Are These Really the TEN BEST Bolt-Action Rifles?
A while back, RifleShooter online magazine published a list of the purported Ten Best Bolt-Action Rifles of All Time. Ten classic rifle designs (including the Remington 700 and Winchester Model 70) were featured with a paragraph or two explaining their notable features.
“Best” Lists Stir Controversy…
These Top 10 lists are always controversial. While most readers might approve of half the entries, there are always some items on the Top 10 list that some readers would challenge. Here is RifleShooter’s Top 10 list. What do you think? Are there some other bolt-actions that are more deserving?
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1. Springfield M1903 |
6. Sako L61/AV |
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Swiss K31
Remington Model 700 should obviously be first in line. The only one out of the bunch worth making a match rifle from.
T3T parce que je le vaux bien.
The Mauser 98 is the father of most bolt action rifles. I certainly would put the Lee Enfield No 4 and No 1 and Mosin Nagant in the top 6.
This list is worthless without some parameters.
Is the rifles rated by feelings of facts? Sales or how innovative it was when it was dewoloped?
Is it a compromise between price and quality? Or is it simply The Best quality Gun?
As a High quality produktion Gun, from before production costs made The choices in The industry, The Sako 75 light have a Place in The list.
White in The Harppy owner of a Remington 700, i don’t See what it is doping on The 4th Place.
Remington’s entry should be the 40-X, specifically. The 700 is certainly popular to rebarrel for competition, but mainly because single round loading goes with push feed bolts, and it’s so very accessible. Likely the strongest and most difficult to make, the 9 lug Mark V for magnums doesn’t have a .308 bolt face, removing itself from suitability for most competition rifles.
The new Musgave top of the list…SAKO lost it when they discontinued models made in the 70 ‘s
My vote number one savage 10. Just look at how everybody in the industry has tryed to copy the accutrigger. Also look at how the newest rifles from Remington model 783 has a barrel nut, Ruger American smooth barrel nut with accutrigger clone. Even Bergera has a floating bolt head.
Tikka should definitely come closer to the number one place. Out of ten rifles sold in New Zealand , 4 or 5 must be tikkas. The old sako used to be very good, the model 75 was definitely a drop except for its stock which was one of the best design ever made for a hunting rifle.
The Winchester 70 pre 64 is very heavy in a short action but the right weight for heavy recoiling magnum caliber in its long action configuration. I can’t see how the Springfield could be number 1, except for a bit of American patriotism ( nothing wrong about it
it is a very American top 10 list. The rest of the world wouldn’t give a rats ass for Springfields and Winchesters…
Certainly have to agree with Steve , to a point . Mauser 98 in the top three , and you can put the Mosin-Nagant right there , too . Very few “Bolts” been around as long as the M-N , and still being used in conflicts today , all around the world . Enfield in the top five or six .
Well, let’s see: The M98 should precede the 1903 because the 1903 was a knockoff (and inferior, except for the peep sight) of the M98.
Then the 1903.
Then the M70.
M700 … “It’s not a bug, it’s a feature kBOOM”
Interesting list. From a design standpoint, even with the exclusion of the Blaser R93 & R8, it might be arguable that the list is complete. But from a real world, what’s on the shelf as currently built list. With the quality control problems coming out of some of the manufacturers today, a couple have no business being anywhere near this list despite production numbers.
What is the criteria for a great rifle? Accuracy, reliability, rate of fire, effective power, ease of use… Are we looking at the greatest sporting bolt action (hunting, first shot effectiveness) or best military bolt action (ease of use, cost of manufacture, reliability)? Should be two separate lists. I would vote Enfield the best military bolt action and Rem 700 or Ruger 77 best sporting bolt action.
1) Mauser 98
2-10) Fill in the blank
the controlled round feed stuff is some of the biggest bunch of hooey ever foisted on the rifle shooting public. The 700 should be absolutely at the top of the list with the Tikka T3 a close second.
My favorite remingtons are the 1917 Enfield and Model 30. The SMLE is a favorite as well arguably the top of the list.
This list would change dramatically with one additional question.
What is the rifle going to be used for.