Bolt manipulation

[Gatehouse]

Most hunters in NA manipulate the bolt by using the index finger and thumb.

Mostly, it is because no body have told them differently.

Some use the "palm, up, hit bolt, retract with pinky finger, slam home wiht heel of palm method"

I've tried both, mostly after reading a John Barsnes article a few years ago, where he extolls the virtues of the "palm up" method. In an article by Phil Shoemaker, he mentions that he prefers the index finger and thumb method.

After much trial, I find I am in Shoemakers camp. However, I wonder if this has to do with our respective hands. My meaty hands slam into the scope and other parts when doing the "palm up " approach.

Shoemaker is tall, with thick, meaty hands (as am I , except I am only 6ft tall)

Barsnes is about 5'10" IIRC, and not a "wide" fellow.

Bartell is about my height, but a smaller build. He favours the "palm up" approach.

I wonder if you have:

* Tried both methods

* Seen a clear reason to use one or the other

 

[Calum]

Depends on the rifle I'm using...

With a #4 Enfield I tend to use the old speed shooting method of index, and thumb working the bolt, with middle finger pulling the trigger.

With my M44 Mosin it is the palm slap up, full grip back, forward, and palm slap down method, with index pulling the trigger.

 

[Slimbo]

I use my thumb combined with my index and middle fingers on the bolt handle. I think this gives a better hold because you can apply pressure in 2 directions with 3 seperate parts of the body, whereas with the palm method it is pressure in one direction and nothing really grasping the bolt handle. Rotating your wrist to put your palm up and back down also adds another 2 movements which further complicate the situation.

 

[troutseeker]

I use the palm, no pinky finger action (that is only for tutu wearing hunters...).
Palm to me means less dexterity needed, more leverage is needed and repeatable under stress.

Troutseeker

 

[Missing Something]

I use the palm, no pinky finger action (that is only for tutu wearing hunters...).
Palm to me means less dexterity needed, more leverage is needed and repeatable under stress.

Troutseeker

+1

easy to learn and good for hunting.....

 

[RobSmith]

The Nagants, I slap around like it was designed to be, the TOZ-78 i'm a little more delicate with and use my fingertips ... In other words different firearms are operated differently.

 

[Gatehouse]

I use the palm, no pinky finger action (that is only for tutu wearing hunters...).
r

How big are your hands/fingers?

If I use the palm method, only my pinky will contact the bolt, as the bolt knob is smaller than my pinky. Even if I wrap the hand around (*below* the pinky) I can only get so much of my hand ont he knob, and when pusing it forward, my hand bashes scope.

I can do both, butt he index/thumb works better for me, as the hand clears the scope.

 

[bronco_mudder]

When I started reading this I wasn't sure what method I used...never really gave it much though. I just did what felt the most natural. So I went to the safe and grabbed a rifle and tried it. Although I'm just a small frail guy I use the thumb/index finger method.

As for Nagants, after the first shot aren't you supposed to throw them away

 

[manbearpig]

just palm... my fingers dont even touch the bolt at all. palm facing me pulls the bolt up and back, then kindof rotates around the bolt and pushes it back forward like some wierdass tai-chi movement.
i never really thought about it, just how ive always done it - seems to work the best and no matter what rifle i use it on my fingers dont get pinched.

 

[J Stuart]

Most hunters in NA manipulate the bolt by using the index finger and thumb.

Mostly, it is because no body have told them differently.

Some use the "palm, up, hit bolt, retract with pinky finger, slam home wiht heel of palm method"

I've tried both, mostly after reading a John Barsnes article a few years ago, where he extolls the virtues of the "palm up" method. In an article by Phil Shoemaker, he mentions that he prefers the index finger and thumb method.

After much trial, I find I am in Shoemakers camp. However, I wonder if this has to do with our respective hands. My meaty hands slam into the scope and other parts when doing the "palm up " approach.

Shoemaker is tall, with thick, meaty hands (as am I , except I am only 6ft tall)

Barsnes is about 5'10" IIRC, and not a "wide" fellow.

Bartell is about my height, but a smaller build. He favours the "palm up" approach.

I wonder if you have:

* Tried both methods

* Seen a clear reason to use one or the other

Thumb on top with bolt handle resting between the two front joints on the index finger.
Too the point that I have a callus on the index finger.


When working, the thumb on the right hand lifts and closes the bolt.

Wait a minute, maybe the callus is from......something else !

 

[Gatehouse]

When I started reading this I wasn't sure what method I used...never really gave it much though. I just did what felt the most natural. So I went to the safe and grabbed a rifle and tried it. Although I'm just a small frail guy I use the thumb/index finger method.

As for Nagants, after the first shot aren't you supposed to throw them away

Yeah, you use the "big hand method..

But I think most in NA do, and never tried both.

 

[the_big_mike]

IMO, the palm up, when being used quickly, has a greater chance of your hand slipping off.

Particularly in a hunting situation when you need to chamber that second shot quick!

I think the thumb, forefinger gives more control.

 

[Gatehouse]

PS Nagants should be burned prior to shooting

 

[RobSmith]

PS Nagants should be burned prior to shooting

Awwww, that's mean, You've made my baby sad now, she's crying for me to crack open the safe and stroke her gently to comfort her now ....

 

[Gatehouse]

You can thank woodchopper for my Nagant comments, but lets not get off track here..

 

[Calum]

PS Nagants should be burned prior to shooting

Too much gun for yah?

 

[saskgunowner101]

just palm... my fingers dont even touch the bolt at all. palm facing me pulls the bolt up and back, then kindof rotates around the bolt and pushes it back forward like some wierdass tai-chi movement.
i never really thought about it, just how ive always done it - seems to work the best and no matter what rifle i use it on my fingers dont get pinched.

I'm with manbearpig on this, the weird tai-chi movement is where it's at.

 

[catnthehatt]

I'm with manbearpig on this, the weird tai-chi movement is where it's at.

Yup, me too.
Most of the time , it's more like " Reach under,grab lever with thumb and index 0f left hand. Pull down and catch cartridge in right hand as block is dropped and cartridge is ejected!
Cat

 

[looch]

I'm with manbearpig on this, the weird tai-chi movement is where it's at.

Me too - can go from opening to closing with the bolt handle firmly planted in the palm of my hand the whole time.

Exception is for guns with a long throw - on my BRNO model 2 (.22 lr) you couldn't fit a match stick between the bolt handle and the eye-piece of the scope. For this situation, I use my palm for the "lock/unlock" and thumb and finger for the "load/unload".

 

[Boomer]

When I work the action with the rifle at my shoulder it is one movement to open the bolt and one movement to close it. The bolt handle held between my thumb and forefinger is pulled back in one motion, then the thumb hooks the handle and drives it forward and down in a single motion.