Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting what is it with all the guys that are fixated on bolt guns?

Advertising, gun writers, TV shows-------thats the real reason people want them. And, for the same reasons, the uniformed want
the 300 ultra super magnums. Bigger is better is the mentality of most.

I have a lot of guns...hence my ID, yet I gravitate to those that only kill at one end...(dont kill my shoulder at the other). Yesterday, I hunted with a 300 Savage in a Reminton 722, Friday afternoon I used a Savage 99 chambered in 250 Savage. Hmmm today I think I will use my ole Rem 742 ...hope the 30-06 is powerful enough.

You mean Swampass is actually Townsend Whelen?!

Heaven Forbid...

A common argument for a lever or pump is that you can get a 2d shot off faster. My comment to that is hit it right the 1st time and forget the 2d shot.

A lot of hunters can't make the first shot count........so much for the second shot.

You've never made a perfect shot in both lungs on and elk, and have it stand there looking at you? Sometimes a second shot is handy.

And I've often wondered why those that hunt with a single shot carry more than one cartridge with them.

Lots of [bleep] can and will happen.

I can understand the attraction to other types of actions other than bolts. Some people can't really work a bolt very well.

They usually trip a lot, and drop things too.

Hmmm, I guess that's your experience.

For me it's about making the 2nd shot count when it's available.



David

Canazes - You might be 'surprised' or ' shocked' how fast a second shot
can be fired with a BOLT action. It only takes familiarity (practice).

I don't believe in carrying any more weight than necessary in my rifles.
Jerry

Now that I've put 30 years of deer hunting under my belt (Wasn't there supposed to be a party or something?) I feel like I can weigh in on this, at least as far as whitetail deer.

1) Second shots are nice. Not fumbling around to make a second shot is even better. I shoot, and if I can, I shoot again. The
most fire I had to lay into a buck was 3. I was in the process of chambering the 4th when he finally fell over. They all went into the heart lung area.

2) For normal deer hunting at normal deer distances, action is the least of the rifle hunter's worries. The rifle's accuracy is normally not going to be a problem for me either. I can live with a 4MOA rifle. Beginners need as accurate a rifle as possible to build confidence.

3) Of all the deer rifles I use, I think I like my Savage 99 (a lever) the best. I loved my Remington 742, but it broke my heart. If I really had to pick a favorite deer rifle action, it would be an exposed hammer lever like the Marlin 336. My dream gun would be a pump-action with an exposed hammer like a WIN 1897 shotgun. For treestand hunting, I like an exposed hammer that gives you that extra half-cock safety.

4) Bolt actions are fine for deer hunting. I usually take one when I'm going to hunt pastures. I don't buy the inherent accuracy chestnut, but mine has the better optics on it and it also has a stock length and barrel length better suited to my afternoon sits in the blind.

Canazes - There is a 'technique' to operating a bolt action rifle that is secure and 'faster' than the way some do it.

I've seen even this year a 'pro' hunter on a name brand deer hunting show doing what a lot of hunters do. When/after a shot he grabs the bolt handle/knob with his FINGERS and then raises the bolt. He has SLIPPED more than once and lost control of the bolt.

The more secure and FASTER way to operate the bolt is 'after' the shot, rotate your hand so that the PALM is UP and fingers are up. Raise the bolt with the hand (palm) up and drag back, rotate wrist and PUSH bolt with WHOLE hand.

With JUST A LITTLE practice is becomes NATURAL and faster than you'd expect. I've used this technique longer than I can REMEMBER, and it is a natural reaction. I don't ever think about it whether I need a second shot or not.

Now don't get me wrong, I HAVE pumps and levers and 1 semi auto Ruger 10-22. However I never feel disadvantaged or handicapped hunting a bolt action.

If you have a bolt action rifle of any caliber give it a try a few times. You can see and feel the security of bolt operation and with practice it is fast.

edited to add: I errr, my wife has a Nylon 66 & I inherited my Dad's Rem 552.

My Dad always used a .35 Rem Marlin. He was amazed when he shot with me one day and saw me work the my bolt action like jwall mentioned. He laughed after seeing it then trying it and said "it should have been common sense to do it that way"....but sometimes we miss the obvious.

Edited to add......it was reading a post by Mule Deer that I learned the "obvious" way to work a bolt....

JCM - Yeah, while I was writing that, I remembered 'someone' posting it a while back. Honestly didn't remember who, but I 'shoulda known'. Mule Deer SEEMS to know his stuff.
Jerry

I have numerous bolt rifles. I hunt with numerous bolt rifles. I most assuredly know how to operate them quickly and how to get off a quick second shot.

Anybody that thinks they can duplicate the speed of a good gas action autoloader w/ a bolt is badly delusional and apparently enjoys the sensation of self administered smoke in their nether regions.

I never said that an autoloader is always the best rifle for the job or that it's the only decent choice to hunt with. My post was in reply to the sentiment offered by a few that the only people that hunt w/ auto's are slinging lead around the woods because they don't know how to shoot. It's arrogant BS, "mine is better than yours - must be, I picked it!"

By the way, that Benelli weighs 7 pounds without the scope, it's not heavy, it carrys great! I put that scope on there because I've been using that rifle for night hunting, but it's very easy to set it up so that it weighs less than 8 pounds all up. I think some of the "auto's are $hit" crowd might be surprised at how it shoots:



Carry on with your "auto's are $hit and anyone who shoots them is a toothless hillbilly" discussion....



David

Why do most hunters have some type of 4wd or truck with same instead of a Buick Regal, Ford Taurus or Chevy Malibu as a hunting vehicle?

Day in day out the bolt wins for durability, cartridge choices, scope mounting choices, accuracy over the long haul, simplicity of design, etc.

It has evolved into the position of the best hammer for the job.

Well good morning to you too. Who put poison ivy in your jock strap?

If you will read my posts wilth a little less attitude, you'll find that I never insulted you or your rifle. My only point is that you don't have to have an auto loading rifle for a quick second shot.

"beauty is in the eye....". "one man's junk is .....". I could have been but WAS NOT critical or insulting of your R1. They are not my cup of tea, but neither is Starbucks coffee my choice. However it seems a lot of people like Starbucks, they stay in business.

Have a good day.
Jerry

Truth is most of us are casual hunters. We don't make a living with a rifle. We don't have it bouncing around in a scabbard 3months out of the year or home base it out of a tent or bounce it around in a boat for the better part of a season. We take care of them at the end of the day and not leave them sitting exposed to the whims of the elements for extended periods of time. We are not for the most part outfitters or guides who have other duties other than than worriying about will our rifle do its job when called on.

We don't have to count on them working going into the alders after a Bear that may or may not decide too play with us.

Those people for the most part relay on the proven dependability of bolts. I've seen pictures of the exception-not yet in real life-but they are just that.

Will levers, pumps and semis work for the majority of us? Definitely. However don't let that delude you into thinking they are the best.