ERICS RIFLE ACTIONS PAGE

Bolt Action Rifles

The rifle action of choice for most shooters today is the bolt action. I have read that there are more bolt action rifles in use today than any other kind. Many contemporary shooters do not realize that the bolt action is an ancient action type, invented in 1829 by Jean Von Dreyse. The bolt action was invented before there were repeating rifles or cartridges to fire in them; it was adapted to these innovations when they came along. The bolt thus became one of the first designs adapted to repeating rifles. In 1860 Peter Paul Mauser's first bolt action single shot appeared, and in the years to come, the Mauser name became synonymous with the development of the bolt action. In 1898 his definitive Model 98 appeared; the bolt action had reached full flower. Improvements since the '98 Mauser have been incremental, not fundamental.

Modern bolt action rifles are stronger and generally manufactured to closer tolerances than those designed in the late 19th century or the early 20th centuries. Improvements in metallurgy and design allow the use of higher pressure to achieve higher velocity. Since the Model 98 Mauser, bolt action rifles have cocked the striker when the bolt is opened, which makes it easier to chamber the next round and close the bolt. Modern actions feature faster lock times than the old actions, and single stage trigger mechanisms, rather than the old two stage military type. These last two improvements definitely make accurate shooting easier.

Great advances in the quality and consistency of rifle barrels allows rifles to shoot ever smaller groups, if the shooter does his or her part. Stocks have been improved, especially in the way they handle recoil, and to align the eye with a low mounted scope. More currently loaded calibers are available in factory made bolt action rifles than in rifles of any other action type. In addition, many wildcat calibers are routinely chambered by the small specialty makers, giving the shooter a very wide choice of cartridges.

Typical features of the modern bolt action include strength, ruggedness, fast lock time, a front locking bolt that minimizes case stretch, an excellent trigger mechanism, a staggered double row box magazine, and a camming action on opening (primary extraction) that helps extract tight or stuck cases. They are usually designed to divert any gas that escapes from the chamber due to a pierced primer or case failure away from the shooter. Another big advantage is that it is reasonably inexpensive to manufacture. This is at least partly because of its mechanical simplicity; a bolt action has the fewest parts of any action, which also tends to make it reliable. Also, its reputation for superior accuracy should not be disregarded. These virtues have made the bolt action the first choice of most experienced shooters for most purposes. It has become the action of choice of the knowledgeable shooter.

Most bolt action rifles have one piece stocks which, some experts believe, support the barrel and action better than two piece stocks, and contribute to superior accuracy. On the other hand, many bolt action rifles now use free floating barrels, which do not touch the stock at all. One thing is certain, all stocks for bolt action rifles must be designed to allow the bolt to clear the forward tip of the comb when it is pulled all the way back. This does place certain restrictions on stock design, particularly comb height.

The principle disadvantage with any conventional bolt action is slow repeat shots. Even though a bolt action can be operated from the shoulder, few shooters do so, and the bolt action's up, back, forward, and down operating stroke is not conducive to fast operation in any case. This complicated operating stroke requires completely removing the trigger finger hand from the stock. It definitely delays getting back on target, and inhibits rapid aiming for a follow-up shot. I'm not talking about missing fast here, I am talking about hitting fast. Anyone who doubts the difference between the speed of a bolt action and other popular actions need only try shooting a few trap doubles with a bolt action shotgun. Anyone with a reasonable amount of experience can powder both clay targets with solid center hits using a double, autoloader, or pump before he can even acquire the second target with a bolt action.

The fastest form of bolt action rifle is the straight pull action. The Canadian Ross rifle of pre-WW I fame was the first of the breed with which I am familiar. Such rifles have never been popular because they usually sacrifice too many of the bolt action's virtues (camming action on extraction, controlled feed, simplicity of design) for a fairly minor increase in speed of operation. The straight pull bolt action is still slower than a lever, pump, or autoloading rifle.

But straight pull designs are still occasionally seen. And they do provide faster follow-up shots than a turnbolt action. Two recent examples are the Blaser R 93 and the Browning Acera. The latter is basically a manually operated version of the BAR autoloader, with the BAR's multiple lug rotating bolt head. The Blaser action uses an expanding collar to lock the bolt, and is available in a wide variety of calibers from .22-250 to the .416 Remington Magnum. Faster is better, but not to the exclusion of all else.

The bolt action is probably the worst type of repeating action with which to face a dangerous, charging animal, but because its great strength allows it to be chambered for very powerful cartridges, and its economy of manufacture allows it to be sold at reasonable prices, it has largely displaced the traditional double rifle for such use. Today, despite the obvious advantages of the pump, lever action, and autoloader, the bolt action is the rifle most frequently chosen to hunt dangerous game. As alluded to above, this is at least partly because the rifle manufacturers offer few suitable calibers in anything except bolt action rifles. How about chambering the BLR for the .338 Mag., and the Safari Grade BAR for the .458 Mag.?

The other obvious disadvantage of the bolt action is that it is bulky, with its bolt handle sticking out to the side of the action. It is more awkward to carry in the hand or in a scabbard than other contemporary actions.

Top flight bolt action rifles are made by numerous small manufacturers and gun shops all across North America, as well as overseas in the UK, the Czeck Republic, Australia, Austria, Japan, Scandinavia, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Russia, South Africa, and many other places. Some very fine bolt action rifles are produced by and for the major American arms companies. Rifles like the Browning A-Bolt II Medallion, Weatherby Mark V Deluxe, and Winchester Model 70 Classic Super Grade are the equal of any factory made rifles in the world.

 Falling Block

The other type of action, in addition to the bolt, that is generally recognized as offering superior accuracy is the falling block single shot. Falling block single shot rifles were winning 1,000 yard target matches well before the turn of the 20th Century. Like the bolt action, perhaps even more so, the single shot rifle tends to be the choice of the connoisseur.

The classic falling block actions of the latter half of the 19th Century were the Ballard, Farquharson, Sharps Borchardt, Stevens, and Winchester 1885 (designed by John Browning). Today, some falling block actions are produced in custom shops, or by smaller manufacturers like Dakota Arms, but the best known models come from two major manufacturers, Browning and Ruger.

To unlock and open a falling block action, a lever under the action body is pivoted forward. This causes the large breechblock to slide vertically downward in grooves machined into the interior sides of the receiver (hence the name "falling block"), revealing the chamber. After a new cartridge is inserted into the chamber, the finger lever is moved rearward again, and the breechblock slides back up and locks into place to seal the chamber. Cocking the hammer is automatic in the classier actions.

These are superbly made, elegant rifles. When their underlevers are swung forward, their actions open with a smooth and precise feel, unlike most bolt actions, which rattle when the bolt is opened. The falling block is as strong as a bolt action, and as accurate. Because their actions are extremely compact, they can have a barrel about four inches longer than a bolt action rifle of the same overall length. This allows maximum velocity from modern high intensity and magnum calibers. Left-handed shooters like the fact that falling block actions are ambidextrous. Modern falling block rifles incorporate all the advances in metallurgy, design, and construction enjoyed by other contemporary rifles.

The obvious disadvantage to any single shot is, well, it is a single shot. An experienced shooter can reload a falling block rifle fairly rapidly, if it is equipped with an ejector that automatically throws out the spent case when the action is opened, but in general it is not the action to choose if a fast follow up shot may be needed. (Both the Browning and Ruger have automatic ejectors.) On the other hand, there are many situations where a fast follow-up shot isn't needed, or isn't practical, or there is plenty of time to deliver it. For these situations, the classic falling block may still be the best choice.

The Browning 1885 High Wall is a modern version of the John Browning designed classic, widely regarded as the strongest and best of the American single shot rifles. John Browning began producing these rifles himself, then sold the rights to Winchester, who made the design famous. It is a very simple yet elegant looking rifle. It has an exposed rebounding hammer that cocks automatically when the "S" shaped underlever is operated. The automatic ejector can be user set to throw the empty case out to the right or left, or extracted for convenient removal by hand. The schnable style forearm and straight hand buttstock are select walnut with a durable gloss finish, and extensive checkering.

The standard version comes with a heavy 28 inch octagon barrel without sights; it is drilled and tapped for scope mounting. The Traditional Hunter model is similar, but comes with a crescent butt plate and tang mounted peep sight, plus conventional barrel mounted open sights. All metal parts on these High Wall rifles are very well polished and deeply blued, except the breech block, which is polished and left in the white. Standard Model calibers are .22-250 Rem., .270 Win., .30-06 Spfd., 7mm Rem. Mag., and .45-70 Govt. Traditional Hunter calibers are .30-30 Win., .38-55 Win., and .45-70 Govt. These High Wall rifles all weigh between 8 lbs. 12 oz. and 9 lbs., depending on model and caliber. These classy single shot rifles really shoot. 

There are also two special black powder cartridge versions of the Browning High Wall. These are the BPCR silhouette target rifle, and the BPCR "Creedmore" type target rifle. Both come with special long-range target-type iron sights, pistol grip stocks, and half round barrels. The Creedmore is chambered for the long-range black powder .45-90 cartridge, which throws a 525 grain bullet at approximately 1,300 fps. This is a serious target rifle with a 34 inch barrel, intended to dominate long-range black powder matches (out to 1000 yards!). Its receiver is richly and deeply blued, like the standard model. The BPCR Creedmore model weighs 11 lbs. 13 oz. The BPCR silhouette model comes chambered for the .40-65 and .45-70 black powder cartridges, is fitted with a 30" barrel, and its receiver is case-colored. It weighs 11 lbs. to 11 lbs. 7 oz.

The other Browning falling block rifle is the Low Wall. This is a lighter action, intended for smaller calibers. Standard Low Wall rifles are supplied with a slimmer contour, 24" long plain octagon barrel (no sights), in calibers .22 Hornet, .223 Rem., .243 Win. and .260 Rem. The wood and finish are similar to the standard High Wall. There is also a Low Wall Hunter model with a case-colored receiver that is chambered for the .357 Mag., .44 Mag., and .45 Long Colt revolver cartridges. A standard Low Wall in .243 or .260 it makes a terrific mountain rifle. It weighs just 6 lbs. 4 oz. and, despite its 24" barrel, is only 39.5 inches long.

The Browning 1885 Low Wall and High Wall rifles were discontinued at about the turn of the 21st Century. However, in 2003 the 1885 Low Wall was introduced in caliber .17 HMR under the Winchester brand name. Winchester (USRAC) and Browning are owned by the same holding company, so perhaps the rest of the Model 1885's will reappear under the Winchester name in the future.

Bill Ruger deserves more credit than anyone else for rekindling interest in the classic falling block rifle. Imagine a modernized Farquharson, the very elegant British hammerless action, and you will have an idea of what the Ruger No. 1 action looks like. The Ruger single shot is available in many variations. These are: 1-A Light sporter (22" barrel, Alexander Henry style forearm), 1-B Standard Rifle (26" barrel, semi-beavertail forearm), 1-H Tropical Rifle (elephant gun), 1-RSI International Rifle (20" barrel, full-length Mannlicher style stock), 1-S Medium Sporter Rifle (26" barrel, A. H. style forearm), and 1-V Varminter Rifle (24" or 26" heavy barrel, semibeavertail forearm).

The list of calibers for which the No. 1 is chambered is extensive, although not all calibers are available in all models. These include the .218 Bee, .22 Hornet, .223, .22-250, .220 Swift, 6mm Rem., .243, .257 Roberts, .25-06, .270 Win., .270 Wby. Mag., .280, 7mm Rem. Mag., 7x57, .30-06, .300 Win. Mag., .300 Wby. Mag., .338 Win. Mag., .375 H&H Mag., .416 Rigby, .416 Rem. Mag., .45-70, and .458 Win. Mag. The automatic ejector can be user modified to function only as an extractor if desired. No. 1 rifles have a top tang (shotgun) safety. All steel parts are nicely polished and blued. The select walnut pistol grip style buttstock and forearm are cut checkered, and come with a tasteful satin finish. As the 1998 Ruger catalogue puts it: "To the sophisticated shooter, the single shot rifle offers a compact, strong mechanism with a minimum of mechanical contraptions. The No. 1 is the rifle for serious hunters dedicated to making one shot count."

LEVER ACTION RIFLES

The handy lever action has been popular in North America since 1866, when Oliver Winchester introduced the breakthrough Model 1866 "Yellow boy" (so called because of its brass frame), successor to the .44 Henry rimfire lever action. The lever action is the repeating descendent of the falling block single shot. The type is easily identified by the loop lever/trigger guard underneath the action. This leaves the sides of the receiver flat and uncluttered, convenient to carry in the hand or scabbard. The lever is fast and natural to operate from the shoulder, basically by opening and closing the trigger finger hand, although it is not as fast as a pump action. It is also ambidextrous. Most shooters remove the butt from the shoulder while operating the lever. This is neither necessary nor desirable, and the lever action shooter should train him or herself to operate the action at the shoulder.

The principal advantages of most lever actions are speed, reliability, high capacity (firepower), and a  action. The Henry, Marlin, and Winchester lever action rifles just look "right." Never underestimate aesthetics as a motivating factor.

One disadvantage of the classic lever action rifles (except the Savage 99 and Winchester 95), is that they are not chambered for high intensity cartridges, and their tubular magazines prohibit the use of pointed  bullets. It is also fair to point out that the selection of cartridges for lever action rifles is more limited than for bolt action or single shot rifles.

Another disadvantage is that lever actions are generally regarded as being a little bit less accurate than a good bolt action or falling block rifle. This may be partly because of their two piece stocks, partly because their bolts lock at the rear, partly due to the rear sight mounting slots cut into their barrels, and partly because the forearms and magazine tubes of most models are attached to their barrels by barrel bands.

  Of course, you must mount a good scope on them, just as you would on a bolt action rifle, if you wish to take advantage of their accuracy potential. It is not fair to compare the accuracy of a lever action equipped only with crude semibuckhorn iron sights to a bolt action equipped with a 3-9x scope. Put the same scope on both rifles, and you will probably find that less than an inch in 100 yard group size separates the two. Get a classic lever action rifle with a 24" or 26" heavy barrel, and spend some time tuning it and working up accurate handloads, as you would for a good bolt action rifle, and even that difference may disappear.

The classic lever action rifles include Winchester's Model 94 (of which there are several variations), Model 1886, Model 1892, and Model 1895. Also Marlin's big bore Model 1895 (and Model 444), Model 336 and its variations, and small frame Model 1894 (also available in various models). Last, but not least, is Savage's famous but discontinued Model 99 series.

The Winchester M-94 is the best-selling centerfire sporting rifle of all time; well over 4 million have been built. Seventy years after its introduction, in 1963, the M-94 was redesigned for easier production. 1964, the year the revised guns hit dealer shelves, was a bad year for most Winchester models, and the introduction of stamped steel parts in the old 94 was a sign of the times. Customer complaints forced a partial return to more substantial looking parts a few years later. Toward the end of the 20th Century, the 94 was again redesigned, this time for side ejection. A rather silly safety button was also added to the right side of the receiver, but in 2003 this was moved to the top tang.

In 2002 the Winchester catalog showed no less than 7 variations of the Model 94. An interesting variation from the 1990's was the 94 Black Shadow, a M-94 with a black synthetic stock. I say interesting because that model's synthetic stock had a level comb with less drop than the other 94 models. A higher comb is a worthwhile idea, as the more traditional M-94 stock is designed primarily for use with iron sights, and has too much drop for most shooters when the rifle is equipped with a scope. As far as I can tell, the Model 94 Walnut is most faithful to the original, and it is available with or without checkering. It is made in .30-30 Win. only, but other models are chambered for the .307 Win., .356 Win., .357 Mag., .44-40, .44 Spec/.44 Mag., .444 Marlin, and .45 Long Colt. Personally, if I were making the decisions at Winchester, I would leave the revolver cartridges to the Model 92, and return the more useful .32 Win. Special, .38-55 Win., and .375 Win. cartridges to the M-94 line.

The new 1886 is chambered for the .45-70 Govt. It has a 26" octagon barrel with a full-length magazine, polished blue finish, and metal crescent buttplate (ouch!). The old 1886 was highly regarded, and the new model, built with modern materials, is bound to be superior.

The Model 1892 is one of the best loved Winchesters. It is essentially a small frame version of the famous Model 1886, usually chambered for the .357 Mag., .44 Mag., and the traditional .44-40 Win. combination rifle/revolver cartridge. Originally chambered in the Model 1873 Winchester (and later in the M-92), it is interesting to reflect that the rather anemic .44-40 was America's most popular deer cartridge during the last quarter of the 19th Century.

Like the present Winchesters, today's Marlin lever action rifles trace their lineage back to models from the 1890's. The Model 1893 was the forerunner the current line, eventually evolving into today's Model 336. It featured a case hardened, solid top receiver with side ejection, round barrel, and a square bolt. It was chambered for the .38-55, .30-30, and .32 Special, among other cartridges. The Model 1893 begat the small frame Model 1894 and large frame Model 1895, both of which shared the features and appearance of the 1893. The 1894 was chambered for pistol cartridges like the .32-20 and .44-40. The original 1894 was reintroduced (with only minor changes) in 1969, again chambered for what are basically pistol cartridges. The old 1895 was chambered for big bore cartridges like the .45-70 and .45-90.

The current Model 1895 is a big bore version of the 336 action, not a re-introduction of the original 1895. It is the basis for the most powerful of Marlin's current lever action models. These are chambered for the .444 Marlin, .45-70 Govt. and .450 Marlin cartridges. The .45-70 and .450 models have become very popular in North America for hunting large and dangerous game.

The Model 336 is made in rifle and carbine versions, with round and octagon barrels, and straight and pistol grip butt stocks. Various 336 models are chambered for the .30-30 Win., .35 Rem., and .38-55 cartridges. All 336 models (except the economical Model 30 and Glenwood versions, now discontinued) feature genuine American black walnut stocks. A recent addition to the line is the Model 336SS, a deluxe .30-30 with a checkered walnut stock and stainless steel metal parts.     The Marlin 336 is well over 3 million in sales, and is the second best selling sporting rifle in the world, after only the Winchester Model 94.

All 1895 and 336 based models feature a solid top receiver and a round bolt. They eject straight to the side, not up at an angle. The bolt is easily removed so that the barrel may be cleaned from the breech. This receiver, machined from a block of steel, makes for a strong action. The solid top allows easy, low, over the bore scope mounting. It also allows the use of strong, one piece, scope bases. The Marlin 1895 and 336 are the only traditional lever action rifles with all of these features.

The small frame Marlin is based on the square bolt Model 1894 action, which is a small frame version of the old M 1893. It also has a solid top receiver machined from a block of steel, and side ejection. Like the M 336, the M 1894 allows easy scope mounting with one-piece bases. It is Marlin's counterpart to the Winchester M 92. It is available in several variations, all chambered for "combination" rifle/pistol cartridges like the .38 Spec./.357 Mag., .44-40 Win., .44 Spec./.44 Mag., and .45 Colt. The Marlin 1894 is perhaps the most accurate of the short action lever guns.

Henry Repeating Arms produces a line of rimfire lever action rifles with blue or brass colored frames in .22 LR, .22 WMR, and .17 HMR. These are accurate, well made rifles that represent a really fine value. More recently Henry introduced their Big Boy .44 Magnum centerfire rifle. This very striking and somewhat expensive rifle features a solid brass frame, buttplate, and barrel band. The remainder of the metal parts are steel, including the octagon barrel, and finished in a polished blue. The stock is American walnut. The Big Boy looks much like the "Golden Boy" rifle of 1866 and is made entirely in the USA. It is a very striking rifle.

There are relatively few lever action rifles chambered for high intensity cartridges, but there are some. The venerable Savage 99 and Winchester 95 (recently restored to production) are two classic examples. The 95 uses a box type magazine, and the 99 uses a spool magazine (some later 99's were built with detachable box magazines), either of which allows the use of pointed bullets. The Winchester was introduced in 1895 in .30-40 Krag, and the Savage in 1899.

The Savage 99 handles short action calibers only; over the years it has been chambered for a wide variety of cartridges. Some that should be of interest today are the .250 Sav., .243 Win., .284 Win., .300 Sav., .308 Win., and .358 Win.

Both the Savage 99 and Winchester 95 lock at the rear of the breechblock, and allow cartridge brass to stretch a little more than a front locking action does. This is a disadvantage for the reloader who loads maximum loads, but of little consequence to others.

The now discontinued Sako Finnwolf and Winchester 88 were designed for modern short action, high intensity cartridges, both were produced in the 1960's and 1970's.

The Winchester used a front locking, multilug rotating bolt, much like the modern Browning BAR, BPR, and BLR. Unlike most lever actions, but like the Finnwolf, there was no external hammer. It was a modern and sleek looking rifle, with a slim one piece stock; it was one of the most  aesthetically pleasing rifles ever made. It was a rifle that offered most of the features of a bolt action rifle, with faster lever action operation. It was moderately popular, and stayed in the Winchester line for several years.  Lever action fans were perfectly happy with their traditional (and much less expensive) .30-30's, and bolt action fans would not buy a lever action no matter how good it was.    The only drawbacks seemed to be that its trigger was neither as light nor as clean as a M-94 or a good bolt action's trigger, and it kicked awfully hard for a .308. It was not a pleasant rifle to shoot. Calibers were .243, .284, .308, and .358 Win.

The Browning BLR is a modern lever gun made in both long and short action models. It has an alloy receiver, an external hammer, and a checkered walnut stock and forearm. The barrel is a semi-floating type, which attaches to the forearm at only one point. The bolt is front locking with a rotary head, and is operated by the lever through a rack and pinion gear. A detachable box magazine holds 4 rounds (3 in magnum calibers). The BLR is very strong, well made, handles recoil well, and comes standard with Browning's usual outstanding fit and finish. It is the only lever action which handles the 7mm Rem. and .300 Win. belted magnums. Other available calibers include the .223, .22-250, .243, .270 Win., .270 WSM, 7mm-08, 7mm WSM, .308, .30-06, .300 WSM, .358 Win., and .450 Marlin. I would like to see Browning add the 6mm Rem., .257 Roberts, .260 Rem., and .350 Rem. Mag. to the list of available standard calibers. In .300 Win. Mag. and .450 Marlin Mag. the BLR is a good choice for hunting dangerous thin-skinned game.

A lever action centerfire rifle has been introduced by Sturm, Ruger & Company. This is their Model 96/44, chambered for the .44 Mag. revolver cartridge. It looks a great deal like their popular 10/22 autoloading rimfire rifle, or their discontinued .44 Mag. autoloading carbine, with its chunky, one piece "American hardwood" stock, complete with barrel band. Like other Ruger carbines, it has a gently curved buttplate, 18.5" barrel, detachable rotary magazine, and streamlined hammerless action. Visually, the main addition is the husky, curved operating lever, snugged up against a rather shapeless pistol grip. It is clearly intended as a brush country deer rifle.