Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints Bolt vs. Single

Not other single shots, Huntsman.

But,for the money I like them.

I bought the 3006 for a back up deer rifle and now I hunt with it more than my bolt action.

I bought the 223 for my first prairie dog shoot. I've since bought a Remington VSSF 223, a tack driver.

If the price of a SS was near a bolt action I'd go with the bolt.

Good Luck!!

Can't go wrong with a bolt action. If you can only afford one gun, definately the way to go. I do use a T/C in .221 Fireball with 18" barrel as a truck gun. It loads and unloads real fast to keep me legal.

There is a big difference - as far as follow up shots - between a falling block SS , like a No. 1 , and a break open SS , like a Rossi or NEF . This is especially true if firing from a vehicle .If not in a vehicle , the break open types require a lot more movement on the shooter's part to reload .If you have called in two critters at once - not uncommon with coyotes - you will draw the second one's attention while reloading a break open rifle .

But neither are as quick as a bolt action .

Like VarmintGuy I once took a single shot out to hunt coyotes. It was a very accurate single shot bolt gun that I used for prairie dogs. There was a foot of snow on the ground and I found myself faced with five coyotes at 200-300 yards. After the first shot at the alpha male I had an opportunity to follow up on the younger ones. Fumbling for the second cartridge with gloves on resulted in a dropped round in the snow. I finally did get a second shot off but it was just a hale Mary.

My advise is to get a bolt repeater.

I ended up getting a Stevens 200 in .223. Shoots good.

I know several guys that use Remington 40X for crows
and groundhogs, but when hunting fox and coyote switch
to a repeater of some kind.

Stevens 200 is a fine choice.

I have a .223 Stevens and it has accounted for several successful hunts. Mine got a new coat of Krylon this weekend.

My .270 Stevens got a new stock recently and shot it this weekend. Boringly accurate.

stumpy

I bought it through the classifieds here.