Running a bolt action at speed....

BrokeRifleman

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Minuteman
Apr 13, 2013
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I built my .22 cal trainer over the winter, and I've gotten plenty of trigger time printing the smallest holes possible. While cleaning it yesterday, I began wondering about putting the scope down to 4x and making shots in rapid succession at 25, 50, 100 yards. So my question to you guys is what would be considered "good" speed and group sizes at each distance using a bolt action .22?
 
I don't know about 22s, but I've seen several people clean the 300 yard rapid fire target using bolt guns, mostly in 308. The target X-10 ring is 7 inches, they start from standing, drop into position, take a quick check of through the spotting scope, make a quick sight adjustment if necessary, the fire 5 rounds, reload, fire 5 more in 70 seconds. Use to be 60 seconds but they changed that in the late 70s I believe.

22s should be faster, you have a short bolt throw, and less recoil to recover from.

I do shoot a CZ 452 in our mouse gun matches, but I never timed it. Still can't compete with the 10/22s for speed but its more accurate by a long shot.
 
I've the sensation that leaving home the scope and mounting some good irons would better any scope speed on rapid at 25/50/100, if speed is of some interest_
and again about groups: I would like better irons than a 4x limited glass_
personal opinion only, of course_
 
NEAT video!
How would you like to attend a shooting match with that many spectators?
The Mauser (96?) guy saved a couple rounds, but man was he quick! Operated the trigger with his ring-finger...
Krag guy looked like he was bored through the whole string.

I sure wish it had subtitles... but I think I mostly got the gist of it.

When I started shooting in Highpower (early '90's), I asked why there weren't more match rifles built on semi-auto's (this was just before the explosion of the AR into Highpower)... my instructor/coach (Distinguished, and Presidents 100, and Service Rifle champion in the '60's), with a straight face, said... "Too slow.. you'd have to wait for the bolt to cycle in rapids".
I've never been sure if he was serious or not - but after watching him shoot a bolt gun (Win 70 in .308), I'm leaning towards him being serious about that. Quick. REAL quick.
 
Speaking of bolt gun speed shooting, has anyone rebarreled a Swiss 7.5 toggle bolt gun? I'm sure that would allow even faster follow up shots than the standard Mauser type bolt throw.
 
Great video Graham.

My '98 Krag is the fastest, smoothest bolt gun I have. I've always heard the Endfields are faster, but I've tried several and never found one that would compete with my Krag.

The only problem is loading, I'd love to get my hands on some of those stripper clips the guy had for his Krag.

I know the Springfield is heard to beat in match shooting, but my Krag is pretty darn accurate, I bet if I had some stripper clips I could give my 1903a3 a run for its money. Both are capable of cleaning the CMP GSM 200 yard target. Its just that I have stripper clips for my 'a3.

What slows me down with the Krag is its itty bitty peep holes on the 1901 sights, but if I get good light and solid position, I can make it work.
 
The Norwegian Krags, Swedish Mausers, and Sauer STR200s that you see in that video have the advantage of running a much better cartridge (6.5x55) than a lot of high power US shooters use. As far as the Swiss straight pulls they can be just as fast except you have to move your face out of the way of the bolt then reacquire cheek weld and sight picture.
 
Great video Graham.

My '98 Krag is the fastest, smoothest bolt gun I have. I've always heard the Endfields are faster, but I've tried several and never found one that would compete with my Krag.

The only problem is loading, I'd love to get my hands on some of those stripper clips the guy had for his Krag.

I know the Springfield is heard to beat in match shooting, but my Krag is pretty darn accurate, I bet if I had some stripper clips I could give my 1903a3 a run for its money. Both are capable of cleaning the CMP GSM 200 yard target. Its just that I have stripper clips for my 'a3.
a bit off thread, but: it's really so hard find a way to build some Krag working str. clips modifiyng/adapting something available from other rifles?
(By the way,I've readed than one of the limits of the U.S. 30-40 Krag was really the lack of a str.clip system)_ forgive the ingenuity: never owned a '98 Krag, and maybe I'm talkin' really in a ignorant way, but the stipper clips I have seen & used are not exactly a NASA project, and I don't think you need an industrial quantity for your rifle,anyway..._
I'm sure anyone here will be glad to help you with his own know-how, if really this project could be of your interest_
good luck about that!
 
I don't know about 22s, but I've seen several people clean the 300 yard rapid fire target using bolt guns, mostly in 308. The target X-10 ring is 7 inches, they start from standing, drop into position, take a quick check of through the spotting scope, make a quick sight adjustment if necessary, the fire 5 rounds, reload, fire 5 more in 70 seconds. Use to be 60 seconds but they changed that in the late 70s I believe.

22s should be faster, you have a short bolt throw, and less recoil to recover from.

I do shoot a CZ 452 in our mouse gun matches, but I never timed it. Still can't compete with the 10/22s for speed but its more accurate by a long shot.

Thanks for the response. Is this all done on a single target? I was almost wondering if shooting multiple targets at different ranges
Would be more fun. I'm looking to bring more movement and exertion to my shooting.
 
Its done on a single target but I do shoot others. I've saw a show where guys shoot heavy African hunting rifles at charging critter targets. I don't have that set up but I do set up targets at 50, 40, 30, 20 and 10 yards, staggered and try to shoot them as fast as I can using full loads in my 375 H&H. I haven't timed it yet but you can get pretty fast even with heavy rifles. I use Model 70s where are about as smooth commercial bolt guns as you can find.

Also I have some reduced E-Silhouette targets for 100 yards that represents the 600 yards targets. I set 8 up in line to practice the Infantry Trophy Match. (Which is shooting as many rounds as you can in 50 seconds). I haven't done it with a bolt gun but this topic got me to thinking about doing it with my Model 70 308 target rifle. Now I'm going have to play with that after reading these post.

I've seen people shoot the Infantry Trophy match with bolt guns, I've never done it.
 
That is pathetic! Here we are, a nation of over 300 million people, and one which has always prided ourselves on being a "Nation of Riflemen", and we can't muster crowds of spectators like that for our most prestigious matches. We didn't even have that many spectators for the shoot-offs in the President's Hundred, or the Leech or Wimbledon matches just a few days ago.
 
The Norwegian Krags, Swedish Mausers, and Sauer STR200s that you see in that video have the advantage of running a much better cartridge (6.5x55) than a lot of high power US shooters use. As far as the Swiss straight pulls they can be just as fast except you have to move your face out of the way of the bolt then reacquire cheek weld and sight picture.

Nearly breaking a tooth is just one of the reasons I got rid of my Swiss K31 ;)