Rotary bolt design?

Slugs Away

AH veteran
Joined
Jan 22, 2016
Messages
145
Reaction score
54
Location
In my tent, BC Canada
I have noticed that winchester and benelli are using a rotary bolt design on there pump action shotguns, just curious for your opinions on the rotary design.

Thank you.
 
If a breech-block rotates about the bore axis to lock or unlock, it is a breech-bolt (or bolt for short). If it does not rotate about the bore axis to lock or unlock, it is simply a breech-block. That being said ... a breech-bolt should, in theory, provide stronger locking and a degree of camming action, both of which could be useful with high pressure goose-hunting or slug loads. I suspect that it is a simple matter of keeping the guns as idiot-proof as possible.

My opinion, others may disagree.
 
Rotary bolt is a tautology. Mr Ruger may be the guilty party here, in that he described the unlocked breech-block on his 10/22 rifle as a [breech] bolt whereas that term can truthfully be applied only to ... a locking breech-block that rotates about the barrel axis, to lock and unlock.

This is why the AR10 and AR15 have [breech] bolts sitting in [breech] bolt carriers; and the FN FAL , SLR L1A1/L1A2 with their tipping block actions, have breech-blocks, sitting in breech-block carriers.
 
I see, excuse my ignorance. I had to wiki to find out the meaning of "tautology". Thanks for your replie.
 
I have used Winchester 1200 shoguns with the rotating "bolt" - they worked reliably, with a little more resistance to the pump stroke than typical tip up locking mechanism like a Rem 870 or Ithaca 37. I prefer the latter design, - shorter stroke, a tiny bit quicker and a little easier to operate. But the Winchester design is strong and was perfectly acceptable to me.
 
I truly dislike getting brutalized buy a 3 1/2" magnum so I buy autoloaders for hunting and pumps for IDPA
 
My earlier Winchester DEF 1300 also had a rotating bolt. But let me try and explain in laymans terms. The bolt/slide is a solid piece of metal that slides forwards and backwards but does not turn. On the front part of this bolt the head about 1/5 is a loose part that is rotating about a quater turn. So the bolt doesn't turn, but only the bolt head/face.

The idea is to make extraction easier to pull backwards with a twist and more reliable loading using the same twist principle. During exercises in the army Berretta roit shotguns were prone to unloading/loading failures in the hands of a novice shooter. When shooting the Winchester there was less unloading/loading failures in the same exercise
 

Forum statistics

Threads
63,679
Messages
1,401,620
Members
126,385
Latest member
LynellLitt
 

 

 

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

1760558427422.png

Flights Booked
Hotel Booked
Booth Booked

We are very excited to come to Salzburg for the first time.
Should you at all have any interest in hunting with me and want to discuss different options please do not hesitate to contact me and we can set something up.
Hyde Hunter wrote on malcome83's profile.
where are you located? I would be happy to help you with you doing the reloading but I will only load for a very few real close friends as posted before liability is the problem. but will help you.
Screenshot 2025-10-09 at 7.53.47 AM.png
A two minute video I made of our recent Safari. I think it turned out well
Speedster wrote on Sue Tidwell's profile.
Just received your book. It will be a Christmas present from my wife. Looking forward to read it.
 
Top