BOLT ACTION RIFLES

So have you got all of your gear together? Are you a new hunter and are trying to select a rifle for your ventures? Let's talk about bolt action rifles and why you need one. What is a bolt action rifle? The short answer is that it is a rifle loaded by a manually operated bolt. To get into the nuts and bolts (tehe) of it, a bolt action is just what its name says, an action, specifically a firearm action. In this type of firearm action, the rifle bolt is operated manually by using a small handle, usually located on the right side, to open and close the breech. Pushing the handle up and pulling it rearward unlocks the bolt and opens the breech. If there is a spent cartridge case in it, this is the point where the cartridge case is ejected, the firing pin is cocked, and a fresh round is withdrawn from the magazine and placed into the breech. Closing the bolt makes the rifle ready to fire again.

Enfield No#4 .303 British Very Good Condition Refinished Bolt Action Rifle

WHY DO YOU NEED ONE?

Here's an attention-getter - did you know that with all of the selective fire and semiautomatic weapons available and used by the military, that the dominant design for dedicated sniper rifles is still the bolt action rifle? I'd say that means a lot to me if I am selecting a new rifle. So why is the "old fashion" and simple design of a bolt action rifle chosen over high tech selective fire and semi-automatic options to get the job done? There are so many reasons why a bolt action rifle is just a great all-around firearm. Right out of the gate, the cost is a definite advantage. The cost of a bolt action rifle is much lower than self-loading firearms. These rifles tend to be reliable, rugged, and accurate. The balance between being lightweight and powerful is optimal. With fewer moving parts, there is not a lot of room for malfunction. Also, an advantage to having fewer moving parts is that the bolt action rifle can be disassembled and reassembled rather quickly. Let's focus a little closer on the accuracy advantage, after all, this is really where the rubber meets the road. Every shooter intends on hitting the target. While a lot depends on the skill of the shooter, a little help from a rifle design is always an appreciated advantage. The accuracy advantage can be attributed back to the simple design of the rifle. With fewer parts, using a bolt action rifle helps prevent any unnecessary movements from interfering with the bullet's trajectory. Staying with the simple design advantages, bolt action rifles usually have a solid stock, rather than a two-piece stock. A solid stock is more adept to support the action and barrel. Whether the bolt action rifle's accuracy is better than a semiautomatic rifle is up for debate, although most hunters and competition shooters still prefer them. They may not be the best choice for home defense, but they will get the job done. They are pretty flexible as far as using at close or long ranges, they even allow you to free float the barrel if necessary. Bolt actions are versatile and have an all-encompassing use selection. Although we can have a healthy debate over the bolt action accuracy advantage, there is no denying that a bolt action has more versatility than a semi automatic. With a huge selection of calibers, a bolt action rifle can also handle a range of ammunition; anything from slow and heavy to fast and light. They also offer the shooter a wider range of scopes to choose from. Giving the shooter control of what type of scope that they want, traditional or cutting edge, is a definite advantage when selecting a bolt action rifle. Believe it or not, bolt actions are also a little bit quieter. They have a small profile if you are truly trying to remain undetected and work great with suppression.

Browning X-Bolt HS3 Sniper .308 Win Bolt Action Rifle

DISADVANTAGES

There are a couple of disadvantages to the legendary bolt action rifle design. The most notable is the obvious lower rate of fire. This is only a disadvantage depending on how you intend to use the rifle. Since the main use is hunting and target practice, the rate of fire really isn't that important. The only other obvious disadvantage is, I would have to say, recoil. The larger your caliber selection, the more substantial the recoil will be. Bolt action rifles are not like semi automatic rifles that produce reduced recoil.

Mossberg Patriot .243 Win Bolt Action Rifle

SUMMED UP

The bolt action rifle is simply essential to add to your arsenal. It is reliable at close or long-range. With only a few moving parts, almost nothing can go wrong. These rifles are durable, rugged, accurate, and long-lasting. The most important feature of the bolt action rifle is that it just feels right when you place it against your shoulder and look downrange. Shop All Bolt Action Rifles
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