Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Bolt verses lever gun accuracy

Comments

8 comments

  • Ray Boone
    "in general" a bolt action is more accurate than a lever because the turn-bolt has more leverage on the final lock-up so can obtain a tighter fit with the cartridge. The tighter fit can result in more consistency of fit which results in less deviation in the paths of the bullets, which means more accurate. However, this is not to say that a lever is inaccurate. The tubular magazine attached to the barrel contributes to variation, which results in less accuracy. When unencumbered by a magazine, a lever can be quite accurate. I had an article published about twenty years ago regarding a Winchester 1885 that I shot groups at 200 yards that went into an inch, fine accuracy for even a bolt action.
    0
  • charliemeyer007
    Generally bolt guns are in a one piece stock.
    0
  • Permanently deleted user
    I must be missing something. Are bolt action chambers machined differently than lever guns. If not, how would the cartridge fit tighter?
    0
  • Permanently deleted user
    Thanks for all of your input guys.

    Sage1
    0
  • iceracerx
    Most lever guns have tube mags (Savage 99 and Win 1895 being but two exceptions) and thus require round nose or flat nose bullets.

    Bolt guns can fire any projectile shape, with a Spitzer or Spire point being more accurate than the round nose at greater distances.

    "All things being equal" I would suggest there would be no difference in performance between the two types of rifles.

    Bolt action 30-30s were very popular 'brush' guns for Michigan white tail.
    0
  • JimmyJack
    Another exception would be the rotary bolt and the Winchester 88 action.
    0
  • JimmyJack
    Another exception would be the rotary bolt and the Winchester 88 action.
    0
  • yoshmyster
    So I guess it boils down to bullet shape. Those tipped rounds for the lever guns must be more "accurate" then the regular rounds of the same weight and charge.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity

Didn’t find what you’re looking for?