Why are pump action rifles not popular any more?

[Ibmikey]

Besides my 1892 & 1906 Winchesters II bought a Henry pump for a teen CHRISTMAS present....tell that boy pump's are no good. I also have an American Western Arms copies of the Colt lightning in .45 colt and .38 special. Both of these rifles hav been used for Cowboy Action Shooting with great success, they can be faster than a lever as you can easily stay on target while loading a fresh cartridge. Unfortunately if you work them super fast you can experience malfunctions in feeding/extracting. The original lightning can have the same experiences.

 

[1border4manu]

Rem 7600 was the first hunting rifle that ever owned. I am left handed, and back
when I bought it there was not alot of affordable lefty bolts. Still hunt with it more than any other rifle in the safe. I think they lost some their luster when more brands started to make more lefty bolts.

 

[Sav .250]

Times changes things. Now it`s more in vogue to have a weapon that has a clip that reaches the ground . More rounds more fun.

The space between pumps, levers and bolt actions vs semi auto`s with large clips is big and getting bigger. As I said, times change in the market place.

JMO.

 

[lemaymiami]

Carl... what is the make/model of that 22mag. Very interesting looking piece -particularly the takedown feature...

 

[jaysouth]

Hmm............I wonder how many posted before they owned/shot a pump action rifle?

Mine is a Remington 7600P (for Police). It is chambered for .308 and has a 16 1/2 barrel.

With a K-4 scope and A-Max reloads it shoots under MOA and does not rattle. Should the handle start to rattle, one turn of the locking ring will solve the problem.

I have it configured with a red dot scope and shoot 185 gr. cast bullets at minute of beer can top accuracy. It puts deer and feral pigs down in their tracks.


I am reminded of something my grandfather told me hundreds of time. "boy, don't never mess with anything thats smarter n' you are".

 

[dvdcrr]

Working a pump does nothing to tame recoil or keep you on target. Kids raised on semi autos that shoot a lot are way faster than kids on pumps.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

To lemaymiami:
My 22 mag pump in post #74 is a Taurus M72C (carbine), 10 shot mag, 16.5 inch barrel, 32.5" overall, 74 ounces (4.6 pounds).

The large coin-slotted screw on the left side is the take-down screw: empty the magazine, empty the chamber, hammer on halfcock, pull it apart into two pieces (the barrel and receiver section is ~20 long). Hammer and trigger mechanism stay with the stock.

The R (rifle) versions of the .22 LR M62 and .22 Mag M72 have 23" barrels and slightly longer magazine tubes. They all came in blue and stainless versions.

 

[btefft]

I really plinking with my Henry 22 pump. Iron sights, shoots straight and hits what I aim at.

 

[pdsmith505]

Untold numbers of rabbits have met their demise in the 22 years I've owned my Rossi 62 SAC.

Still my favorite gun to take for a walkabout.

 

[barnbwt]

Anyone think there'd be interest in a pump-charging semi-auto?

TCB

 

[olafhardtB]

I think one of the advantages of pumps and levers is they can be carried with the chamber empty and charged as they are mounted without much moving your hand out of the firing position, especially the pump. This would carry over to the pump charged auto. The model 63 Winchester pump is sorta a pump charged auto.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Anyone think there'd be interest in a pump-charging semi-auto?

TCB

Using a pump action instead of a charging handle/ bolt handle?

What was that shotgun that had the option of pump action or semi auto? Something like that in a rifle... Interesting concept, but I don't see that it offers any advantages.

 

[BBDartCA]

Best part about Rem 760 is clean examples can be found for good prices as they do not seem to be that popular. I've been through a couple and have always liked their accuracy and durability. I find the slide action quicker and less disruptive (if not prone) for follow up shots than a bolt action, but its not a drill I'm normally following with a 308/30-06.

Downside of the 760 is that its a rattle trap. Although its listed at 7-1/2 lb, it sure seems heavier.

Would love to find a Timberwolf but just too darn expensive.

 

[Sun Tzu warrior]

I have had a savage model 170 pump in 30-30, ($150) a Remington 760 in 30-06,(also $150) and a Remington 7600 in .270, ($225) they all served me well deer hunting, I was able to trade all 3 for a Steyr model M Manlicher left handed, in .270 win. ($1400) the 760, with neck sized reloads would shoot a 3 shot group you could cover with a nickle at 100 yds. For a lefty, pumps are supreme, unless you can trade for a good quality lefty bolt gun. otherwise I would still have all three pumps!
STW

 

[Ranger Roberts]

Ahhh, the ol'Amish Auto as we would call them when we were kids. I have Remington Pump in 30.06 and I really enjoy it. As said a few times throughout the thread, in PA we can't hunt with semi's so a pump is a great alternative.

 

[hdbiker]

Pump Rifles

Yes the old Rem 760's with the metal debre schield did rattle,but the later ones and the 7600's have a plastic schield.Pump 7600's are much faster cycleing,than bolts and as good or better than lever actions for fast followup shots in the woods.With 7600's free floating barrels they are very accurate,and everyone I've seen will shoot an 1 1/2 or better at 100 yards,not to mention their perfect for leftys.In these wisconsin woods 7600's are as popular as ever . hdbiker

 

[BBDartCA]

Slide rattle is where I've had most of the noise with 7600 and 760.

 

[blakec3686]

I certainly love my rem 760, I take it deer and elk hunting every year, mine doesn't really rattle. I bought mine when I couldn't find any lefty bolt actions in my area

 

[geologist]

Dressed up more modernly.



And it packs down small and discretely.

 

[Float Pilot]

75-50 years ago most people used either a double or a pump shotgun for game birds and waterfowl.
Very few people had a semi-auto or an over and under back then. ( As a hunting rig)
During the same period most factory rifles were just fine if they shot 2 to 3 inch groups at 100 yards. And only a few people used a semi-auto center rifle.

Thus the marketing wizards thought a pump action center fire rifle would be a marketing success.

However, those center-fire pump rifles often had shotgun style trigger mechanisms and they did not offer much in the way of accuracy.

Around 40 years ago the big push went into building very accurate ammo and very accurate rifles. Good triggers and a solid bolt lock-up let the bolt gun reign as king, with newer more reliable semis following closely behind.

 

[leadcounsel]

1. Technology advances in semi-autos
2. Tube magazines and rifles don't mix very well or at least limit ammo to non-pointy bullets
3. Prone and bench shooting much harder with a pump than with a bolt action
4. I've read that a bolt gun offers a stronger action over a pump action, but not sure since pump guns routinely fire 12 gauge which is quite stout.
5. Box magazines are faster to load, faster to dump with a trap door, and can offer detachable box designs. Tube mags are very slow to load and to unload you have to pump the action.
6. Slide rattle = not good for being sneaky.
7. Warfare and the ensuing awesome bolt designs (Mauser and Mosin actions, among others), and the tens of millions of bolt guns that were used, trained on, and dumped on civilian markets


Seems like enough to make the case...

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

Remington 742 semi were very popular in the Adirondacks in the 60's and 70's. When the 7400 semi came out many had problems with them.

The stalker hunters did not want a rifle that would hiccup therefore they purchased the left over 760's or 7600's.

I had a 760 .35 Rem. converted to .358 Winchester and carried that for many years in the big woods.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Given that there are some Antiguan states trying hard to ban semi autos, I think the market exists to make a self defense pump in 223 similar to the 308 Rem pump.

 

[Berserker]

I have Remington 30-06. Seems they are or were fairly common, Remington still makes them. I haven't used it in years. I like bolts they load quiter. Though I know I guy who just bought one.

I think people liked them cause they are used to pump shotguns. Interesting point about how more people sit in blinds these days. Though I am not sure that would really stop me, you are pulling you arm back, and not going farther ahead then when you shoot.

What blew my mind was you cannot use a semi auto in PA. How backwards and repressive. I know so many people with with 30-06 Brownings. I was reading how it is just fine the way it is, no need for change and how it would be unsafe in the woods. How can they say that when only one other state prohibits them.

I never would have guessed a state regualted anything other then caliber.

 

[eastbank]

you can use your semi auto shotgun for small game and water fowl, but no semi auto rifles(.17,.22,s) for small game. no semi auto rifles for large game. in pa. how lame is that. eastbank.