Controlled feed vs push feed?

W

wbw

New member
Can someone explain the difference between 'controlled feed' and 'push feed' bolt actions for me?

I've already got a thread going about a CZ 527 American that I'm considering. Per CZ's site "the CZ 527 is a true micro length Mauser style action and features controlled round feed". It seems that a lot of bolt actions are 'push' feed. What is the difference? Is controlled feed better? Is the Mauser action considered to be superior? It sounds like a 'better' action to me, but I really know nothing about it.

If anyone could shed a little light on this it would be appreciated.

I'm sure that I don't need the most sophisticated rifle action, but it is appealing in the same way that a Porsche or Ferrari engine can be more appealing to a car enthusiast than an American pushrod engine. If I buy the 527, and I buying a superior action? Or is 'controlled vs push' more like Ford vs Chevy? No right answer.

Thanks for any help.
 
Push feed essentially "pops" the round from the feed lips & it "flys" into the breech.
Controlled feed grabs the case with the extractor & guides it all the way from the magazine to the closed & locked position.

It's theoretically better if you're shooting sideways, vertically or upside down.
 
The bigger issue is extraction. A true CRF rifle is incapable of popping the extractor over the case rim going into the chamber - the extractor is too big and the extractor cut too small. That means, on extraction, it's impossible to pop the extractor back over the case rim the other direction. With a correctly designed CRF extractor, you will either get the case out, or rip the case head off trying. This has obvious advantages for a bolt rifle which MUST work - dangerous game and military applications come to mind.

For general purpose applications it makes no difference.
 
The 527, by the way, has a modified Mauser extractor that controls the round in feeding from the mag, but WILL also jump around a case rim to close fully in single-loading the chamber through the top.

The controlled round type is overwhelmingly preferred by dangerous game hunters, it's more reliable under a wide range of shooting situations & positions.

For the average hunter, doesn't make any real difference.
Denis
 
I gave a detailed explanation on your post on THR. The short version here. Both CRF and PF feed equally reliably. But it is impossible to feed a round into a chamber until the previous round is ejected and extracted. CRF is far more reliable if used under harsh conditions as to extraction and ejection. Under normal conditions with a rifle that can be kept clean there will probably never be any difference.

It's theoretically better if you're shooting sideways, vertically or upside down.
Click to expand...

Has nothing to do with anything. Both PF and CRF work equally well sideways, vertical and upside down. It is all about extraction and ejection.

My personal take:

I own and use both, but prefer CRF all else being equal. Most of the time the cost is the same. CRF's advantages may never be needed, but there is no downside to the design.
 
I have rifles of both feed types and frankly for the most part consider either just fine for general hunting and shooting purposes. With that said, if I knew I was going to hunt something that had teeth to bite and claws to scratch, I would feel more comfortable with a rifle that had controlled feed. Take the .35 Whelen for example. I have a Remington M700 classic in .35 Whelen and a custom Mauser I found at a gun show. The Remington is a pull feed rifle and the Mauser a controlled feel gun. Let's say I'll be hunting a Black Bear or better yet if I win the lottery or something a Grizzly Bear hunt. Either rifle would most likely work just fine. Personally, and I think most experienced hunter would prefer the Mauser actioned rifle. It's just that little extra that gives the hunter a bit more confidence in his rifle. It's no coincidence that my four rather customized rifles use Mauser action or FN Mauser action clones.
Regarding CZ rifles, my best friend and old hunting partner will buy nothing but CZ rifles. I say "old" but that's only because he lives in another state and I had to move due to job upgrade. If he likes them that much, I'll take his word that they're OK.
Paul B.
 
One big advantage on a Controlled Feed action is the standing ejector. On a push feed sometimes the plunger ejector isn't strong eneough to toss out a loaded round.
 
In addition, most push feeds have a spring loaded pin in the bolt face to eject the empty. Some say it puts pressure on the case and can cause a loaded round to be ever so slightly skewed in the chamber. I'm not so sure...maybe...perhaps splitting fine hairs but, I will point out that Ruger switched to a blade ejector on their CRF M77 Hawkeyes.
BTW the Hawkeyes CRF is of the type that will snap over a rim, albeit with much force required (at least in my rifle). I can't imagine the extractor popping off a rim unless you've had an ammunition malfunction that would render the weapon unusable anyway. I always chamber rounds from the magazine.
 
And, on occasion, the push-feed ejector jams inside the bolt face & does not eject.

(Don't say it doesn't happen, did on a Remington I had a while back. : ) )
Denis
 
The real problem came to light soon after Mauser introduced their first rifle, which was a push feed. If the shooter loaded a round into the chamber, then retracted the bolt without locking it, the extractor did not engage and the unfired round was left in the chamber.

Not a real big problem with lead round nose bullets, but when spitzer points came out, it was learned (the hard way) that when the bolt was pushed forward, the bullet point of the round being fed would dig into the primer of the chambered round, with embarrassing results.

Mauser redesigned their bolts.

Jim
 
There is a "Down side" to controlled feed. You can pick up the wrong cartridge, and and it will fire. I have seen this many times and actually (Stupidly) done it myself.
 
Then there is that part where someone said "it can not be done", my opinion, nothing is absolute and there are exceptions.

F. Guffey
 
Neither is better, IMO. Push feed is a bit underrated - it works very well - yes even with a sideways tilted gun (upside down? When would that really happen? Lol). Having said that, I really like my CZs and Winchesters with controlled feed. They also run well.
 
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