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Bolt action or semi-auto, which platform is better for shooting .308 Win / 7.62 NATO? The Classic Firearms team is examining the pros and cons of each rifle to determine whether one is superior.
Given the widespread popularity of .308 Win / 7.62 NATO, it isn't surprising that there are hundreds of different long guns chambered for the cartridge. Bolt action and semi-auto configurations are the most popular by far, with each type of rifle offering distinct advantages and disadvantages.
Traditional bolt actions include single shot and magazine-fed rifles that require the shooter to manually cycle the action after each round is fired. Pulling the bolt back ejects the spent casing, while the next round is either loaded by hand or picked up from the magazine and chambered as the bolt is returned to the forward position.
Compared to semi-auto firearms, bolt action rifles are typically more precise despite a lower fire rate and reduced capacity. A trained marksman can run the bolt at astonishing speeds without impacting accuracy or reliability. In addition to better shot placement, bolt action rifles have fewer moving parts that can break down while you're in the field.
Semi-auto .308 Win / 7.62 NATO rifles (like the Ruger SFAR) utilize a simpler manual of arms and are capable of firing much faster than bolt guns. Once a round is chambered, each pull of the trigger fires one shot and the expelled gases force the bolt to cycle automatically. The gun is then ready to fire again immediately after taking your finger off the trigger, with no additional action required of the operator.
Even if they are ever so slightly less accurate due to increased motion from the bolt carrier group, semi-auto battle rifles allow you to put more rounds on target in a shorter period and require less training to deploy effectively. They are also faster to reload and easier to customize, although many high-end bolt guns also offer a high degree of personalization.
Bolt action rifles aren't just for hunting medium-sized game or plinking at the range. On the contrary, bolt guns account for a significant portion of the world's most renowned precision shooting systems, utilized by elite snipers to take impossible shots at great distances. Match-grade ammunition can punch out to 850 yards (farther in some instances) without compromising ballistic performance.
This long-range capability does incur a steep penalty, however. Regardless of how many rounds you have on tap, you're effectively holding a single-shot rifle until you manually actuate the bolt - not ideal if you suddenly find yourself engaging multiple targets within 300 yards or attempting to return fire during a tactical retreat.
In such situations, the utility of the bolt action actually becomes a significant hindrance instead, and you may be better served with a reliable semi-auto firearm. Battle rifles are popular because they offer greater versatility than bolt guns or intermediate-caliber carbines, plus they can be operated as a standard defensive rifle or a Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR).
Your mission will undoubtedly influence your choice of shooting platform, so it's important to consider which scenario you're more likely to encounter. Do you anticipate taking uber-precise long-range shots under suboptimal conditions? Perhaps a bolt action is the best option for you. Otherwise, a semi-auto rifle is probably a more practical choice without the inherent drawbacks of a bolt gun.
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Unless you're entering the exciting world of precision shooting, a semi-auto chambered in .308 Win / 7.62 NATO is the ultimate general-purpose rifle. Need help selecting yours? We just published a video with our top battle rifle picks for you in 2024!
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