Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Best bolt gun in a fight?

Actually I said the straight bolt. That is operated with an open hand and the hook of the thumb, you never actually grasp it. When they bent it on the Mauser they also cut a notch in the stock to facilitate the hook of the finger under the bolt. Bent bolts are better for defensive shooting, position shooting, because they are easier to keep on target. Note that with a bent bolt the hand has to go in two directions, up and then to the rear. With a straight bolt it's more swept in an arc.

In the case of the Enfield the bolt is farther back. When the hand comes off the trigger it more naturally hooks the bolt. It again becomes more of an arc, which is more of a natural hand motion than going in two directions.