What's your favorite class of rifles - semi auto, bolt, lever action, single shot

[Maverick223]

I like and own em' all but I have to say that bolts are probably my favorite from a practical/accuracy standpoint. Autoloaders and single shots are a wobbly (goes back and forth) tie for second place (there's a mite bit of irony in that), closely followed by levers, with pumps being dead last.

...but that discounts straight pulls (which you might get away with calling a bolt action) and toggle actions (which can't really be classified as anything but what they are). I'd put both of these types of action about even with a lever in my ranking.

 

[jpwilly]

Very difficult for me to choose between semi auto and bolt action but I went with my gut and voted semi auto. Now I feel a little voters remorse!

 

[jb27]

Another vote for the single shot. I've been shooting TC's for a few years now and love the simplicity. Great for handloading as well, give a little more flexibility than the others. As another fan of the single shots mentioned, there's something about the increased importance of that first shot while hunting...

 

[Gunaccumulator0925]

I picked bolt action although I own all but a single shot. My first was a Savage 340 in 30-30, still have it and have added 7 RM, 338 WM, 340 Wby to it. I also have several semi auto's, and couple '99s lever guns. It just depends on what I'm going to do with it. My XP-100R in 260 Rem is my fav for now but as it turns cold that will change )

 

[Legionnaire]

I have one or more of each, but no question I prefer scoped bolt action rifles. I like the inherent accuracy of the design, and there is just something about "one precise shot" that appeals to me. Among bolt actions, I'm partial to Remingtons, although I'd not knock other brands. My "go to" hunting rifle is a Model Seven in .308 wearing a compact Leupold 2-7X. My range guns are 700s in .223, .243, and .308. And there's not much prettier than a classic Remington 700 BDL in .30-06!

 

[Rexster]

I own and use all of these, but for pure pleasure of use, and aesthetics, the single-shot rules, in my mind. Right now, all of mine are Rugers, but I owned a Browning 1885 in the past, and would like to someday purchase/order a Shiloh Sharps or a Lone Star Rolling Block. Other beautiful SS rifles I have seen are the Dakota and Farquharson. More utilitarian, but great fun, was a break-open .45-70 I fired during a visit to a Central Texas ranch; I do not recall the exact brand name on it, but it was of the general NEF type.

In second place, bolt-action. I love my left-hand Winchester model 70 Safari Express .375 H&H.

To me, lever-action repeaters and autoloaders are working tools, with neither being favored more than the other, except as how it fits the task at hand. I can certainly value and treasure a particular, individual lever or auto rifle, and hold individual levers and autos in high regard.

 

[wch]

Favorite?

The original Winchester Model 1885 single shot rifle-there's just a terrific feeling of mechanical precision when I work the actions, and the set triggers have to be felt to be believed .