Re: IBU Biathlon rifle
Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 2:06 am
I used to run Summer biathlon. You don't actually run with the rifle - you run loops on tracks and the loops pass by the range, where you pick up your rifle. I don't know why you don't run with the rifle, except perhaps running is not as smooth a motion as skiing, and it gets unpleasant with the barrel of the rifle hitting you in the back of the head every step.
I own an Anschutz biathlon rifle with a Fortner action. In my opinion, this is the most elegant straight pull action. The bolt is a tube that has steel balls in it that project partially outwards. THe receiver has a groove inside that the balls expand into. THe balls are forced outwards by a spring loaded taper pin that has the bolt handle attached. When you pull the bolt handle back, the taper pin retracts, the balls collapse inward, and the entire bolt slides back. Since the taper pin is spring loaded, all you have to do is push the bolt forward with your thumb, and the balls pop into the groove. Very slick.
Then there is the Russian version that has a toggle action, that locks the bolt forward by going over-center in it's pivot, much like when you stand with your knees locked.
Finally, there is one that I have only seen on TV that has some sort of rack/pinion arrangement where there is a handle, perhaps a pistol grip, so that you simply twist the grip to cycle the bolt. Unlike the other two, you don't need to open your hand or remove it from the stock to cycle this action. Never seen one of these in person, so I am only guessing at how it works.
By the way, aiming when you are out of breath and your heart is pounding is not an easy thing, made all the worse by the demoralizing effect of having to run extra penalty laps for every miss, after you already feel like you want to throw up .... I was doing this at 40, and with a few extra pounds on me. The kids were running circles and making it look easy.
I own an Anschutz biathlon rifle with a Fortner action. In my opinion, this is the most elegant straight pull action. The bolt is a tube that has steel balls in it that project partially outwards. THe receiver has a groove inside that the balls expand into. THe balls are forced outwards by a spring loaded taper pin that has the bolt handle attached. When you pull the bolt handle back, the taper pin retracts, the balls collapse inward, and the entire bolt slides back. Since the taper pin is spring loaded, all you have to do is push the bolt forward with your thumb, and the balls pop into the groove. Very slick.
Then there is the Russian version that has a toggle action, that locks the bolt forward by going over-center in it's pivot, much like when you stand with your knees locked.
Finally, there is one that I have only seen on TV that has some sort of rack/pinion arrangement where there is a handle, perhaps a pistol grip, so that you simply twist the grip to cycle the bolt. Unlike the other two, you don't need to open your hand or remove it from the stock to cycle this action. Never seen one of these in person, so I am only guessing at how it works.
By the way, aiming when you are out of breath and your heart is pounding is not an easy thing, made all the worse by the demoralizing effect of having to run extra penalty laps for every miss, after you already feel like you want to throw up .... I was doing this at 40, and with a few extra pounds on me. The kids were running circles and making it look easy.
