Gunsmithing Slide-action bolt guns?

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dbooksta

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Feb 22, 2009
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#1
Why are turn-bolts the standard action for bolt guns? It seems like a slide-action would be preferable because it's both ambidextrous and faster to cycle.

But I'm not aware of any modern examples of slide-action bolt guns. (Am I missing any?)
 
#3
Re: Slide-action bolt guns?

Yes, good call -- I think the Remington 7600 counts. But that seems to be the only one in production, and it's not dressed as a sniper rifle.

Is there any reason one of those dressed up in a tactical buttstcok, rail, bipod mount, heavy barrel, with a 700 match trigger wouldn't be preferable to turn-bolt?
 
#5
Re: Slide-action bolt guns?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bloody_Tailgate</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Positioning...it's a lot harder to hold proper form and work the pump action. Just my .02 </div></div>

I was thinking the opposite: A pump lets you stay on the trigger and work the action with your support hand if you want. If you're on a bipod that can only be good. Only potential drawback would be offhand, but if the pump locks tight and doesn't wobble I don't see a drawback there either.
 
#6
Re: Slide-action bolt guns?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dbooksta</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was thinking the opposite: A pump lets you stay on the trigger and work the action with your support hand if you want.</div></div>

My support hand is usually under the buttstock when the rifle is resting on the bipod. There are very few times when the bipod is deployed that I ever feel the need to place my hand anywhere forward of the trigger guard. So, I think your logic is backwards.

Josh
 
#7
Re: Slide-action bolt guns?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MinorDamage</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dbooksta</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was thinking the opposite: A pump lets you stay on the trigger and work the action with your support hand if you want.</div></div>

My support hand is usually under the buttstock when the rifle is resting on the bipod. There are very few times when the bipod is deployed that I ever feel the need to place my hand anywhere forward of the trigger guard. So, I think your logic is backwards.

Josh </div></div>

What he said. Plus where do you attach the bipod? If you attach to the mag tube you're pushing up on the barrel. Laying prone with no bipod you've got a sloppy forend for support. How about using a sling for positioning? It's going to be tough to work a pump with a sling around your arm.

If you're looking for an easier way to cycle and stay on target go semi auto.
 
#8
Re: Slide-action bolt guns?

Actually the Remmy doesn't have a mag tube...it has a support for the slide. It is DBM. The barrel is basically free floated. Probably be simple enough to rig a solid bar forward from the action to act as a guide rod and bipod support. A bit of ingenuity could get it to work.
 
#12
Re: Slide-action bolt guns?

I had a 7600 in 270Win, fine hunting gun, killed several eastern whitetails, adequate accuracy for hunting something with 12"x15" kill zone out to around 250yds.
Tactical? Didn't Remington try the 7600 in 223 as a tactical rifle for police recently? How did that work out for them?
 
#13
Re: Slide-action bolt guns?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MinorDamage</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
That is not what is being discussed. That is a straight pull action. OP is talking about a slide/pump action centerfire.
</div></div>

Right, my understanding is that the Blaser's straight-pull action uses a clever and patented collet mechanism.

However, straight-pull bolts using various camming lockup mechanisms go back over 100 years. And you could look at a pump- or slide-action as just another straight-pull variant that happens to put the pull-handle in front of the bolt instead of behind and to its side. So by all means let's include straight-pulls in the "slide-action" category.

I'm not saying the Remington 7600 is an exemplar of accuracy -- if anything it looks more like they just took their 800 shotgun, switched the magazine feed and rechambered it.

But if you can free-float a barrel and put a match trigger and magazine stack under it I still think a straight-pull bolt would almost always be preferable to a turn-bolt. In broad terms the only mechanical difference between the two is an extra cam linkage for the straight-pull.

Now I admit I must be missing some nuances since we've only identified one slide-action and one straight-pull action on the market, with the former being cheap and the latter expensive. So what are the drawbacks to this style of action?
 
#14
Re: Slide-action bolt guns?

I guess as far as tactical or precision rifles go, I cannot find one single reason to stop at a slide or straight pull action if trying to find a quicker cycling weapon. There are too many autoloaders out there that marginalize that benefit. That is also coupled with the fact that, with proper practice, most can operate a turn bolt fast enough that the difference becomes negligible compared to slide or straight pull.

Josh
 
#16
Re: Slide-action bolt guns?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dbooksta</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But what about the ambidextrous advantage over turn-bolts? </div></div>

That is why they make bolts in RH and LH configurations. Not to mention that lefties have learned to use right hand bolts quite effectively over the years.

Josh
 
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