coloradokevin
Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2008
- Messages
- 3,285
IMO the bolt action will generally win in accuracy when comparing any given class of rifle (box stock from a sporting goods store, custom jobs, low-end, high-end, or however you like to divide them). With this said, I think the margin of victory may or may not be substantial, depending upon your needs.
I can sit here and tell you that I always out shoot my $1,000+ AR-15's using my $800 bolt action rifle, but I have to admit that I can't give you a perfectly fair comparison on this subject, since my bolt gun wears a 10x scope, while my AR's are being shot without the aid of magnification.
But, regardless, I've seen some scoped AR's that can't hold an inch, and some custom job AR's that will shoot around 1/2 an inch. But, I think if you tried comparing the best AR's built to the best bolt guns built, the bolt gun will probably still win (though the margin of victory might be measured in the 0.1" range, or something like that). Does that matter? Depends on your purpose!
One BIG advantage to the bolt gun for range work, in my mind, is that I don't have to chase my brass all over hell and back every time I shoot. I fire, and the brass comes right out in my hand, exactly when I tell it to
I can sit here and tell you that I always out shoot my $1,000+ AR-15's using my $800 bolt action rifle, but I have to admit that I can't give you a perfectly fair comparison on this subject, since my bolt gun wears a 10x scope, while my AR's are being shot without the aid of magnification.
But, regardless, I've seen some scoped AR's that can't hold an inch, and some custom job AR's that will shoot around 1/2 an inch. But, I think if you tried comparing the best AR's built to the best bolt guns built, the bolt gun will probably still win (though the margin of victory might be measured in the 0.1" range, or something like that). Does that matter? Depends on your purpose!
One BIG advantage to the bolt gun for range work, in my mind, is that I don't have to chase my brass all over hell and back every time I shoot. I fire, and the brass comes right out in my hand, exactly when I tell it to