Has anyone here run a bolt action in 3-gun?

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1KPerDay

1KPerDay

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I got a wild hair to try a 1903 or Mauser in an upcoming rifle/pistol match... but I'm concerned about a couple issues:

1. How best to carry strippers (I use Swedish Mauser strippers which don't always secure the rounds on the ends very well)
2. Emptying the rifle on the clock

My club rules say guns may only be tabled/dumped if completely empty, so with the 1903 if I happen to run dry and need one or two final shots before transition I'll have to load a complete stripper, take a shot or two, and then cycle the remaining rounds through to empty the rifle. Unless I want to try to mess with the mag cutoff and load singles for the final one or two shots. Which probably isn't a good idea under stress. :uhoh:

I guess a few more seconds isn't really going to make any difference... I'll be the slowest guy there in any case. :p

PLUS: I shoot long guns lefty... so that will make it even weirder. Maybe I'll run the closer stuff right handed. Hmmmmm.... Maybe this isn't such a good idea....
 
No but it sounds fun. The PRS matches are turnin into 3gun matches and half of them have pistol now so maybe try that instead

Shooing 15 ipsc silhouette at 5 yards in 10 sec would be hard with a bolt gun but I think I could shoot 10 in 20 sec at 500 yards.
 
Watched a guy compete a timmed stage with a Webley top-break against semi-auto race guns. Didn't win but came out in the middle once penalties were factored in. Lol
 
Hoser said:
Then he ran out of ammo and resorted to bayonetting targets. I gave him the hits.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I could see that. Generally not a good idea to argue with a screaming man that's holding a big heavy spear. :)
 
There were a lot of people who timed out on stages at the Texas State multigun this year. If anyone ran a bolt action, they would have likely timed out on all but one or two of them.
 
Haven't done in in official 3-gun matches, but certainly have many times in our "practical rifle" side matches. Carry strippers in 1903/Garand style pouch belts. Or in the pockets of an IDPA vest. Practice smart loading to prevent having lots of extra rounds in the gun, and/or practice running the bolt fast to eject the empties. Or, use a bolt-gun with a quick detach mag. (K-31, Enfield, etc.)
 
Sam1911 said:
Haven't done in in official 3-gun matches, but certainly have many times in our "practical rifle" side matches. Carry strippers in 1903/Garand style pouch belts. Or in the pockets of an IDPA vest. Practice smart loading to prevent having lots of extra rounds in the gun, and/or practice running the bolt fast to eject the empties. Or, use a bolt-gun with a quick detach mag. (K-31, Enfield, etc.)
Click to expand...

K31 = the first bolt action race gun!

MAN that rifle was fast, for it's day. That straight pull bolt and box mag.. way ahead of it's time.

I ran a K31 two weeks ago in a "fun" rifle shoot and placed 2nd overall (10 shooters). Winner was using a scoped M1A. :)
 
My local pals dubbed mine the "Bolt-Action Machine Gun." Easy to beat a bunch of Mausers in that type of competition. Of course, any guy who's got his stuff together and can really run a bolt gun can do very well. Most folks seem to tend to use them like bench toys, not like hard-use, fast-action weapons.
 
I used an Enfield in a SASS Wild Bunch match, back before they really got the rules hammered out. If you grasp the bolt handle between forefinger and thumb, and use your middle finger for the trigger, you can really make it sing.

I also shot an Auto-5 that day. I actually won the Wild Bunch that day, but more on the strength of the semiauto shotgun and actually knowing how to reload a 1911. Gained more than I lost with the rifle.
 
I haven't run a bolt gun, but I'm doing one this weekend with a semiauto Madsen LMG. :)

Carrying clips isn't that big of a deal - I've used a US cartridge belt for carrying M1 clips in matches, and it would do just fine with 5-round stripper clips too (they are actually intended for use with either the Garand or Springfield). You could also use on of the many available type of surplus clip pouches. Lot of Mosins were sold with pairs of clip pouches, for example.

I wouldn't really sweat the unloading time. If you're running a bolt gun, you are clearly not primarily concerned with winning. Use the match to have fun and learn about handling your rifle, and don't worry about how you place compared to people with more modern equipment. Unless you think you actually can beat them, in which case you should totally go for it. :evil:
 
Ian said:
I wouldn't really sweat the unloading time. If you're running a bolt gun, you are clearly not primarily concerned with winning.
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You can say that again.

I tried a bit of practice running the bolts in my A3 and 03 Mark I... right handed, left handed, holding the grip lefty and running the bolt righty...

whatever way I choose it's going to be sloooooooooowwwww...:eek: :D

I have an Ishapore .308 also... hmmmm....

It'll probably come down to how many rounds I can convince my self to load in the next couple of weeks. My club prohibits any magnetic ammo now so my supplies of LC M80 and HXP are worthless. :rolleyes:
 
jmorris said:
There were a lot of people who timed out on stages at the Texas State multigun this year. If anyone ran a bolt action, they would have likely timed out on all but one or two of them.
Click to expand...
Yeah, this is not a serious, statewide or regional match. I wouldn't put my fellow competitors through that... I'm already slow enough with "fast guns."
 
Ha ha! Yup, but everyone's got to start somewhere.

Anyone can run a modern auto-loader. Someone who can post a respectable time with a bolt rifle really knows what he's about!
 
Dollars per minute you are doing better. You are just being frugal with your shooting money.
 
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