Looking for a crash-course on bolt action mechanisms. I don't have experience with a large variety of them, but the ones I used cock the hammer when the bolt is lifted, and I personally find this uncomfortable and would prefer something that cocks during the forward push of the bolt. Is there any bolt out there that does that? What rifles in your opinions have the smoothest and easiest cocking bolts?

What are the pros and cons of different cocking actions in a bolt rifle anyway?

Thank you in advance

All of mine de-cock on bolt lift

Cock on bolt close

1917 enfields and 96 mausers cock-on-closing....ive got a 6,5x55, a 9,3 x57 on a Swedish 96 mauser...and several 1917's in original 30-06....

The Model 60 Schultz and Larsen rifle has to be one of the slickest cock on closing actions ever made. Four massive locking lugs at the rear and a tubular action with a small opening for the cartridges sees this as one of the strongest actions produced. Apparently was tested at 120,000psi with no adverse effects.

The action internals and the bolt were polished to a glass finish and being rear locking there was no play in the bolt as it was cycled, cartridges also just glided from the magazine.

I had two of these S&L rifles but sold the M65 which was a cock on opening in deference to keeping the super smooth and exceedingly accurate M60.

The Sauer 202 cocks on opening but, nonetheless, offers the smoothests bolt travel/action one can dream of.

I find a 7mmRem Mag(now 300WM) Sako deluxe I have to be very smooth and easy.This could be because the bolt is nickle plated(if I have that correct).The rails could be made different too but I would need to check and see.Another that is incredibly smooth now but was once the very rough was a CZ 550 that Ralf Martini worked on.Ralf also worked on the Vektor on my custom rifle and that is almost as smooth as the CZ-but a different action altogether.My Satterlee actioned custom rifle should be finished this year and I cant wait to try and compare that.I think the strength of the spring can have something to do with cocking resistance too-that and design of the cocking and firing pin-spring mechanism.I know the Sako has a different such mechanism.

Cock on the opening is the better of the two by far..If you have a bolt gun that's hard to lift and tight, then in all likely hood the cocking portion (the deep V or U shaped part of the bolt body itself) probably got softened when the bolt handle was welded on..That needs to be heated a cherry red and dunked in oil to water or just water then polished. The bolt will become smoother and will lift with a little finger if all else is smooth...anyway its fixable.

Greasing the surfaces might help.

quote:

Originally posted by eagle27:
The Model 60 Schultz and Larsen rifle has to be one of the slickest cock on closing actions ever made. Four massive locking lugs at the rear and a tubular action with a small opening for the cartridges sees this as one of the strongest actions produced. Apparently was tested at 120,000psi with no adverse effects.

The action internals and the bolt were polished to a glass finish and being rear locking there was no play in the bolt as it was cycled, cartridges also just glided from the magazine.

I had two of these S&L rifles but sold the M65 which was a cock on opening in deference to keeping the super smooth and exceedingly accurate M60.

Arsehole................ I am extremly jealous. Yes, of all the bolt actions I have tried these are by far the smoothest.

The P14/M17 Enfields cock on closing as does the SMLE (commonly refered to as the 303)The SMLE action is smoother than the Enfield and most other bolt actions. The older Tikka's - Pre Beretta take over - are smoother than the Sako's but are cock on opening.

The styer Mannlichers that were rear locking are cock on opening from memory and very smooth.

Steyr Manns are front locking and cock on opening. and very smooth
Cock on closing; nothing wrong with them but most shooters don't understand them. So no new rifles are made that way. Yes, the SMLEs are the fastest, smoothest, bolt actions ever made. The Germans reported that every British infantryman was armed with a machine gun, sometime during WW1.

Blaser r93, r8

Problem with cocking on the closing of the bolt is it can push the rifle away from the shoulder, and that can be problematic with a dangerous game rifle. Its an abortion IMO. but fortunately and easy fix.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Problem with cocking on the closing of the bolt is it can push the rifle away from the shoulder, and that can be problematic with a dangerous game rifle. Its an abortion IMO. but fortunately and easy fix.

Yee of little faith. It is no abortion, worked well in one of the best battle rifles of all time. Not to mention Bell. His shooting style was to move the rifle forward off the shoulder with his left hand as he moved the bolt ti the rear. Then reversed the process to close the bolt. He was self taught. Didn't do him any harm with DG.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Problem with cocking on the closing of the bolt is it can push the rifle away from the shoulder, and that can be problematic with a dangerous game rifle. Its an abortion IMO. but fortunately and easy fix.

Being a lefty the rifle is always well away from my shoulder when working the bolt, never felt handicapped in any way, makes me observe the game in between shots and also become a more deliberate shooter instead of blazing away rapid and often ineffectual shots as some tend to.

Now when an ele or lion is 10 feet away and still coming I may review that but in the meantime life is good