long range rifle actions

[william clunie]

Hello fellow LRHs,
I'm looking to devote one rifle to long-range hunting. I will use it for hunting predators and deer. I don't care about weight, I won't be stalking, just hunting from a stationary position.

Bench-rest competitors usually use bolt-action rifles with excellent bullseye-punching capabilities. Camp Perry shooting involves semi-autos with pinpoint accuracy.

My question is this:

Have either of these actions proved to be more accurate than the other?

Thanks,

 

[Agunner012]

A bolt gun should out shoot a semi auto all day long. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

AG

 

[sharpshooter1]

All being equal (quality barrel, accurately faced lugs, stock bedded, etc.) the Bolt gun will edge out the semi-auto as far as accuracy, albeit not by much. The reason for this is that there are many more moving parts in a semi-auto that must come back to the exact same spot to put the next round through the same hole. That being said, a very preisely put together semi-auto with a quality barrel should shoot just as good if not better than most off the shelf bolt actions. The main advantage of a semi-auto is a very quick follow-up shot, while the bolt action takes longer to reload. I personally do not see how this applies to hunting, cause I always try to make my first shot count /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Cruizin]

Another thing is reloading. You can't use fireformed brass and a semi auto is pretty tough on brass and often dents it. I'm thinking this could result in different pressures that will affect velocities which would affect long range accuracy.

 

[william clunie]

Thank you all for your informative opinions. I'll probably go with a bolt.
William Clunie