Rifle ActionsMost rifles built today are solid, dependable, and safe. Different rifle actions give us some choices. The action type you choose is largely what you are attracted to, but there are some important differences. Gun makers have paid out some huge settlements when sued in recent years. Most gun accidents are more likely from operator error, ignorance, or poor judgment. But lawyers have become a part of gun design. The "lawyer effect" has been that gun makers sometimes build trigger pulls heaver than desired, and safety devices which can detract from the gun's functioning and appearance. I should add that this led to 'some' better trigger and safety designs. Long ago I heard this little story: A hunter is out with his wise old Indian guide when they hear five shots fired. The hunter says, "Someone got a deer!" The old indian guide says, "No deer!" The hunter ask, "Why do you say that?" The indian, "One shot dead deer! Two shots, maybe! Three shots, never!" While that is not always true; it's often true. The point; make your first shot count and you won't need follow up shots. Another truth is that the deer is often relaxed and standing for the first shot. More likely moving and harder to hit after the initial shot.
Single shots are among the simplest and maybe the safest guns. With no magazine; they are either loaded or empty. No magazine also means some of them are three or four inches shorter in overall length when compared to other action types. Single shots can be very accurate, strong, and can have great triggers. The best are among the highest quality guns made. A few good mid-priced models are also available. Some low-priced guns appear to be of decent quality, but some real "junk" has been made also. Not often seen in our country; the double rifle is like two single shots made into one gun. The combination gun is a single shot rifle usually on top of a single shotgun barrel (we make a few of these). Much less common the drilling is a single shot rifle built into a double barrel shotgun. These are sometimes really "cool," used more in Africa, Europe... Often they are of the very highest quality. Some cost about the same as your car, or even your house.
These guns will handle a wide variety of factory loads, and hand-loads (reloads); with few problems. The guns can be built as light or as heavy as needed. Many new bolt action guns are available in a wide variety of prices, and most are of very good quality.
Most of these guns have few advantages other than handling. The lever action is only a little faster to cycle than the bolt action, and not usually as accurate. They seldom have great triggers, and some won't handle the most modern cartridges. The typical guns have tube magazines which are slower to load and unload. The tube magazines should not be loaded with pointed bullets, unless they have soft plastic tips. The lever action is a "git-r-done" rifle action, and its done the job well for a long time. New style lever action rifles come and go. Marlin and Winchester have built millions of these guns, with little design change, for more than a century. There are some cartridges improvements however. The lever action may be like some beautiful women; you just love the way they look and feel, and sometimes that's all you need.
The pump gun is greatly loved by a group of eastern woods hunters, and a few others. If you go in a gun shop and ask to see a pump rifle it will probably be a Remington 7600 series. It's about the only pump center-fire rifle to stay in production. It may be a good choice if you already shoot pump shotguns, and hunt in the woods. It would not be a 'first' choice for a long range rifle.
That has changed, but not completely. Some would argue that the manually operated actions are still more dependable. The manual actions are probably more dependable, but they must be operated by humans... Today most semi-auto guns will reliably function with the correct ammunition. The typical semi-auto would not be a first choice for long range shooting. Typical trigger pulls and/or accuracy is still not on par with most bolt actions or some single shots. Reloaded ammunition may or may not function the gun, and the cartridge case will be ejected. Rifle action choice is almost unlimited if you are a short-range woods hunter. If you hand-load, or need serious accuracy, you most likely should use a good bolt action, or good quality single shot. We have more than 100 pages of information. Rifle Actions to Deer Hunting Rifles
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