Lever vs Bolt

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Werewolf

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For accuracy a Bolt action wins over a lever action rifle hands down.

But what about reliability, maintainability, ease of use/operation? If you were going into the boonies, couldn't take any cleaning gear, might be there for a while and your rifle would be your main means of acquiring food and protection which would you take, a lever gun or a bolt action? Why?
 
I would take a bolt action because they are better than lever actions for every purpose under the sun. Think that about covers it.
 
You can cycle the action of a lever gun much faster and stay on target for a quick follow up shot, if needed. Leverguns are usually shorter than bolt guns.

Bolt guns are able to use fully jacketed, hard pointed, bullets because the bullets are stacked-not in a tube making it a more accurate gun.

Anywho, leverguns are pretty cool IMO.
 
Are you lefthanded? Way easier to find a lever gun than a left bolt. There are some lever guns with a fine reputation for accuracy also.
 
This is entirely dependent upon the type of magazine the lever features. The Levers with Box Magazines can and do preform on an equivalent level with Bolts. The Price point makes them less common than Marlins, Winchesters and the others.
I would wager the A Bolt Micro Hunter in .308 with a 20" Bbl and a BLR lightweight .308 also with a 20" Bbl and the same rate of twist (both have a 1 in 12) will preform almost exactly the same with the same ammo.
 
For shooting from a solid rest or position a bolt gun can be more accurate. For general walking around hunting the difference is not so much.
A lever gun has several features that might limit its uses in certain ways but they are just so darn handy in many other ways and can be very usefull and downright fun
 
As mentioned earlier, lever guns are much better for us lefties. I can work the bolt on any gun without much trouble but when it comes to rapid fire (my primary method of fire:D )I prefer the lever, even compared to my left handed .270
 
Accuracy isn't going to matter much when you are out in the "boonies"(I'm assuming you're referring to wilderness) without a means to maintain the rifle.

This would also depend on the particular rifles in question, their chamberings and especially locale and environment.
 
I will take my lever action any day of the week when shooting off range and in the woods. Way too functional and handy. Quicker to bring up to point and easier repeating shots are made with a lever action. Very handy, Very, Very handy. To me they are much closer to semi than any bolt gun. A bolt gun you have to take your hand off of the trigger apply action to the bolt and reset your hand to the trigger assembly. Lever gun you cycle the lever forward and bring it back and your hand is already at the trigger. Easier to keep your point of aim for a second or third shot.
 
I would be more worried about running out of ammo.

Several reputable magazines have done comparisons between different calibers and bullet construction and have found that no gun shoots well in Brush Country..

A 30/30 bullet just travels slower - making it less susceptable to break up when it hits a small branch or twig.

I would want the most accurate Rifle I was allowed to carry. In my case it would be a older model 99 Savage .300 / .308 caliber. That way you could shoot any decent size game the whole way out to 300 yards and you could carry more ammo than a .270 - '06 and you could out shoot anyone with a 30/30 style rifle..

As for rapid fire, there is no reason for more than one shot at any big game animal..
Nothing takes the place of a good shot..
If you ever hunted, if you hear one shot, you know that either the hunter got it or he didn't..
If you hear bang, bang, bang, bang, bang you know that he missed and is still throwing lead at it..
I don't hunt to hunt, I hunt to get!

If you have to compare rifles, the best in my opinion is a Model 760 Gamemaster Remington in anything bigger than .270 Winchester or .300 Savage..

As far as out shooting me. I will take on all come'rs with any 30/30 style rifle.
Either with a bolt or my Gamemaster.. You supply the shells and I will empty them faster than you can load the rifle..
 
Ever have a cartrige jump past the cartridge interrupter on a bolt action rendering the rifle completely usless untill it's dissassembled.....Didn't think so.


Ever remove the bolt from a levergun without the use of some kind of tools.....Didn't think so.

Ever drop the hammer shooting at game with a bolt gun only to have an engauged crossbar safetey in the way.... Didn't think so

Ever have a bolt gun not fire due to a coat sleeve getting stuck in between the lever and the reciever.....Didn't think so.



I think MrMauser pretty well prooved to everyone just how much more usefull and reliable a bolt gun is over a levergun well over a century ago.:neener: .
 
Ever have a cartrige jump past the cartridge interrupter on a bolt action rendering the rifle completely usless untill it's dissassembled.....Didn't think so.

Ever have a cartrige jump past the cartridge interrupter on a bolt action rendering the rifle completely usless untill it's dissassembled.....Didn't think so.

Ever have a bolt gun not fire due to a coat sleeve getting stuck in between the lever and the reciever.....Didn't think so.
Click to expand...

You must have a Winchester.

Ever drop the hammer shooting at game with a bolt gun only to have an engaged crossbar safety in the way
Click to expand...

Or a cross-bolt Marlin.

Less parts = more better.

Still plenty of Marlins and Winchesters soldiered on in the field well before there were headed SUV's to cradle them from the elements. If you can't take the time to stuff an oily rag (Cleaning kit) in your pocket, you shouldn't be in the boonies.
 
I would take a lever gun "To the Boonies" Why? It is simply put more versatile than the Bolt guns I own. Added Bonus with my revolver I would only need .357 ammo and not two vareties of ammo. If we are talking Alaskan Boonies with more Dangerous Beaties afoot? Just a bigger lever gun and a Bigger revolver. Why? the chances of me needing a "Long Shot" from a bolt gun when confronted by an agry beastie are slim to none, most of them beasties completely surprise you, you don't know you are in danger until the danger is closing on you.... Fast
 
"...couldn't take any cleaning gear..." You're doing something wrong. A pull through with a brush and a jag, a bottle of solvent and some patches doesn't take much space or weigh much. Whether it's a lever action or bolt action, you'll still need to clean it.
If I had to choose between a bolt action and the lever action, only, I'd opt for the bolt action. It'd be my No. 4 Lee-Enfield. Even though I'm not overly fond of the felt recoil. It's 100% reliable, has a 10 round mag and the .303 Brit round will drop any game in North America. Ammo is easy to find, up here, and the cleaning kit goes into the buttstock.
The one .30-30 Win 94 I had, long ago, had far too much felt recoil for the power of the cartridge.
 
To leave and go to the boonies with a gun you had to rely on and not take cleaning gear, you would have to be under fire when you left. I love my levers, have lots of them, but in this circumstancem I'd take a bolt rifle, probably in 308 or 3006. 223 if there were lots of friendly troops about. More camming power, greater power generally and the main reason lever guns were never serious military guns, you cant reload easily when prone. If it had to be a bolt rifle it would be a mauser or similar based rifle (Mod 70, etc) or a Lee Enfield 10 round mag quick reloader reliable accurate enough, slug someone over the head with it and it is unlikely to break.

As to quick reload, I guarantee that there would not be too much difference in teh rate of accurate fire from either. I cut my teeth in the army cadets at school and was trained by Korean vets who had taken the rifle in harm's way. I'm not the best shot at military shoots, but I'm hard to beat on the rapid fire stage. I shoot an M17 with decent loads, unlike most guys there who load down, I'm one of the fastest shots there. It's all a matter of technique. The bolt rifle can be cycled fast while prone, try that with a lever, ain't gonna happen.
 
I see most on here are thinking about Winchester or Marlin lever guns. Have any of you tried a Browning BLR? In .308 the BLR is an outstanding rifle. I would take the BLR over most any bolt action.
 
I asked this question a while back....
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=203541

I think, in theory, it's a wash... either action type can be the basis for equivalent guns (in terms of speed, accuracy, handiness, cartridge, etc) if developed from the ground up (for example, a box-loading, high pressure lever... or an ambidextrous handy bold-action).

But in practice, only lever guns (and pump) let me shoot .357 magnum and fit in a scabbard while bolts have less parts and are easier to maintain.
 
B.D. Turner
Senior Member



Join Date: 12-05-05
Location: South Eastern North Carolina
Posts: 211

I see most on here are thinking about Winchester or Marlin lever guns. Have any of you tried a Browning BLR? In .308 the BLR is an outstanding rifle. I would take the BLR over most any bolt action.

I have a friend that runs a gun repair shop out in his garage. He worked for a large gun store before going out on his own. He told me that one day a customer brought a BLR .308 into his store to be repaired. It was blowing the head stamp off the cartriges. Too Much Head Space from the factory..

Browning told him that if he would have brought the gun back within 30 days of purchase. They would have repaired it for free. Since it was 2 years later - they told him that it would cost $500 for a factory repair.

You know that the customer did nothing wrong to make the head space change. It was all the fault of the manufacturer. The owner of the gun now had something that he couldn't shoot and couldn't sell with a clear conscience. So it was relagated back to the gun safe where it will never be shot again.
 
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