List of 60 degree bolt throws

Ruger American
Remington 770, 783
Browning X-Bolt
Sauer

Technically, the Weatherby Mark V is not a 60-degree bolt lift, it is 48 degrees, IIRC.
 
Tikka T3 is 70 I think and Sakos are 60. And both are about the smoothest and well fitted out of the box bolts I've come across.
 
So, we've got:

1. Weatherby Mark V (No. 1 on list @ 55 deg)
2. Browning A-Bolt
3. Browning X-Bolt
4. T/C Icon & Venture
5. Badger 2008 (custom)
6. Sako 85, TRG (what about other Sakos?)
7. Sauer 101, 202
8. Steyr Scout, SSG, Prohunter
9. Mauser M12 (What about the Mauser M3?)
10. Ruger American
11. Remington 788
12. Remington 770 (more of a tomato stake than rifle but OK)

With honorable mention to Tikka T3 @ 70 degrees. Is that it?

The Remington 783 appears to have a 90 degree lift, not 60, BTW.

A lot more than I realized; nice to know.
 
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In the "no free lunch" department, those short lift bolts solve one problem but create another. Since they have shorter and steeper cocking ramps, they are harder to cock; makers solve that problem by lengthening bolt handles, or reducing mainspring power.

Jim
 
Cooper center fire rifles are a three lug, 60* lift bolt I don't know about the rimfire rifles. No one mentioned Coopers, and I own one, so I added it to the list.
 
New production? Or regularly found on new or used racks?

In the used rack....
Mossberg 800


--Not the 810. Contrary to popular belief, it was a completely different action, designed by a different engineer, but tweaked to look similar to the previous model and used a 90 deg bolt throw.
 
1. Weatherby Mark V (No. 1 on list @ 55 deg)
2. Browning A-Bolt
3. Browning X-Bolt
4. T/C Icon & Venture
5. Badger 2008 (custom)
6. Sako 85, TRG
7. Sauer 101, 202
8. Steyr Scout, SSG, Prohunter
9. Mauser M12
10. Ruger American
11. AI AE
12. Cooper
13. Mossberg 800
14. Remington 788
15. Remington 770

(Hon. Mention to Tikka T3)

That the final list?

In the "no free lunch" department, those short lift bolts solve one problem but create another. Since they have shorter and steeper cocking ramps, they are harder to cock; makers solve that problem by lengthening bolt handles, or reducing mainspring power.
Click to expand...

Ahhh, yes, thanks.... so, bottom line, is it worth it - to you?
 
Ahhh, yes, thanks.... so, bottom line, is it worth it - to you?
Click to expand...

Personally, no.

For me, operating the bolt quickly is a question of getting the movement started. Once I've got the bolt moving, it's not much of a problem to keep it moving an extra 30 degrees. The stiffer bolt movement that 60 degree bolts require is a much bigger obstacle than the extra movement of a 90 degree bolt.
 
Another thing I've noticed with the 60-degree bolt throws (vs the 90 degree) is that the opening effort seems higher for the 60 degree bolts.
 
Another thing I've noticed with the 60-degree bolt throws (vs the 90 degree) is that the opening effort seems higher for the 60 degree bolts.
Click to expand...

It has to be that way. The firing pin requires the same effort to cock in either case, but with a 60 degree bolt you have to do it more quickly. So the cocking cams have to be steeper, which results in more effort / degree of rotation.
 
Ahhh, yes, thanks.... so, bottom line, is it worth it - to you?
Click to expand...
I've owned both.
The only detractor from a 60 degree bolt throw, for me, is a poorly finished cam surface. If the cam surfaces aren't buttery-smooth, the bolt will feel stiff and obnoxious.
But if the cam surfaces are finished and polished properly, they're as easy to cycle as the average 90-degree action.
 
The only detractor from a 60 degree bolt throw, for me, is a poorly finished cam surface. If the cam surfaces aren't buttery-smooth, the bolt will feel stiff and obnoxious.
But if the cam surfaces are finished and polished properly, they're as easy to cycle as the average 90-degree action.
Click to expand...

A 60 degree bolt will magnify any imperfection in the cocking ramp / cam.

Strictly speaking a 60 degree bolt has to have a heavier lift than a 90 degree bolt, all else being equal. Now whether it's enough of a difference to bother you is a question of personal preference.
 
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