Bolt Action vs Semi Auto?

IMHO one of the biggest tangible differences between most bolt action and semi-auto hunting rifles is the trigger. On most bolt actions, you can either have the trigger tuned or replace it with an aftermarket trigger than wasn't designed by civil lawyers, and which breaks cleanly with a gentle 3 lb. pull. Conversely, a lot of semis have triggers that creep along with a very soft feel, making it tough to really know when the sear is going to trip and fire the shot. This may not sound like a big deal to a beginning hunter, but it makes that occassional long range shot soooooo much more likely to turn out well.

Then, of course, there are the other reasons in favour of a bolt action -- like gracefulness, handling, beautiful walnut, and simple good breeding :)
 
mooncoon said:
I think it is more of a question of philosophy; the logic behind a semi auto is in part that you can get off a quick second and / or third shot. I personally think a person's philosophy should be one of waiting for one good shot

cheers mooncoon
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i agree with this to a point hehehe
in areas i hunt where certain predators are a lil more than plenty full, ie, grizzes and wolves..... the semi auto has been an absolute deal breaker at least once, and without it.... nasty things may have happened that a bolt gun can not solve

but that's a isolated incidient for most hunters.
when i started off years ago, I had a M14 converted auto in .308/7.62 , got one awesome hunting season out of her and they went prohib
and i had a cooey 64 b for the birds n bunnies
and my dad's ol .303 british enfield.

all three of these rifles (or similar models of them) can be aquired in good shooting condition for around 1000.00 to 1200.00 total i'd say
not including optics , slings and ammo

but for a guy on a budget who's just gettin started, it would cover the bases for most canadian game.
 
I used to have a 7600 pump, had a Ruger deerfield SA in .44, now all I have is bolt guns. This probably does not answer your questions.

IMO:
Bolt guns are simple to clean, and simple to make safe (remove bolt)
Stronger and generally more accurate.
Simple to sight in - remove bolt, look through the barrel, adjust scope - you will be on the paper on 1st shot.
When you practice with the same one you will learn to shoot it fairly fast.

Some places in the USA (i.e PA) do not allow SA rifles for deer hunting. Pretty much everywhere allows bolt guns.
And no one is ever coming for it.......
 
All the above are good points for the advantages of a bolt action but a semi is just plain fun to shoot and they can't be all that unreliable or the military would have nothing but bolt guns. I've only got a few semi-auto center fire rifles (4) and many more bolt action guns but I would never give up the semi's either. I say own both and enjoy them all.
 
I've been in the game for a long time, and hunted under all kinds of conditions... Every year I ask myself if it's time for a semi auto rifle for hunting... Yet I always stay with the tried and true bolt gun almost every time... Occasionally the lever goes out on a tour, but not nearly as often as a bolt.
 
To each their own, as far as the spray+pray go's, those words are always coming from people who have never hunted with a semi. I use semi's, levers and bolts nothing wrong with any, all have their advantages and disadvantages, making good on your first shot has nothing to do with the type of firearm you use IMO.
 
To each their own, as far as the spray+pray go's, those words are always coming from people who have never hunted with a semi.
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Not true, I have owned and hunted with a BAR Mark II in 7mmremmag. I put up with the crappy trigger for a hunt, but when the rifle malfunctioned in freezing rain, I sold it, and never hunted with a semi auto again.
 
Highwind said:
I've been in the game for a long time, and hunted under all kinds of conditions... Every year I ask myself if it's time for a semi auto rifle for hunting... Yet I always stay with the tried and true bolt gun almost every time... Occasionally the lever goes out on a tour, but not nearly as often as a bolt.
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Agreed. A lot of the old-timers I hunt with are using the semi's for deer hunting now because they don't work the actions as fast as they used to and to reduce recoil. No offence meant by the old-timer remark Highwind. :)
 
The OP has acknowledged he is a "beginning shooter" and this will be his first centrefire hunting gun. Nothing against semi-automatics but I'd rather see a person without much shooting experience who has never hunted before show up in camp with a bolt action than a semi. YMMV.
 
The semi must be proven accurate, my coyote rifle is a MR-1 with 77 gr Lapua keeping MOA to 350 metres, with Lar-15 mag, 11 rounds on running coyotes is an asset... JP.
 
I jumped back and forth for awhile but now I've settled on my browning bolt action, I never have to worry about anything with it. It's reliable which to me is more important then anything.

Plus chambering a round in with the bolt makes you feel manly as hell so +1 there lol
 
I think no one has brought thisnup so here I go:

Although my choice for hunting big game will be bolt action but what matter is how well you can shoot the gun?

I can give one a bench rest rifle print clover shots all day long but the shooter can't handle the recoil or flinch too much?

If one is sensitive to recoil most gas operate semi reduces the felt recoil quite a bit on a same caliber than a bolt gun.

But if you are an accuracy freak try to squeeze every bit out of your equipment I think a bolt gun is generally easier to tweak than a semi.
 
When you are shooting a bolt rifle your chamber should be reloaded before the brass from the previous shot hits the ground. The above Youtube video illustrates this. There are plenty of youtube videos showing proper bolt work
 
Lets just say as you age and if you have a bad shoulder like I do and bang a few more rounds a year than the average guy the old semi around 30-06 caliper quickly becomes my best friend.
243 I still use the bolts and pump
 
My way of seeing semi vs bolt is simple, an outstanding result on paper for a top bolt rifle is .1 to .5 moa. One to 1.5 moa being good for a bolt hunting rifle... A semi, a great one should shoot group from .5 to one moa, a semi with an average of .9 moa i an exceptional rifle, there is a world of difference between them... Extreme precision vs firepower accurate precision... JP.
 
Claybuster said:
The OP has acknowledged he is a "beginning shooter" and this will be his first centrefire hunting gun. Nothing against semi-automatics but I'd rather see a person without much shooting experience who has never hunted before show up in camp with a bolt action than a semi. YMMV.
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As the OP, why do you feel that way?
 
stubblejumper said:
Not true, I have owned and hunted with a BAR Mark II in 7mmremmag. I put up with the crappy trigger for a hunt, but when the rifle malfunctioned in freezing rain, I sold it, and never hunted with a semi auto again.
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One malfunction doesn't mean a thing....it's the same as a one shot group. I've had a bolt action malfunction in cold weather but instead of selling all my bolt guns I looked into why it malfunctioned and corrected the problem (excessive use of gun oil). I still hunt with and enjoy both types of actions.
 
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