Hunting Rifle Platform

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dennishoddy

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I'd imagine that really depends on our age . . . . I have several ARs in various calibers that I'd take out hunting, but usually grab a bolt action.

I've taken my Grendel out a few times though.

I think most of us older folks would just take a bolt action out.
Nah, I'm an old fart, and the AR is my go-to platform now for game up to white tail. 5.56 up to different calibers in that same platform.
Elk hunting, it's a bolt gun because I don't have an AR in a big enough caliber.
 

RickN

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Bolt followed by lever action are the most popular in the US. Some states the other way around. Just depends on what you are hunting and the conditions. Hunting whitetail in thick brush, a lever in 30-30 or 44 are the most popular. Making long shots across more open ground, a bolt gun is the most popular. AR are just now starting to get popular for hunting.

Personally I use an old NO 4 MK 1 303 for almost everything and if I ever got a chance to go after deer it would still be my rifle of choice.
 

BobbyV

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Nah, I'm an old fart, and the AR is my go-to platform now for game up to white tail. 5.56 up to different calibers in that same platform.
Elk hunting, it's a bolt gun because I don't have an AR in a big enough caliber.

Ha. Sounds like we need to work on getting you an AR in .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor. :gun1:
 

Jcann

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As you can see from the replies, it's basically personal preference. Speaking in generalities a bolt gun should shoot more accurate, (although there are some very accurate gas guns) if you reload chances are you can drive the bullet faster/safer in a bolt gun and the bolt gun will probably be more reliable over its lifetime.

If I did a lot of hunting coyote's over a call or hogs on bait, I would probably want a gas gun. If I'm on the open plains after antelope or shooting across canyons after elk, a bolt gun is called for. Deer in Okla., take your pick. It really depends on the shooting distance, terrain type and what your mood is.

I more or less stopped shooting gas guns after I got out of the Corps. They are fun but I hated reloading for it. My bolt guns have not hindered me hunting and harvesting anything I've wanted. I feel I'm set up (6.5 & 7mm) to shoot in any situation set before me. I can shoot just as far and in most cases further and I can definitely bring more hammer to the nail.
 

MacFromOK

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I'm guessin' it varies a lot by caliber.

30-30s are going to be mostly lever-action by far. Other .30 caliber centerfires (.308, .30-06, etc) will be mostly bolt action, along with other old-school centerfires (.243, .25-06, .270, etc.).

Obviously, 5.56 (and maybe .223 now?) will be mostly semi-auto.

For .22LR, a pump action is my favorite, but I'd be surprised if that's the majority opinion. I'd guess they're mostly bolt-action as well (unless you're Catt57).

Just my 2¢ ...
 

Hangfire

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I didn't search for statistics but I would say that the classic bolt rifle is used more for hunting than anything else.

Many, many moons ago I started deer hunting with a used Marlin 336 lever chambered in 30-30 with a fixed Weaver 4x scope and killed a deer every year with it.

Then for some reason I figured that the 30-30 wasn't killing them dead enough so I picked up a scoped bolt rifle in 30.06 and for the next few years I also took deer with it.

After a few years I grew tired of the 06' recoil and I picked up another scoped bolt rifle this time chambered in 7mm-08 and I knew after the first range trip that I had found MY perfect deer rifle .......very accurate round, it drops deer just as well as the 06' and 30-30 and more importantly the cartridge is easy on the shoulder.

The 06' and 30-30 have been gone for several years but the 7mm-08 is here to stay.
 
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Oklahomabassin

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I must be new and don't know any better. Ha! @retrieverman
I started with single shot shotgun 12 gauge with slugs. I received a lever action 30-30 for a birthday/Christmas present. It was my go to rifle for deer hunting, predator hunting and plinking. I knew where that gun would shoot from 30 yards to 250 yards. It had a duplex scope and I knew hold over for different yardages. In my middle teenage years, I bought a bolt action 30.06. It was a Remington 700. It took the place of my lever action 30-30 and I became really proficient with it. I still have the single shot 12 gauge, the lever action 30-30 and the 30.06 bolt rifle, but now I often carry a 6.8spc AR 15 because it is threaded and wears a suppressor. I would rather not hear the loud muzzle blast now that I have experienced otherwise.
 

retrieverman

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I don’t necessarily take it hunting, but my Marlin 30/30 is “in the field” more than any rifle I own. This is where it stays until something needs killing. Loaded with LeverEvolution ammo and topped with a Schmidt Bender 6x scope.
hYEBsto.jpg
 

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