Sniper Rifle Question

[ErSwnn]

Why are sniper rifles almost always bolt action? All i can think of is so shells aren't flying around potentially revealing the shooter and/or to not accidently fire twice.

[Swarner793]

I believe years ago, the bolt lock up was more positive on a bolt action than on an autoloader. With machining technology being what it is today, it is developing into an even playing field.

Be safe.

Scott

[Agent Smith]

I believe it's because bolt actions are more reliable, accurate, and consistent vs. an autoloader.

[1iarrowking]

First some brags. My nephew left the USMC about a year ago. He was a sniper. He served in Iraq for a full tour. Then a tour in the fleet after which he did in and out missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. He started sniper school in a class of 38. 16 finished. there were still 18 at rifle qualification and he qualified 3rd with 1 miss at 900m and 1 miss at 1000m shooting 35 rounds at ranges of 600m to 1000m. The kid can shoot. He loved his Remington 700 enough to buy one to bring home. Hated his Berretta. What Agent Smith said. Especially the accuracy.

[Brown-Bear]

Why are sniper rifles almost always bolt action? All i can think of is so shells aren't flying around potentially revealing the shooter and/or to not accidently fire twice.

The reason you stated above plus they tend to promote patience, and slowing down to make the shot the 1st time.

Semper Fi, and tell your nephew thanks.

Dave

[General Geoff]

Higher reliability and accuracy, mostly. Though the autoloaders are catching up in both of these fields, to the point where the M110 is slated to replace the M24 in the United States Army.

[Statkowski]

My son used a Barrett .50-caliber M-107 in Indonesia. While in Germany they had him train with an M-14 for Iraq. It's not super-long-range like the .50-cal., but it can still reach out and touch someone.

[TonyF]

Why are sniper rifles almost always bolt action?

The only viable semi-auto available until the advent of the M16A4 SPR's was an accurized M14 but it was difficult to maintain the glass bedded Action in the field.

The other issue is that in addition to the recoil impulse, the semi-auto's bolt / bolt carrier / operating rod add movement to the platform as the weapon cycles.

[ErSwnn]

Thanks to all for the info. So it seems to come down to bolt action is just plain old more reliable. Though I never did think about patience, which makes good sense.

[SFMarine]

PSG-1 is considered "one of the best" and it's semi-auto. So it's not always the case. But of course budget wise, the Military goes with bolt-action.