Can somone explain the differences in these actions...?

W

White Rabbit

New member
Looking for some knowledgable folks to explain the differences in bolt design and overall action, lock up, advantages, disadvantages, reliability, durability, accuracy and comparisons to the Savage 110, Remington 700, Winchester 70, and Browning A-Bolt actions. These seem to be the top four actions going around and I need help choosing.

Thanks a heap for the help,

WR

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--"We need guns... lots of guns."--
 
Well, first off, they're all good, okay? A major difference from one to another is final polish/finish--you'll have to look for yourself. The Savage is the "least purty", but as you'll note in other threads here, is very accurate.

The Remington has the reputation of being the stiffest platform, and thus is more capable of bench-rest accuracy. Eensy-tiny groups are far less important in the real world of hunting--two different games, entirely.

There are two methods of feed: The old Mauser or claw, feed; and the "push" feed of such as the Remington. In claw feed, the extractor catches the rim or groove of the case as it goes to the chamber from the magazine. The shell cannot fall out if reloading is being done on the move (or is less likely to fall out). The push feed just pushes the shell from the magazine into the chamber. The difference is of issue mostly to those who hunt dangerous game. The Model 70, I believe, is a claw feed.

Any of these rifles will serve well for hunting. Only you know what you want to do with whatever you buy. Any of them can be "tweaked" as necessary to shoot 1/2 minute-of-angle groups.

FWIW, Art
 
Just to differentiate on the controlled-round feeding, or claw feed...

The older, pre-1964 Winchester Model 70's were Mauser-style claw feeds. Then, in a cost-cutting measure, Winchester redesigned the action to utilize the Remington-style push feed. It really peeved a lot of die-hard Winchester lovers, and the prices for the pre-64 model 70's showed that affection for the older actions.

In just the last few years, Winchester again retooled their production, and now offer the Model 70 in either push feed or claw feed, depending on caliber and configuration. When you look at the guns either in person, in their catalog, or online, you will be able to see the difference pretty easily.


Hope this helps!
 
Wow, that archived thread kinda choked me up, with the inputs of the late, great Gale McMillan, God bless his soul. Wonder what kind of rifle he has with him now in Shooter's Paradise?

Sorry for being sappy, Gale and I had exchanged more than a few emails over the years, and he always went the extra bit to educate me on what did and didn't work, and why. He approached my Mauser-actioned Interdiction Rifle project without ridicule, telling me which McMillan stock would work best (I bought the Prone model), and how to wring out the best performance from the completed rig. Gale, if you're watching, thanks, and we miss ya!
 
Gary,

Thanks for posting the archive. Very informative. Learned alot. However, where do the Savage 110 and Browning A-bolt actions fit into this?

Thanks again for the help,

WR

------------------
--"We need guns... lots of guns."--
 
The Savage 110 is probably in its 4th incarnation since it was originally introduced in 1958. The first generation had an integral magazine and the second generation featured a detachable magazine. To accomodate the detachable magazine, parts of the action had to be retooled and production was achieved in 1966. A third generation entailed modifications to the bolt lockup and with the newer investment casting methods of fabrication, the gun may well be in its fourth generation (incarnation).

Unlike other bolt actions, the Savage 110's barrel was shoulderless. It was screwed into the receiver and locked in place with a locknut (visible externally). This somewhat predates the practice currently used on the M16/AR-15 family of weapons.

To control escapting gas, the gun has several baffle rings, multiple gas ports and a solid bolt cap. With its locking lugs flush with the bolt rim, making counterboring unnecessary, the bolt head is very much like the newer (post '64) Win Model 70. About the time when the bolt head was reengineered (for the better), a special groove inside the receiver was used as a keyway to allow guiding the bolt home. Earlier models had to be gingerly closed to avoid jamming and the groove allowed for faster, smoother working of the action.
 
FYI just to clarify.

The first bolt action rifles were what might be called "push feed". The so-called "controlled feed" was adopted at about the same time as pointed jacketed bullets came into use by the military. Its purpose is not to "prevent jams" but to prevent leaving a live round in the chamber where its primer could be struck by the bullet point of the next round being fed from the magazine. This can produce very interesting results.

Jim
 
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