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Bolt Or Semi-Auto Rifle For Survival Preppers
Am Shooting Journal ^ | 8/18/20 | J Johns

Posted on 08/18/2020 12:01:21 PM PDT by w1n1

What are the merits of these two major types of rifle actions?
There are many choices when it comes to selecting a long gun for multiple uses. Many of the questions and inquiries are from preppers, and survivalists that are gun users attempting to buy a firearm(s) that can yield effective results for many applications, including home defense, ranch, farm or homestead protection, as well as hunting for food and predator control. That is a pretty tall order for sure.

After much thought, counseling, and work in the gun related industry these past 40 plus years, the basic conclusion I have come to is that the rifle preference really boils down to personal choice. I mean, in terms of overall quality, reliability, functionality, and accuracy, there is not a significant difference between major makes of long guns now, whether a bolt action or a semi-auto.

While the caliber choice may be the first priority, that is no longer a huge issue either because the most popular choices in the .223/5.56 range (up to, say, the ever popular .308/7.62) are readily available in either platforms with numerous brand and feature choices to select.

It would be easy to recommend if all you could afford was one choice, then for sure, I would say the .308 would get the nod. It is fully capable with available factory ammo choices to perform work in protection and certainly for hunting and dispatching vermin regardless of the foot count. Read the rest of bolt or semi-auto rifles.


TOPICS: Hobbies; Outdoors
KEYWORDS: banglist; blogpimp; boltrifle; clickbait; momsbasement; semiauto
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To: Red Badger

ditto


21 posted on 08/18/2020 12:18:54 PM PDT by LeoWindhorse
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To: Dave911

Agreed, but I seem to be limited to 10 rounds on a bolt-action rifle, no?


22 posted on 08/18/2020 12:19:07 PM PDT by treetopsandroofs
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To: Dave911

And you can “guide” the spent case out so you can reload it again. A prepper needs to make his own ammo with components he has stored.


23 posted on 08/18/2020 12:19:46 PM PDT by davidb56
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To: Dutch Boy

go for a FN-FAL Para


24 posted on 08/18/2020 12:19:56 PM PDT by LeoWindhorse
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To: DuncanWaring

“One could make the case that lever-action is a subset of “bolt”. “

Manual action, I suppose.


25 posted on 08/18/2020 12:20:30 PM PDT by PLMerite ("They say that we were Cold Warriors. Yes, and a bloody good show, too." - Robert Conquest)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

Up close, 12 gauge buckshot is very deadly.


26 posted on 08/18/2020 12:20:49 PM PDT by davidb56
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To: davidb56
Yes there's that. 😀
27 posted on 08/18/2020 12:21:31 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: DuncanWaring

Good point, and you can reload while in between shots, well, unless you’re runnin’ a Henry.


28 posted on 08/18/2020 12:22:17 PM PDT by MHGinTN (A dispensation perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
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To: thefactor

Fond of the ‘Don’t try this at home, I’m whatcha call a professional.’


29 posted on 08/18/2020 12:26:03 PM PDT by MHGinTN (A dispensation perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
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To: w1n1

When the zombies charge you will need rotary magazines that get the rounds out quickly. You won’t have time to work the bold.


30 posted on 08/18/2020 12:27:07 PM PDT by Bringbackthedraft ( #ReasonableDemocratsforTrump. Where are you?)
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To: Dave911

“Bolts don’t jam.”

Well they kind of do jam given the right circumstances. Seen it with my own eyes when a buddy had a 700 Remington in 7MM Mag lock up tight after firing a shot. The culprit was the reloads he was shooting were dirty. Dirty in that the guy that reloaded them didn’t bother wiping the grease/lube off after loading them. Believe me he one hell of time getting the bolt open.


31 posted on 08/18/2020 12:27:53 PM PDT by WinMod70
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To: Red Badger

Yep, debate over.


32 posted on 08/18/2020 12:29:18 PM PDT by Magnum44 (My comprehensive terrorism plan: Hunt them down and kill them.)
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To: TMN78247

BETTER choice is a quality PUMP-rifle like the Remington Models 760 & 7600, as the slide action is about as accurate as any “factory” bolt-gun, QUICK for follow-up shots, seldom needs repair & is more reliable than a Semi-Auto.


I genuinely like the way you think! The 7600 is a solid choice, is easy to operate quickly, and surprisingly accurate. FRegards


33 posted on 08/18/2020 12:29:27 PM PDT by volunbeer (Find the truth and accept it - anything else is delusional)
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To: TMN78247
ImVho, the BETTER choice is a quality PUMP-rifle like the Remington Models 760 & 7600,

I want a Troy Pump Action Rifle (PAR) PAR-10 (they also make a PAR-15 and PAR-300 Blackout) but have several other firearms on the wish list ahead of it. : (

They're designed for states that don't allow semi-automatics for hunting yet use most AR accessories.

34 posted on 08/18/2020 12:31:05 PM PDT by T.B. Yoits
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To: w1n1

Rifles? Pfft. I moves on to mortars, rockets and light artillery.


35 posted on 08/18/2020 12:31:45 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: Texas resident

That’ a good one.


36 posted on 08/18/2020 12:34:39 PM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: MHGinTN
Good point, and you can reload while in between shots, well, unless you’re runnin’ a Henry.

Henry offers some models with both the tube feed and the side gate. I'm waiting for them to offer a different black on wood instead of brass on wood. (not a fan of the tactical one). I believe they even have them in .410.

As I understand, it's first load in the tube, top off via the side gate, and unload via the tube (instead of having to work each round out with the lever).

37 posted on 08/18/2020 12:36:10 PM PDT by T.B. Yoits
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To: thefactor

“Personally, I’d go bolt. Less moving parts.”

Best for disciplined, aimed shots. People tend to just squeeze off semi-autos rapidly without precision. I go for the Ruger Gunsite Scout. Red dot.


38 posted on 08/18/2020 12:38:42 PM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: central_va

I always wanted a 60mm light mortar like the troops in WW11 used. Keeps those damn squirrels & gophers down


39 posted on 08/18/2020 12:40:15 PM PDT by Polynikes ( Hakkaa paalle)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

With the lever action, you can potentially match ammo to a revolver. Cut down on the all the different rounds you have to keep on hand.


40 posted on 08/18/2020 12:40:41 PM PDT by diatomite (Soros delenda est and his flying monkeys too.)
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