Mauser
Standard length left-handed Remington 700 rifle action (left side)The Mauser bolt system was introduced in the Mauser Gewehr 98 and is the most common bolt action system in the world, being in use in nearly all modern hunting rifles and the majority of military bolt-action rifles until the middle of the 20th century (besides the Mauser K98, the Mauser bolt system was also used in the American M1903 Springfield rifle, the Japanese Arisaka Type 38 and Type 99 rifles, and the Anglo-American M1917 Enfield). The Mauser system is stronger than that of the Lee-Enfield because of the third locking lug present at the rear of the bolt, and is able to handle higher pressure cartridges (ie "Magnum" calibre centrefire rifle cartridges), unlike the Lee-Enfield or Mosin-Nagant actions. The Mauser system, due to its "cock on opening" operation (the upward rotation of the bolt when the rifle is opened cocks the action) has a slower rate of fire than the "cock on closing" systems used in the Lee-Enfield.
Most modern hunting/sporting rifles like Remington 700 and Winchester Model 70
Gewehr 98/Karabiner 98k
M1903 Springfield
M1917 Enfield
Arisaka Type 38/Type 99
[edit] Lee-Enfield
Close-up of the action on an SMLE Mk III rifle, showing the bolt-head, magazine cut-off, and charger clip guide.The Lee-Enfield bolt action system was introduced in 1889 with the Lee-Metford and later Lee-Enfield rifles (the bolt system is named after the designer and the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield), and is a "cock on closing" action in which the forward thrust of the bolt cocks the action. This allows for a much faster rate of fire, but the system is unsuitable for use with modern "Magnum" calibre centrefire rifle cartridges. Interestingly, the Lee-Enfield bolt system features a removable bolthead, which allows the rifle's headspace to be adjusted by simply removing the bolthead and replacing it with one of a different length as required. In the years leading up to WWII, the Lee-Enfield bolt system was used in numerous commercial sporting and hunting rifles manufactured by such firms in the UK as BSA, LSA, and Parker-Hale, as well as by SAF Lithgow in Australia. Vast numbers of ex-military SMLE Mk III rifles were sporterised post-WWII to create cheap, effective hunting rifles, and the Lee-Enfield bolt system is used in the M10 and No 4 Mk IV rifles manufactured by Australian International Arms.
Lee-Enfield (all marks and models)
Ishapore 2A1
Various hunting/sporting rifles manufactured by BSA, LSA, SAF Lithgow, and Parker-Hale
Australian International Arms M10 and No 4 Mk IV hunting/sporting rifles
[edit] Mosin-Nagant
The Mosin-Nagant action differs from the Mauser and Lee-Enfield actions, in that it has a separate bolthead which rotates with the bolt and the bearing lugs, in contrast to the Mauser system where the bolthead is a non-removable part of the bolt are a single piece and rotate as such, or the Lee-Enfield system where the bolthead remains stationary and the bolt body rotates. The Mosin-Nagant bolt is a somewhat complicated affair, but is extremely rugged and durable. Like the Lee-Enfield bolt system, the Mosin-Nagant system is not suitable for use with modern "Magnum" calibre centrefire rifle cartridges. Although the bolt system is not employed in any commercial sporting rifles, the Mosin-Nagant rifle is the most numerous bolt-action rifle ever produced and large numbers of them have been sporterised for use as hunting rifles in the years since WWII.
Mosin-Nagant rifles (all marks and models)
