Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
01-17-2002 | 12:00 PM
#52
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 337
Likes: 0
From: Meridian MS
RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
I'll give an example of a semi-auto that jammed a lot and it wasn't because of cleaning. My hunting partner's .270 BAR jammed every second or third shot. Three trips back to the factory failed to solve it. It was finally stolen in a break in several years after he'd quit using it in favor of a bolt gun. He was happy to be rid of it in trade for the insurance money.
I'm not bashing the semi-auto, but to say that something much more complex mechanically is as reliable as a simple bolt mechanism is simply not correct. Also, the military and police argument that constantly gets thrown into these arguments has no merit, military and police operate in units of between 2 and 20,000 men. If one rifle jams then there are others there to take over while the jam is cleared, it's called mutual support. Hunter's generally operate alone and the most reliable rifle is more important in that situation. Plus, a bolt action can be cycled and shot very quickly in the hands of a competent shooter, it gives up very little in practical follow up time to a semi-auto. If you want to hunt with a semi-auto then go ahead, your deer will most likely be just as dead as the bolt rifle hunter's deer, but let's not overstate the difference in follow up shot time between a bolt and a semi-auto. There's very little difference between the two and the bolt's numerous other advantages are the reasons I prefer them. All will kill deer so use the one you like best.
Edited by - boltman on 01/17/2002 13:02:33
I'm not bashing the semi-auto, but to say that something much more complex mechanically is as reliable as a simple bolt mechanism is simply not correct. Also, the military and police argument that constantly gets thrown into these arguments has no merit, military and police operate in units of between 2 and 20,000 men. If one rifle jams then there are others there to take over while the jam is cleared, it's called mutual support. Hunter's generally operate alone and the most reliable rifle is more important in that situation. Plus, a bolt action can be cycled and shot very quickly in the hands of a competent shooter, it gives up very little in practical follow up time to a semi-auto. If you want to hunt with a semi-auto then go ahead, your deer will most likely be just as dead as the bolt rifle hunter's deer, but let's not overstate the difference in follow up shot time between a bolt and a semi-auto. There's very little difference between the two and the bolt's numerous other advantages are the reasons I prefer them. All will kill deer so use the one you like best.
Edited by - boltman on 01/17/2002 13:02:33
