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Semi-auto vs Bolt action Rifles
Am Shooting Journal ^ | 1/23/2017 | J Hines

Posted on 01/23/2017 8:41:02 AM PST by w1n1

A Great 308 Shoot Off
We can compare bolt action rifle and semi-auto by specs, but it doesn't tell the full story of which rifle to fare with.

An alternative approach is to setup a course of fire that simulates an environment where you would have to utilize the skills necessary in long range precision shooting. That is calculating windage, elevation, etc, with targets at various ranges and timed.

Before going on, you're probably thinking what does this have to do for the folks into hunting. This all depends on what you're hunting and the prize that you're going after. Maybe, its land management where you have to rid of hogs or coyotes. After seeing this course of fire you can figure out which rifle you would need to get the job done. Ok, onto this course of fire explanation.

Walt explains the first course that places several large steel targets at closer range (200 to 300 yards). Second course has smaller target setup at farther distance. Two guys up front on a wedge, and three guys in the back in a wedge. This simulates that they know there’s a sniper in the area and they've gone prone and made themselves a much more difficult target to hit, a shoulders-and-head sized target. Larry goes through the course of fire shooting both rifles while being timed.

Results
-Bolt rifle time was at 29 seconds to complete. -Semi-auto rifle time was at 27 seconds to complete.

As you can tell with a semi-auto its all about how quickly you can engage the next target if needed to. Where as if you're going after that 20 pointer and out at a great distance, go with a good bolt rifle. You can see the rifle shoot off here starting at 16:28 on the video.


TOPICS: Hobbies; Outdoors
KEYWORDS: 308rifle; banglist; semiautorifle; sr25
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1 posted on 01/23/2017 8:41:02 AM PST by w1n1
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To: w1n1

Nice 458 Win Mag Bolt Gun with a 22” bbl. is about right.


2 posted on 01/23/2017 8:46:53 AM PST by headstamp 2 (Fear is the mind killer.)
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To: w1n1

For me it’s all about kick. Bolt action rifles will always have more.


3 posted on 01/23/2017 8:46:58 AM PST by Snowybear
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To: w1n1

What about lever?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IVCwYPjFXc


4 posted on 01/23/2017 8:47:17 AM PST by lacrew
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To: PROCON

Ping


5 posted on 01/23/2017 8:48:58 AM PST by Tilted Irish Kilt (Muslim & Spanish migrants are like Kudzu-> designed to overload the system= Cloward-Piven)
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To: lacrew
I have three different rifles for different types of hunting. I use a 35 Remington lever action for hunting in thicker wooded areas. I use my 7mm Weatherby Magnum for open field hunting. When I'm hunting a little of both I take my 270 Browning BAR. I also use a 45-70 in the woods but I like the 35 better. These are my white tail deer guns.
6 posted on 01/23/2017 8:54:27 AM PST by peeps36 (Obama = the skidmark on America's underwear.)
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To: w1n1

M-14


7 posted on 01/23/2017 8:55:00 AM PST by umgud
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To: Snowybear

Yep. Mrs. FateAmenableToChange made fun of the $2000 I spent over the last couple years building my .450 Bushmaster on an AR platform until we went to the range to sight in. After she pounded her shoulder with her own gun, she tried mine. Now I need another $2000 to build myself another rifle.


8 posted on 01/23/2017 8:56:05 AM PST by FateAmenableToChange
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To: w1n1

I’m just hoping with Obama gone that my boating skills will improve.


9 posted on 01/23/2017 8:57:30 AM PST by bk1000 (A clear conscience is a sure sign of a poor memory.)
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To: Tilted Irish Kilt; mylife; Joe Brower; MaxMax; Randy Larsen; waterhill; Envisioning; AZ .44 MAG; ...

RKBA Ping List

This list is for all things pertaining to the 2nd Amendment.

Please FReepmail me to be added to or deleted from this ping list.

10 posted on 01/23/2017 8:59:10 AM PST by PROCON (Onto the Great American Rebirth!)
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To: lacrew
That isn't serious lever shooting. THIS is serious lever shooting. Watch closely...you need a good eye to see the difference.
11 posted on 01/23/2017 9:00:27 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: w1n1

That’s not my experience whatsoever

2 seconds diff?

Long range shooting I prefer a bolt like in .243 and have the spread to follow the prey

Whitetail stand shooting I prefer semi auto even in beefy ought six

A low quality bolt will beat a low quality semi most times out

That’s an issue for budget shoppers

My Browning semi has never ever failed

My Winchester 100 has once in Texas with a ten point grazing 60 yards out from my ground blind

Click

Click

He just kept eating

I racked it

Buck did 0-40 in a split second then it was gazelle leaps as he was gone in short order

But really it’s preference and environment

I like semi autos cause I’m southern which means woods since I grew up before shooting lane food plot air strips...lol ...and I was handed that Winnie model 100 right out of the gate at around 10 as “my gun”

Were I raised in Wyoming or Nevada it’d have been a bolt or even a lever maybe

The lever 30-30 was popular in the 60s in Dixie cause it was the blue collar mans choice and was a caliber that at least sounded like one many new from the War


12 posted on 01/23/2017 9:03:17 AM PST by wardaddy (trump is a great tourniquet but that's all folks.......)
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To: Snowybear
Put a good brake, VAIS recommended, on the front end, get the stock cut to fit you with a very good pad installed. Do not shoot more gun than you need. Shoulder cannons ruin more shooters than any other part of this. Practice a lot, and the bolt gun will be as easy on your shoulder as the semi.

I've built a couple dozen rifles for the lady shooters over the years and this combo works well.

The last thing is that I did not see is anything about trigger pull.

There is no way in hell I would put a light trigger on a semi, but a good bolt rifle in the hands of an experienced long range shooter should go off with 2-2.5 lbs of crisp breaking trigger pull.

Trigger pull makes a big difference in long range accuracy. The trigger pull alone would make all the difference in making my personal decision. Everything else I can fix.

13 posted on 01/23/2017 9:04:49 AM PST by oldenuff35
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To: peeps36

I have been using a hand me down .270 BAR for the past 18 years while deer hunting. It was my great-uncles gun, then my grandfathers, and now it is mine. Just recently I have been using a .308 AR-10 for some longer range stand hunting, but only in certain spots with some really long range lines of sight. I love my .270.


14 posted on 01/23/2017 9:09:45 AM PST by CollegeRepublican
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

No way that’s legal in California.


15 posted on 01/23/2017 9:11:42 AM PST by lacrew
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To: w1n1

I doubt there is a whole lot of difference for precision shooting. If the very last bit of accuracy is required then it is a bolt action.

I used to read Jeff Cooper mainly for his politics but he was always interesting. I do remember his once mentioning that his old Marine Sergeant preferred the 1903 Springfield to the Garand.

Just use whatever you like within reason.


16 posted on 01/23/2017 9:15:47 AM PST by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
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To: umgud
"M-14"

Yes. The course of fire they have in the video is a long distance slow fire series, which is dandy. An M-14 can handle that course with ease. Where the '14 pays off is when one of those "silhouettes" - or six of them - pop up within 50m of you and you see them first.

For a short time in my youth, I was assigned to cover a sniper while he did his job in Vietnam. He carried a Model 70 Winchester in .30-06 with a long Unertl on it. I would move out with him till he got to his hide position and I would face the opposite way a few meters down the trail from him, covering the back door. I had my M-14 and if we were blundered into, I was the firepower for the team. He did great with his long distance stuff but he looked pretty helpless when the fight degenerated into a higher volume of fire.

That's why the M-14 is the ultimate battle rifle - kills reliably out to 5-600m if you do your part and pure distilled hell in the close fight.

17 posted on 01/23/2017 9:15:54 AM PST by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: w1n1

I can drive a nail with a 3 pound sledgehammer, but that’s not what it’s meant for.


18 posted on 01/23/2017 9:20:28 AM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: w1n1

bump for later


19 posted on 01/23/2017 9:27:12 AM PST by dangerdoc ((this space for rent))
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To: wardaddy

I had a BAR in 30-06 back in the 70s. Handloaded at the time.
The gun esp liked Speer 130gr hollowpoints.
Could keep groups quarter size at 100 yds all day.


20 posted on 01/23/2017 9:32:47 AM PST by Vinnie
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