Are bolt-action rifles inherently more accurate?

Question

I have read many things about accuracy and most (although NOT all) seem to favor bolt-actions. Is this a true picture?

Can semi-autos or even full autos have high-grade accuracy? What about lever actions?

What about so-called "sniper rifles" like the Soviet Dragunov and U.S. M-14 -- aren't they semi-autos? What about the new Barrett .50's -- some of them are semi-auto, and considered very accurate.

Is this common opinion just a prejudice?

Answer 1

When you close the action on a bolt rifle, you are really clamping the bolt to the receiver very tightly.... as the bolt lugs lock onto their lands.

This creates a 'rock-solid' chamber in which your cartridge fires.

If you know about gun physics, you understand that the more rock solid the components are mated together, the less movement there is and the more accuracy can be potentially attained.

Now, in many autoloaders the bolt really isn't locked rock-solid like that, due to the fact that it has to fly open by iteself and eject the spent round and load a new one. This creates a "sloppier" chamber that has some inherent movement.

The challenge in designing an accurate auto or semi-auto is to create a bolt that locks the chamber momentarily, then releases the lock.

On very simple semi-autos, like an SKS or an AK, there is no rotation of the bolt and it really does not "lock up" tight. The chamber is just held closed by a spring. Hence (combined with a reduced power and less accurate round) less accuracy.

On more sophisticated actions, like say the M1 Garand and it's offspring the M14, etc. the bolt actually rotates and locks to some degree, giving more potential accuracy.

So some autos and semi autos CAN reach the same potential chamber dynamics of a manual bolt action.

These have to be more complex designs naturally and that in itself has drawbacks in manufacturing costs and potential things that can malfunction if not perfectly maintained.

So the AK, as you have probably heard, is more 'reliable' in a "zero-maintenence" scenario, where the action has not been properly cleaned and lubricated and may be full of dirt, but the design does not produce an accurate result.

I've kept this simple....perhaps oversimplified....to demonstrate the point. There are a lot of other factors that affect accuracy, but the action of the bolt and how tight it locks is one of the basics.

Answer 2

As with automobiles and the loose nut behind the wheel, rifles are no better than the loose nut behind the trigger; so to speak. Bolt action rifles are accurate; I have some AK47 rifles that are tack drivers at 100 & 200 yards, M-14 that is scoped and a tack driver, a Garand that is really deadly. World wide there are old scoped Garand sniper rifles in use that work well at one thousand yards; ideal for multiple target situations; such as 5 or 6 morons giving each other a "high five", aka "hit me".

Answer 3

Firing one shot from both a bolt action rifle and a semi-computerized you likely can likely not educate a lot enormous difference between accuracy. it truly is the administration that the bolt action provides. With a semi-computerized rifle you are able to purely junk mail the set off like sturdy old CoD (An undesirable recreation for my section) yet with a bolt action you're capturing one shot at a time and as stated earlier that enables you to concentration more desirable and save your head cool. so a tactics, the three longest (a minimum of) shown kills by using snipers were making use of bolt action rifles. once with a .338 Lapua magnum, once with a .50 BMG, and once with even with Hathcock used. Please do not insult your man or woman intelligence by using calling the M21 EBR a sniper, ok? it truly is a sniper RIFLE, a sniper is a soldier contained in the militia who's educated for lengthy variety precision marksmanship.

Answer 4

A closed action is inherently more accurate. Closed actions include bolts, falling blocks, breech loaders, and all single shots. Semi-autos have more moving parts, that vibrate when you shoot making them less accurate.

Also, when you get into military rifles they have looser tolerances so that dirt, and debris can be in the rifle, and it will still fire reliably. The M-16 has tighter tolerances than the AKs so it is more accurate, but less reliable under battle conditions.

The M-14 is an exception. It is still not as accurate as a bolt rifle, but it is a damn accurate weapon.

Answer 5

accuracy is controlled by the shooter. bolt action for myself works best as it allows exhale and refocus. trained snipers can handle semi auto fire because of training. the average shooter with semi auto does not compensate for recoil raising the sights and fires before totally repositioning the sight onto target. sniper ammo is match loaded--this means the same powder,projectile and casings makes 1 batch. the weapon is fired in with those cartridges and when it is time to replenish another batch is created to do the same thing. no 2 loadings are exactly the same and "store" ammo is the worst. sniper motto remember is "1 shot,1 kill". a little preachy but its the shooter not the weapon. good luck

Answer 6

I have heard the same thing, so I guess they must be. I think semi-auto, because of its design for rapid fire loses accuracy.

Answer 7

Hi,
To get Falling Block Game for free you can click here on the link: http://bitly.com/1pnRJ20

With this link you can get the full version completely free.
Falling Block Game is the game that will surely get you going and playing for more. Download this game now and enjoy.

Answer 8

YES.***