why are bolt actions the most accurate?

Question

Ive heard that bolt actions or more accurate then semi autos(rifle) why is this?

Answer 1

Others have pointed out the tighter tolerances and stiffer action. More important than either in many cases, though, is the simple fact that many bolt-guns have a one-piece stock, often with the barrel free-floated, or at least with a single consistent pressure point, whereas most (but not all) semi-autos have contact between the forend and the barrel. Even in the best of circumstances, a lot of forend-to-barrel contact is going to give inconsistent harmonics.

Answer 2

Everyone has given some very good answers and I will throw a few little things in the pot.

Bolt action rifles are generally chambered for more accurate cartridges than semi-autos.
Bolt action rifles do not beat the cartridge up on the way to the chamber as semi-autos do.
The camming action of the bolt action is greater so it can put most any size cartridge into the chamber even if the tolerance is on the high side.
And most bolt actions have better triggers than semi-autos
(yes I know you can buy super expensive semi-auto triggers that are adjustable down to less then they should be but I am talking about factory guns that the average hunter would buy.)

Likewise the scopes and sights on a bolt action do not take the beating that semi-auto rifles put on their sights.
Sarge

Answer 3

Why are bolt actions the most accurate? They are more accurate than the semi autos but the single shots are really the most accurate. Bolt action rifles just lock up better than the auto loaders therefore they tend to be more accurate. Single action rifles like the modern Ruger #1 are even more accurate (we're talking very fine point here) because they lock up real tight and the barrel tends to be a bit longer. Truth to tell, all modern rifles are as accurate as the shooter. Those who shoot paper at very long distances will opt for a good bolt action with custom barrel, trigger job, bedding, stock, etc. But for the average hunter a quality bolt or single shot rifle will serve him well. Even the pumps, semi autos and lever actions are accurate enough.

H

Answer 4

In the past bolt actions were more accurate due to design of fewer moving parts and the locked in bolt. However with modern technology new semi auto sniper rifles are just as accurate as the bolt action predecessor's. You will just pay thousands upon thousands more for a semi auto that can match a much less expensive bolt action.

Answer 5

bolt action rifles lock in and seat the round better, which makes the bullet more accurate from the beginning. but a cheap bolt action will be just as accurate as an expensive semi. also shooter error comes into play. you can have an olympic grade rifle and if you don't know the basics then it might as well be a red rider.

Answer 6

In general it is because the rifle itself is completely solid at the moment of firing.

In a semi-automatic rifle, the components of the firing mechanism are not positively locked to the same extent as as they are in a bolt action rifle.

Plus, in a bolt action rifle, 100% of the pressure generated from the cartridge is devoted to pushing the bullet down the barrel, in a semi-automatic design, a portion of this is diverted for the purpose of cycling the action.

This is for the most part though, a difference that is only noticeable at the extremes of the capabilities of a weapon. A semi-automatic and bolt-action rifle of similar quality are not going to wield vastly different results in accuracy in the hands of an average shooter. The advantage of a top of the line bolt action rifle over a top of the line semi-automatic rifle is only going to be apparant in the hands of the best.

Answer 7

that's not always true, but all the parts of a gun have to return to exactly the same position & pressure from 1 shot to the next to insure accuracy & an auto has a lot more moving parts than a bolt gun and if any 1 of those parts is in a slightly different position from 1 shot to the next each shot will be slightly different.
it doesnt really matter because nearly any gun is more accurate than the person shooting it. so just get whatever you like best.

Answer 8

Because they are striker-oriented and do not have hammers that can create timing issues. And as others have stated, the action of the gun is locked up manually which resilts in consistant chambering of shells. Anything semi-auto has some deviation in chambering each round (example=reliability/mil-spec "slop" manufacture chambers). when you rely on gas and recoil to move parts for you, things are not as "positive".
It takes a more money to make an automatic rifle match grade then it does a bolt-action.

Answer 9

The action on a bolt gun locks up solider than a lever action or a semi-auto. Tighter lockup means no movement of gun parts to affect pressure or accuracy.

Answer 10

All Firearms are only as accurate as the person shooting it.* It has more to do with the person than the type of action, or type of firearm design.*