Bolt vs Semi for Moose/Deer hunting

ggpr said:
I would choose lever, pump or bolt over semi, especially if I were only to take 1 firearm. Although the semi might feel powerful and a quick second chance, they have been known to fail on the first try.

Semi's are prone to jamming and slowing down in the cold (from oil etc...). you have to be very careful to being using a correct oil to not have this effect. I have heard about many people driving north to end up with a firearm that won't shoot in the cold.

with a bolt, lever, pump...you can use your own power to compensate for the extra stiffness in the action from weather.

On a side note, 1 shot should be good enough. If you require a semi to take an animal, you probably shouldn't be hunting. When some people use a semi, they tend to rely less on aiming and more on splatter. This quite often allows the animal to escape and lots of laughter from neighboring hunters.

This information has been researched, not experienced by me. But I have heard these from many different sources. Another thing to take note, a lot of people take a second rifle when they travel to hunt. Nothing worse then going somewhere to have no reason to be there.

A cheap $100 303 enfield can act great as a primary/secondary hunting rifle. I know many people who use these rifles as their primary weapon for moose and deer.
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If you require a semi to take an animal, you probably shouldn't be hunting.
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Thats quite a sweeping statement you made there. Care to elaborate a little more.:popCorn: I guess my rebuttal could read: Anyone that hunts with anything more than primitive archery gear shouldn't be hunting. But I would never say such a thing, because I feel any legal way to take game is good to go in my books.
 
The one shot should be good enough bull#### is allways spouted by some jackass with little or no hunting experience...

You can tell who has theories, and who actually hunts by BS like that.
 
The one shot should be good enough bulls**t is allways spouted by some jackass with little or no hunting experience...

You can tell who has theories, and who actually hunts by BS like that.
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Darryl - that may be true the way you hunt, or where you hunt. But i can tell you that out this way given our terrain and the methods most commonly used, the vast, vast majority of game is taken with a single shot, unless you count a 'finishing' shot to end suffering.

The vast majority of hunters out this way could likely hunt with a single shot rifle and never notice a difference. Most prefer a bolt, just because it's nice to know if you DO need that second shot you can have it pretty quick, and a bolt is fast enough for that out this way.

Suggesting that people who say 'one shot is usually enough' don't know how to hunt is probably a little too sweeping a statement :D You'll find very very few semi's out this way. Some are used, but most people use a bolt.
 
When semi's are made as light/slim, as accurate, simple center feed mag, good light triggers, reliable function, I will buy one.

My perfect semi hunting rifle will shoot 1/2MOA at 200yds - sub MOA at 600yds at least 3rds, allow for full pressure loads/handloads, 1.5lbs crisp trigger, 5.5 to 6lbs no scope/22" barrel, 4-5rds center feed flush fit detachable mag WITH a proper bolt hold open, can reliably feed AI shouldered cases like the 6.5 Mystic or 7-08AI. Must also allow for drop feed into the action single shot.

All this for under $600....

Jerry
 
Foxer said:
Darryl - that may be true the way you hunt, or where you hunt. But i can tell you that out this way given our terrain and the methods most commonly used, the vast, vast majority of game is taken with a single shot, unless you count a 'finishing' shot to end suffering.

The vast majority of hunters out this way could likely hunt with a single shot rifle and never notice a difference. Most prefer a bolt, just because it's nice to know if you DO need that second shot you can have it pretty quick, and a bolt is fast enough for that out this way.
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A single shot rifle doesnt equate to only needing one shot... I'
ve carried a single shot #1 out here before too...
Once again, knocking a tool rather than the method, and this drives me nutts... Its a stupid, and very closed minded statement, and you cant justify it buddy, no matter how hard you try...


Once again Warren, this is the exact quote Im referring to...

If you require a semi to take an animal, you probably shouldn't be hunting.
Its not a requirement, but a choice... One made by thousands of canadians per year.
 
Once again Warren, this is the exact quote Im referring to...
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If you require a semi to take an animal, you probably shouldn't be hunting.
Its not a requirement, but a choice... One made by thousands of canadians per year.
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yeah, i hear you, i'm just saying that the idea that people who are out for 'one shot one kill' hunting aren't doing it wrong either :)

Hey, you know i'm not hunting with a bolt right now (not most of the time anyway). I'm with you, they're both choices.

I think what the poster was saying tho was more along the lines of 'if you're counting on spray and pray...'. I don't think he was knocking semi's per se, just saying that even with a semi you should make every shot count.
 
I don't begrudge semi or pump rifle hunters/shooters. Whatever floats yer boat. I prefer a bolt & that's what I use when I hunt.
 
Depends on how you hunt, a bolt will most likely be fast enough for a backup shot on moose, but with deer run by dogs faster actions are better, unless you are really good with a bolt. Find out what you can shoot quickly while still hitting the target, remember to make the shot you take count no matter if it is the first or the 5th.
 
Foxer said:
yeah, i hear you, i'm just saying that the idea that people who are out for 'one shot one kill' hunting aren't doing it wrong either :)


I think what the poster was saying tho was more along the lines of 'if you're counting on spray and pray...'. I don't think he was knocking semi's per se, just saying that even with a semi you should make every shot count.[/QUOTE)

I'd like to know just what a "One shot kill" has to do with using a semi??
Ever made 3 "one shot kills" on three deer at one time??
Hard to do with a Single Shot or even a bolt!
Ever shot two or three moose at one time with a Single Shot or even a bolt??
It's legal to do & with the tag allotment system even encouraged here in Ont whether we like it or not.
Also, if a guy is used to shooting deer where you can shoot more than one at a time would he not be smart to use the same gun & action that's he's most comfortable with!
You anti semi-auto, spray & pray anoligy does just what DarylDB shows you to be, close minded & unable to, either due to either lack of experience or an inability to, see past your nose & realize there are other methods & situations in hunting. For that, as a member of the hunting community I am embarrassed for you :rolleyes:
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am i hearing from the above statement that a hunter with a semi can with all conscience shoot at one deer in a herd and then proceed to shoot at the escaping deer and make a sure and humane shot at not only one more but two more deer....just because your hunting rules allow these priveledges does not make it ethical, I think it would be much safer to be with a group that were more interested in humane shooting of a game animal than seeing who can shoot the most...This is an opinion and requires no "name calling" thanx
 
Winnipeg Toymaker said:
am i hearing from the above statement that a hunter with a semi can with all conscience shoot at one deer in a herd and then proceed to shoot at the escaping deer and make a sure and humane shot at not only one more but two more deer....just because your hunting rules allow these priveledges does not make it ethical, I think it would be much safer to be with a group that were more interested in humane shooting of a game animal than seeing who can shoot the most...This is an opinion and requires no "name calling" thanx
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SAY WHAT:eek:

7.62mm:popCorn:
 
Winnipeg Toymaker said:
am i hearing from the above statement that a hunter with a semi can with all conscience shoot at one deer in a herd and then proceed to shoot at the escaping deer and make a sure and humane shot at not only one more but two more deer....just because your hunting rules allow these priveledges does not make it ethical, I think it would be much safer to be with a group that were more interested in humane shooting of a game animal than seeing who can shoot the most...This is an opinion and requires no "name calling" thanx
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Your opinion is wrong....period.

Last year, 44 semi, 7 doe tags in our group, first day. Three good sized deer step out at 60 yds, all broadside. Three shots, three deer, all heart/lung/shoulder shots. It took the second and third deer about three seconds to figure out what the hell was going on....it only took me two seconds to put a bullet into them.Try that with a bolt.

But, according to you, I am unethical.....go pound salt.
 
I'd like to know just what a "One shot kill" has to do with using a semi??
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Well i think the point is if you're buying a semi to make up for good shooting skills, that's the wrong reason to buy one. That's what I read from the poster's comment.
Ever made 3 "one shot kills" on three deer at one time??

Ever shot two or three moose at one time with a Single Shot or even a bolt??
Hard to do with a Single Shot or even a bolt!
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That would be an example of the RIGHT reason to buy a semi :D

Although just to point out - there have been several times when i could have dropped 2 moose with a bolt, if it were legal here. Or even a single. Moose aren't all that bright.


You anti semi-auto, spray & pray anoligy does just what DarylDB shows you to be, close minded & unable to, either due to either lack of experience or an inability to, see past your nose & realize there are other methods & situations in hunting. For that, as a member of the hunting community I am embarrassed for you
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Settle down. I shoot a pump for god's sake, i'm not anti-anything. I don't think the other poster was either. I think he was just saying that SOMETIMES some people buy one hoping to be able to make up for a bad first shot. And that's not why you should buy one.

Geez bud, seriously. I understand it's the web and that it's easy to misunderstand what people mean, but i think you were a little fast to reach for the 'anti-semi' panic button there.
 
Three shots, three deer, all heart/lung/shoulder shots. It took the second and third deer about three seconds to figure out what the hell was going on....it only took me two seconds to put a bullet into them.Try that with a bolt.
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My dad'd give you a run for your money :D but he's a very long time bolt user. I could do it with a pump, but that'd be a good day.

Bottom line, if you can do it and make clean shots it's ethical, regardless of what kind of action you're using.
 
lets look at it this way a gun is a tool and a tool only it is the operator that
controls it. That has to make there own choices, wheather or not the shot is
humane or inhumane will be that hunters decission at that moment in time.
The fact is to each there own. For the west guys its a bolt gun and for the east guys it may be a semi it doesn't really matter if the hunter behind the
tool uses their ethics and good common sense. What real difference does the
rifle type matter. Lets remember that ethics are a personal thing and what
one person deems as ethical another may not. If the end result is a recoved
game animal that has been taken as quickly and cleanly as the hunter behind
the gun feels was possible under the circumstances. What more can be discussed. and on that note SEMI +1
 
Just for some clarification here. This is where I do my rifle hunting.

thickstuff.jpg


Last year was my first year hunting in this area. I took a sportered swede with a 2-7 powered scope. Great rifle, shoots excellent groups out to 200 yards. Useless for this hunting scenario. Although I am taking it this year for a back up, the Ruger .44 mag will be the go to gun. Light, reliable, and quick follow ups, just incase the bullet encounters a twig or 2000 on the way to the deer.

I have never hunted in the western provinces, but have visited them on a number of occasions. I would imagine the hunting scenarios would be quite different, making a bolt action, 200 - 300 yard gun a must.

Point is, there are a lot of different hunting scenarios out there, and differing firearms out there to suit, don't knock on someone else's methods if you have never tried them.

7.62mm
 
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