Anyone else not like bolt action rifles?

[dave3006]

I have tried to warm up to them. I just can't do it. I own a Remington 700 with a good VXIII scope. But, I just can't bring myself to like it. Something about semiautos that just feels better. I do some coyote hunting and some deer hunting with the bolt action. However, I think I am going to switch to my Mini-14 for coyotes and the Garand for deer. I know the 700 is more accurate. But I just like being in the field better with my semi's and iron sights.

Anyone else just not get the bolt action thing?

Dave

 

[1911user]

I own mostly semi-autos, but they are harder to scope securely and the lower-cost precision of a bolt-gun is a factor to consider.

 

[Gewehr98]

Bolt actions are for people confident in their shot placement.

And single-shot rifles even more so.

Mini-14 for coyote? Must be a lot of coyote in a group close to the hunter, using a 2 MOA autoloader.

I've heard an M1 Garand in the Wisconsin woods during whitetail season. My first thought was I hope he finally got the damned deer when that eighth round went off...

 

[Gordon]

Primary extraction, one piece stocks (M-1,M-14 exceptions)

 

[jaimeshawn]

I know what you mean. It was a joy the first time I shot a MAK90 because it had no-recoil at all; and I was used to 'shooting' being a 30-06 bolt gun with lots of recoil - or something equally unpleasant.

I started picking up other semi-autos and was amazed when I shot my first Garand - smooth - accurate and still has enough punch to kill things... I use a VZ52 with an adapter for the grandkids to shoot and they love it - they can rapid fire and sent the clay pidgeon chips flying, plus a 9# rifle shooting the little russian round has so little recoil, even a 5 year old can handle it.

Lately I've started picking up bolt guns again, but the autoloaders are great.

 

[Mannlicher]

Its not that I dont like bolt guns, I certainly have several, its just that I like lever rifles more, for the hunting that I do.

 

[mtnbkr]

I prefer semis for "fun" shooting like plinking, etc. I prefer bolt rifles for hunting or when I want to place each shot precisely.

The only exception is the 10/22 I put some money into to make it much more accurate than factory. However, except for a bit of squirrel hunting each fall, it's mainly a plinker.

Chris

 

[Zach S]

I never really warmed up to bolt action rifles since I'm sorta left handed. I dont hunt so most of my time behind a rifle is for fun anyway.

 

[MrMurphy]

I like military bolt guns, some hunting rifles.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'm a bolt gun man -- I own a couple or three single shots, an M1 Garand, and a Winchester Model 94. They all have their place, and having trained on the M1 when I first entered service, and carried one (which I bummed off the ARVN) my first tour in Viet Nam, the M1 has a special place in my heart. As a boy on the ranch, I carried a .30-30 daily in the saddle boot and killed a lot of deer and other critters with it.

But nowadays I almost always reach for a bolt gun. Simplicity, reliability and accuracy are virtues that it's hard to ignore.

 

[Mulliga]

Maybe you should try a bolt-action with iron sights.

Personally, I like anything that burns powder.

 

[Art Eatman]

I've never been able to warm up to a pump rifle except the old Winchester .22s. Otherwise, bolt or semi-auto is fine. I don't care for the AK clones, purely due to aesthetics.

Overall, though, my preference has always been for bolt guns. I just like meddling with them and tailoring loads for them.

As for the Mini, I've enjoyed the ones I've had. I've kept my factory 10-round mag just in case I trade into another one. They're good little guns for coyotes to 100 or 150 yards.

Art

 

[George Hill]

Rather have a rolling block or a lever action or a Semi. Don't really care for Bolties unless they are interesting. Interesting meaning good iron sights, 5 rounds or more in the mag... detachable mags prefered.
But a standard off the shelf bolty... no. Not really. I'll pass.

 

[Risasi]

I built a scout on one. An old Mosin. Wish I hadn't. I now wish it were either a nice SMLE Jungle, or some Semi. But hey, it was just a test to see if I like the scout concept. (And no, it was not a nice Mosin, all you C&R fanatics, so don't start chanting, "Hang'em, hang'em"). Just so you know the gun looks like crap but still shoots under 2" MOA all day long. If I was headed for the hills, I'd grab it before something in a wussy 5.56 like an AR or Ruger Mini.


I'm thinking I'll build a couple three on Saiga's.

I think 5.45, 5.56, and the venerable .308. All 16" barrels. Ultimak mounts, nice cheap optics. And I'll try to get them down to about 7lbs. This should run me under a grand easy. Well, that's what I am shooting for.

 

[dakotasin]

for me, bolts are where its at. i have several autos, though i honestly cannot remember the last time i fired them... i know i fired one of the ar's a couple times last year - though i don't know when exactly... i think the ak was out 3 years ago.... but, as for the rest of 'em, i bet they haven't been fired in a decade. don't really care if they make it out of the safe again in my lifetime, either...

i prefer bolts. i like the strength, the simplicity, the accuracy, and the horsepower that bolts can deliver...

 

[spacemanspiff]

pshaawwww! dontcha know, that if god chose a rifle, it'd be a bolt action! good enough for the almighty, then its good enough for me.

seriously though, i think that a true rifleman is one who can shoot expert with a bolt action over iron sights. the semi-autos are nice to have, and fun to shoot, but the novice shooter with a semi-auto will substitute speed for accuracy. theres a time and place when fast shooting is needed, and theres a time and place where accurate shooting is needed. not all shooters can perform both with a semi-auto.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

God hunts with a pre-64 Winchester Model 70, in .30-06. I know, I helped Him pack out His last elk.

 

[BigG]

Only in large safari calibers.

Otherwise, semiauto, please.

 

[kfranz]

Ah, an area of my life where I'm not very discriminatory. I like most any action I run across. Some days it's one type more than another, but they all seem to get their share of attention...

 

[Legionnaire]

Have at least one each semi-auto, lever, break-action single-shot (Encore), pump (Remington 760 in .30-06), combo (Savage 24) and bolt. All are fun to shoot. But my bolt actions get far more use than the others, hunting or plinking.

 

[rbernie]

Once you've shot a Savage 99F, you'll never settle for anything less for non-dangerous game...

 

[Beav]

I like the overpriced black bolt rifles.

 

[GD]

I go back and forth between my bolt actions and my semiautomatics. I would say most of the time though I prefer shooting my Finnish bolt guns because of their accuracy. Another reason for prefering bolts is when it comes to clean up due to firing corrosive ammo!

 

[Gordon]

"Once you've shot a Savage 99F, you'll never settle for anything less for non-dangerous game... "
As a man whose primary deer gun is a 1957 99F in .308, I tend to agree.
But I still think bolt guns are generally more reliable and accurate!

 

[sm]

I like bolt Actions.

Understand though - I was raised right.

Bolt guns: Model 52 to start out - next a Model 70 in '06.

I "learnt" starting at age 3+ to shoot DA only 22 Revos. I went to the model 10 right quick. Age six - shot my first centerfire handgun - Gov't Model of 1911.

So with all this being "raised right" , "experience" and all *ahem* ..."Okay two shots with the Model 70 - then you HAVE to learn on the Model 52" . Hey I was 7 and I practiced a LOT to get back to the Model 70 in '06.

I didn't grow up - I just got bigger.