why don't we see more pump rifles

[kd7nqb]

One thing that I have noticed for a long time and never had an answer to is the shortage of pump action rifles and for that matter the lack of lever action shotguns. Seems like we should see more of these. So first why the shortage? Secondly if any of you have a cool looking pump rifle post a pic and brag about it.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

20 years ago, my deer hunting rifle was an older Rem 760. It was and still is a fine rifle. It is one of the few guns I have shot that actually does really well with Rem Core-Loct.

 

[BrocLuno]

Because there are enough used ones in circulation that there might not be enough market? MFGs run marketing studies all the time to see what will sell. My guess is that not enough would sell to make it worth it.

 

[ugaarguy]

Because they don't sell. They're the odd man out with bolts, levers, and semis handily outselling them.

 

[ldhulk]

The Remington 760 has been a good seller thru the years. It doesn't have the best trigger in the world and is not readily improved in that respect. It also seems to me to recoil pretty hard in 30-06, more than some others. There are a lot of them in the deer woods here in Wisconsin. As to why there aren't more companies making them, they must not think the market is there. Savage did make a 30-30 for a few years, similar to their pump shotgun, but I don't think it sold very well. Browning also tried a pump, but I think it is discontinued also. They used to be quite popular as .22's. The only lever action shotgun I've ever heard of was the Winchester of about 100 years ago, and it didn't work particularly well, so i've heard, even tho the Terminator shot his way thru several locked gates with one in a movie.

 

[Smokey in PHX]

I ran into two hunters using 760's in the early 60's in PA. Have not seen another one since. They are more popular in the northeast.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Idhulk,

I agree 100% on the recoiling being hard in .30-06 in the 760. Less than a half of a box of shells from bench usually leaves me pretty sore. I guess the straighter stock has something to do with it, because I have a 700BDL in the same caliber that doesn't leave me feeling near as much kick.

 

[Hangingrock]

The Remington 760 series rifle was the dominate “Deer Rifle” in Pennsylvania when I was resident. That’s probably changed since I relocated. I’m not current on the latest trends for that area.

 

[T Bran]

I've had my 760 Rem in 30-06 since I was 16 years old it is the only 30-06 that ive ever owned so recoil comrarison is not possible for me. The gun is accurate with most loads and has never given me any issues with 30 years of service behind it and many more to come. If I ever come accross one in 25-06 I just might snap it up since the platform is instinctive for me and has been very reliable and accurate. I also own several pump .22's and a bunch of pump scatterguns so yes id like to see more made as well but dont get your hopes up.
T

 

[bergmen]

Only a guess here but with a wobbly forestock I found it difficult to hold steady for consistant accuracy.

On the question of lever action shotguns, I have been wondering this for decades. I think a handy lever shotgun would be big in those states where shotgun only big game hunting is allowed. I would prefer a lever over a pump for all other shotgun hunting as well.

Dan

 

[S. Hill]

Speaking in BROAD generalities....

The pump rifle is less accurate than a bolt rifle.
The pump rifle will be slower than a semi-auto rifle. (and kick harder)

So, if you are looking for gilt edged accuracy you will prefer the bolt action rifle. If you are looking for fast follow-up shots you will prefer the semi-auto.

The pump is GENERALY the odd man out.

 

[goon]

Pump action Remington 760's and 7600's are still relatively popular deer rifles here in PA. Someone tried to sell me one at a yard sale a couple months ago but I informed him that my next purchase would likely be an AR-15 when I can afford it.
He responded with the classic "What for? You can't hunt with them!"
And I told him "I don't plan to."

Still, I'm not sure what you can do with one that you can't do as well with anything else. My guess is that the Remingtons keep selling because they do work well enough, but there probably isn't any money in trying to bring out a new product to really compete with them. I think that someone could probably sell some Timberwolf carbines if they'd tool up and make a few runs of them though, given the cult-like following they have already and the popularity of lever action pistol caliber carbines.

 

[mnhntr]

It doesn't do anything better than the other actions and is actually not capable of the accuracy achieved in a bolt rifle unless of course you spend alot of cash at the gunsmith. Not to say they are not good rifles, but why have a second best when you can have the best.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

A follow up shot is a lot faster than some of the other actions...

 

[briansmithwins]

My take:

A pump rifle is going to be almost as complex as a semi-auto but still makes me cycle the action manually. What's the advantage?

Bolt guns are simple and reliable and cheap to make. If you're going to pay more why just not get a self loader?

BSW

 

[B33fC8k]

There is a pump .22 at my LGS, don't have a .22 rifle yet, thinking about picking it up for under $200.

 

[goon]

I don't know about some states, but semi-auto firearms are illegal to hunt with in PA. This might be part of the explanation for the popularity of them here. They are faster than a bolt action and maybe faster than a lever action and still easily able to hit the vitals of a deer.
I have seen some hunters check zero by shooting at a 9" paper plate at 100 yards. If they can hit that, they consider it good. You don't necessarily need the highest quality bolt action - or any bolt action - to do that.

 

[AbitNutz]

I think it's because a pump competes against lever actions. Lever actions are romanticized in Westerns and they look better.

I have a Remington 141, 760 and a 22 browning pump.

I want one of the Taurus 45 Colt copy pumps.

Saying that, I also have a Marlin 444...talk about kick!

I would love to see a Mode 1886/model 71 lever action re-engineered to operate as a pump. Look exactly the same, just no lever and a pump in its place.

As far as accuracy goes. That all can be cured.

 

[InkEd]

I think the best chance for pump rifles to make a comeback would be as .22lr plinkers. Remember the carnival shooting galleries? They always had .22short or .22lr pump guns.

 

[Slamfire]

Don't they rattle?

 

[Clipper]

My wife's Rem 141 in .35 rem is pretty darn fast & accurate with the Williams FP peep and front firesight. I was shooting it at Williams' 30-yard pistol range to ballpark the sights before taking to the 100 yard range, and was shooting 1 hole with it. And it's lots faster than a lever, almost fast as an autoloader, though I've seldom seen the need to worry about 'follow up' shots. If second or third shots are needed, from what I've seen, the first shot usually shouldn't have been taken...

 

[bkduckworth]

Here in WV the 760 is a really popular deer rifle. Off the top of my head I can think of about half a dozen hunters I know that use them in a 270 or a 30-06. It really has a cult following here, and for good reason.

Brandon

 

[CraigC]

American shooters and hunters are a strange lot. Boltgun fanciers are stuck on boltguns. Levergun fanciers are stuck on leverguns. Single shot loonies don't care for repeaters of any sort. For some reason, the slide-action is the odd man out. We also, apparently, won't go afield with anything resembling a "sensible" cartridge or a rifle that shoots any worse than MOA or with anything less than a 3-9x. All of which comes in mighty handy when shooting deer at 100yds or less.

 

[razorback2003]

Some folks in southern states like the pump action Remington rifles. They are good guns and if you are used to your pump shotgun you can shoot a pump rifle. I've heard they are actually more accurate than the Remington 7400 rifles. You are looking at a rifle that is sort of based on the 870 action and is very reliable the way I understand it and will always cycle. I've heard of folks having to keep the 7400 autos real clean to keep them from jamming.

 

[moonpie]

if you've never played with a .22 pump you ain't never had no fun at all.