Bolt action vs Semi Auto
- Thread starter medic11
- Start date
shortaction
CGN Regular
- Location
- Manitoulin Island, Ontario
I have both plus pumps as well.
I shoot all of them off the bench but very seldom do I take anything other than my browning BAR's when hunting. They are quite accurate and reliable so can't see any reason to use a bolt. I use them for coyotes as well so the quick followup shot is nice for doubles and I really find the cross bolt safety easier and faster to use than other styles.
If I could only keep one rifle it would have to be my 300wsm BAR shorttrac.
I shoot all of them off the bench but very seldom do I take anything other than my browning BAR's when hunting. They are quite accurate and reliable so can't see any reason to use a bolt. I use them for coyotes as well so the quick followup shot is nice for doubles and I really find the cross bolt safety easier and faster to use than other styles.
If I could only keep one rifle it would have to be my 300wsm BAR shorttrac.
Other then 22lrs I only own 1 semi auto rifle an sks. I wouldn't trust it to hit a deers vitals at more then 50 yards. I've never trusted semis to function in cold damp conditions so I use bolt guns or single shots. I'm sure some semis are very reliable but when I'm up in bear camp for 2 weeks in the pouring rain and cold I want to know my rifle will go bang and a bolt gives me more confidence and its easy to strip and clean in the cabin tent or truck if need be
I used a bolt action rifles for years. Switched to a Benelli R1 when they first came out, and will never hunt with a bolt again. I only shoot my bolts at paper now. Same goes for my Dad, but he`s oldschool so he bought the Fancy Wood R1.
The Benelli's are nice rifles, once you try one you'll know what I mean.
Another plus for semi`s is there is no operator error while cycling.
The Benelli's are nice rifles, once you try one you'll know what I mean.
Another plus for semi`s is there is no operator error while cycling.
For me a semi is less about follow up shot as much as recoil reduction and a continuous sight picture while the rifle cycles it's action.
Also I suspect a lot of the negative talk around bolt vs semi vs pump is more about campfire myth then actual fact.
Also I suspect a lot of the negative talk around bolt vs semi vs pump is more about campfire myth then actual fact.
Methinks your SKS is tougher and more reliable then you think. Consider the conditions they where built to function in and that it is a scaled down version of an anti tank rifle of the same era.
Also from what I have seen a lot of accuracy issues with SKS tend to be more operator error then mechanical.
The Benelli R-1 is the rifle you want in a semi, period. I've bought two for my father now, first a 30-06, then a 300 Win mag, both off the EE. Neither one has malfunctioned/jammed yet. My neighbour has one, same results. I personally enjoy shooting a semi more b/c of faster sight reaquisition, but I own and use nearly all bolt actions. They are super easy to clean, I don't have to chase brass(I reload), simpler to reload for a bolt, more accurate, cheaper. For me the bolts advantages simply outweigh those of a semi.
Two years ago my now 77 year old dad had a skiing accident that resulted in a 3rd degree shoulder seperation he is majorly tough it has hardly slowed him down he is a workaholic but he stopped shooting/hunting with me due to not being able to handle the recoil of even a 30-30 rifle.
I got him out into the mtns a couple of months ago to get some Serpentine rocks for his backyard I also took my very accurate semi-auto Robinson Arms XCR-L in 6.8SPC.
I handed him the rifle and a 10 round pistol mag loaded with 10 110gr Sierra Prohunters @ 2650fps while explaining that my 95gr TTSX @ 2825fps loads were good out to 300 yards on deer.
You could see the gears turning in his head while he set up to shoot.
His first shot was way off due to being afraid that the recoil was going to hurt but after that first shot the look in his eyes when he looked back at me was priceless he then stated in absolute amazement "I didn't feel any recoil and those other rounds you were telling me about make this a 300 yard deer gun"...
He got back behind the rifle and shot the next 9 rounds as fast as he could at a target appr 150 yrds away all would have been in the kill zone of a deer.
I haven't had my wife out shooting for about a year now she was basically an anti when we met and still has very little interest in shooting but of all the different rifles I have gotten her to try out bolt/lever/single shot my XCR-L in 6.8SPC is her favorite she can shoot it fast and accurately and when loaded with 10 110gr TSX @ 2650 would not hesitate to take on a bear or whatever else threatened her and our son in camp with it if she ever had too.
So yeah ok... I'll totally agree reliable accurate semi-auto's have their place.
Now I am thinking about a Browning 20" barreled BAR Lite weight Stalker in 308 Win for my wife or have I finally found the justification for a Robinson Arms XCR-M in 260 REm/308 Win/338 Fed...
I got him out into the mtns a couple of months ago to get some Serpentine rocks for his backyard I also took my very accurate semi-auto Robinson Arms XCR-L in 6.8SPC.
I handed him the rifle and a 10 round pistol mag loaded with 10 110gr Sierra Prohunters @ 2650fps while explaining that my 95gr TTSX @ 2825fps loads were good out to 300 yards on deer.
You could see the gears turning in his head while he set up to shoot.
His first shot was way off due to being afraid that the recoil was going to hurt but after that first shot the look in his eyes when he looked back at me was priceless he then stated in absolute amazement "I didn't feel any recoil and those other rounds you were telling me about make this a 300 yard deer gun"...
He got back behind the rifle and shot the next 9 rounds as fast as he could at a target appr 150 yrds away all would have been in the kill zone of a deer.
I haven't had my wife out shooting for about a year now she was basically an anti when we met and still has very little interest in shooting but of all the different rifles I have gotten her to try out bolt/lever/single shot my XCR-L in 6.8SPC is her favorite she can shoot it fast and accurately and when loaded with 10 110gr TSX @ 2650 would not hesitate to take on a bear or whatever else threatened her and our son in camp with it if she ever had too.
So yeah ok... I'll totally agree reliable accurate semi-auto's have their place.
Now I am thinking about a Browning 20" barreled BAR Lite weight Stalker in 308 Win for my wife or have I finally found the justification for a Robinson Arms XCR-M in 260 REm/308 Win/338 Fed...
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
A bolt action is more reliable but this isn't Africa. Calum hit the nail on the head, semis are good for reducing recoil and maintaining your sight picture following a shot. I hunt with bolt actions but have nothing against the guys that choose semis, each has their purpose.
Well Stated. Medic, Your question is perfectly legitimate, however the type of action really comes down to a personal preference. As I stated mine and others have stated theirs. My BAR was accurate and was comparable to using factory ammo in my bolt. I just did not prefer it.
Your friend should buy whatever suits his/her taste and need. If they don't like it in a few years, they can sell it. He/She should handle a few in the store and see what makes them happy.
Cheers!
Learn to use whatever you choose.
I just love the sound of the thump thump thump after a fellow hunter slips the clip in
his semi.
CLAAAAAAAAAAAAACKKKKKK.
I keep telling him to hold the bolt and ease it closed when fur is near.
Funny chit.
I just love the sound of the thump thump thump after a fellow hunter slips the clip in
his semi.
CLAAAAAAAAAAAAACKKKKKK.
I keep telling him to hold the bolt and ease it closed when fur is near.
Funny chit.
If your like myself, there are situations when I don't want to have a round up the spout, re-chambering with a bolt rifle is near silent, reliable chambering with a semi requires letting the action noisely spring closed.
It's a good idea to learn about the design of the firearm one is using.
Having actually owned and used one I can say first hand that the safeties on the R1s are as well engineered as the rest of the rifle. Also generally the design of safeties between a bolt and semi tend to be different.
So for me using the common sense proper muzzle control and keeping fingers out of the trigger guard I'd have no qualms about having a round in the chamber for the stalking style of hunting I do.
I even had one time where a cleaning patch somehow found its way into the chamber and became a hat for the bullet I was trying to chamber and prevented the rifle from firing.
The tolerances and engineering used are quite impressive.
Where can you get 7 tags in one year?
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
I've had both for years.
I'm one who actually used to very strongly favor semi's, but have found bolts to be pretty darn good too.
Bolts are simpler and generally more reliable (Twice in my life I've had rifles malfunction on me in hunting situations, and both of them were bolts to be honest.) and generally require less maintenance. Bolts are also quieter (I never chamber a round until I'm about to fire.), and will feed anything, which is nice if you like to shoot handloads that are a bit odd, like WFN cast bullets, or extra long VLDs. Every caliber available is also made in a bolt action rifle, and they are cheaper and easier to find.
Semi's, well, simply the best for follow up shots (Don't forget sometimes there's more than one animal you can legally take; it's NOT all about "make the first shot count".), reduced recoil and improved sight picture. They also need some more maintenance most of the time, although for most hunters a cleaning at the beginning of the season and one at the end is more than enough. Semi's can set you back more than bolts too.
Notice I mentioned nothing about accuracy since every semi I have owned (Well, except for a $900 Mini 14.) shot perfectly well for hunting out to 400 yards or so, and so I see accuracy as a non-issue.
Now, I hunt with both, as well as traditional and modern muzzle loaders.
I'm one who actually used to very strongly favor semi's, but have found bolts to be pretty darn good too.
Bolts are simpler and generally more reliable (Twice in my life I've had rifles malfunction on me in hunting situations, and both of them were bolts to be honest.) and generally require less maintenance. Bolts are also quieter (I never chamber a round until I'm about to fire.), and will feed anything, which is nice if you like to shoot handloads that are a bit odd, like WFN cast bullets, or extra long VLDs. Every caliber available is also made in a bolt action rifle, and they are cheaper and easier to find.
Semi's, well, simply the best for follow up shots (Don't forget sometimes there's more than one animal you can legally take; it's NOT all about "make the first shot count".), reduced recoil and improved sight picture. They also need some more maintenance most of the time, although for most hunters a cleaning at the beginning of the season and one at the end is more than enough. Semi's can set you back more than bolts too.
Notice I mentioned nothing about accuracy since every semi I have owned (Well, except for a $900 Mini 14.) shot perfectly well for hunting out to 400 yards or so, and so I see accuracy as a non-issue.
Now, I hunt with both, as well as traditional and modern muzzle loaders.
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