Properly Cycling A Bolt Action Rifle 

The first method you used is the preferred method of African dangerous game hunters for reloading because you actually see the round chambered because in their words "the loudest sound in Africa is CLICK"

I actually like bolt guns better than ARs. Dont know why, just do. There is just something about a nice bolt gun.

Saw this thinking that I could learn something new watching this and increase my skill using bolt actions, until i remembered im left handed.

With a 1917 Enfield you don't have to move your head when you work the bolt.

Beautiful rifle, My dad says my generation might not get to own weapons in the future. I want to know how to use, and handle weapons properly and not harm myself.

Excellent demo! One thing I might add is that operating the bolt is two actions. Up and then back. Many folks try to do both at the same time and end up getting jammed up on themselves. Good stuff bro!

I love bolt action rifles.The first time I fired one,I just thought"This is it."

Excellent demonstration. And something you can practice without burning through a fortune in ammo.

I 💓 bolt actions

Very helpful. I'm going to have to work a little harder at keeping my mosin nagant shouldered while shooting. I'll give these tips a try. Thanks!

Never too old to learn ! This saying can apply to young and old folks alike,..'old' can also mean, you've been firing rifles a long time even though you're 'middle aged'. I picked up a tip here watching this demonstration; where to place, and keep, the butt stock, and lift my head slightly for each bolt action. Thanks for this.

My two bolt guns are Mosin...an M44 and a 9130. Love the hell out of getting the crap kicked out of my shoulder! 😜

IMHO you're better off manipulating the bolt with the palm of your hand rather than your fingers. Fingers are weaker and smaller. When you come off the trigger have your palm facing upward and toward the bolt knob. Scoop the knob in your hand and lift the bolt handle. Angle your palm towards you slightly and pull the bolt back till it stops, roll your hand until it faces forward, slam the bolt forward and down. Now if you've done it right the bolt is locked, your face is still on the stock, and your hand has slipped back on to the stock's wrist and your finger has found the trigger. Practice this many times slowly. Over the days and weeks it will become second nature an yo can start picking up the tempo.

I am from Australia and automatics are band here so as a result we all got really good with bolt guns. An Australian with an old Enfield is as good as anyone els with an AR

Great video!! I've been shooting for years but it's always good to listen to others and learn little tweaks to one's technique that may help improve your shooting performance.

Don’t forget to palm the bolt while you’re doing everything else that was mentioned in the video

Great video! There's a special feeling about shooting a bolt action rifle compared to an auto or semi auto. It makes you feel more in control of the weapon kind of like driving a manual makes you feel more in control of the car. Keep making great content!

Excellent video. One exception, though, is large bore rifles with magnum-length actions (think 416 Rigby, 458 Lott, etc.). For more reasons than one you want to drop the rifle from the shoulder when cycling such an action.

I don’t remember practicing any of this but I found myself doing this when I shot at a running deer 100 yards away and shot three times, pretty fast and I think that is the reason why I now have one more deer than I did

91/30 mosin was my woods gun when i was younger always took it camping, the one main thing i liked about it over say my dads 7mm rem mag (rem 700) was the stripper clips, had to polish the bolt and ended up putting a timney trigger group in it but it's a good rifle as long as you leave the bayonet off. Have you ever thought about putting a peep sight on your 700?

virgin semi autos vs chad bolt rifles

Thanks a lot for posting this. Not a lot of info around about how to just shoot a rifle properly. This was a big help and showed me some of the mistakes I was making and now I will work to correct them.

Good video! I used to have a Mosin Nagant m91/30, but traded it and a few things for a Ruger American Predator in 308. Love it, and I'll try to use these tips next time I shoot. Say have any videos on proper handgun shooting?

It's been a while since one of your weapons manipulation videos. Thanks. I appreciate the demonstration. I have been considering an all purpose (best purpose?) bolt gun for a while. Do you have any recommendations for a good value rifle? Caliber? (thinking .308) or make? (considering Savage.)

Great demo. I get very aggravated when I see "experts" remove the rifle from their shoulder between shots. One suggestion: In most cases, it isn't necessary to lift your head between shots, especially when using a scope. This means you can keep your sights aligned at all times.

Even when you did it the "wrong" way you were still faster than most people. Good video. Amazes me to see lever action shooters remove the rifle from their shoulder as well.

I noticed many shooters dropping gun away from shoulders on the tube - seemed very wrong at the time.

Probably really good for a hunting application or long range quick but steady shooting but for a close up self defense scenario (within 25 yards) where you need rounds downrange fast but what you have on you at the time is a bolt gun what I have drilled myself to do is operate the bolt with my pointer finger and thumb and pull the trigger with my middle finger slamming the bolt backward and forward with each shot. It's pretty quick, can empty my 6 round magazine in 5-6 seconds, however my method does lose a lot of accuracy but if a threat is that close to you then you need to be putting out rounds. Using a Ruger American short action, btw. Of course for such close range it is better to have a semiauto, however in any real world scenario the best gun to have will be the one closet to you at the time even if it is a bolt gun, so might as well drill yourself to fully utilize any type of gun.

The celebrated USMC Scout /Sniper Carlos Hathcock lapped the bolt and lugs of his bolt action rifle . He spent innumeral hours working his bolt until he could make follow-up shots as quickly as a semi-auto rifle . In the two World Wars British riflemen were trained to shoot a " Mad Minute " with their bolt-action Lee-Enfield service rifles . Its reported that a squad could put out firepower equivalent to a machine gun using this technique .

hi another very good video. I already knew the points you touched on and am glad you mentioned short action bolt guns, I prefer them for the reason you stated also the smaller calibers in a bolt gun are much faster to recover from vis-à-vis recoil. I know I,m giving up some long range capability with them but prefer shot placement.

Fr:Mike@ThunderZone One of my preferred anchors is the sling. Proper use whether hunting or black guns to keep the weapon "at ready". The sling cradled around the forearm and a forward hold will keep the long gun tucked and ready heads up both eyes open...alot like snap or point shooting but more deliberate...happy Indepence Day 🇺🇸

Very good instruction. My Dad taught me bolt action technique back in the mid-1950's when I was a youngster.

All, watch a video of David Tubb shooting a bolt gun in rapid fire stages of XTC for an understanding of what’s possible when both accuracy and speed are important.

In long range high power rifle competition I rebuild the position,, re-shouldering for each shot. Why? It gives me a sense of position consistency which is lost after recoil has subsided. Also, abandoning the position allows plotting my shot calls/strikes in my score book and annotating wind effects/counters. At any rate, there’s a place to stay on the gun, rapid fire prone and sitting.

With Dangerous Game in thick brush you do not want to keep the rifle shoulder you bring it down with a Magnum caliber eject the shell keeping your vision unobstructed. Because in thick brush you need all your vision then you reshoulder the rifle and Fire. Most people aren't use to Magnum calibers and willshort stroke it if it is shouldered which causes you to not eject the shell causing a double Smoke Stack.

Yea great info and good demonstration...but what's your take on a Mosin application?

This warms my heart, fella. This is the way I was taught and it is the way I have always shot. I think folks are so used to seeing actors in the movies move the entire rifle away from their sight picture that they can't even imagine firing a bolt action this way. You hit the nail on the head. Consistency is key. Once one gets into the bad habit of moving so far away from their sight picture, the time it takes to get back on target increases immensely, as you say. And when doing multiple shots, those extra split seconds really add up. Getting into the shooting habits that you describe takes time but it is well worth it. Dry-firing is a great way to practice these skills...all day. I would add that I always kept both eyes open and that while the rifle recoiled, I took that time to focus real quick on the target so I wouldn't have to fish around for it in the scope, especially if I was tracking or trapping. While I don't have the eyesight that I once had, and I definitely can't focus from near to far back to near as fast, my good habits have kept that shooting time frame to a minimum. I have a feeling that you, Sir, would have no problem shooting 3 rounds that way in 8 seconds.

Great information. I've started following your suggestions at the range and my follow-up shots are much tighter. Thanks.

Seriously? Depends a lot on how long your arms are, how broad your shoulders are; etc., etc.

This is absolute nonsense of course! If you really feel the need to structure your life around these 'fantasy' situations; ditch the turn-bolt and get yourself a 'semi' or maybe spend the rest of your life in an AFV. If you're in a situation where your life depends on keeping the butt of a rifle tucked into your face between shots; you've made some very silly decisions to bring you to that point. You've also taken your situational awareness and thrown it down the shitter.

Excellent video with lots of great info! Thanks for sharing.

You should have bought a .308 and you wouldn't need to move your head off your target. It's a better round than .270 anyway.

Thanks for these tips. I’m just learning to shoot my Tikka t3x in 223, so I needed the tutorial.

This was very practical and good technique. Thanks!

I a few years behind but I am in the game! I have a .308 bolt action compact. I really appreciate this video

Great Vid, thanks! Here in the demented dominion of Kanukistan, bolt action practical work is an unfortunate reality.

Some shooters cycle the bolt action so choppy. Is there better quality/cycling bolt actions? If so how to you identify them?

You should go and visit with all the CEOs of all of the rifle manufacturers and tell them that they should make rifles for left-handers, and make them in all of the same models and calibers as they do for right-handers.

Gunblue490. Shows better way to cycle bolt. I was always taught never grab the ball.

Sounds like "reciprocate" is his word of the day!!!

As long as your cheek is nailed in to the stock your good So you’ll need to size it up on your own usage Your neck should not bend too much!!!!

thank you for sharing sir very helpful

Thought that was a shotgun in the thumbnail

C.A in 2020

4:13 look at the following 5 secs and you know what he wanna tell you in 7 minutes

I don’t even own a gun but i learned something today👍🏿

Are short action rounds like .308,7mm 08,.260 and .243 harder/stiffer to cycle in a bolt action due to the steeper angle of the cartridge up toward the neck?

Now, do it again but this time left handed.

Love the way this dudes check sits on the rifle

Take a shot every time he says reciprocating

Who would be shooting back at you ?

He has all the makings of a varsity teacher !

Unbelievably lame good night

do you have any tips on cycling a right handed bolt gun left handed

Awesome video I have savage axis 22-250

Okay, but can you hit a dime?

Great video thank you

A bolt gun with irons, nice to see

Thank you, sir.👍

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast

good stuff. thank you!

2:10 he doing the wave 🌊

Millers Outdoors, brilliant tuition demo, best I have ever seen. Even as an experienced shooter it reinforces some key points that are easy to let slide, but for the novice it is invaluable advice. BTW for those considering a bolt rifle for self defence, it is worth considering the shorter action rounds like 308 precisely for the reasons shown here, they makes cycling on the shoulder quite a bit easier.

I don’t usually shoot bolt actions but that was a good video

Thanks for the great video. I have a few surplus bolt action rifles but they were for fun. I just bought my first Remington 783 and appreciate all the info. I have subscribed and will be checking out your library for help with improving my shooting skills. Esprit de Corps

Love it !!!

Good video , more.....

3:35 Eye to rear sight. Close but no cigar; For scope, aiming eye should be roughly 2 to 4 inches from rear of 'standard' scope, a long eye-relief scope (like on a scout rifle) will be longer. Crowding the scope on a standard eye relief scope will give a 'scope cut' or at least a good smack about the orbit. Iron sights are either aperture (rear sight is closed circle) or open sights (buck horn, express or the square, "V" or "U" notch. Aperture sights are much like a standard eye relief scope. One needs to look through the aperture and focus on the front sight. Open sights one looks past the rear sight, which is usually further away from the eye and focus on the front sight. As close as possible is not correct for anything. Not mentioned: When cycling the rifle in practice or test firing, always bring the bolt to the full rear and have the action stop the bolt. This insures the empty case ejects and the rifle is ready to chamber a fresh round from the magazine. Practice doing so and when one needs to recharge the chamber, it's habit. (A good habit, like brushing your teeth.)

I'm new, needed that

Very educating video. In the end you said a very important words, these bolt action rifles are really very effective firearms.

I have a 410 bolt action and I enjoy shooting it more than my semi-auto handguns. It presents more of a challenge and there is more active participation in firing the weapon. If I only have a short amount of time to spend at the range I’ll grab that over the XD 9 or the Sig p238 every time. Wish the ammo wasn’t so expensive.

I like that rifle

You forgot to mention proper sling wrap on left arm, that not only aides in accuracy bit also helps tremendously to hold rifle in place while operating the bolt, other than that AWESOME video.

Super helpful.

Great video

Thanks for sharing your technique, how would you suggest for a right-handed rifle an a left-hand shooter. Just for curiosity. (Yes, there are shooters that uses the other hand) - cheers mate.

Thank you.

We all need advise one form or another. Weather you cover something I have know and quit doing or something all together new. Keep them rolling from time to time.

I really appreciate this vid! As a guy, we are supposed to already know this stuff from birth, so unless you go into the military, it's a little intimidating to ask another guy... "how do i shoot this thing?" BTW...i did my 20 in the Nav, but wasn't taught how to shoot a bolt gun.

I'm interested in the 'scout' concept rifle, I've seen vids of people struggling to cycle the Ruger scout as it catches/sticks during rapid cycling What's the fastest cycling 'scout'-like bolt rifle?

Hi. Thanks for the video. Your rifle looks like a model 700. I have the exact rifle set up the same way: scope mounts but no scope using open sights, with the ammo sleeve on the same stock.

I liked it. Pleasantly surprised. It's amazing how many people doing it wrong for years or even for their entire life time.

Thanks

In next video can you show how properly use screwdriver would you? Or how properly push a button. You got too moch time in live

This video helped me out a lot do you have one for cycling the bolt in the prone?

Thanks for all your hints and tips and for your time making and sharing this video with us. God Bless. Ash🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Sadly some people need to watch things like this but then again my opinion is if you are using a bolt action there should not be a need for a follow up shot, if there is, use a lever action or at worst a semi and a banana mag

Very insightful video. Loved it. Changed my perspective of bolt actions.

Great info But dry firing will kill your bolt just saying it for yourself But the video did help

Very good tips man,thanks!.. definitely helps a lot for me working on my form and will prevent me from starting any bad habits,again,thanks..thumbs up.