Bolt action more accurate than a semi?

[Fatelvis]

Do you think bolt guns have an edge over semi-autos in the accuracy dept.? Why?

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Yes, far less moving parts.

 

[Ratdog68]

That's a pretty broad question... too many variables. Quality of the weapon (barrel, chambering, etc)... trigger pull... condition of the weapon (crown/bore)... how well a given round interacts with the gun's barrel (harmonics/node) ... etc.

I'm in the process of building an AR that should settle in to sub MOA accuracy that will cost me about $1K.

I think where "most" bolt guns will have an edge is the potential for better velocities since the gases have only one place to go.

I have/love both... and have each for different reasons. The worst shooting gun I ever owned was a break action single shot. It was a .223 that couldn't group 9" in 25yds. However... (many years later, and a bit more experience) I suspect it probably had a damaged crown. Not knowing any better, I traded it off for something else. I made out ok, but I might've made out even better had I had the crown inspected/redone.

 

[Hatterasguy]

Broadly speaking yes, less moving parts and usualy longer barrels.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Right, while bolt guns should be more accurate if everything else was held equal, not everything else is held equal. I have seen several bolt guns that were 1-1.5 MOA guns and some AR15s that were sub MOA. I have two that will with the right ammo.

I have shot a 0.5 MOA AR15 that was really neat to shoot. It was a buddy's prairiedog gun. Not a lot of bolt guns shoot 0.5 MOA.

 

[Water-Man]

Generally speaking, yes.

 

[jayjaypunisher]

generally speaking yes, as stated there's too many variables and it all comes down to the application, example- An M24 will outshoot a M110, SR25 at any yardline but I sure as hell would choose a M110 over an M24 any day of the week in Iraq, and some places in trashganistan where follow up shots are more vital than the slight accuracy loss.

 

[HB]

If nothing else, it could be said the bullet will receive more damage in a semi auto compared to a bolt.

 

[LRS_Ranger]

The bolt gun has less moving parts, and therefore less chances for something to be knocked out of whack. While you can make an auto about as accurate as a bolt, I bet if you bang it around in the field for a while, the bolt gun is going to hold up better.

 

[Art Eatman]

For a given amount of money, generally, yes, the bolt-action is more likely to shoot tighter groups.

Accuracy depends mostly on the quality of the barrel, the quality of the lockup of the bolt to the barrel, and the bedding of the receiver.

Equality in barrels is easy.

Lockup is not difficult, but more precision in the machining and clearance between the bolt and the receiver is needed for a semi-auto to cycle reliably. More precision means more $$$.

Generally, it's very easy to bed a bolt-action into a one-piece stock--so, generally, fewer $$$.

I had a Bushmaster Match Target that was quite reliably half-MOA. I have a Ruger 77 Mk II, also a .223, which is reliably half-MOA. Do a price comparison.

 

[benEzra]

Depends on which semiauto you're talking about. A match-grade AR will outshoot most bolt-actions, for example.

The extra parts in a semiauto do make the semiauto cost more for the same quality barrel and whatnot, so at exactly the same price point a bolt action may be more accurate, but there are 1/4 MOA semiautos out there so the ultimate limits for both platforms are quite high.

 

[jmr40]

I have no doubt that you equal the accuracy from a bolt rifle in a semi, but it won't be cheap. There are sub $400 bolt rifles that are amazingly accurate. If you found a semi for under a $1,000 that would equal it you would be extremely lucky.

 

[Black Dime]

I firmly believe it comes down to a common denominator.




















MONEY!!!

 

[Double Naught Spy]

You can spend big money on accuracy, but you don't have to.