Ive often contemplated a good general purpose bolt action "scout" rifle. My version was a full powered bolt action rifle with a tough as nails mount and scope. Something I could take with me anywhere and have the ability to kill anything I came across (in the continental US) out to 300-500 yards. Something that would be a decent hunting rifle but also serve as a defensive rifle if need be as its purpose is to be my sole rifle/gun (with me).
Larry Vickers recently made a video comparing bolt action and semi auto sniper rifles. Very interesting video. The semi auto had a distinct advantage at closer ranges. As the ranges increased the accuracy advantage of the bolt gun started to even the odds.
Would I choose a bolt gun over a semi auto for combat? No. But if thats all I had when shit went sideways... well ya run what ya brung.
Though I do think in a pinch the bolt rifleman could do well against lowly trained individuals if they were smart, kept at range, and used good concealment techniques. A well aimed shot from a couple hundred yards every 10 seconds or so can do a great job at suppressing someone. Ive had a lot of experience with the opposite. Guys would stick their AK over a wall and just empty mags at us from a couple hundred yards without aiming. Most of the time no round came within 50 yards of us and it had almost zero effect at suppressing our movement or fire.
C co 1/30th Infantry Regiment
3rd Brigade 3rd Infantry Division
2002-2006
OIF 1 and 3
IraqGunz:
No dude is going to get shot in the chest at 300 yards and look down and say "What is that, a 3 MOA group?"
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