Bolt action low price vs. high price rifles?

track said:
You took the words right out of my mouth. There are many days in the field that -20 or colder will occur and I want a "reliable" gun in those temperatures. I will not gamble with a utilitarian firearm.
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I've never heard of any bolt action ever failing in cold weather, from $100.00 Enfield 303's to Cooper and everthing in between. Hell if cold weather makes all lower priced guns fail thats news to most of us.
 
canadaman30 said:
I've never heard of any bolt action ever failing in cold weather, from $100.00 Enfield 303's to Cooper and everthing in between. Hell if cold weather makes all lower priced guns fail thats news to most of us.
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I have, but it's more related to lubrication, too much too thick will gum it up and can slow the firing pin enough to prevent a good strike. Been there done that. Some rifles it doesn't bother at all, others need to be dry at -40.
 
IMO in the end it is about putting the rifle up too your shoulder and comparing them side by side. If you compare the smoothness of the bolt of the rifle you mention on top 1. Tikka at a distant second rem and savage. Ease of up grade savage. Availability of after market parts Remington. Accuracy out of box Tikka slight edge. Blah, blah, blah....ultimately out is how it feels in your hand. If you can't tell the differences between the manufacturers then buy a savage. :)
 
canadaman30 said:
I've never heard of any bolt action ever failing in cold weather, from $100.00 Enfield 303's to Cooper and everthing in between. Hell if cold weather makes all lower priced guns fail thats news to most of us.
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I've witnessed firearms and heard stories of firearms not discharging in very cold temperatures and other reasons. It's possible that nothing will malfunction with a utilitarian, but I'm not going to take that chance. Another example is that I don't go hunting with a VW Jetta, it's a 4x4 pick-up truck...........something that is reliable in more ways than one.
 
track said:
I've witnessed firearms and heard stories of firearms not discharging in very cold temperatures and other reasons. It's possible that nothing will malfunction with a utilitarian, but I'm not going to take that chance. Another example is that I don't go hunting with a VW Jetta, it's a 4x4 pick-up truck...........something that is reliable in more ways than one.
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All the firearm issues I've seen in cold weather (and the one I experienced) were maintenence issues. Mine was due to me not cleaning the heavy factory oil from inside the bolt. Also, you can cram a buck inside a VW Beetle if you take the passenger seat out.
 
I've had my bolt action malfuction in cold weather....early morning -40 C in alberta....jumped a huge whitetail in a thicket along a fence line. The buck bolted out of the thicket at less than 20 yards, I was expecting to hear a boom and see the buck go down but all I got was a click and some frozen tears on my cheeks.
The problem was excessive oil in the bolt assy....firing pin did not strike the primer hard enough. This was on a 700 Rem many years ago...lesson learnt, remove oil from firing pin in cold weather. It only takes about 30 seconds to put a dime in the slot, unthread the pin assy, wipe it dry and put it back together... 30+ years later I still see that buck in my dreams!
 
Wheather I am buying a vehicle, getting a new family pet or purchasing a new firearm I always go through the same sort of process. First I ask myself. What do I need it for? What qualities must it have and what qualities do I want it to have but see as being negotiable.

A few questions you may ask yourself.

What are you willing to spend?
How accurate do you want it to be?
Are you going to carry it and how much can it weigh?
Do you want to be able to upgrade it later?
What are you going to hunt with it?
Where and how are you going to hunt with it?
Do looks matter?
How much are you willing to maintain it?
How much do you want to shoot it and how much are you willing to spend on ammo?
Do you plan on reloading?
How tolerent are you to recoil?

Many guns are a great value if they are purchased with the proper use in mind.

My Tikka T3 failed to fire on a -26 below day. I simply waited, chambered another round and fire away. I did not even care enough to pull the bolt and clean it. I do not shoot in a hurry and if I do I don't really care if it misfires. I don't really get hung up on missing a big one. Hunting is more of a lifestyle than a sport.

George
 
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If you want a rifle that will work in very cold weather get a Mosin.
I'm sure they are tougher then most modern sporting rifles.
 
No kidding!

The Lee-Enfield is pretty reliable, too. Some of you have seen this picture before; a pretty 16 yr old girl with her first caribou.



One shot, quartering through the lungs, exiting ahead of the off shoulder, and IIRC it was close to 40 below!

Ted
 
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