{"id":839,"date":"2019-02-11T15:07:28","date_gmt":"2019-02-11T20:07:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.wholesalehunter.com\/?p=839"},"modified":"2019-04-05T18:16:41","modified_gmt":"2019-04-05T22:16:41","slug":"best-rifle-action-craig-boddington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/best-rifle-action-craig-boddington\/","title":{"rendered":"Which is the Best Rifle Action for You?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our beloved tradition of campfire arguments often centers around which cartridge we should choose. That\u2019s always fun, but maybe by now you\u2019ve gotten my oft-repeated message that, within broad parameters, it\u2019s kind of silly. We all know that the 6.5mm Creedmoor<\/a> is the hottest-selling cartridge right now, but is any deer or steel target likely to feel the difference (or lodge a formal complaint) if struck by a Creedmoor<\/a>, a .270 Winchester<\/a>, a 7mm-08<\/a>, or any of dozens of cartridges we can think of?<\/p>\n

I think not. Actually, so long as the projectile strikes the desired point, the launching platform also doesn\u2019t make much difference. Although each has significant variations, there are essentially five rifle actions: semiautomatic, slide-action, lever-action, bolt-action, and single-shot. For completeness, I suppose one could add the double rifle. I like doubles in certain applications, but it\u2019s fair to say that the double is mostly a break-open single-shot with a second barrel and firing mechanism.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Semiautomatic, Slide-Action, Lever-Action, Bolt-Action, and Single-Shot: What\u2019s the Difference?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s stick with our five basic rifle actions. There are significant differences, and those depend somewhat on what you\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n

Remember: Familiarity is Important, Too<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Familiarity<\/em><\/strong> is, of course, a major consideration. My old friend Kyle Lamb, retired special operations Sergeant Major, uses a semiautomatic AR platform<\/a> for most of his hunting, an AR15 5.56 for varminting; and the larger AR10 action in 7.62mm for deer, elk, and even moose. His cartridge choices are suitable, and there\u2019s never anything wrong with sticking with your comfort zone. A friend recently told me about an uncle who took just about everything in North America\u2014including sheep and big bears\u2014with a Savage 99 in . Maybe a bit outdated, but a good platform and a very versatile cartridge!<\/p>\n

\"Hunting
Retired special ops Sergeant Major Kyle Lamb remains extremely comfortable with the AR platform and uses them for most of his hunting: AR15s in lighter calibers for varmints; AR10s in 7.62mm (.308) for larger game.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u2019ve hunted with AR15s<\/a> and AR10s<\/a>, and I carried an M16 variant for decades in the Marines. I\u2019ve also hunted with several other semiautos. All were accurate and dependable. I\u2019ve also hunted with numerous single-shots and lever-actions.<\/p>\n

\"AR
The AR\u2019s forward-locking, multi-lug rotating bolt hearkens back to Peter Paul Mauser\u2019s original design\u2026and probably has much to do with the AR platform\u2019s exceptional accuracy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I admit to little experience with slide-action rifles<\/em>, but I\u2019m lifelong Winchester Model 12 fan, and I\u2019ve hunted with Remington\u2019s famous Gamemaster and the Krieghoff Semprio slide-action centerfires. I know folks who swear by them! All said, however, in most applications the bolt-action is my comfort zone.<\/p>\n

\"Slide-Action
Although mechanically very different from traditional slide-actions, the Krieghoff Semprio is strong, fast-operating, and very accurate. This Semprio is chambered to .300 Winchester Magnum, clearly suitable for a wide range of hunting.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Speed<\/strong><\/h3>\n

My point isn\u2019t to convince you<\/em>, but to discuss those significant differences. Speed<\/em><\/strong> goes to the semiauto! In hunting this is not always important, but if you have multiple coyotes coming to a call, you\u2019ll notice the difference! Practice matters, but nothing is slower than a single-shot\u2026and nothing is faster for the second shot<\/em> than a double. The others are mostly a matter of familiarity.<\/p>\n

A century ago, when the lever-action was king and the bolt-action was just catching on gunwriters did \u201cspeed drills,\u201d lever-action against bolt-action. The results weren\u2019t as predictable as you might think! Worked properly from the shoulder while maintaining sight picture, a bolt-action can be cycled very quickly. However, and based primarily on my experience with slide-action shotguns, I think the pump gun may be the fastest manually-operated repeating action–almost as fast as a semiauto!<\/p>\n

\"Winchester
The long-discontinued Winchester Model 88 lever action used a forward-locking rotating bolt and a detachable box magazine. Much stronger than Winchester\u2019s traditional tubular-magazine lever actions, it was designed for the .308 Winchester family. This 88 is a .358 Winchester.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of course, there are mechanical differences in various models among all the rifle action types. I never used a Winchester \u201973<\/a> until Browning\/Winchester\u2019s recent reintroduction, and with its short cartridge case (and thus short throw) I was struck by how fast <\/em>it was compared to, say, a \u201994 or Marlin 336<\/a>. About ten years ago I started using a straight-pull Blaser R8\u2026it took some getting used to, but with practice is much<\/em> faster than any turn-bolt rifle!<\/p>\n

\"Winchester
The Winchester Model 1873 was designed for short \u201cpistol-like\u201d cartridge cases. This gives it a very short lever throw, making it one of the fastest-operating of all lever actions. This is a Browning\/Winchester reproduction \u201973 in .357 Magnum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Accuracy<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Accuracy<\/em><\/strong> is a more elusive concept. Conventional wisdom gives the accuracy edge to the bolt-action, often aided by the consistent bedding of the typical one-piece stock. However, despite the common two-piece stock I\u2019ve seen spectacularly accurate single-shots. Likewise, an AR mated with a good barrel and, after all, one could describe the AR\u2019s multi-lug rotating bolt as the ultimate extension of Peter Paul Mauser\u2019s genius. Krieghoff Semprio with fixed bolt and rigid lockup is amazing accurate but I\u2019ve seen awesome accuracy from all the action types.<\/p>\n

Strength and Reliability<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Strength<\/em><\/strong> and reliability<\/em>. <\/strong>Few actions known to man are as strong as falling-block single-shots, such as Ruger No. One, Dakota 10, Browning 1885<\/a>, etc. That massive breechblock trapped by the receiver walls isn\u2019t going anywhere. On the other hand, break-open actions are not as strong and have a natural tendency to flex during firing. (This is called \u201ccoming off the face.\u201d) This is why doubles and many break-open single-shots are typically chambered to cartridges with lower operating pressures than the highest-intensity modern cartridges. Bolt-actions, with multiple and often redundant locking lugs, are extremely strong, and also have the positive camming power of the turnbolt in the event of a slightly sticky case.<\/p>\n

Rear-locking actions, regardless of action type, are generally not as strong as forward-locking actions and flex more during firing. This applies to most traditional lever actions, which are typically chambered for cartridges generating moderate pressure. Modern lever actions like the Winchester 88 and Browning BLR<\/a> are forward-locking and essentially as strong as bolt actions, but even so generally don\u2019t have the positive camming power of a manually-operated bolt. This means that semiautos, lever-actions, and slide-actions can be technically as strong as a bolt-action, but by their nature are more finicky in the ammunition they will ingest, digest, feed, extract, and eject. Even the strongest single-shots do not have the camming power of a bolt-action to grab hold of and spit out a slightly sticky case. So, for overall reliability (and probably with the least maintenance), the bolt-action is hard to beat, closely followed by the single-shot.<\/p>\n

\"Browning
Browning\u2019s BLR is one of the most unusual lever-actions, strong, fast-operating, and available in both short and long action. This takedown BLR is chambered to the high-intensity .270 Winchester Short Magnum cartridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Adaptability and Versatility<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Adaptability <\/strong>is an interesting issue. Single-shot actions, including modern designs such as the T\/C Contender\/Encore and the Ruger No. One, have been adapted to a greater array of cartridges than has ever been possible with any repeating action. Repeaters, by receiver size, bolt length, magazine (or all three) are limited to the cartridge length and circumference they can handle. This is solved by different action sizes, but then it\u2019s no longer exactly the same rifle. The AR15 is held to cartridges with similar overall length to the 5.56mm NATO<\/a>. The AR10 is held to the 7.62 NATO<\/a> family. There are now ARs chambered to .300 Winchester Magnum<\/a> (and larger) but they\u2019re bigger and heavier. Bolt-actions are probably the most adaptable among repeaters, but we still have short, standard, long, and \u201cmagnum\u201d bolt-actions. Many manufacturers make more than one rifle action length, but very few manufacturers offer all rifle action sizes!<\/p>\n

\"Deer
The break-open Thompson\/Center single-shot platform has been chambered to a myriad of cartridges, from rimfires for small game on up to big bores for the largest game. This T\/C Encore in .30 TC accounted for this ten-point whitetail in western Kentucky.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Adaptability to various sighting options is another story. Many older rifle actions aren\u2019t adaptable to scope use at all, at least not without extensive modification. The rail mount, so prevalent on today\u2019s AR platform and increasingly common on bolt and some lever-actions, is probably the most versatile system of all, gotta love it!<\/p>\n

Silence and Ease of Loading and Unloading<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One item that seems often overlooked but is really important to me as a hunter is silence and simplicity<\/em> <\/strong>in loading and unloading. On a deer stand you may do this only twice, once when you get there, and again when you prepare to depart. When stalking or still-hunting I may keep the magazine loaded for hours, but I only load the chamber when I feel a shot is imminent. So, while negotiating obstacles, glassing, or taking a break, I may unload the chamber dozens of times.<\/p>\n

Single shot rifles are simple and nearly silent, and bolt-actions are almost as good. Semiautos can\u2019t be babied; almost universally it\u2019s essential to drop the bolt to ensure it seats properly, which is noisy. Some lever and slide-actions require more positive motion than others.<\/p>\n

\"Hunting
On stand with an AR10 in 7.62mm (.308 Winchester). One of the drawbacks to hunting with any semiautomatic is the bolt cannot be ridden home for loading; it must be dropped, and that requires more noise than other action types.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But mechanical noise isn\u2019t just the opening and closing of the action. Single-shots are probably the quietest and simplest, but once you remove the cartridge you must have a place to put it until you need it again. Options include a wrist holder, cartridge slide, or a handy pocket. Regardless of rifle action type, detachable magazines also require movement and noise to remove and reload, and with tubular magazines you often have little choice but to cycle the action to completely unload it, which makes much<\/em> more noise and movement.<\/p>\n

\"Africa
A Ruger No. One in a sitatunga stand in Zambia. All stand-hunting is similar: The rifle comes up empty, is loaded, and regardless of outcome, goes down empty. The single-shot is perhaps the quietest and simplest of all actions for use in stands.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Purely from the stand or foot-hunter\u2019s perspective, top-loading bolt-actions offer a sound solution. When you\u2019re ready to unload the chamber, slip the bolt back, capture the cartridge and press it down into the magazine, hold it down, slip the bolt over it, make a visual check the chamber is clear, close the bolt slowly and quietly, and engage the safety. Mind you, some bolt-actions are noisier than others, but at least with a bolt-action you can baby the bolt forward slowly and quietly!<\/p>\n

\"deer
Going into a stand on my Kansas farm with a bolt-action 7×57. Over the years we\u2019ve hosted about 100 whitetail hunters. At least 95 percent have used bolt-actions in various calibers, attesting to its popularity among today\u2019s hunters.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

None of this means the bolt-action is the best choice, and for sure single-shots aren\u2019t for everyone. It depends on what you<\/em> like and what gives you the most confidence\u2026and what kind of hunting or shooting you\u2019re doing. I have rifles in all action types and I use them all, but these are little things worth thinking about that, collectively, may drive your choices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our beloved tradition of campfire arguments often centers around which cartridge we should choose. That\u2019s always fun, but maybe by now you\u2019ve gotten my oft-repeated message that, within broad parameters, it\u2019s kind of silly. We all know that the 6.5mm Creedmoor is the hottest-selling cartridge right now, but is any deer or steel target likely … Continue reading “Which is the Best Rifle Action for You?”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[101],"tags":[159,19,32,158,160,154,161,155,157,156],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/839"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=839"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/839\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":935,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/839\/revisions\/935"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=839"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=839"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}