Anyone actually hunted with an oversized bolt?

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Trey Veston

Trey Veston

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Never had a rifle with one as all of my rifles are for use in the woods, except for my 1885 Winchester High Wall, and no bolt.

Bought the Ruger Predator and it seems like it is a popular mod to add an oversized bolt. I was all set to order one since the bolt is a little small and smooth. Then, I was watching a video of some guy with one doing some fast shooting and half the time when he moved his right hand from the bolt to the trigger, he bumped the oversized handle on accident and moved the bolt up and out of battery.

That didn't look good. Seemed like the handle was getting in the way of actually firing the rifle properly.

Then I considered how moving through the woods with the rifle slung would likely bump an oversized bolt and move it out of battery, which would be bad.

So, just wondering if my concerns are realistic and if anyone has actually carried a rifle so equipped into the woods and hunted with one.

I'll probably order one with a slightly larger round bolt that is textured, as it seems one like that wouldn't be too obtrusive.
 
I assume you mean bolt handle. The Ruger comes from the factory with a larger bolt than most. In theory it means a stiffer bolt and more accuracy.

My experience with oversize bolt handles is limited, but I do have one rifle with one. A Tikka CTR. If you have enough clearance with the scope they can be a little faster to manipulate. On a target/tactical rifle with big glass mounted high they are probably a good idea. On a hunting rifle, maybe not
 
I've got a bolt handle on my Savage 10 TAC about the size of a coffee can... well, almost. I hate it. I wish they would have tapered it down, right now it just sticks out and hangs on everything. I'm considering swapping it with a standard Savage bolt... Scope clearance can be an issue, as was mentioned...

4TNm1w1m.jpg
 
Charlie98 said:
I've got a bolt handle on my Savage 10 TAC about the size of a coffee can... well, almost. I hate it. I wish they would have tapered it down, right now it just sticks out and hangs on everything. I'm considering swapping it with a standard Savage bolt... Scope clearance can be an issue, as was mentioned...

View attachment 996850
Click to expand...

You could probably get someone to trade you straight across pretty easy for a standard bolt handle.
 
Charlie98 said:
I've got a bolt handle on my Savage 10 TAC about the size of a coffee can... well, almost. I hate it. I wish they would have tapered it down, right now it just sticks out and hangs on everything. I'm considering swapping it with a standard Savage bolt... Scope clearance can be an issue, as was mentioned...

View attachment 996850
Click to expand...

The 450 Bushmaster I built for a friend had a similar Savage 10 Tactical action as the donor. He loves it but I genuinely hate it as you do. It is what was available though and he uses it to hunt in MI.
 
I have some that are bigger than others, none are as large as say a scope mounted on a rifle.

If you are really worried about it, get a rifle where the bolt can’t be lifted with the safety applied. Now when you take the safety off to fire, it will be ready no matter what.
 
I also have a Savage 110 Tac. The large handle does make it bulge in the case, but I haven't noticed any issues when it is slung up or while hunting. It is actually my rifle of choice when hunting in thick gloves.
 
I ran a glades ....https://gladesarmory.com/product/ruger-american-rifle-tactical-knob-487-175-black/
on my Ruger American Magnum, and on my Go Wild/Magpul build. No issues with either getting in the way.

I also have oversized knobs on my Christensen Ridgeline (tho shorter on the Ridgeline) and Carbon barreled 6.5CM. I have not noticed any issue with either

Actually, only two bolt guns I currently own have "standard" sized knobs. My Mesa, because its small and the small knob fits fine with that rifle, and my 700 heavy barrel, because I haven't changed it yet.
I might still change the Mesas knob to a different shape option.

The 2"+ knobs ARE too long IMO, I bought a couple as gifts for friends (cause that's the length they requested), and personally I don't like em.....other folks have no issues.
 
I have a Savage M220 20ga BA. It has the LARGE tactical bolt knob.
It seems to hang on every strap (back pack, fl orange vest, ect) and vine that gets near it.
I wish it had a standard knob. But, I don’t hunt frequently enough with it to make a change.
 
Mannlicher_Sch%C3%B6nauer_1.jpg

Now that some of you have mentioned it...

...these near - flush Mannlicher bolt handles make far more sense.

Far more sense than the monstrous tacticulosities I installed on my bolt rifles!

All of my rifles have bolt handles that mimic that of Accuracy International's swept - back golf balls, but mine are primarily meant for fun...
 
daniel craig said:
How loose is your bolt that you can “bump” it out of battery?
Click to expand...
It dosent take much lift to slow the firing pin so you get a click instead of a bang.
While i havent completely changed my tune on wanting a locking bolt, ive seen a bolt handle get lifted enough to cause a click twice now, and one open and the chambered round fall out. All three times while the rifle was slung.

Ive had no major issues with the bigger bolt handles, but i could see it being a problem.
 
I like oversized/tactical knobs for running the rifle. I don’t let myself get distracted by small stuff which really doesn’t influence my life otherwise.

I find that handling a rifle more will make a person more adept at handling the rifle. The more you move with, walk, carry, mount, dismount, etc the rifle, the better you become at moving with, walking, carrying, mounting, dismounting, etc the rifle. Generally, I find when I build or buy a new rifle type, I snag pack straps on everything on the rifle which could ever snag anything... but within a few hours of use, the kinks work themselves out and the awkwardness evaporates. Kinda like ice skating, roller blading/skating, walking in ski boots, snowboarding, snow-shoeing, snorkeling, or waterskiing... at first, the new biomechanics are foreign and awkward, but with some time to familiarize, it becomes second nature.
 
I've never gotten oversized bolt handles - a correctly sized mauser type one seems to facilitate fast and reliable operation. I'm honestly not sure what problem the oversized one is proposed to solve but I don't think I have that problem on any of my rifles.
 
Llama Bob said:
I've never gotten oversized bolt handles - a correctly sized mauser type one seems to facilitate fast and reliable operation. I'm honestly not sure what problem the oversized one is proposed to solve but I don't think I have that problem on any of my rifles.
Click to expand...

It's for tacticle warrier PRS type shooting!

Speed in manipulating the bolt under stress!

Pew pew pewz!
 
Llama Bob said:
I've never gotten oversized bolt handles - a correctly sized mauser type one seems to facilitate fast and reliable operation. I'm honestly not sure what problem the oversized one is proposed to solve but I don't think I have that problem on any of my rifles.
Click to expand...
I don't think it's really meant to solve any problems in general, especially on a hunting rifle.
It's just large things (within reason) are easier to manipulate than smaller ones are and they're definitely easier to do it faster.
Specific circumstances/builds probably make more sense than others.


The extended length can actually make a noticeable difference in the perceived ease of cocking a savage or some of the short-lift bolt guns.

Two 700 with similar sized scopes.
Big bolt handle
PXL_20210507_195847936.MP.jpg
PXL_20210507_195850030.MP.jpg

Small/stock bolt knob

PXL_20210507_195751855.MP.jpg
PXL_20210507_195749808.MP.jpg

This is what ive done with my current RAM
Just pounded out some of the curve, but didnt make it completely straight. Its sticks out a little more than the newer handle, but not enough to be annoying.
PXL_20210507_194659163.MP.jpg
PXL_20210507_195215893.MP.jpg

And my 2 Christensens...the Ridgelines handle waa changed mostly because I didn't like the way the little knob looked on the gun, but it is rather nice not banging my hand into the rather large ocular bell of the Zeiss.
PXL_20210507_200007233.MP.jpg
 
Last edited:
LONG bolt handles offer more purchase and improved leverage for bolt lift.

FAT bolt handles just offer more purchase, whether that means more to hold onto or more area so your finger/hand takes a lower pressure impact when running hard and fast.

I don’t miss my bolt often, but I do notice how much easier it is and less mindful I can be when running a longer and/or larger handle than a shorter, smaller one.
 
My Savage isn't the easiest bolt to lift, so I can see the utility of having a bit longer lever... it's the angle (it sticks straight out) and the size. I actually have to remove the bolt and stow it separately when I case my rifle.

Loon's large 700 bolt handle looks about perfect. May have to try to shape mine a little...
 
LoonWulf said:
It dosent take much lift to slow the firing pin so you get a click instead of a bang.
While i havent completely changed my tune on wanting a locking bolt, ive seen a bolt handle get lifted enough to cause a click twice now, and one open and the chambered round fall out. All three times while the rifle was slung.

Ive had no major issues with the bigger bolt handles, but i could see it being a problem.
Click to expand...
Well! That must have been something to experience!

I love oversized bolt handles because I’m often using my rifle with oversized gloves on in the cold.
 
daniel craig said:
Well! That must have been something to experience!

I love oversized bolt handles because I’m often using my rifle with oversized gloves on in the cold.
Click to expand...

The first one was on my gun a buddy was using. He went to pop a doe that jumped and took off in front of us, and the gun went click....everyone in the party looked at me.....who was in the back of the pack.
The doe ended up getting away lol.
there was a dimple on the primer.
A similar thing happened to another guy I was hunting with, but he shucked the round and fired the next one down, so less eventful.

the one that fell out happened when my buddy and I were humping it out at the end of the day, bolt handle got caught in his pack (which is why my bolt guns ride on my right shoulder or across my back).
He was in front, and I actually saw the action fall open and the round pop out.
 
daniel craig said:
How loose is your bolt that you can “bump” it out of battery?
Click to expand...

What I've found is that often times a bolt doesn't really get bumped out of battery, but it doesn't take much of a bump to turn it slightly. Then when the firing pin drops a portion of the energy is expended turning the bolt back down that tiny amount and that robs the firing pin of enough energy that you get a click rather than a bang.

My dad experienced this when he switched from a semi-auto Remington 742 to a bolt action Ruger 77 Mk II. He kept complaining that the gun was "snapping" and I eventually figured out he was just bumping his bolt handle up slightly walking to his stand. Once he made sure his bolt handle was pushed fully down when he got into the stand the "problem" went away immediately.
 
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