Bolt Action or a Semi for Hunting?

[Firepower!]

I was going through my rilfe collection and could not decide whether a bolt action is best as its traditional or a semi would be best for hunting- since most calibers are available in both.

 

[TCB in TN]

Personally for what I consider to be ethical shooting distance (ethical for my ability) there is not enough difference in the two to matter. I have both bolt guns and semi's in 30-06 and they are both quite acceptable from an accuracy standpoint out to 250 to 300 yards. Use whichever gun you feel the most comfortable with.

 

[Soap]

What kind of game? Terrain?

 

[aguyindallas]

Well....I use both actually. I have an AR-15 that I built in 6.8SPC specifically for small-med size game such as coyote/hogs/whitetail. I have also been known to deploy my bolt .270 for the same task.

 

[3pairs12]

Bolt baby at least until I build a 6.8 AR

 

[JesseL]

You could split the difference and get a lever or pump gun.

 

[Essex County]

The older I get I tend to favor simplicity in my life. This includes all forms of new inovations, not just firearms. A Mauser or Mauser direvitave bolt gun meets this criteria.........But I'm still going to keep my AR's.....Essex

 

[hossdaniels]

I have hunted with a semi for 17 years, taken god knows how many deer with it, and never had the chance for a follow up shot. Missed twice, but I still didn't have a chance for a second shot. My last rifle was a 270 bolt action, and I love it. Better trigger, lighter, and more accurate than my old semi remington 742.

 

[JWarren]

I wish you had a "No Preference" Option, or a "It Depends" Option.

I've hunted with both, and my father hunts exclusively with a semi-auto 30-06. Over both our years of experience, I really haven't seen a difference.

A quality semi-auto will do the job as well as a bolt-action in most cases.


-- John

 

[Shawnee]

ROTFLMAO !!

High-5 to Ya, Jesse !!!!


It really all depends on YOU, Firepower. If you're good enough to be hunting you're good enough to use any of the action types that strike your fancy for other reasons - many of them subjective - and perfectly valid - for you.

I've hunted a LOT with a Ruger #1 single-shot and it served me very well. I know others who have hunted with all manner of guns and were perfectly happy and perfectly effective.

Choose the gun that looks and feels good to you.

 

[R.W.Dale]

For Hunting nothing beats a Single Shot. They're typically lighter, and a good deal shorter than either a semi or bolt gun. A good hunter will NEVER need that second shot anyhow.

 

[elmerfudd]

Bolt actions are nearly perfect hunting rifles. They're light, strong, accurate, inexpensive and they point and handle well. Semi-autos are adequate for hunting, but inferior. They generally weigh more and are more front heavy. Only a few are as accurate as bolt actions and those usually cost much more and you can't get them in half as many calibers.

A semi only does one thing better than a bolt action, and that's to deliver an instant followup shot if it's needed, but someone who's good with a bolt action can still get a second shot in awfully quickly. IMO, the only reason to get a semi for hunting is if you're shooting multiple animals or dangerous game.

 

[pbrktrt]

i hunt with a vanguard 270 & a mini-30. just depends on where i'm hunting. they both have their place & work well.

 

[JWarren]

A good hunter will NEVER need that second shot anyhow.

I'd never speak in absolutes-- they tend to come back and bite you.

Now *I've* never had to take a second shot in 28 years of hunting, but I know plenty of good hunters who have. I know good hunters who have had to follow a blood trail for over a mile on a vitals shot whitetail.

Animals do strange and annoying things like run when trying to survive. I can see the need for a follow-up shot based upon some of the trails I've followed for family and friends. I've never had one take more than a few steps, but I KNOW what I am: Lucky.


-- John

 

[dstorm1911]

Single shot Thompson Contender or Encore, then pick the barrel for any given job

 

[ckay]

Bolt

 

[browningguy]

I have semi's in .223, 6x45, .270, .30-06, .50 Beowulf, all of them work extremely well. That includes DPMS, RRA, Browning BAR's and HK SLB2000.

I have bolt actions in about the same number of calibers, all of them work extremely well.

I have only one single shot, Browning 1885 in 45-70, that I hunt with and it works extremely well.

Neither is better than the other, none is more sporting. The Semi's offer a slightly faster follow up shot, and I'm willing to meet anyone who is faster with a bolt action at American Shooting range to do side by side trials. The bolts are more often than not slightly more accurate.

Just pick what works for you and be dome with it.

 

[Cosmoline]

Semis are just too noisy.

 

[browningguy]

I have semi's in .223, 6x45, .270, .30-06, .50 Beowulf, all of them work extremely well. That includes DPMS, RRA, Browning BAR's and HK SLB2000.

I have bolt actions in about the same number of calibers, all of them work extremely well.

I have only one single shot, Browning 1885 in 45-70, that I hunt with and it works extremely well.

Neither is better than the other, none is more sporting. The Semi's offer a slightly faster follow up shot, and I'm willing to meet anyone who is faster with a bolt action at American Shooting range to do side by side trials. The bolts are more often than not slightly more accurate.

Just pick what works for you and be done with it. By the way I've had plenty of second shots on animals, if it's not on the ground when I recover from recoil another is on the way. Even a perfectly heart shot whitetail can run 30-100 yards easily, I don't like tracking in South Texas rattlesnake country.

 

[aspade]

Depends where I'm hunting. If there might be dope farmers or feral dogs in the area, I'd like to have a M1A.

But for the deer and maybe elk someday hunting I actually do, a single shot would do just fine. A bolt gun is just a convenient way of loading and unloading that single shot, and carrying a couple extra rounds.

 

[jpwilly]

Semi Auto! Yes, they are usually heavier but they make your arms stronger. You may not need a second shot but you'll look like a woodland ninja while out hunting, especially if you are using a mil spec semi auto, maybe the squirrels will leave you alone. Get out your Ghili rags and snipe your prey instead of hunting! Also a big plus if you run into any dope farmers you can shoot it out with them *(be sure you have lots of ammo and a good plan of attack).

 

[stiab]

My deer rifle stable includes two semi-autos, two pumps, and a bolt action, and each one is my favorite gun whenever I am using it!!

 

[USPfan03]

Personally I use a bolt action mauser 98 that has been converted to a 30-06. Where I hunt rarely do you have a chance at a second shot so having the semi-auto is nearly pointless. That is unless you run into a big cat or bear, then you might want to have the semi. However, my mind might be changed after I take an m4 out on a hunt.

 

[dcon]

I started deer hunting about 10 years ago, and the rifle I bought for the job was a Browning BAR in .270, opening morning it did the job on a doe. Since that first year I haven't taken it out, even though it did the job well I am just more of a bolt action guy and now hunt deer with a Browning BBR in .30-06. I have other bolts for other situations and I justify keeping the BAR by telling myself it makes a good brush gun, of course so does my Marlin 1895 guide gun.

 

[sachmo]

Your hunting this is not Pork Chop Hill. Depending on the game and location a single shot. bolt. or lever action is the way to go.