Push feed or controlled feed?

I like a properly tuned CRF in my repeaters just because I like the way they feed. A poorly tuned CRF is worse than any push feed action will ever be. A center feed magazine on a push feed action is really just as good though.

25WSM said:

I currently don't know anybody in PRS shooting a control feed action. Most are copies of 700s made by custom shops. I don't know of any true target type actions with crf.
Their might be a guy or 2 using a Winnie with crf but probably not.
Shep

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I'm not a PRS shooter but I don know a handful of guys shooting either ARC Mausingfield or Nucleus actions and one guy who's using one of the Defiance CRF actions. Then there are all the folks using the TL3 which is considered a CRF, even though it doesn't have a non-rotating claw extractor like a Win 70/Ruger 77 mkII/Mauser action.

Sam C said:

CZ makes a Mauser type action, are they any good?

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I have 2 CZ rifles and love them both. I is a 527 and one is 550.

Love the single set triggers on the CZs

Yorke-1,
My Browning X-Bolt Pro has a center feed magazine, something I know will give me reliable feeding.

It is only one of several reasons I chose it instead of the very similar SAKO Carbonlite which, interestingly, has CRF with its 3 lug bolt, an unusual combination. But the SAKO 85 series feeds from an offset feed magazine, not center feed. Browning has done a lot of things right with the X-Bolt series.

Eric B.

I own both. I have PFs Win Model 70 WinLite in 7mm Rem Mag, a Remington 700 VTR in 223 and my 30 Nosler. All shoot tiny groups. My Kimber Montana 270 WSM is a Model 70 CRF clone and it shoots tiny groups, too. I've never had one of my PF Rifles fail to chamber or eject a Cartridge, even messing around firing as fast as I can. It would appear that for most hunting applications, it really doesn't matter. But if you hunt or guide for dangerous game, you should pack a CRF. If your a target shooter, you'd be better served with a PF Action. Bottom line? Buy and shoot many of each!

Litehiker said:

Yorke-1,
My Browning X-Bolt Pro has a center feed magazine, something I know will give me reliable feeding.

It is only one of several reasons I chose it instead of the very similar SAKO Carbonlite which, interestingly, has CRF with its 3 lug bolt, an unusual combination. But the SAKO 85 series feeds from an offset feed magazine, not center feed. Browning has done a lot of things right with the X-Bolt series.

Eric B.

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I have one of the ARC Nucleus actions and those are a 3 lug CRF action too, it's a pretty cool combo.

While just about all of my rifles currently used for LRH and competition are push feeds, the bulk of my 50 years of hunting and shooting were done with controlled round feed designs. Either design will serve nicely for +90% of the requirements, and each has its particular merits. I still own and shoot several pre-64 Model 70 Winchester's manufactured on the 50's that continue to be my favorite action design, still functioning to perfection. While today, most the "cream of the crop" actions(and rifles) are push feed designs, I can remember back in the late 1960's, comparing a pre-64 Model 70 to the "cost reduced" push feed Model 70's and 700's. It was akin to comparing a Datsun Roadster to a Corvette. It took me many years to shake that perception.

I have rifles in both CRF and push feed, never had an issue with either, but if I was to build a custom rifle, I would go with a CRF action.

They both work but i prefer the push feeds, and if somebody was having problems with the shells falling out of a remington, I would say somebody widened the rails too far. I can hold my remingtons upside down and they still feed a round fine. But it's always shooters choice and it's nice to have options.

Lasiter said:

All other things being equal, if you have a failure to extract a fired case and the extractor pulls through/tears the case rim, it is far more likely to be one of those dinky, money-saving extractors than a big Mauser or Winchester.
That's why they are called "Big Game" rifles. Which would you prefer when facing a Griz , or two?

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I have a friend who "used" to hunt grizzly with a push feed Browning. On a grizzly charge, he fired one round, cranked back on the bolt so hard that the extractor pulled through the base of the case, the next round jammed up against the round that did not extract, and he was mauled quite seriously. All four in his hunting party now hunt with controlled feed rifles. I hunt with Ruger 77s for that very same reason. I white tail deer hunt with an older Remington 700 that I bought for my father 50 years ago for nostalgic reasons.

Sounds like an over pressure load.

My first serious rifle was a m70 Winchester pre64 action classic stainless boss....I have never had a failure to feed or eject....always smooth and reliable. I have a Kimber hunter that is very reliable too...both are crf. I've owned 3 r700s that all had feeding and ejection issues and a savage hog hunter with feeding problems...if I want my gun to work when I need it...I choose crf

Litehiker said:

All my rifles have been push feed since my first Rem. 700. So far no problems. I've had Ruger's and a Savage 99 C lever gun (yeah, push feed too). Currently I have a Browning A-Bolt and X-Bolt Pro which are 3 lug push feed bolts. All work very well.

Eric B.

BTW, The US SOCOM Precision Sniper Rifle Solicitation (1st and 2nd round) did not call for CRF in the specs for a modular (caliber/cartridge change) sniper rifle.
Both the Remington Defense 1st round choice and the Barrett MRAD 2nd round choice have PUSH FEED. That is how (un)important CRF is to the US military. And of course ARs and machine guns are also PUSH FEED. Seems to work for them in combat situations.
Jus' sayin'...
E.B.

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Winchester m70 pre 64 was used until Remington got contracts with the military....m70 is better safer more reliable more expensive platform just ask Carlos hathcock

A crf has nothing to do with extraction. It was designed to prevent double feeding in the heat of combat. The advantage of a push feed is closer tolerances can be maintained during design and manufacture that assist accuracy. There are very few true crf rifles manufactured today, but many have some features of crf and claim to be crf.