BOLT-ACTION USED HUNTING RIFLES

When it comes to both new and used hunting rifles, bolt-action models offer accuracy, reliability, and affordability. While semi-automatic weapons have improved greatly in these areas in recent years, bolt-actions still offer many advantages.

History

German inventor Johann Von Dreyse built the first bolt-action rifle in 1824. The design was based on advances in breech-loading weapons that occurred in the 1700s, and known as the Needle Rifle, it was officially adopted by the Prussian military in 1841. The US Army began using bolt-action carbines in 1865, the last year of the Civil War, then European armies followed suit, and by World War I the bolt-action rifle was the default weapon for armed forces around the world. Some of the best bolt-action weapons in history came from this period, including the Mauser G93 and the British Lee-Metford rifle, predecessor to the famed Lee-Enfield. In 1891, Russian gun makers introduced the Mosin-Nagant bolt-action rifle to the world. While somewhat more complicated than other models, the Mosin-Nagant was extremely rugged and reliable, and countless hunters have adopted it for sporting purposes over the last century.

When the United States entered World War II, many troops went into battle toting 1903 Springfield bolt-action rifles, though as the conflict continued, the M1 Garand semi-automatic became the standard issue. Bolt-action rifles are still used by the US Army and other national militaries across the globe, primarily for sniping, and many big-game hunters prefer bolt-actions due to their “one shot, one kill” reputation.

The Mechanism of a Bolt-Action Rifle

Bolt-action weapons use a small handle, usually located on the right side of the rifle, to open the breach, chamber a round, and cock the firing pin. This action also ejects the spent casing, if one is present. The system’s inherent simplicity gives it the following strengths when compared to other firearm actions:

·      Dependability – The fewer parts a system has, the less that can go wrong with it. This is why bolt-action rifles provide reliable service over thousands of rounds, even under challenging conditions that could cause other types of weapons to fail; there’s less that can go wrong in a mechanism that’s simple yet rugged.

·      Power – For a semi-automatic rifle to function, a portion of the round’s energy must be used to eject the spent casing and load the next round, which is power that could otherwise be used to propel the bullet towards its target. In a bolt-action rifle, the user performs the ejecting and loading instead, thus freeing up that force. The result is more powerful shots.

·      Range – The added force gives bolt-action rifles longer effective ranges than their semi-automatic counterparts, which is partly why they’ve long been preferred by military and police snipers.

·      Accuracy – Because the projectile has greater force behind it, the bullet drops less over a given distance than a round fired from a semi-automatic weapon.

·      Price – While there are exceptions, a quality bolt-action rifle will generally cost less than a semi-automatic weapon of the same caliber. This fact can make bolt-actions the best choice for hunters on a budget, and if you’re looking for used hunting rifles, a bolt-action becomes more affordable still.

A bolt-action weapon may be the ideal choice for your firearms needs, but not all models are of equal quality. If you shop for used hunting rifles at Dury’s Gun Shop, however, your purchase is protected by our famous lifetime guarantee of satisfaction. We offer a vast number of firearms on our website, so browse our selection of new and used hunting rifles, used Colt handguns, antique guns, and many other makes and models, and then place your order today.