Bolt action VS break action.

[DalesCarpentry]

I have heard that bolt actions are the most accurate. What maks a bolt action more accurate than a break action or a semi auto?

[handirifle]

The more you can stabilize the cartridge, before, during and after, firing.  The break action, due to frame stretch, will allow some movement, however minute.  In addition the placement of the cartridge in the same place every time is critical.  The bolts are slightly better at all this.  That said, if the bolt action is not made to very high standards, you'll likely see very little difference.  A sloppy bolt gun can be more inaccurate than a good break action.

[trotterlg]

With a bolt gun there is no variation of the lockup, no oil on the shelf latch, no side to side play on the hinge, no forearm attachment to the barrel, they have a decided advantage in the accuracy department and it shows.  Still, a single shot break action has a lot of attraction.   They can be easily broken down to fit in a small space, they are usually cheap, and are dead simple, and a lot easier to change barrel on.  Larry

T

[Mac11700]

I have heard that bolt actions are the most accurate. What maks a bolt action more accurate than a break action or a semi auto?

Rigidity between the barrel and the action and the stock...It allows for the Harmonics of the rifle to be tuned to provide the optimum accuracy...by placing the barrel in the same exact position... when the bullet leaves the muzzle...When the Harmonics are in balance (tuned)..even a so-called weak break action Handi can shoot as accurate at times...but normally all things considered...not with the consistency as a tuned bolt gun...because of all the things trotterlg said...The more things that move..the harder it is to return to the exact place each and every time..ergo..accuracy isn't consistent.Same holds true for most semi-autos...lots of moving parts and harder to tune...

Look at it this way...You know what happens when your timing goes off on your car don't you...The engine runs ragged...same for a rifle...A bolt gun has less things that can be off as compared to a semi auto..or even a Handi...

Mac

[RugerNo3]

Most importantly, the bolt action is bedded in a one piece stock. This aids in keeping the action rigid and cuts the harmonic flex vibrations.

[superjay01]

Not to disagree with these guys that already posted but I think the barrel and what you are shooting out of the barrel are most important. Not to mention the trigger pull. There is no doubt that glass bedding or pillar bedding, or even truing the action will make a gun more accurate. With the manufacturing that is going on today A single shot, semi, or even a leaver gun can shoot as well if not better than a bolt gun. Of course not all factory guns are the same, meaning some are better than others in the accuracy department.  I know that I have two or three NEF that shoot better than a few of my bolt guns. The most accurate gun I own is an AR.

[LaOtto222]

Bolt actions are the most accurate action available. With that said, there are some very accurate AR 15's and single shots (two piece stocks) of various manufacturers. Some guys really pimp out their AR15 and get fantastic accuracy. Some guys tinker with their H&R Handy rifles and get good accuracy out of them. They often shoot better than a standard bolt gun. But when it comes down to all out accuracy the guys shooting bench rest rely on a bolt action of some sort. The reason has been explained above, rigid action, one piece stock, consistent lock up, fast lock times, etc. I think In general they are easier to get to shoot accurately. In general they are more accurate right of the box. There is more than 1 bolt gun guaranteed to shoot 1" or better right out of the box and I am not talking custom. I can not think of 1 other kind action that guarantees that kind of performance unless it is a custom AR15. While not very many people put on new barrels, custom stocks that cost $500+, a 2 ounce trigger, they will change/tune a trigger or do a bedding job. These two things alone can make a big difference in accuracy IF there is a problem and are cheap and easy to do. It is rare to hear of folks getting 4+ inch groups with a bolt gun straight out of the box, not so rare for single shots or semi autos. Remember I am not talking inches difference here, we are talking little difference. Getting a bolt gun to shoot under .5" is easier that most any other kind of action. I did not say you can't get any other action under .5", because it has been done many times by lots of different people. It is just easier to do with a bolt gun. I guess that is my 2 cents worth.

[handirifle]

While leverguns can be made accurate, I have yet to see one as accurate as a good bolt gun.  Not saying some are not but getting sub 1" groups from a levergun is a rare exception, not so with a bolt.  A lever gun has too many points of contact along the barrel to interrupt the harmonics of the barrel.  I own 3 leverguns and have owned more.  If you get 1- 1.5" from a levergun, keep it.  In my opinion, the Browning BLR has the most potential of any levergun for accuracy, due to it's design with the rotating bolt lock-up.

AR's can be made very accurate but it is not cheap to do so.  The average ACCURATE (talking SUB 1" groups here) AR will set you back $1,000 to $1500 easily.  Again, if you have a cheaper one that is that accurate, keep it.

If just the barrel and the lock-up made the rifles accurate ,then the Ruger #1 would be the most accurate rifle out there, cause there is little else involved in that action.

Minute differences in the positioning of the cartridge INSIDE the chamber before firing, can make a big difference when you're talking hair splitting accuracy.  The bolt gun has the most control over this.

[safetysheriff]

Mac's and Handi's discussion of what is 'consistency' is what seems to most help the bolt gun.    Rock River Arms produces the most consistently-accurate semi-auto among those used by long-range competitors.   but the bolt guns are still capable of more, dollar for dollar, on the average, than anything else.    if you look at what an 'RRA'  costs you'll see just how right the guys have been.... 

the NEF Handi' is a marvelous example of simplcity that allows the barrel to contain all of the chamber with the simple exception of the standing breech at the back of it.    a good reamer centered in the bore and a good lock-up of the barrel with the frame/standing breech will give you amazing accuracy.   all you need after that is a properly-mounted scope set-up and stocks.    i believe that if NEF' gave us 4 more ounces of metal in the frame and its inner-workings that we'd be able to compete with most anything out there at distances of maybe 400 yds for any cal' up through the .308 Win'.    those 4 extra ounces of metal would provide that much more consistency, i believe.   

ss'   

[nomosendero]

Quote: "There is more than 1 bolt gun guaranteed to shoot 1" or better right out of the box & I am
not talking custom. I cannot think of 1 other kind of action that guarantees that kind of performance unless it is a custom AR15".  Actually RRA guarantees 3/4" groups for their Varmiter version. I have one
& it will, actually under 1/2" 5 shot groups @ 100 & under .75 moa @ 300 yds. over & over.

But I have a couple of Bolt guns that will outdo the RRA. As someone mentioned, the barrel & trigger
are extremely important, but a properly tuned bolt gun has a slight edge over an AR of the same barrel quality due to a rigid receiver that is precision bedded in a more rigged stock. So to have this slight edge, whether the barrel & trigger are the most important or not & probably are, the stock is the tie breaker, in other words like any other competitive pursuit, ALL of the components have to be at their best.

Now with the other actions, such as conventional Autos, Lever guns & single shots the spread becomes wider for the reasons that Mac & Handi have explained. Things can be done to improve the bedding, but the Handi design just cannot be made to be as consistant as a full floated & pillar bedded bolt gun. Other break opens share some of this, but the Handi design where the forearm is supported at the screw & also at the receiver further complicates the issue. A couple of break open designs are
easier to work with in this regard. Precision shooting in the field make the situation even worse with the Handi because the hold has to be the exact same from shot to shot for the absolute best accuracy, less critical with a precision bolt gun.

One thing that will offset this some is to use a very heavy custom barrel, which would make the bedding less critical. But even then, no matter how good you rifle may shoot, a bolt gun set up with
a similar barrel would be slightly more accurate. 

[Mac11700]

It's all boils down to consistency...and timing....being perfectly tuned..including the ammo....really...It's that simple...and it is a package deal that cannot be disrupted...otherwise accuracy suffers...Some folks may say repeatability...but that is really another way of describing consistency...

You can actually take the human element out of the shooting of it completely for this discussion if one wants to...with hydraulic triggers and rest..(even the Handi if the hydro-trigger is fast enough to pull all the way thru.. )

Consistency...is just what it means...Everything has to be consistent... from the barrel lock up..to the bolt lug positions & clearance..stock pressures or bolt tightness...spring tensions and of course oil free friction surfaces...Everything has to be mated perfectly and return to this state after each shot...

Timing and tuning are very similar ...but there are differences....Timing is from the mechanical sense...like from the actual time of the pull to the firing pin strike..Tuning...for tailoring the ammunition to your set up which effects the Harmonics of the barrel movement...resulting in having the optimum timing of the bullet.... as it is exiting the bore...this has to happen at the exact time on either the rise of the barrel....the fall of the barrel....or when in the static position...each time the trigger is pulled...since the barrel has movement..up & down primarily...unless there is a contact problem with the stock..or if the barrel whip is caused by a weak barrel...this can also be construed as consistency or part of tuning a rifle..but if this entails modifications to the rifle or stock your correcting a timing feature...much as with a semi-auto's bolt travel and feeding & ejection problems........so...for me when breaking it down..it's easier to put it under these 3 headings...


So...What does all this mean?? Well..it just shows what needs to happen for everything to be perfect...Also... there will always be exceptions to all of this......Things can be very sloppy and somehow..it is accurate enough for some...Most folks wouldn't give any single shot a chance against a different style..but we all know that with tailored ammo and a tuned single shot we can...many of us have done it...time and again...so it all boils down for me is another rule of 3......and believe it or not...I have 3 rules of 3 I follow...

I learned my first rule of 3 from my Father..(often the hard way.. )...very early in my life... I don't lie...cheat..or steal...

The second...I learned from him when I sighted my first rifle in....he acquired it from Jack O'Connor...Sight your high power rifles in at 3" high at 100 yards...

And the last rule of 3 is what I stated here...Consistency..Timing..Tuning...

It's always worked for me anyways..

Mac