follow-up shots with a bolt

General "Red" Merrit used to write columns for Infantry Magazine about the old (pre WWII) days.

He wrote one about exercising his company at rapid fire with the '03 Springfield. The troops had dummy ammo, and 200 yards away there were men with targets. On signal the targets would be raised, and the troops on the line would rattle through five rounds, reload and go through five more.

Suddenly there was a BANG! and everyone looked downrange in horror -- and saw one of the target pullers holding his campaign hat over the bullseye of his target, signaling a center hit.

Check out the positions of the trigger and closed bolt handle on an Enfield.
That's one of the reasons they can be operated and fired quickly.
There's a video floating around showing one of the Gunsite guys hitting a falling pepper popper with a bolt action three times before it goes flat on the ground.

Shoot a CMP Vintage rifle match, or a NRA Across the course match, full distance or reduced. These matches require you to shoot rapid fire, and reload during the rapid fire string. XTC has ten shot rapid fire strings.

I, like many highpower shooters, put a dot on the wall, use that for rapid fire practice. A higher one for sitting, a lower one for prone RF. Practice bolt manipulation, and at the end of it, have the post under the dot when the bolt is in battery and you are back in position . I am proud to say I can really rack the bolt with speed after a couple of decades of highpower. In fact, I have to mentally slow down, or I will violently break position, racking too hard and too fast. It gets to be automatic. Bang, rack, reloaded.

Only problem I have had with hunting rifles is the clearance between bolt knob and the scope. There is not a lot, and I can't get the full, vigorous sweep I use with an iron sighted rifle. If I forget, I leave meat on the scope edges.

I went hunting with a Finnish M27. Hit the deer low first shot and it took off. Second shot was so quick that my bud's thought someone else was on the hill, they thought someone was using a semi automatic.

General "Red" Merrit used to write columns for Infantry Magazine about the old (pre WWII) days.

He wrote one about exercising his company at rapid fire with the '03 Springfield. The troops had dummy ammo, and 200 yards away there were men with targets. On signal the targets would be raised, and the troops on the line would rattle through five rounds, reload and go through five more.

Click to expand...

I heard, pre WW2, that the BAR's on either end of the line were the sweepers, during Rattle Battle. Must have been a blast, the center guys with 03's, the judges calling out instructions, the BAR's chugging away.

I heard, pre WW2, that the BAR's on either end of the line were the sweepers, during Rattle Battle. Must have been a blast, the center guys with 03's, the judges calling out instructions, the BAR's chugging away.

Click to expand...

Sometimes being an Infantryman can be fun!

In the winters, I hunt coyotes a lot. This often requires shots at running targets. I have always had good luck with my Sako .223 bolt gun, but decided that buying an AR would result in better shooting at running stuff. After all, the AR SHOULD be the perfect coyote rifle. While I have enjoyed hunting with the AR and have had pretty good success with it the last few years, I still do better at running coytes with the bolt gun. Go figure.

^^ to Vern's post (#25), regarding his method number 3:

I call this the "salute":

You leave the rifle at your shoulder, and "salute" with your hand. The bolt is raised and brought back by contact with the second joint of your index finger, and thrust forward and down by your thumb. VERY fast with practice. All the motion is done with the wrist.


Willie

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I call this the "salute":

You leave the rifle at your shoulder, and "salute" with your hand. The bolt is raised and brought back by contact with the second joint of your index finger, and thrust forward and down by your thumb. VERY fast with practice. All the motion is done with the wrist.

Click to expand...

I have a friend who coaches long range shooters, and they use this method. The idea is, when the wind is right, shoot fast. The more shots you get off during a lull, the better. And some of his shooters claim they can shoot faster with a bolt gun than with an M14.

I have made follow up shots with bolt guns. It was not always pretty. Then I started hunting with a K31. That straight pull bolt made a follow up shot so easy. Rifle never left my shoulder, and my sights followed the deer continuously.

That's how it's supposed to be with all bolt actions -- the butt never leaves your shoulder, your cheek never leaves the stock. The only thing that takes the sights off the target is recoil.

i always find it funny that the US is the only place we shoot once and stop. almost every other place you shoot till its down.

learn the work the bolt with the gun on your shoulder, its pretty easy. shoot, reload, aim

but our calibers are soo much bigger. we expect a single bullet to do the job.

You really just need to practice immediately cycling the bolt as soon as you fire, I do it even when shooting from a bench.