I am not saying things like a bolt handle breaking off is an every day occurance but it does occasionally happen and while I have not had it happen to me personally a customer brought a Remington in the shop just two days ago with a bolt handle that came off the bolt body. It is sitting in the shop right now.

Venting in the bolt body is just added insurance should something bad happen like an obstructed bore, reloading with the wrong powder, pierced primers, etc... It vents escaping gasses away from the shooter. Again not something that happens every day but if it did happen to to you then you would certainly appreciate those three vent holes.

I see broken extractors in Remingtons often enough to know that they are incredibly weak compared to other extractors. Why do you think so many people install Sako extractors on Remington bolts? Because they break.


Both are good rifles but the Howas & vanguards are better rifles IMHO.