The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

I'm claiming copyright over this from the start!

At the moment all target rifle actions are a hollow cylinder with a slot cut in one side, with a bolt of at least the cartridge length plus the length of the locking lugs. This means some of the permitted overall length of the rifle is wasted in accommodating the bolt instead of being used for a longer barrel.

So, my idea is: design an action which consists of a cylinder which is open at the front to receive the barrel, open at the rear to receive the bolt, and has no slot in the side. Instead you could load the rifle by inserting the round from the rear of the action. The bolt could be greatly shortened to just the length necessary for the locking lugs, the mainspring and the handle, and the length saved could be added to the barrel instead.

Moreover, the lack of a side slot in the action would enable the bolt to be fully supported from all angles, as well as making the action as rigid as possible.

What do you think?

I think if it was feasible the major rifle manufactures would all ready of done it.

So a totally loose bolt? Similar to a falling or rolling block idea but with a twist off rear ?

Pretty much - you draw the bolt straight out of the back of the action to unload, after unlocking it.

Has already been done - by Wichita Arms back in the '70s. Had a shell holder boltface to retain the ctg while loading/unloading. Guess what they called it?

SD

Cannon action.

Some versions of the Asperley Aimless rifle use a free floating, gravity centring, unlocked bolt.

Why not have the barrel closed at one end, and drop the powder in from the muzzle, followed by the bullet and some wadding ? Drill a small hole down at the breech end and stick a hot taper in through it to ignite the powder? Very efficient use of barrel length and minimal parts cost, reduced machining complexity...

*Scurries away to Patent Office*

Surely the trouble would be in having to change your position significantly to reload?

StanDeasy wrote:Has already been done - by Wichita Arms back in the '70s. Had a shell holder boltface to retain the ctg while loading/unloading. Guess what they called it?

SD

A "Bench Rest Action".