, can't speak about earlier ones but as you say and I have heard from real professionals, the L series etc were the king of pro shooter rifles. Before my time.
I've never experienced the issues as you speak, I remember reading this once and grabbed two '85's of ours in both 223 and 308 and these was no way I could make the "bounce back in" issue, and I will mount every scope as low as mounts allow.
From what I can make out, some scopes with big blobs of adjustment housings could interfere with the path of the case? But I can't replicate it ever. Maybe it's the scopes I've decided to use so I've not struck this rumour, one of 1000 out there for every different brand.
Maybe Sako did see this as an issue though with the way some people manage to tie themselves in knots, because they changed the set-up in the 90 with twin ejectors and still with the 3-lug superior design. Which has dropped the semi-controlled round feed, which I do think was a great feature.
Anyone who can make a 90 malfunction probably needs to keep both hands on the rifle when using it, and not one on their dick instead.

The tri-lug bolt system with some makers that have tried it might have issues, I don't know, and certainly there is plenty of whinging comments about this design but the design Sako uses is probably the smoothest bolt action on the market, and the design of the cocking cams and primary extraction that they have come up with is up there with any 2-lug design, but less clubby and smoother than the lugs on any 98 or advancement of that design, due to the way they guide the bolt to run smoothly over six contact areas instead of four with minimal tolerances.
And Sako used this in their TRG rifles initially and still do and it is unbeaten and one of the most accurate and consistent performing tactical firearms in the world, enough said. Unfortunately the basement market requires everything to now look like an AR15 so some useability is being brushed aside nowadays.

That's not intended to belittle the 98, no way, a modern commercial one is still on my radar for a project and I reckon Paul Mauser was the king of gathering the best features of a bolt action and solve as many issues as were possible in that era of design. But some "improvements" to bolt action design have still been made since then. Particularly with the advancements in metallurgy that allow lighter, more streamlined designs.
Things like the full diameter bolts used in some brands where the lugs are machined out are toted as modern design, maybe but the driving factor here is economy of manufacture, it's easier and cheaper to make.

Sorry to rave on. As a super enthusiastic metal tradie and Mech. Eng. who's living on a farm instead nowadays and really misses the innovations and engineering solutions in my industry I get a real kick about mechanical design. And what are improvements and advancements in design as compared to emotion.
What's great about an opportunity like this for Aussies to shine instead of floating in mediocrity, like so many new firearms out there that are different ways to make a mousetrap. Some better than others, depending on an individuals experience or needs.
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by bigrich » 09 Nov 2025, 8:46 am

Wapiti wrote:Geeze mate, I'm a Sako fan as I've found them totally reliable in all conditions.
But I also love the Remington 700 design where some people find endless things to complain about them.

I must say though, that I only have experience with 85 and 90 models of Sakos in the hunting area, can't speak about earlier ones but as you say and I have heard from real professionals, the L series etc were the king of pro shooter rifles. Before my time.
I've never experienced the issues as you speak, I remember reading this once and grabbed two '85's of ours in both 223 and 308 and these was no way I could make the "bounce back in" issue, and I will mount every scope as low as mounts allow.
From what I can make out, some scopes with big blobs of adjustment housings could interfere with the path of the case? But I can't replicate it ever. Maybe it's the scopes I've decided to use so I've not struck this rumour, one of 1000 out there for every different brand.
Maybe Sako did see this as an issue though with the way some people manage to tie themselves in knots, because they changed the set-up in the 90 with twin ejectors and still with the 3-lug superior design. Which has dropped the semi-controlled round feed, which I do think was a great feature.
Anyone who can make a 90 malfunction probably needs to keep both hands on the rifle when using it, and not one on their dick instead.

The tri-lug bolt system with some makers that have tried it might have issues, I don't know, and certainly there is plenty of whinging comments about this design but the design Sako uses is probably the smoothest bolt action on the market, and the design of the cocking cams and primary extraction that they have come up with is up there with any 2-lug design, but less clubby and smoother than the lugs on any 98 or advancement of that design, due to the way they guide the bolt to run smoothly over six contact areas instead of four with minimal tolerances.
And Sako used this in their TRG rifles initially and still do and it is unbeaten and one of the most accurate and consistent performing tactical firearms in the world, enough said. Unfortunately the basement market requires everything to now look like an AR15 so some useability is being brushed aside nowadays.

That's not intended to belittle the 98, no way, a modern commercial one is still on my radar for a project and I reckon Paul Mauser was the king of gathering the best features of a bolt action and solve as many issues as were possible in that era of design. But some "improvements" to bolt action design have still been made since then. Particularly with the advancements in metallurgy that allow lighter, more streamlined designs.
Things like the full diameter bolts used in some brands where the lugs are machined out are toted as modern design, maybe but the driving factor here is economy of manufacture, it's easier and cheaper to make.

Sorry to rave on. As a super enthusiastic metal tradie and Mech. Eng. who's living on a farm instead nowadays and really misses the innovations and engineering solutions in my industry I get a real kick about mechanical design. And what are improvements and advancements in design as compared to emotion.
What's great about an opportunity like this for Aussies to shine instead of floating in mediocrity, like so many new firearms out there that are different ways to make a mousetrap. Some better than others, depending on an individuals experience or needs.


as far as the sako 85's go , try a long action . they're the ones i had issues with . 270 and 9.3x62 . my smith had to spend a bit of time on a 223 sako 85 a few years ago as well due to extraction issues . as i said in another post, the main issue is loose clearance between the extractor and bolt face . 308's are a shorter action with a thick case rim that holds the case in tighter to the bolt face giving more positive ejection at a lower angle . another facet of the issue is the 3 lug design necessitates the moving of the ejector to a lower position which gives a higher angle of ejection . can't change physics . my early rem 700 had a sako extractor fitted due to not being able to get replacement extractors for the early rem 700 . Changing the position of the extractor in relation to the button ejector also made the ejection angle higher on this rifle . i turned my loopy scope 90 degrees left and solved part of the problem . the other part of this rifles issue's was "weak" ejection, due to different sako extractor design . i solved this by fitting a new button ejector spring and lengthening the slot that controls the distance the ejector protrudes from the bolt face . it sits 20 thou further out now . this 222 rem is now extremely reliable in feeding and ejecting . rivalling my tikka for case throwing distance . open the bolt slowly and the case sits on the bolt , ready to be plucked out and saved for reloading . polishing the alloy mag follower also slicked things up . i'd prefer a steel follower however .
you reckon you get a kick out of mechanical design , innovations and solutions , i do too :D .

i was even worse than this when i was in the car scene , custom building carbs , manifold modification , all to do with air speed and efficiency and cam shaft science . i had a mild 253 that made over 200 rear wheel horsepower in a HQ prem years ago . put a lot of thought into stall converter speed , diff gearing , ect as well and took a lot of scalps and pissed off a lot of folks in fancier, bigger engine set ups, as this thing launched hard and went like a cut cat , until 3rd gear anyway :) . moved up to 308's with twin weber 45 dcoe's hanging off the top that made some real horsepower and torque :D wish i still had pics i lost when my last iphone shat itself :roll: sorry i've gone of topic folks :P
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by zbenga » 18 Nov 2025, 11:36 am

I'm a big fan of Lithgow and they make some insanely accurate barrels, both I have developed a load for are .3MOA and both the varmint/woomera weight
while I agree they are not light I would rather carry an extra KG, if you're hunting on a 5 hour hike then sure but how the hell do you take the meat back? I never understood those hunters who like to go on a 3 hour hike to take down an animal and complain about half a kilo while you have to carry the animal back with you or at least parts of it, A 5kg hunting rifle imho is OK

Wedgetail had teething issues in the past, I would wait at least 1 year before toughing anything new from them again, from looking at it it has a barrel extension where the steel bolt head locks into, so alloy receiver makes sense to limit weight just not sure how dissimilar metals play tougher over time
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by Wapiti » 19 Nov 2025, 8:32 am

Interesting isn't it, moustraps doing the same things but with so many different designs and complexity.
Makes you wonder (well me anyway) what the point is. To have something different maybe? Just to be different?

Having been lucky enough to use and own some truly superlight factory rifles that are also wonderfully accurate, it is interesting and I'm keen to catch a look.
Rifles like the Rem Titanium, that achieve such light rifles even with normal weight barrels, to Sakos like the Carbonlight and Peak that just have such great performance and superlight weights from just the best high strength materials without plastic and aluminium to achieve a number.
So I'm judging based on engineering excellence not anything else that cuts corners to achieve something or becomes overly complicated.

What's really exciting too are the advancements in performance and quality due to modern machinery being able to create stress free assembly of gear and fine dimensional tolerances. And experience in manufacturing, that is a big deal.
Yeah the best materials will cost more, but we all can decide whether this is necessary for us or not.

I'm all 100% for Aussies to do world class stuff again like we did once upon a time. Out where I am, we don't see these examples because the shops just cannot afford to stock something that the demographic cannot afford. The place isn't like the major pollution centres where the money is to buy in all the expensive gear so I don't reckon I'll see a Wedgetail here in a hurry.
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by zbenga » 20 Nov 2025, 8:41 am

I don't think it's new, to be honest the .50 bmg and even AR15's have a type of barrel extensions into the receiver

barrel screws into a barrel extension where you have the lugs, aluminium or titanium screws into the barrel extension and the bolt made of aluminium or titanium with a steel bolt head connected to it via a pin slides into it and the bold head is held in the steel barrel extension, quite simple.

the problem I see is with dissimilar metals ... i think you can make a rifle lighter in better ways and make it cheaper than 3.6k or whatever this sells for. To be seen how good the receiver is.

You're right thou ... there are a lot of things in australia that don't work so we won't see it everywhere .... think americanism in business, what didn't Lithgow experience that with Spika by dropping all others and going Spika exclusively only to be screwed over? Hopefully Wedgetail learns and does not play that game
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by womble » 02 Dec 2025, 2:55 pm

The pen is mightier than the sword. If the pen is used to order more swords.
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by bigrich » 03 Dec 2025, 7:28 am



thanks for the post , good to see aussie manufactured and designed product .

unfortunately, for my uses, i think my st/steel 308 T3x in a B&C stock with 22" barrel is better . lighter to carry , and with it's 5 shot mag sits on the dashboard of my toyota really good for quick access :D
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Re: Aussie-made Wedgetail bolt action

Post by womble » 05 Dec 2025, 4:09 am

I’m not sure how they managed to get it to 3.7 kilo
The pen is mightier than the sword. If the pen is used to order more swords.
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