RPRNY
Member
There appears to be a substantial population that is unaware of some basic nomenclature issues with regards to receiver "size". For the purposes of clarification:
Magnum cartridges such as the venerable 375 H&H utilize a LONG ACTION receiver, generally allowing a cartridge length of up to @3.90"
STANDARD ACTIONS, for standard length cartridges, have receivers that generally allow for cartridges up to @3.40".
SHORT ACTIONS for short, and sometimes short and fat cartridges, have receivers that allow for cartridges up to @2.90" long.
SHORT ACTION receivers, and their bolts, are generally no more than 0.5" shorter than STANDARD ACTIONS. The weight savings, like for like receiver, is on the order of only several ounces.
SHORT ACTIONS offer no significant advantages over STANDARD ACTIONS without substantial further modifications. Very, very few hunters in North America participate in driven shoots where multiple shots on passing game could possibly justify the claim that as much as 0.5" difference in bolt throw could possibly matter. Bolt action, suppressed rifles for hogs might possibly enjoy such a benefit. For all others, 0.5" of bolt throw difference is factually immaterial.
In order for action length difference to be material to all bit a handful of North American hunters, significant further modifications to substantially diminish overall rifle weight must be made. For the ultra lightweight mountain rifle, with it's pencil thin barrel and unweightium skeletonized stock, a short action can indeed make a difference. Otherwise, the hot air exuded in advancing the theory of tangible difference weighs more.
But, for the economical route to the "handy, short action rifle", the result is usually a short barrel and cheap polymer stock. Again, one is welcome to it. But if one chooses a short action, short barreled rifle because it is, subjectively in most cases, "lighter and handier" than a standard action rifle, then one must not insist, as its erroneous aficionados so often do, that "it hits just as hard". It does not. Cutting 4"-6" of barrel off a rifle that already housed a less powerful cartridge has consequences. They are not improved ballistic performance.
So, in summation: LONG ACTIONS describe those designed for Magnum Cartridges larger than 300 Win Mag. STANDARD LENGTH ACTIONS describe those designed for the likes of the 8x57, 30-06, 30-40 Krag, and 6.5x55, for example. SHORT ACTIONS describe those housing the 308 family and cartridges like the 6.5 CM, and; one will allow the "Mini Action" for 7.62x39 and 223 families. The FACTS are that unless one is engaged in extremely rare and unique hunting situations, the up to 0.5" shorter bolt throw of the SHORT ACTION is utterly immaterial. The FACTS are that in order for real weight savings to be made in Short vs Standard length actions, substantial further modifications and real compromises to performance must be made.
These are facts. They are not opinions to which valid contrary views can be voiced. Each and every one of us is entitled to our own opinions, but not our own facts. Therefore, when discussing one's opinions about the merits of one action length vs another, one must be guided by these FACTS and, should one distort them in one's exuberant advocacy, one must expected to be corrected.
Magnum cartridges such as the venerable 375 H&H utilize a LONG ACTION receiver, generally allowing a cartridge length of up to @3.90"
STANDARD ACTIONS, for standard length cartridges, have receivers that generally allow for cartridges up to @3.40".
SHORT ACTIONS for short, and sometimes short and fat cartridges, have receivers that allow for cartridges up to @2.90" long.
SHORT ACTION receivers, and their bolts, are generally no more than 0.5" shorter than STANDARD ACTIONS. The weight savings, like for like receiver, is on the order of only several ounces.
SHORT ACTIONS offer no significant advantages over STANDARD ACTIONS without substantial further modifications. Very, very few hunters in North America participate in driven shoots where multiple shots on passing game could possibly justify the claim that as much as 0.5" difference in bolt throw could possibly matter. Bolt action, suppressed rifles for hogs might possibly enjoy such a benefit. For all others, 0.5" of bolt throw difference is factually immaterial.
In order for action length difference to be material to all bit a handful of North American hunters, significant further modifications to substantially diminish overall rifle weight must be made. For the ultra lightweight mountain rifle, with it's pencil thin barrel and unweightium skeletonized stock, a short action can indeed make a difference. Otherwise, the hot air exuded in advancing the theory of tangible difference weighs more.
But, for the economical route to the "handy, short action rifle", the result is usually a short barrel and cheap polymer stock. Again, one is welcome to it. But if one chooses a short action, short barreled rifle because it is, subjectively in most cases, "lighter and handier" than a standard action rifle, then one must not insist, as its erroneous aficionados so often do, that "it hits just as hard". It does not. Cutting 4"-6" of barrel off a rifle that already housed a less powerful cartridge has consequences. They are not improved ballistic performance.
So, in summation: LONG ACTIONS describe those designed for Magnum Cartridges larger than 300 Win Mag. STANDARD LENGTH ACTIONS describe those designed for the likes of the 8x57, 30-06, 30-40 Krag, and 6.5x55, for example. SHORT ACTIONS describe those housing the 308 family and cartridges like the 6.5 CM, and; one will allow the "Mini Action" for 7.62x39 and 223 families. The FACTS are that unless one is engaged in extremely rare and unique hunting situations, the up to 0.5" shorter bolt throw of the SHORT ACTION is utterly immaterial. The FACTS are that in order for real weight savings to be made in Short vs Standard length actions, substantial further modifications and real compromises to performance must be made.
These are facts. They are not opinions to which valid contrary views can be voiced. Each and every one of us is entitled to our own opinions, but not our own facts. Therefore, when discussing one's opinions about the merits of one action length vs another, one must be guided by these FACTS and, should one distort them in one's exuberant advocacy, one must expected to be corrected.
