Working the bolt

[Tdruck]

Just a discussion...
As I get close to my first trip to Africa, I watch buffalo hunting videos every day. I watched one yesterday where the hunter using a heavy recoiling cartridge had to go to work on adrenalin crazed, heart shot, charging buffalo and he handled the bolt rifle like an expert. And put 4 accurate shots in him very fast.
But that seems to be the exception, I see a good number of hunters in the videos struggle with the bolt on their magazine rifles. Some jamb things up from what must be a short stroke. Some seem like they aren't a 100% comfortable with the mechanics of their rifle art all. Some put the rifle all the way down to their hip to cycle the bolt, like the physical weight of the rifle effects their ability to cycle the action. Many struggle to refill the magazine and hand the rifle to the PH to refill.

My first thought is that I don't want that to happen to me. Facing a cape buffalo or elephant would certainly have an effect on a hunter. Especially a first timer like me! Of course I don't yet know what that is like and I'm not being critical of anyone. Just making an observation. Obviously anything can happen, to anyone and the best of rifles and ammo.

I have live fired and dry fired both the model 70 and my Mark V plains game rifle as fast as I can accurately shoot. And do so regularly, especially with the .416 . Neither rifle has failed once. The model 70 bolt handle is pretty close to the scope when working it fast, I have knocked my hand off the bolt on the scope, but can recover quickly. The Mark V keeps your hand away from the scope a little better. I'd maybe give the edge to the Weatherby on speed and reacquiring the target, but it also has less recoil.

I feel like under stress, the most subconscious and automatic thing for me is handling the rifle. I've been shooting a lot with a model 70 .416. Part of each session is some quick follow up shots. I might fumble a bit trying to keep the empties from hitting the concrete floor to hard. But otherwise the rifles cycle great.

Am I seeing videos where hunters haven't practiced enough? Do some brands not cycle well. Is it Buffalo fever? Is it too much recoil? Are the long throws of the magnum length actions messing some people up?



TD

 

[uplander01]

The rifle has to feel like an extension of you, that only comes from many, many, many hours of actual shooting practice and handling the rifle daily to create muscle memory. However, most importantly as the traveling sportsman, practice off sticks so you are able to expertly put the first shot where it needs to go and the rest will work itself out. Along with this I would just say to get your mind right about dangerous game hunting and keep your cool, I'd rather get 2 well placed shots of then 4 that are not where they need to be.

 

[DaddyFlip]

Biggest mistake I see is grabbing the bolt handle knob with fingers rather than letting the palm of the hand do the work. There's no flow when grabbing and the resulting ham fist knocks into the scope. Learning to work the bolt with the palm allows for a smooth action in both directions while avoiding contact with the rifle or scope. Working the bolt with the palm requires less fine motor skill or dexterity; it's a macro-movement and a learned skill that isn't taught much to the average rifleperson. Plus, how many average hunters/shooters really need a fast follow-up shot or practice for one?

 

[K-man]

Practice under stress is the best for muscle memory. I’ve had family stand beside/behind yelling “shoot,shoot!!” While I reload. Moving targets is another way to be ready for an open shot. To be fair, lots of hunters are using borrowed/rented rifles and don’t have experience yet. Disciplined practice trumps nerves every time.

 

[Mekaniks]

Muscle Memory......Muscle Memory....Muscle Memory....Practice, Practice Practice

 

[375Fox]

You need to practice until it’s natural. I’m also often shocked how bad some individuals are at reloading in videos, but I also think I’ve had a lot more opportunity to shoot and hunt than hunters that live in the city. I also wonder how many are rental rifles? I always bring my own.

I’ve never jammed or short stroked one of my rifles 375 and under. I have short stroked my 450 Rigby on an elephant hunt. I found it difficult to practice to the level I needed because the recoil was so severe combined with cost of that ammo. I shot max 3 shots at range each time. It backfired on me during my hunt. The extremely long bolt length caught me compared to my other rifles combined with not practicing to reload fast at the range. I looked down and recovered quickly, but it was a mistake on my part.

 

[375Fox]

Biggest mistake I see is grabbing the bolt handle knob with fingers rather than letting the palm of the hand do the work. There's no flow when grabbing and the resulting ham fist knocks into the scope. Learning to work the bolt with the palm allows for a smooth action in both directions while avoiding contact with the rifle or scope. Working the bolt with the palm requires less fine motor skill or dexterity; it's a macro-movement and a learned skill that isn't taught much to the average rifleperson. Plus, how many average hunters/shooters really need a fast follow-up shot or practice for one?

I disagree. Everyone has a different shooting style. I grab the bolt. I’ve never knocked my hand into scope. Every PH I hunt with makes a comment a reload very quickly.

If I hunted more with a scoped CZ with a very high bolt throw I might agree it a necessary skill, but I see no need for this palm technique opposed to my own on other rifles.

 

[Corylax18]

Am I seeing videos where hunters haven't practiced enough? Do some brands not cycle well. Is it Buffalo fever? Is it too much recoil? Are the long throws of the magnum length actions messing some people up?

Yes. To all of these. But as @Mekaniks said, its all about practice. Both on the range and real experience in the field. Practicing on the range is great, but there is no replacement for the adrenaline rush and nerves that come with actual hunting experience.

I saw a video recently of a guy on his first elephant hunt and he couldn't even carry the, clearly, brand new double he purchased for the hunt. One shot he's cradling it, the next its over his shoulder, the next he's got some cheap sling wrapped around the barrel and butt. Slung over one shoulder, then across the other, then slung across his back, then a skinner is carrying it. The two shots it took to kill the elephant looked like the first two shots he took with the rifle, bad foot positioning, the recoil almost knocked him over, he sliced his middle finger deeply on the trigger guard. It was just a mess. I think its important to get very comfortable with all aspects of handling your weapon of choice, not just firing it at the range.

I would add one thing. Work the bolt like it owes you money. Your not going to break it and if you do, invest in a better rifle.

 

[Mekaniks]

Yes. To all of these. But as @Mekaniks said, its all about practice. Both on the range and real experience in the field. Practicing on the range is great, but there is no replacement for the adrenaline rush and nerves that come with actual hunting experience.

I saw a video recently of a guy on his first elephant hunt and he couldn't even carry the, clearly, brand new double he purchased for the hunt. One shot he's cradling it, the next its over his shoulder, the next he's got some cheap sling wrapped around the barrel and butt. Slung over one shoulder, then across the other, then slung across his back, then a skinner is carrying it. The two shots it took to kill the elephant looked like the first two shots he took with the rifle, bad foot positioning, the recoil almost knocked him over, he sliced his middle finger deeply on the trigger guard. It was just a mess. I think its important to get very comfortable with all aspects of handling your weapon of choice, not just firing it at the range.

I would add one thing. Work the bolt like it owes you money. Your not going to break it and if you do, invest in a better rifle.

Thats exactly right. Practice with your rifle at the range... Then take it hunting. Hogs, whitetals, antelope, elk..... whatever, it doesn't matter just go hunting.
Everytime you load, unload, squeeze the trigger and cycle the bolt helps build muscle memory and confidence.
If you ever end up in the situation that you have to follow up with multiple shots, you should not need to think about cycling the bolt or feeling the recoil. It just happens......

 

[coreydb]

Practice dry shooting and cycling the bolt the way you would be hunting. In that you'll be able to develop a system that's best for you. The key is practice practice practice. Train to the standard; perform at the standard.

 

[Tdruck]

My PH said the same - practice and practice more! Shoot off the sticks! His wife told me that he takes practice very seriously with his back up rifle. So I'm sure he would appreciate his client doing the same.
I think I have about 300-350 rounds through the .416. There should be 3 fresh boxes of ammo in the mail box tomorrow.

My favorite bolt to work is a model 700 but I don't have one for using in Africa at the moment.

TD

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I have the advantage of shooting standard length action rifles for both plains game and dangerous game. Plains game is WWII 30-06 Springfield and DGR is WWII Czech 98 Mauser built into 404 Jeffery. I've been hunting hard with the Springfield for over sixty years. I don't spend much time at the range because I don't need to. I do a bit of dry firing and cycling dud rounds from time to time just to make sure the gun and operator are still in tune. Magnum length actions have a significantly longer bolt which affords more opportunity for short stroking. I get a lot of static from dangerous game aficionados about building my 404 on a lowly standard action but it's safer, lighter, and a helluva lot cheaper than magnum action. What's not to like.

I shoot a lot of waterfowl with heavy recoil magnum twelve gauge so I'm no stranger to getting knocked about. And I shoot a LOT of skeet and clays with that gun (lighter loads of course) which helps immensely with technique for shooting running big game. If you can consistently hit targets at station eight skeet, you can hit a charging buff with DGR ... probably without even thinking about it.

I open the bolt with knob cradled behind the crook of right little finger and against the palm. I simply slide the palm ahead slightly to pocket the knob when cycling the bolt forward. I can cycle very quickly. Everyone's heard the story. Shot this gemsbuck incoming for me full gallop twice in the heart at less than thirty yards. First frontal and then through the shoulder as she ran by dead on her feet.

And no, I do not cycle my rifle on the shoulder. For followup shots I want it 1) out of the way so I can see clearly what the animal is doing and 2) down where I can quickly see, if needed, what's going on with the rifle if it jams. Also, I shoot skeet and clays low gun (shotgun at ready position when target is pulled) which teaches me to mount and shoot instinctively at moving targets all in one motion. High gun and the shooter will try to aim the shotgun. Then he's looking at barrel, looking at target, looking at barrel ... and wasting ammo. "Overthinking the shot." So, after the initial shot with my rifle, the gun drops to elbow level to cycle a fresh round while I refocus on the animal. Then gun is remounted while my eyes and mind are still on the running animal. Stay focused on the animal and muscle memory does the rest. Of course I have the advantage of shooting thousands of birds on the wing ... but not with a bolt action. However, the principles of focus and instinct are the same. I have shot two other animals with that rifle that were definitely trying to get me: bull elk and bull moose both wounded and both dropped very close range.

In all my years I've only had a failure to cycle once and that was last safari. PH and tracker were off sleuthing after a spooked herd of wildebeest while I was left watching a golden bull I couldn't shoot. Then the bull tipped me off that something was on the mountain above me. I leaned around the acacia bush and there was the bull gemsbuck I'd missed the night before looking at me. I don't usually carry anything in the chamber when hunting with others unless dangerous game, so I cycled a round into the Springfield ... but it jammed. Not sure why it jammed but the gun was down where I could work to clear it quickly. Put another round in the chamber and shot the bull on the run through the neck.

 

[Safari Dave]

I palm my bolt.

I have a CZ 550 and took it to my gunsmith in an effort to make the bolt handle less sharp around the edges of the hole.

He is an excellent gunsmith, but he just couldn't "get" the way that I work a bolt.

He used his fingers and couldn't understand why I used my palm.

I ended up just using it the way it was, and everything worked out just fine.


Didn't have time to find another "smith"

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Biggest mistake I see is grabbing the bolt handle knob with fingers rather than letting the palm of the hand do the work. There's no flow when grabbing and the resulting ham fist knocks into the scope. Learning to work the bolt with the palm allows for a smooth action in both directions while avoiding contact with the rifle or scope. Working the bolt with the palm requires less fine motor skill or dexterity; it's a macro-movement and a learned skill that isn't taught much to the average rifleperson. Plus, how many average hunters/shooters really need a fast follow-up shot or practice for one?

You're right. When I see.people grabbing the bolt knob with their thumb ant fore finger I want tell tell them to stop doing that. It's slower and they smack their knuckles on the scope. The other thing I see is people trying to ease the bolt back to catch the brass while at the range. Shooters will perform in the field the way they.practice. Easing the bolt back can result in short stroking and jamming up the brass. They should learn to use the open palm method and to rake the bolt back hard every time. It may look a little like "rifle abuse" but they were designed to work that way. And yes it's harder to collect your brass at the range, but it's easier for you to collect your brass than it is for the safari staff to collect your body parts because you couldn't get off a second shot.

 

[DaddyFlip]

I disagree. Everyone has a different shooting style. I grab the bolt. I’ve never knocked my hand into scope. Every PH I hunt with makes a comment a reload very quickly.

If I hunted more with a scoped CZ with a very high bolt throw I might agree it a necessary skill, but I see no need for this palm technique opposed to my own on other rifles.

I wager you are 'above average' in your manual of arms, unlike those in the vids mentioned by @Tdruck and the ones I watch. The natural inclination for the uninitiated is to grab the bolt handle, but this produces an awkward cycling of the action if the complete movement is not well practiced, even on rifle and cartridge combinations with little to no recoil. Regardless of method, you can tell who knows how to handle a rifle and who doesn't.

 

[DaddyFlip]

You're right. When I see.people grabbing the bolt knob with their thumb ant fore finger I want tell tell them to stop doing that. It's slower and they smack their knuckles on the scope. The other thing I see is people trying to ease the bolt back to catch the brass while at the range. Shooters will perform in the field the way they.practice. Easing the bolt back can result in short stroking and jamming up the brass. They should learn to use the open palm method and to rake the bolt back hard every time. It may look a little like "rifle abuse" but they were designed to work that way. And yes it's harder to collect your brass at the range, but it's easier for you to collect your brass than it is for the safari staff to collect your body parts because you couldn't get off a second shot.

The policing brass phenomenon is real. I bought a metal detector for this very purpose!

 

[roklok]

I am a bolt grabber, not a palmer. I can and do run a bolt fast from the shoulder. I have sent three rounds from a 700 at a running buck (killed with last round) fast enough during a PA deer drive that my hunting buddies thought was from another hunter with a pump rifle. Palming works for me on a rifle without a scope, with a scope it causes issues, so I just tend to grab. I will say placement of a bolt knob makes a big difference, both in acquisition of bolt and clearance around the scope. On my custom .458 I am taking to the Caprivi next month I cut the bolt handle off, welded in an extension to make it easier to grab and more clearance around the scope. The knob was too far forward and too tight to scope before I operated on it for a DG rifle. Before:

Cut knob off:

Welded in an extension:

Here is extended handle partially welded showing clearance around scope. I shot it like this a bit before fully welding to ensure knob is where I wanted it:

And finished product:

The clearance around scope is enough on this rifle the bolt could be palmed, but I am not going to mix it up at this stage, I have been grabbing the bolt for 40+ years.

 

[Sabre]

In general it is a lack of practice, and practicing in a way that is not beneficial in the field. Also, priorities after the shot. A lot of people prioritize peeking over the gun to see what's happening over cycling the bolt and following up.

People can argue all day about if you should palm or grab the bolt. It really doesn't matter. If you practice a lot with either method you will likely be very proficient and more capable than 80+% of the people hunting.

The vast majority of hunters don't practice shooting, cycling, or reloading. There are a large percentage of hunters who don't even check the zero on their gun each year. If they don't get a shot at a deer for a couple years, they might have gone a couple years between even shooting their gun at all. Then a lot of people will shoot and then not even cycle the bolt and putz around looking at the animal they were aiming at to see what's going on before deciding if they want to cycle for a second shot or not.

If you get in a habit of cycling immediately and cycling the bolt with authority, you aren't as likely to have issues in a high stress environment.

 

[BlueFlyer]

On my custom .458 I am taking to the Caprivi next month I cut the bolt handle off, welded in an extension to make it easier to grab and more clearance around the scope. The knob was too far forward and too tight to scope before I operated on it for a DG rifle. Before:

All my bolt guns have had new bolt handles welded on to ensure that there is sufficient clearance to the scope. Too many factory rifles have just enough clearance.
I grab to open and palm to close, off the shoulder.

 

[BlueFlyer]