Show me your favorite bolt action "fun" guns.

[Olympus]

It seems like all of my bolt guns are hunting rifles. And while somewhat fun to shoot, they are mostly utilitarian. If I'm going out for a range day to just have fun, I'm always bringing semi-auto stuff. I'd like to add some kind of "fun" range toy bolt action rifle to start shooting. Something that still offers modest recoil and comfort that I can shoot 100 or 200 rounds through without a sore shoulder the next morning. I'd love to see what everyone else has or uses for a fun bolt-action range toy.

 

[Hillbilly Hydrographics]

I've got a few bolt actions that I just love shooting for the fun of it. One of my favorites that is pretty much just a fun range toy is my scoped Mosin Nagant. I also have several old single shot 22's that serve a purpose as grocery getters but also are so much fun to plink around with. Here's a couple I just had out for some range time few days ago. Springfield model 15 and one of my winchester model 67

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Well, not a "rifle" per se, at least not anymore- but my daughter's.410 Enfield musket is just silly fun to blast away with, despite the $$ ammo, lol.


I have a great many very fine and accurate bolt-action target guns, but my Cheap and Cheerful M69 gets shot quite a lot just for casual plinking-

 

[Peakbagger46]

Ranger .22LR suppressed is great fun!

 

[Armored farmer]

I have a couple of bolt guns that are definitely fun. I'll start with this Ruger American Ranch in 7.62x39.


It is light enough to carry on a woods ramble, yet accurate and packs enough wallop to be my designated pig gun. (Used it for that once. )
When I bought it, you couldnt go in a gunshop without tripping over a case of 7.62x39.....its not that way now. I might choose a different caliber, but I really like the compact rifle and the box mags. I have 5, 10, and 20rd.

 

[mavracer]

Savage Mk2, Boyd stock, Bushnell Engage 3-12X with a TacSol Aeris suppressor.

 

[Spats McGee]

 

[chicharrones]

Same old photos, still fun

Zastava MP22 .22 WMR

Marlin 25N .22 LR

 

[tubeshooter]

I guess I would say my Savage Hog Hunter in .223 for my part. I have an older-style one, and it has iron sights.

It was intended to be a plinker/varminter for where .22LR doesn't quite cut it, but still close enough for irons. Say, 150-200 yards and/or larger than truly small game.

I got a Ruger American Ranch in .223 that requires a scope for anything further...


Outside of that, most of the rest of what I have is either .30-06 (not a casual plinker IMO) or .22LR (not the vibe I am getting from the OP here). I do have an old Savage bolt in .243 with irons, but I wouldn't want to burn the barrel up just plinking and dinking around.

 

[chicharrones]

Outside of that, most of the rest of what I have is either .30-06 (not a casual plinker IMO) or .22LR (not the vibe I am getting from the OP here). I do have an old Savage bolt in .243 with irons, but I wouldn't want to burn the barrel up just plinking and dinking around.

If centerfire, I wish I’d bought a CZ527 Carbine in 7.62x39 when they were common. I’ve also been very interested in the CZ600 Trail in the same chambering.

I just can’t justify adding another carbine or rifle to my collection.

 

[1948CJ2A]

For a fun bolt gun that meets the OPs description, it would be my Remington model 722 chambered in 222 Rem. It is extremely accurate too!

rem722_222_20231129_1.jpg

• 1948CJ2A
• Apr 2, 2025

 

[catnthehat]

The vast majority of my rifles are falling blocks or single shot bolt action match rifles, but this little Mannlicher Schoenauer carbine is fun to shoot and super light to hunt with !
Cat

 

[12Bravo20]

I have an old Springfield Model 120 (same a the Savage Model 15) that is always fun to shoot. And my Romanian Model 69 trainer is another fun and accurate 22lr bolt action. I also have an old Australian Lithgow SMLE No 1 Mk III that was sporterized decades ago that was my go to deer rifle for a long time. My Savage Mk II rifles are setup for precision work as is my Savage Model 12.

 

[Larry in wyoming]

Savage 23b in 25-20. 6.5gr of 2400 under a 68gr cast hp is just like shooting a 22mag except cheaper.

 

[MrBorland]

My pick would be my CZ452 Scout .22LR in a Klinsky stock, and topped with a Weaver 3-9x32. Handy, pillar bedded, crisp 2lb factory trigger and perfect scope height, so even if it's not the most practical for any formal target shooting discipline, it's easily the most fun and enjoyable rifle I've got when I want to play a bit.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

If I had to pick one, it would be my Gewehr 98 conversion to a single-shot Wehrmannsgewehr in 8.15x46R.

 

[Skylerbone]

Now belongs to my 18 year old daughter, a CZ 452 with Leupold VX-2 (4-12x42mm I believe) and Talley mounts. Not as easy to shoot as a target stock but an enjoyable sporter all the same.

 

[Chuck R.]

CZ 457 in 22MAG set up for night time nuisance varmints:

Bergara B13R trainer in .22LR:

Rem 700 XCR "Compact Tactical" in a Grayboe Phoenix 2 stock

Rem M7 in .223Rem with HS Precision Stock, probably the rifle I shhot the most for hunting practice:

 

[someguy2800]

When I don't feel like reloading this 17 hummer delivers the fun to 300 yards.

 

[Random 8]

Not my picture, but the same rifle. The modest recoil aspect would require handloading. With either light bullets (123 grain "SKS" bullets) or reduced 150 grain loadings, recoil is quite manageable. It is a real head turner, and quite fun for ringing steel at surprising distances. With full power 174 grain match ammo, 1000 yard+ steel is not out of the question if the target can be seen in the 3.5X optic.

I also shoot numerous other bolt action military rifles frequently, although reduced recoil loads once again require handloading. The various straight pull Swiss rifles are my favorite, and my mild match load with a 155 is quite soft shooting in these heavy rifles. The closest to a low recoil option with full power ammo would be the 6.5x50 Japanese or 6.5x55 Swedish rifles out there. They can often be found "sporterized" for reduced cost over intact examples if cost is a concern.

There are many commercial boltguns that would fit your profile in either .223 or 7.62x39 if cheap commercial ammo is a must.


If you're more into "tacticool" this could be fun https://www.luckyshotwoodstocks.com/product-page/sv98-mosin-stock

 

[MarshallDodge]

The Bergara B14R is a lot of fun. Inexpensive to shoot and pretty accurate out to 300 yards and beyond.

 

[Olympus]

Those B14R trainer rifles are certainly cool. I wish they were a little less expensive though. They're just a touch too high for me to justify on a 22LR trainer.

 

[argonn]

Just for a lot of fun, CZ 452 Bolt.

 

[ditmo]

One of my favorites for plinking. Ruger 77/357. Low recoil and cheap to shoot with my reloads.

 

[Rockrivr1]

My most accurate modern rifle is a FN Special Police in 308 with a Vortex scope. Sub MOA at 200 yards with Hornady match ammo. Tack driver for sure.



My most accurate surplus rifle, believe it or not, is a Mosin 91/30. I actually won a surplus rifle match with it shooting 10 round at 100 yards and scored a 98 5x with it. Surprised even me and it was my rifle.