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Straight Pull Bolt Action Rifles?
Juggernaut
Member Posts: 719 ✭✭✭✭
Looking for information from those that actually own Straight Pull Bolt Action Rifles and what they think of them.
Recent interest in Austro-Hungarian and Swiss Straight Pull Bolt Action Rifles have started me to research both rifles being somewhat unfamiliar with them and had some questions in regards to the same?
How many locking lugs do Straight Pull Bolt Action Rifles have and how safe is this type of action in comparison to the Turn Bolt Action Rifle such as the K98?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Straight Pull Bolt Action Rifle as opposed to the Turn Bolt Action Rifle again such as the K98?
Thanks
Recent interest in Austro-Hungarian and Swiss Straight Pull Bolt Action Rifles have started me to research both rifles being somewhat unfamiliar with them and had some questions in regards to the same?
How many locking lugs do Straight Pull Bolt Action Rifles have and how safe is this type of action in comparison to the Turn Bolt Action Rifle such as the K98?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Straight Pull Bolt Action Rifle as opposed to the Turn Bolt Action Rifle again such as the K98?
Thanks
Comments
And they ain't "cheap". . .typically they run about $4000 each.
I don't own one, but I have a pal who let me shoot his, and its super nice.
Nice wood, good trigger, smooth fast pull on the bolt, and IIRC, caliber conversion is relatively easy (though again, not cheap).
I was told by someone at the NRA that the leading expert on the Lee Navy was killed when a bolt from one blew back through his skull. I advise friends of mine who have them not to shoot them.
Properly assembled rifles are no problem when used with the right ammo. The Canadian Lee Metford could be wrongly reassembled and do what you described.
And what are the advantages and disadvantages of the Straight Pull Bolt Action Rifle as opposed to the Turn Bolt Action Rifle again such as the K98?
Regards
The guiding principle is that they are essentially a semi automatic bolt in a manually operated configuration, with the pull backward via various methods forcing the bolt to unlock, and then travel rearward. This might be via cams and grooves or pressure from guide ribs or whatever. Depends on the design. However the lock up is otherwise of normal type. As such they are as strong as any other Mauser or Mannlicher design, respectively.
Both are notorious for being a little prone to dirt and having lack of camming action to start case removal- so a clean chamber and ammo is a must. The Swiss action is a bit smoother than the Mannlicher in general.
Now the Ross and Lee Navy get into a whole other set of conditions (as do the older Austrian 1886 and Swiss 1889) so unless you are buying one of those, I won't get into it.
It has two (big) locking lugs, and is plenty strong for any cartridge in the .30-06 or .308 class. The Swiss kept them as their main battle rifle for decades, so safety is not an issue. They are VERY well built and are great shooters!
The idea was that a straight-pull should be a little faster and easier for a soldier to operate, especially if fired from the prone position. In reality, there is not enough of a difference to matter, and a turn bolt action is easier and cheaper to build.
The number of locking lugs varies from one to multiple.
Strength runs from slight to as good as a turnbolt.
The main drawback of any straight pull action is the lack of camming for primary extraction. A Mauser cams the bolt back slightly as you lift the handle, breaking the empty case loose from the chamber with a lot of leverage. A straight pull depends on the contraction of the brass after firing and the strength of your hand pulling straight back.
I think that I like the Swiss Rifle design here for a Straight Pull Bolt Action imho although the Austro-Hungarian rifles are fine as well.
The Swiss bayonets are wicked looking to say the least; for neutral people they are quite efficient killers if need be to war as the entire country will come at you, but a great people as well.
I will have to check into the Austrian 1886 and Swiss 1889 mentioned as I am not very familiar with those either but I have always been intrigued by the older C&R firearms.
Regards
Two advantages to this particular rifle---height of scope rings were not an issue, and they could be reloaded for a second shot without dismounting the gun.