semi vs lever

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rydaeb

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Ive been hunting for a year now with my first gun, a marlin 30-30. One of my friends recently just bought a remington 270 semi for hunting. What are the benifits to haveing a semi besides the quick follow up shot? Its tempting and i could always use another gun let me know what you think.
 
In my opinion, no advantage. I much prefer a lever first then a bolt second. Semi's are fun at the range, but for me, to many moving parts for the bush.
 
Besides the quick follow up shot? None. A semi is limited to 5 rds,your lever is not.A semi is more work to clean,especially if it is a gas operated system.Semis don't like all kinds of ammo,while a lever,bolt or pump won't care.Usually a semi is more expensive,too. And hey,I'm not anti semi...I had 13 already (all sold).This is just my opinion.

CG
 
My SX2 has never failed me in the bush or at the range with cheap ammo... Its my go to shotgun for hunting...
 
I like pump, of a semi for hunting...Not that I don't like a lever, I am just not that good at reaquring sights after cycling the action...It's not about bazing away @ an animal as much as it is having the oportunity to take more than one animal at one given time...I have taken a few tripples and doubles over the years that I know I couldn't have if I had been using a lever, or bolt gun...

One example...
irviatkm.jpg
 
Two nice bucks, I'm never after multiple animals and find follow up shot speed is never lacking with my bolt guns, so I stick with them. Most of the pros and highly successful hunters don't run semis (yea, they shoot what they're paid to, fair enough) so it's not going to make him a better hunter than you. Just a personal taste thing. I don't like having a live round chambered immediately after the shot with no choice in the matter personally, prefer to chamber the rounds manually.
 
I have owned both and IMO the pump is the way to go. I currently own several bolt guns which I enjoy shooting and hunting with from time to time, but when it comes to hit the bush hard, I reach for my pump. You really get the best of both worlds, bolt gun accuracy with faster than lever cycling all without taking it off your shoulder or losing your sightline.

I almost forgot....Beauty bucks Capton!
 
When you have a semi auto, most ppl dont take thier time on their first shot and rely to much on the semi- auto fast firing. I use a old bolt action and almost all my animals ive shot went down first shot. When i hunt i learned to cycle the action with out taking it off my shoulder but sometimes i get exited and put the gun down and take my time.
 
Semi's remove some recoil and generally can come in larger calibers (though, the BLR comes in all sorts). Semi's are usually more expensive. Neither are as good as a bolt for accuracy. Levers can be made completely safe by slightly opening the action, while a semi can only really be loaded or unloaded. If you've been hunting with a 30-30 lever, I think you'd fall in love with the solid accuracy that a basic bolt will give you and you won't break the bank. You can spend the extra coin on a really great scope.
 
Semis are quickest and have an action that reduces recoil but they also have the most complicated trigger mechanism with potential to creep and are prone to malfunction from dirt, cold, disagreeable ammo. Levers are of simpler design in both action and trigger. Certain models can be loaded with more ammo legally though, in the higher pressure chamberings they are magazine fed like they're autoloading brethren. Both actions could be said to suffer in accuracy due to mechanism moving or deforming under pressure during firing though not to any degree that would affect their use in the bush. Also the BLR lever action seems to have solved the issue with its forward locking lugs.

I hunt with a lever .308 and I love that gun but it's more about look and feel than any advantage over a semi.

...oh and nice bucks!
 
dgradinaru said:
When you have a semi auto, most ppl dont take thier time on their first shot and rely to much on the semi- auto fast firing. I use a old bolt action and almost all my animals ive shot went down first shot. When i hunt i learned to cycle the action with out taking it off my shoulder but sometimes i get exited and put the gun down and take my time.
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I hear people say this; I don't believe one word of it. I know many hunters who use semis. Not one of them is a "spray and pray" type, and every one of them will tell you that the first shot is always the one that counts.

As to adavantages? Not many, really. Reduction in recoil is one. As is the instant self-loading action that doesn't require you to move your hands; if you just dropped an animal you can continue to hold a bead on it.
 
I know this is kinda off topic but in hunting it should be a one shot kill, what are the thoughts on a single shot rifle something like a h&r? (thompson center is kinda out of my budget as im only 18)
 
I have a Browning 30-06 semi that was made in Belgium. Amazing gun. Pulls up like a dream, and the recoil is much less than that of my bolt guns in the same cal. Haven't shot anything with it yet though....too pretty to take in the bush and scratch up...
 
Buy a good bolt action and never look back.For a little more than a H/R,you can buy a Mauser 98 action rifle(Try Tradex)and you are GTG...
Cheers
 
I've got both a pump and semi's for hunting rifles (plus numerous bolt guns)....both work good but the pump does not get used much but that probably has more to do with my screwed up shoulder than function of the pump. The advantage to the semi is reduced recoil.
Also I don't agree with the comment about semi hunters using a spray and pray type of shooting at game animals.
cheers
 
Whatever feels good to YOU and that YOU have the most confidence in, is the way to go... these days action type is more dictated by personal preference and terrain.
 
rydaeb said:
I know this is kinda off topic but in hunting it should be a one shot kill, what are the thoughts on a single shot rifle something like a h&r? (thompson center is kinda out of my budget as im only 18)
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It should always be a one shot kill, but sometimes poop happens. I've shot a bolt rifle for most of my hunting time and after many years I find that I can run a bolt awfully fast. It's has finally become instinctive to run the bolt with the rifle at my shoulder.

Now to the question of single shots. I personally like a single shot and used one to take my first fox (pretty little Thompson Center TCR that I wish the Old Man had never sold) and my first deer (a forkhorn mulie with my oldest friend - that was my Browning 1885 in 45-70). I would always recommend a better rifle than a cheaper one and Winchester 1886 is right to point yoU to TradeEx and their affordable Mausers. But if you really want a single shot I would recommend that you save a bit more and get a Ruger #1.
 
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rydaeb said:
Ive been hunting for a year now with my first gun, a marlin 30-30. One of my friends recently just bought a remington 270 semi for hunting. What are the benifits to haveing a semi besides the quick follow up shot? Its tempting and i could always use another gun let me know what you think.
Click to expand...

I don't have a lot of knowledge one way or the other, but I did get quite a good amount of info about semi's from my own thread, similar to yours.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?860871-Bolt-Action-vs-Semi-Auto
 
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