[Kiwi98J]

Which is better and why?

I have rifles built from both length actions and don't have a preference and don't see why one would be better than the other except for bullet length but I'm always willing to be educated.

Care to share your thoughts and reasons?

[LAK]

I don't have a preference either. I do not find any advantage to fractionally shorter bolt travel, and the few ounces saved in a short action do not concern me.

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[rbernie]

I prefer my manual repeaters (bolties and leverguns) to be short-actions and my semi-auto repeaters and single-shots to be long actions.

[cracked butt]

Whatever length is appropriate for the cartridge.

[Terrierman]

No preference.

[Vern Humphrey]

Choose the action length based on the cartridge. If you want a .375 H&H Mag, you're going to need a magnum length action. If you want a .30-06, you need a long action. If you want a .243 Winchester, a short action is the way to go.

[MCgunner]

I like light, compact short action bolt guns. I have two short actions, one long action belted magnum. The short actions are light, compact, and handy afield. All three are 1moa or less, so the short, light, compact guns don't lack hunting accuracy, no trade off for their handiness.

[Win75]

I voted for the short action. Not that the short action is any better than the long but because the majority of my shooting now involves short cartridges. I shoot these because I am getting older, joints have some arthur, and I guess I am getting soft because recoil hurts more now than it used to.

[js2013]

Short action. Shorter bolt throw therefore can be worked faster for faster followup shots. Short actions are stiffer than the long ones. For what I do short actions all the way, but long actions have their place. Depends on what you want to do.

[USSR]

I have rifles built from both length actions and don't have a preference and don't see why one would be better than the other except for bullet length ...

Bingo. You take a short action cartridge and load it with a high BC bullet, and it no longer fits a short action. If you are willing to accept the OAL constraints of a short action, then fine. I've got short actions and long actions. I decide what cartridge/load I want to shoot first, then I build a rifle around the appropriate action.

Don

[Kiwi98J]

because I am getting older, joints have some arthur, and I guess I am getting soft because recoil hurts more now than it used to.
:D Ain't it the truth. I'm about 1/2 way through load development of a 35Whelen and a 30 round ladder is all the recoil I can stand in an afternoon.

Shorter bolt throw therefore can be worked faster for faster follow up shots.I can't dispute that, I suppose 1 or 2 tenths of second could make a difference.

Short actions are stiffer than the long ones.I've heard this before and have never understood why it is important as far as operation and accuracy is concerned. It was true for rear locking lug actions of the past, specifically for cartridges headspaced off the rim but has no validity with modern, forward locking lug designs headspaced off the sholder or belt. No matter the bolt length, the distance, hence the rigidity, from the boltface to the locking surface is identical, the length of the bolt or lack of rearward of the locking surfaces adds nothing to aid accuracy or operationfrom sear break to the projectile exiting the muzzle.

Thanks for all your comments. :)

[silicon wolverine]

Kiwi98 hit it on the head. i have a .375H&H A-Bolt (LONG action) and i can cycle it faster than any of the SSM's or SAUMs ive shot. It is also more accurate.

SW

[js2013]

Quote:
Shorter bolt throw therefore can be worked faster for faster follow up shots.

I can't dispute that, I suppose 1 or 2 tenths of second could make a difference.

I shoot Highpower. For the rapid fire events every little bit helps.

Quote:
Short actions are stiffer than the long ones.

I've heard this before and have never understood why it is important as far as operation and accuracy is concerned. It was true for rear locking lug actions of the past, specifically for cartridges headspaced off the rim but has no validity with modern, forward locking lug designs headspaced off the sholder or belt. No matter the bolt length, the distance, hence the rigidity, from the boltface to the locking surface is identical, the length of the bolt or lack of rearward of the locking surfaces adds nothing to aid accuracy or operationfrom sear break to the projectile exiting the muzzle.

Stiff is good. That's why Benchrest actions are single shots, they're stiffer. For most applications it doesn't matter but when your fighting for every .001 every little bit helps.

[manitou210]

Well rather interesting opinions some very true others well??
I had Hart Barrels make up a hunting weight gun 6.7 lbs with a 24" stainless on a s/a Rem 700 with a mcmillan stock in 7mmwsm . I have had many guns made up over the years but this one is special. with 140gr noslers BT, at 3200+fps it shoots under .250" and three shots at 200 yards .480" this is good as any hunter class guns I have owned. So silcon wolverine be carefull some guy with one like this one might, give you a tough time trying to shoot a tight group against that mag.

But USSR. you hit nail on head, I loaded some Lostrivers 140gr .very high BC on this bullet .644 and I can not seat them to cycle from mag, to much powder, sad because this bullet shoots amazingly flat, much better than anything else. but they might be to solid for game.I read a articale where a fellow tested them on wet phone books almost doubled a reg 30cal in a 06 it went right through 22 books a nosler partition 16 books, Rem cor lock 12 books .I might try some of these to super fine cut powders to keep up at 3300fps. to see if I can seat them to cycle

http:/http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/manitou210/100_1507700hart.jpg/

[Stiletto Null]

Intermediate.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/StilettoOne/Both2.jpg