I'd like to see a modern bolt action battle rifle.

[elmerfudd]

It should have a synthetic stock, be chambered in .308 or a similar caliber and accept common high capacity magazines, (FAL, G3, M14 etc...). It should also have a fast action, rugged fiber optic "iron" sights and perhaps an offset scope base on the right side so you can use either set of sights and have a good cheek weld with both. If not an offset scope, then at least some sort of quick release mount or rings. A built in bipod would also be cool, but probably not necessary.

Am I the only one that this would appeal to or am I on to something here? I think a K31 would be an ideal platform for it, except that the 7.5 Swiss round is about 1/4" too long for any common high capacity magazine. A Remington 700 would probably work well too, but I think the bolt handle would make that offset scope unworkable. To me this would be an awesome trunk gun. It would be good for hunting, if you popped in a 20 round mag it would make a decent defensive rifle too and if you got pulled over by a cop it would just look like another hunting rifle and not something you'd be likely to get hassled for.

 

[ArmedBear]

Steyr Scout

 

[jpwilly]

They have them...sniper rifles. Probably the best ever bolt battle rifle was the Lee Enfield No4 You can get already get high cap magazines and even chambered in 308. You can add your synthetic stock and fiber optic sights to it and get what you want. BUT Imagine fighting in the modern urban role with a bolt action as you bust through the door and some BG with his AKM sends you and your bolt gun weilding buddies on to eternity! No Thanks!

 

[jpwilly]

Double Post...see above

 

[elmerfudd]

It wouldn't be for kicking in doors and doing close combat in Baghdad, (that would be ridiculous), but rather as a defensive rifle for civil emergencies like Hurricane Katrina or if I happened to stumble across a meth lab or something while out in the woods, plus hunting and target shooting of course.

I've got a 2A and it's a pretty nice little rifle, but it would be a lot better if it could take common high capacity mags and had better optics mounting options.

 

[jpwilly]

...the title of the thread

I'd like to see a modern bolt action battle rifle.

led me to think you wanted a battle rifle not SHTF senario.

 

[Zak Smith]

Its time has passed. There are a lot of Mausers and Enfields out there, just learn to love your stripper clips...

 

[elmerfudd]

led me to think you wanted a battle rifle not SHTF senario.

You got me there. It was a bad choice of words. But what I meant by it was the same kind of rugged combat type rifle that you find in the old milsurps only made to take advantage of our modern technology. An updated Enfield would be great.

 

[jpwilly]

You could easily build an updated Lee Enfield to those specs. I saw some hi cap 20rnd mags at a local fun show! They sell synthetic stocks for the Lee Enfields...scope mounts too! Now all you really need is to get a smith to fit the fiber sights on a new 308 barrel! I don't think you would have too much $$$ in to it either.

 

[elmerfudd]

Well, I guess I am about the only one this concept really appeals to. Good thing I'm not in marketing.

 

[elmerfudd]

You could easily build an updated Lee Enfield to those specs. I saw some hi cap 20rnd mags at a local fun show! They sell synthetic stocks for the Lee Enfields...scope mounts too! Now all you really need is to get a smith to fit the fiber sights on a new 308 barrel! I don't think you would have too much $$$ in to it either.

I was going to just let this thread die, but I just read your last post and now you've got me thinking. AIM has got the shooter grade 2A's for $99 and that would be a nearly perfect platform to start with, (trashed stocks and all). I might have a new project on my hands now.

 

[jpwilly]

Have fun!

 

[MisterPX]

Rem 700 with M14 mag conversion, add an ACOG.

 

[Zak Smith]

I've done some strange things too

............... Larger version of above photo.

 

[Zangetsu]

...is that a black powder rifle? MAAAD props if it is, because that set up takes balls, not the kind of balls that it takes to say, run into a burning building, but the type of balls that it takes to explain why you made a particular choice to pretty much everyone and anyone who sees that set up; I'll leave it to you gentlemen to decide which pair of brass ones listed above are bigger

 

[ugaarguy]

I've seen pics posted, I believe by member Fosberry, of UK legal AR type rifles. These have no gas system, and are set up as straight pull bolt rifles. I suppose one could do the same thing with AR-10 type rifle if it hasn't been done already.

The Spanish also converted M-96 and M-98 Mausers into the FR-7 and FR-8, respectively, for the Guardia Civil. These rifles were arsenal rechambered to 7.62 NATO; fitted with CETME type iron sights; had the barrels shortened, threaded, and fitted with CETME flash suppressors; and lastly what looked like a gas tube with slot style bayonet lug was fabricated to replace the cleaning rod allowing use of the CETME bayonet. I believe they retained the capability to be loaded via stripper clip as well. Aside from lacking optics and detachable magazines these rifles had a similar idea to what you propose. They provided low cost updated bolt rifle to home guard troops with as much similarity to & compatability with the main line infantry's semi-auto rifle as was feasable.

 

[woodybrighton]

http://www.armalon.com/pr.shtml
there you go
the wonderful thing about google is google's a wonderful thing

 

[JWarren]

It wouldn't be for kicking in doors and doing close combat in Baghdad, (that would be ridiculous), but rather as a defensive rifle for civil emergencies like Hurricane Katrina or if I happened to stumble across a meth lab or something while out in the woods,

I think I am still wanting a semi-auto rifle/handgun or shotgun/handgun for something like Hurricane Katrina. As for meth labs in the woods... well... same... and then I run like hell and call the police.


In my opinion, the bolt action rifle's strength and use is for accuracy-- not emergency management.



But that is not to say that I wouldn't find the rifle you are conceptualizing very cool and handy.



-- John

 

[Z_Infidel]

It doesn't really match your listed specifications, but you might want to look at the Tikka T3 Tactical rifle. It features a synthetic stock, removable 5-round box magazine, bipod attachment, and is available with (I think) 20" and 24" barrels. It also has a Weaver-style base and I think it's available with iron sights. You could also put something like XS Sights' Ghost Ring backup sight for Weaver bases on it.

The Varmint version is actually pretty close to the Tactical for less money. The heavy barrel on these two rifles might make them less than ideal for lots of carrying through the woods though.

 

[El Tejon]

Sounds like you want a Clifton Scout Rifle with the M14 magazine conversion or a Steyr Scout Rifle (although Robar and Brockman can make fine weapons as well). Lo, the gun nuts cry out for what the "market" scorns.

As well, you pointed out yet another advantage of the forward mounted optic--no bolt handle interference.

 

[SaMx]

There is an aussie company making modern enfields. I wish they imported them here, or a company would make them in the US. They make sporter versions too. One of those that takes M-14 or even G3 magazines would be sweet.

 

[SaMx]

Actually, now that I think about it, it's not such a crazy idea. I mean really, a modern bolt action battle rifle really just means a tough bolt action rifle, with good sights, that isn't limited to 5 round magazines.

It would be a lot of fun at the range, it wouldn't look out of place hunting, and it would be nice to have if your AR-15 breaks down during a disaster situation.

 

[Z_Infidel]

There is also a company producing 7.62x39 conversions of Lee-Enfield actions:

http://www.pyramid.net/sia/#Enfield K

In that chambering it's not exactly a "battle rifle", but it does accept standard magazines.

 

[GunTech]

I'm not sure why. As Zak noted, the bolt's day as a mainline battle rifle are long gone.

If you wanted to design one, go back and look at the original bolt action battle rifles, as note the features and why they were selected.

The Remington M700 is not a good choice. There's no way it would pass the same sort of gruelling test the original bolt battle rifles had to pass.

At the very least, you need a fixed ejector and controlled round feed. You need enough clearance so that said rifle won't jam if loaded up with mud or grit, even at the expense of accuracy.

Most modern bolt action rifles couldn't pass the toture tests that modern assault rifles have to pass.

Nowadays, the bolt action rifle is a specialists weapon in the military context, pretty much confined to precision shooters where long range accuracy trumps any other requirement. Even accuracy is less an less the private domain of the bolt gun.

 

[El Tejon]

USMC Remington 700: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M40_rifle