Are bolt guns obsolete?

**bkb0000** · 07-20-09, 01:48

Saw the thread about the remington modular sniper rifle, noted all the modularity.. folding stock, rails all over, adjustable everything, shortish barrel, drop-bottom mag, and it struck me- why the hell isn't it auto?

So educate me, bolt-gunners- why is the bolt-gun still in service? isn't the AR platform proven to be just as accurizable as any bolt gun, given the right barrel/trigger-puller combo?

and if not, what are the differences? is there a distance that the AR, in any given caliber, just cannot reach? perhaps simple ergonomics? technology lags?

for the record, i've only ever owned 1 bolt gun, and haven't fired the thing in half a decade.. i know very little about bolt gunning, and almost as little about the technical side of precision shooting in general.

**Thomas M-4** · 07-20-09, 02:10

I believe the bolt gun still has a long future. Simple very accurate, very strong and can handle larger cartridges than what most auto loaders are designed to handle. And there are still plenty of high tech developments coming out for the bolt action.
I like to visit this site a lot of very nice bolt action builds and very good info in general if you check out the guns of the week there are some nice tactical bolt actions.
http://www.6mmbr.com/index.html

**Thomas M-4** · 07-20-09, 02:32

I still have not seen an AR post a 1.564'' 5 shot group at 1000 yards.
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek050.html

**BAC** · 07-20-09, 07:17

I agree with Thomas. It's possible for auto-loaders to approach bolt gun accuracy and sometimes match it, but a bolt gun has a lot more leniency and can be made accurate with a lot less fuss than an auto-loader. Take virtually any caliber in existence and if there are rifles of both categories chambered for it, the bolt guns will almost without exception be more accurate more of the time, and often at the same price point.

Also, autos by virtue of their being autos require a little sacrificial pressure to cycle the weapon, meaning a little less juice behind whatever pill they're pushing. It's a simple matter of physics, but you'll get a little more distance out of bolt guns than auto-loaders. Whether this is a practical or a purely academic argument... I dunno.

-B

**JStor** · 07-20-09, 21:14

Bolt guns will not become obsolete. They are the action of choice for hunters and accuracy aficionados because of their rigidity, simplicity, strength and cost effectiveness. They may evolve, but the basic platform will remain unchanged and available as long as arms companies are in business.

What I would like to see is a lower similar to an AR15 lower that is standardized for the standard 2.5 inch case length, with a bolt action upper that can be attached or removed with two pins like an AR. A whole family of rifles, carbines etc. could evolve, for those who aren't wedded to traditional style bolt guns. We see some of these design characteristics in what some call "tube guns," but no company has offered a "standardized" lower and upper receiver to build on. A company doing billet lowers and receivers should be able to come up with the ultimate bolt action modular design that will accept an A2 stock and various free floating fore-end tubes. Maybe there is such a thing and I simply haven't heard about it.

**ZDL** · 07-20-09, 21:16

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**Zhurdan** · 07-20-09, 21:46

Obsolete? Nahhh. I guarantee that I can put rounds on target at 600-700 yards all day long with the bolt rifle below, but to do that with my AR....mmmmmm not so much. They have their applications. Putting meat in the freezer is as good a reason as I can think of. at least for me.

FN SPR .308

*please note... I've never taken a shot on an animal outside of 150 yards. It just doesn't seem right for some reason.

**JiMfraRED1911** · 07-20-09, 21:48

Originally Posted by bkb0000

Saw the thread about the remington modular sniper rifle, noted all the modularity.. folding stock, rails all over, adjustable everything, shortish barrel, drop-bottom mag, and it struck me- why the hell isn't it auto?

Simple. SOCOM wants a .338 LM accurate out to 1500m. Show me a semi-auto MILITARY (launching brass 20 yards is a big no no) sniping rifle in .338 LM that has solid first round hit capability at that type of extreme range. Making a .338 LM gas gun is a monumentally stupid undertaking.