is bolt action inherently more accurate than single shot/break action?

In general...yes, a bolt would be considered more accurate.

By their nature, break-actions have a built in weak point. A bolt action is more or less "one piece"...ie: more rigid. That said, there are some amazingly accurate break actions out there.
 
One of thhe big factors in bolt actions is they lock up inline with either one or two lugs ( sometimes more), two being more accurate than single.

The action can also be bedded , with the barrel free floated.

However, if everything is right, a break action can be pretty accurate.
Cat
 
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But, if a person buys a quality single-shot (NEF, Baikal) will he be getting a noticable accuracy increase by switching to a bolt-action? Anything that would make a difference in the field?
 
I think in some cases the stock of the rifle has alot to do with the accuracy. Take the ruger #1 or any 2 pce stock and the barrel hangs up on the forend. The bolt action is a stonger action than most other actions but quality of the firearm has alot to do with it also. The rem 700/win 70 action likely one of the best, on the other hand you don'y hear of many custom guns being made out of savage actions. Well i've likely pissed off a few people here so I'll sit back and watch the sparks fly----Cowboy
 
Overall it is easier to make a bolt action rifle more accurate.That being said,I have seen some very accurate single shots,that would outshoot the vast majority of bolt actions.
 
slicknick said:
But, if a person buys a quality single-shot (NEF, Baikal)
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The NEF (H&R) and Baikals are not quality single shots. They are at best entry level rifles with rough finishing. They can be made to shoot fairly well but have problems with reliability in the field. (A muzzle loader usually offers a quicker and more reliable second shot than the NEF ;) )


A "quality" single shot would probably start with rifles like the Winchester 1885, Ruger #1 and T/C Encore.
 
slicknick said:
But, if a person buys a quality single-shot (NEF, Baikal) will he be getting a noticable accuracy increase by switching to a bolt-action? Anything that would make a difference in the field?
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As long as the rifle shoots to the point of aim, there won't be any difference in the field.

When hunting the first shot is what counts, not group size.
 
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[QUOTE='Boo]A "quality" single shot would probably start with rifles like the Winchester 1885, Ruger #1 and T/C Encore.[/QUOTE]

While those are indeed quality single-shots, the question was referring to break-actions. The two I mentioned were the only ones I could remember (how I forgot the T/C, I'll never know)
 
slicknick said:
While those are indeed quality single-shots, the question was referring to break-actions. The two I mentioned were the only ones I could remember (how I forgot the T/C, I'll never know)
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The term "single shot/break actions" means ALL types of single shots including break actions. If the original poster had asked about" Single shot break actions" - without the forward slash - that would have have limited the discussion to only break actions.
 
beretta boy said:
Any single shot/break actions hold any current bench rest records for accuracy ???
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Yes, the current bench rest record is held by a single shot but it's a bolt action single shot.;)

The two piece stock on a single-shot falling block does not provide as stable a platform as the one piece bolt action.
 
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