Why are bolts on the right side?

[mountaindrew]

I dont get it. It seem to me that a bolt on the left side would be a better idea. then you wouldnt have to lose your firing grip to chamber the next round. this would lead to much faster rate of fire ( for military rifles ) and faster follow up shot for hunters or snipers. Bolt action pistols are made this way, Why not rifles?

I need to get My hands on a leftie bolt action and try it out.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

I think you will find it cumbersome to try and support the rifle using the strong hand at the grip, while coming back with the weak hand to cycle the bolt. And you almost certainly would have a hard time keeping it on target using only the strong hand for support, the leverage just isnt there. But best of luck anyway!

If you're refering to bench rifles or those with bipods, then youd still have to break form by bringing the weak hand, which should be wrapped back under the butt, all the way back to the other (left) side of the rifle.

-SpookyjustmythoughtsPistolero

 

[George S.]

Being left-handed, it can be difficult sometimes for me to operate a standard bolt-action rifle. There are many more right-handed shooters than lefties so the industry makes primarily right-handed bolt actions.

For something like hunting, I would not really care if I used a left-handed bolt action or not. If a single shot kills the animal, I won't need to worry about a quick re-chambering. Target use is something else. Whe I use any of my bolt rifles on a rest, I usually wind up taking my hand off the rifle to look thru a spotting scope or maybe sit upright for a few seconds to stretch. Shooting prone with a sling is sort of a PITA for me to do as the rifle is tight to my shoulder and I have to slide my hand out of the sling to operate the bolt.

Fortunately for my semi-auto's (M1 and Mini-14) I have no problems at all shooting left-handed. The ejected cases don't come close to me even with my head being on the same side as the op-rod and ejection port.

The military used to try very hard to convert left-handed rifleman to right-handed shooting when the standard issue rifle was bolt-action like the 03 Springfiled. When you have to get a lot of rounds down range quickly like in a combat situation, it's pretty tough to do for a leftie.

 

[TechBrute]

The following is made with the assumption that the shooter is right-handed shooting a right-handed rifle.

Your left hand would have to come back 18 inches as opposed to your right hand moving less than 4.

Depending on your weld, you might get a bolt handle in the eye with a left side bolt.

After saying all this, I just realized something... Drew, you don't shoot standing up, do you? People who only shoot off a bench, bipod, rest, etc don't "need" the front hand to hold the rifle up. Try standing with your rifle, then bring your front hand back to "work the bolt" while trying to keep your muzzle/sights on target. Good luck with that...

 

[444]

Assuming you are talking about an autoloading rifle, I agree with you completely.
The ultimate in ergonomics is the AR15/M16. Whether you like the rifle/cartridge or not, you have to admit that the controls are all in the right place. You can maintain a firing grip on the weapon while you operate all the controls. The mag release is on the rightvside, right under your index finger. The selector switch is on the left side of the receiver right where your thumb is. The charging handle can be used from either side, but for the right handed shooter, it can easily be grasped and operated with the left hand.

 

[Ktulu]

It seem to me that a bolt on the left side would be a better idea.

It is a better idea for bolt action pistols and auto loading carbines, but for rifles the previous posters explained it better then I could.

 

[DMK]

If you're refering to bench rifles or those with bipods, then youd still have to break form by bringing the weak hand, which should be wrapped back under the butt, all the way back to the other (left) side of the rifle.

When shooting my Mosin Nagants off a bench rest, I usually reach over the top of the reciever and work the straight bolt with my left hand. It allows me to keep my right hand on the grip, maintain the cheek weld and sight picture.

 

[kfranz]

I'll be contrarian.....

The FAL has it set up the right way, with the charging handle on the left side. Selector is operated with the right thumb, mag release with the right index finger, and Bolt release with the left hand. Assuming one needs to lower the rifle to change the mag anyway(an assumption that will draw much controversy perhaps), the preferable method is to maintain hold on the PG, change mags with the left hand, then hit BHO with the left hand. Left hand is then "handy" to charge the rifle, if necessary.

 

[TechBrute]

I thought the original post was regarding bolt rifles.

 

[DMK]

The FAL has it set up the right way, with the charging handle on the left side.

I have to agree. Especially considering the position of the FAL's mag release.

I've often wished my AK had it's charging handle on the left side like my FAL does.

 

[Kaylee]

In addition to the ergonomic reasons (the weight distribution in say a Mauser 98 is nothing like that of an M4) -- I'd bet it has something to do with the time period in which bolt actions were developed. The habit of the time was to do all your "messing with the action" stuff on the right side of the gun thanks to a several-centuries long tradition of flintlocks and caplocks hanging out there on the right side of the gun. I'd think putting the bolt handle on the right side just seemed natural to shooters used to a hammer and such in the same place more or less.

 

[JohnMc]

The bolt of a High Point Carbine is on the left, but that's an easy one to support with the strong hand.

 

[c_yeager]

The charging handle can be used from either side, but for the right handed shooter, it can easily be grasped and operated with the left hand.

Yes, but you certainly can't operate it with the rifles shouldered. Not that you need to very often with the way the bolt holds open on the last shot. (neat feature that I wish AKs had).

Bolt actions were made to be shot offhand. And when you look at some of the older bolt actions you will see that the idea of supporting the whole rifle with the right hand simply isnt going to work. There are some old rifles that are hard to support with both hands.

And the way I hold a rifle i would be poking myself in the eye if I had a bolt on that side.

 

[Langenator]

Bolt action rifles were originally developed for the militaries of the world. About the time they were introduced, armies also finally figured out that laying down on the ground in battle was preferable to standing up. In a proper prone firing position, for a right handed shooter, the left hand supports almost all of the weight of the rifle, while the right hand mostly just keeps the stock up against the shoulder and pulls the trigger.

Putting the bolt on the left side would mean that the soldier would have to drop the muzzle onto the ground to work the bolt-there's just no way to support all that weight out there with the right hand, especially with a really long rifle such as the Gewehr 98 or Mosin 91. With a right side bolt, a trained shooter can cycle the bolt with a minimum of breakdown in his firing position.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Wasn't Lee Harvey Oswald supposedly a lefty shooting a right-handed bolt action?

I know I saw somewhere (may have been sheer speculation) that the easiest way to get off three shots in the 5.6 seconds Oswald supposedly had is to rest the rifle stock on a window sill, fire left-handed, keep your right hand on the bolt and operate the bolt quickly between shots.

It seems this would affect accuracy, and of course, this shooting method would require that you carry around a Book Depository window to use as a rest.

 

[Harry Tuttle]

When deer hunting, i fire, cycle the bolt and prepare to fire again in a couple of seconds. The right hand naturally comes up to the bolt.

 

[Feanaro]

It seem to me that a bolt on the left side would be a better idea. then you wouldnt have to lose your firing grip to chamber the next round. this would lead to much faster rate of fire ( for military rifles ) and faster follow up shot for hunters or snipers.

I think it would make the rifle slower. It's pretty easy to hold a bolt action steady with your left hand, not so easy with your right. It has more to do with leverage than weight. You lose your sight picture either way. And it takes longer to bring your left hand from the front of the rifle to back.

 

[mountaindrew]

WOW! Alot more responses than I thought. You are all right of course, I figured it out soon after I posted. The bolt would not ony poke you in the eye, but on some bolt action rifles, it would hit the firing hand. I remember my Hi-Point (with the bolt on the left) was easier than my Saiga (with the bolt ont he right) so I guess the principal is different for autoloaders. Those also are relatively light rifles with all the moving parts inside, so no poked eyes. Thanks for the relpies guys!

 

[Feanaro]

on some bolt action rifles, it would hit the firing hand.

I thought of that after I posted. The sear on my M48A would tear a rather large chunk of hand out or stop.