Bolt action facts for kids
A bolt-action gun is a type of firearm that you load by hand. It has a special part called a "bolt" with a small handle. You use this handle to open and close the back part of the barrel, called the breech. After you fire a shot, you must open the bolt to put a new bullet into the gun. Many older sniper rifles and many hunting rifles today use this system.
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How Bolt-Action Guns Work
When you open the bolt, the first bullet in the gun is ready to be loaded. After you fire the gun, opening the bolt pulls out the empty bullet casing. Then, closing the bolt pushes a new bullet into place. This makes the gun ready to fire again.
Bolt-action rifles are usually very accurate. This is why they are often used by expert shooters. Because the shooter loads each bullet by hand, fewer parts move inside the gun when it fires. This helps make the shot more accurate. However, it also means the gun might kick back more than automatic rifles of the same size.
Why Militaries Chose Bolt-Action
Bolt-action rifles are slower to shoot than lever-action rifles. Both types of guns were invented around the same time. But armies around the world chose bolt-action guns to replace their older muzzleloader muskets.
They chose bolt-action because these rifles load from the top. This makes it easier for a soldier to load the gun while lying on the ground. It also means the soldier doesn't have to move their aim. With lever-action guns, loading from the bottom is hard when you are on the ground. You would have to turn the gun sideways, which would mess up your aim.
Famous Bolt-Action Rifles
Many famous rifles throughout history have been bolt-action. Some well-known examples include the Springfield M1903. Others are the G98, the Lee-Enfield, and the Mosin-Nagant. These rifles were used in many conflicts, including the World Wars.
Images for kids
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The AWM sniper rifle, a bolt-action rifle
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A Kelbly rifle action bolt that has been oiled to run smoothly.
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A US Marine extracts a fired cartridge from an M40A3 using a bolt-action mechanism
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JKB-15 Bolt Action AR Style Rifle
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A disassembled Karabiner 98k action
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Cutaway diagram of the Vetterli rifle's action.
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The Mannlicher M95/30
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Lee Navy Model 1895
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Heym SR 30 (1998), straight pull action. Lock up is achieved by 6 ball bearings around the circumference of the bolt head. This mechanism was originally developed for biathlon rifles.
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Merkel RX Helix (2010)
See also
In Spanish: Fusil de cerrojo para niños
