Advantages of a Bolt Action Rifle vs Semi Auto for Precision shooting - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Odin · 12-23-2006, 11:29 PM

Why is it that when you see most precision rifles, they are usually some kind of bolt action rifle? I am not saying that semi autos are not but stuff like bench rest shooters, snipers and so forth usually just shoot bolt action sticks? Is there a advantage?

joshs21 · 12-23-2006, 11:53 PM

Fewer moving parts during the shot?

Chewie146 · 12-24-2006, 12:08 AM

Well, one reason is that it is incredibly hard to get a high precision semi-auto rifle to function properly. They tend to be picky about dirt, etc. Another reason is it is incredibly expensive to get a semi-auto rifle to shoot "precision groups."

sharpstick · 12-24-2006, 12:21 AM

To date most all semi autos use a system of bleeding off small amounts of hot gas to unlock a breech and allow the gun to cycle. This means that they have to have some sort of gas tube or gas piston tube contacting the barrel directly, this causes strange harmonics in the barrel and that vibration can change the impact of the bullet. Most semi autos use a piston to unlock the breech, not not only in the vibration in the barrel bad but the increased weight of the opperating rod causes more vibration and more recoil.

The fit on the moveing internal parts of the auto loader generaly need to be looser then that of bolt guns. the auto loader has to unlock and cycle before the bullet has gone very far to best use the extra chamber gases. The bolt gun can be cycled in a few deliberate actions. This is not so much true in modern autoloades , with the quality being made today the auto can be just as acurrate as the bolt.

Alot of just plain common thought dispite it being accurat or not has set a trend. Most decent autoloaders out now can pass the test, I really see no reason to get a bolt gun unless you bring budget in to play. A good accurat bolt gun is much cheaper then an auto of comparable accuracy.

tsi1989 · 12-25-2006, 03:28 PM

The Barrett M107 is a semi-auto Sniper rifle used by all branches of our armed forces. As fast as we build and ship these rifles, they are going into the field in Iraq and Afghanistan. These rifles are very accurate. The guy that does our Armorer's Training was a sniper in the Army and had been deployed to Afghanistan. He holds the longest known kill with one of our rifles....2500 meters. That's reaching out there.

Corey G · 12-25-2006, 03:39 PM

I'll take 2 just as soon as I win the lottery.

**Majk** · 12-25-2006, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey G

I'll take 2 just as soon as I win the lottery.

+1 Amen.

Odin · 12-25-2006, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharpstick

To date most all semi autos use a system of bleeding off small amounts of hot gas to unlock a breech and allow the gun to cycle. This means that they have to have some sort of gas tube or gas piston tube contacting the barrel directly, this causes strange harmonics in the barrel and that vibration can change the impact of the bullet. Most semi autos use a piston to unlock the breech, not not only in the vibration in the barrel bad but the increased weight of the opperating rod causes more vibration and more recoil.

The fit on the moveing internal parts of the auto loader generaly need to be looser then that of bolt guns. the auto loader has to unlock and cycle before the bullet has gone very far to best use the extra chamber gases. The bolt gun can be cycled in a few deliberate actions. This is not so much true in modern autoloades , with the quality being made today the auto can be just as acurrate as the bolt.

Alot of just plain common thought dispite it being accurat or not has set a trend. Most decent autoloaders out now can pass the test, I really see no reason to get a bolt gun unless you bring budget in to play. A good accurat bolt gun is much cheaper then an auto of comparable accuracy.

So how much of a difference is there? Between the two in terms of acuracy at around 100 yards?

sharpstick · 12-25-2006, 08:04 PM

well accuracy is very dependent on both the shooter and the individual gun. Much more goes in to shooting a small group then how accurate the gun is, how comfortable is it to shoot, hows the trigger break,hows your cheek weld? How much accuracy do you need?

The accuracy of the bolt over the auto really must be judged on a one gun at a time basis. As a standard bolt guns arnt built to take combat grade ammo, there chambers are often match size not mil spec.There ammo is generally match grade or fancy factory loaded stuff, for this reason they are pretty tight shooters often sub MOA. They are also available in some more exotic rounds that have more power to reach farther, as well as pack a mean punch when they get there.

AR15 and some other auto loaders can be just as accurate given the same care, I have seen mil spec 20in ar15 shoot sub MOA all day long with mil spec ammo. There are a few other auto loaders that will work as long range rifles no problem though I wont go in to that.

How far can you shoot? I shoot allot and as of yet still cant out shoot my carbine AR15.

limblessbiff · 12-28-2006, 05:54 AM

It isnt so much accuracy as it is that Bolt guns dont fling brass everywhere that tells everyone where you are, true Bolt guns are more accurate but that by far isnt the only reason why they use them. there are some damn accurate semi auto rifles out there, cost may also be another reason, its probably alot cheaper/easier to build an accurate bolt gun than to make a semi auto sniper

12-23-2006, 11:29 PM	#1
Odin XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 555	Advantages of a Bolt Action Rifle vs Semi Auto for Precision shooting Why is it that when you see most precision rifles, they are usually some kind of bolt action rifle? I am not saying that semi autos are not but stuff like bench rest shooters, snipers and so forth usually just shoot bolt action sticks? Is there a advantage? __________________ MK12 Mod1 SPR XD45 Tactical XD9 Service

12-24-2006, 12:08 AM	#3
Chewie146 XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Los Alamos Posts: 727	Well, one reason is that it is incredibly hard to get a high precision semi-auto rifle to function properly. They tend to be picky about dirt, etc. Another reason is it is incredibly expensive to get a semi-auto rifle to shoot "precision groups." __________________ ----------------------------------------------------------- "Beware the man with one gun..." Befriend the man with 30?

12-24-2006, 12:21 AM	#4
sharpstick XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Henry county Kentucky Posts: 245	To date most all semi autos use a system of bleeding off small amounts of hot gas to unlock a breech and allow the gun to cycle. This means that they have to have some sort of gas tube or gas piston tube contacting the barrel directly, this causes strange harmonics in the barrel and that vibration can change the impact of the bullet. Most semi autos use a piston to unlock the breech, not not only in the vibration in the barrel bad but the increased weight of the opperating rod causes more vibration and more recoil. The fit on the moveing internal parts of the auto loader generaly need to be looser then that of bolt guns. the auto loader has to unlock and cycle before the bullet has gone very far to best use the extra chamber gases. The bolt gun can be cycled in a few deliberate actions. This is not so much true in modern autoloades , with the quality being made today the auto can be just as acurrate as the bolt. Alot of just plain common thought dispite it being accurat or not has set a trend. Most decent autoloaders out now can pass the test, I really see no reason to get a bolt gun unless you bring budget in to play. A good accurat bolt gun is much cheaper then an auto of comparable accuracy. __________________ Give me liberty or give me death

12-25-2006, 03:39 PM	#6
Corey G XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Baltimore MD Posts: 837	I'll take 2 just as soon as I win the lottery. __________________ Corey SA XD40 Service Bi-Tone SA XD9 Sub Compact SA Black Stainless Loaded 1911 Sig Pro 2009 Custom S&W 686 Mossberg 590 Mariner Coat Benelli M1 Stag Arms AR15 M4gery Stag Arms AR15 24" SS Bull Barrel Upper AK47 Underfolder Norinco SKS Just a few of my Favorites "Guns- ain't nothing wrong with that"

12-25-2006, 08:04 PM	#9
sharpstick XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Henry county Kentucky Posts: 245	well accuracy is very dependent on both the shooter and the individual gun. Much more goes in to shooting a small group then how accurate the gun is, how comfortable is it to shoot, hows the trigger break,hows your cheek weld? How much accuracy do you need? The accuracy of the bolt over the auto really must be judged on a one gun at a time basis. As a standard bolt guns arnt built to take combat grade ammo, there chambers are often match size not mil spec.There ammo is generally match grade or fancy factory loaded stuff, for this reason they are pretty tight shooters often sub MOA. They are also available in some more exotic rounds that have more power to reach farther, as well as pack a mean punch when they get there. AR15 and some other auto loaders can be just as accurate given the same care, I have seen mil spec 20in ar15 shoot sub MOA all day long with mil spec ammo. There are a few other auto loaders that will work as long range rifles no problem though I wont go in to that. How far can you shoot? I shoot allot and as of yet still cant out shoot my carbine AR15. __________________ Give me liberty or give me death

12-23-2006, 11:53 PM	#2
joshs21 XDTalk Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: IL Posts: 49	Fewer moving parts during the shot?

12-25-2006, 03:28 PM	#5
tsi1989 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 5	The Barrett M107 is a semi-auto Sniper rifle used by all branches of our armed forces. As fast as we build and ship these rifles, they are going into the field in Iraq and Afghanistan. These rifles are very accurate. The guy that does our Armorer's Training was a sniper in the Army and had been deployed to Afghanistan. He holds the longest known kill with one of our rifles....2500 meters. That's reaching out there.

12-28-2006, 05:54 AM	#10
limblessbiff XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 403	It isnt so much accuracy as it is that Bolt guns dont fling brass everywhere that tells everyone where you are, true Bolt guns are more accurate but that by far isnt the only reason why they use them. there are some damn accurate semi auto rifles out there, cost may also be another reason, its probably alot cheaper/easier to build an accurate bolt gun than to make a semi auto sniper

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