What is the slickest centerfire bolt action?

[owlhoot]

Ever notice that gun writers avoid this subject?

My idea of the slickest action is the Sauer. One that would seem to need slickening up is the Ruger M77. A Pre-64 Win Model 70 can be slick. The British SMLE might be the best of the WW II military bolt guns.

What do you think?

 

[jrsolocam]

Colt Sauer without a doubt.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Browning A-Bolt II's are one of the slickest factory bolt rifles I've ever ran.

 

[highridge1]

Tikka

 

[Engineering101]

Old style (machined) Sakos - but I've never handled a Sauer.

 

[Barrelnut]

From what I've shot

1) Good ole Browning A-Bolt I
2) Savage maintained with a little graphite
3) Remington 700

 

[FEENIX]

My SAKO M995 is buttery smooth.

 

[howco]

Another vote for a bolts 1&2.

 

[Trickymissfit]

Ever notice that gun writers avoid this subject?

My idea of the slickest action is the Sauer. One that would seem to need slickening up is the Ruger M77. A Pre-64 Win Model 70 can be slick. The British SMLE might be the best of the WW II military bolt guns.

What do you think?

Blazer without a second thought
gary

 

[dmj]

Old style (machined) Sakos - but I've never handled a Sauer.

From the rifles that I've had the pleasure of handling I agree.

 

[Jluck]

My Steyr ProHunters actions are by a country mile the smoothest and bind or drag free of all my rifles and any I have handled. I have never had the pleasure of handling a Blaser.

 

[matemike]

My Weatherby Mark V and Savage 10 both work nicely, especailly with the weatherby getting the lugs lapped and savage getting an extended bolt handle.

However, even after those mods they do not hold a candle to my Browning Medallion A-bolt. I just love the light bolt lift, smooth slide, goes into battery every time whether chambering from the mag or doing a drop in. It chambers everything too, ballistic tips, hollow points, round noses, VLD's, SMK's, A-Max's, you name it.

Another vote for the A-bolt.

Only other actions I've tried are Rugers and Remingtons. Nothing special there.

 

[Deleted member 46119]

Old actions are slick, P17, R700, Weatherby, pre 64 M70.

New actions are eventually slick unless you are not shooting them.

Engineering wise: A Blaser has to be...

 

[morcey2]

I'll be the oddball here. The two smoothest actions I've ever handled are an Argentine 1909 and a Mannlicher-Schonauer in 30-06. I own the 1909 now, but the MS was more than I could afford at the time. The 1909 is one that was imported as 7.65x53 and reamed out to 30-06, but with a 0.313" groove diameter. It shoots 180gr round nose .308" bullets pretty well, but nothing else. Its destiny is to become a fast-twist 6mm Remington later this year. At least that's what it told me it wanted to be.

I don't have nearly as much experience as many here, but I've handled quite a few guns in passing and those two still stand out to me.

Matt