{"id":3551,"date":"2020-12-14T22:45:25","date_gmt":"2020-12-14T22:45:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/?p=3551"},"modified":"2020-12-29T06:02:29","modified_gmt":"2020-12-29T06:02:29","slug":"types-of-rifles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/types-of-rifles\/","title":{"rendered":"Types of Rifles – The Most Common Among Shooters"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Guy J. Sagi<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The creativity and engineering prowess poured into today\u2019s rifles may be unlimited, but all firearms fall into distinct categories defined by their method of operation\u2014regardless of cosmetics. Here\u2019s an abbreviated look at the five major types of rifles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Types Of Rifles<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Break-Action<\/li>\n
  2. Lever Action<\/li>\n
  3. Pump Action<\/li>\n
  4. Bolt Action<\/li>\n
  5. Semi-Auto<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Break-Action Basics<\/b><\/h3>\n
    \"a

    The simplicity of the break-action rifle can be a plus for hunters who require large calibers for big game.<\/p><\/div>\n

    Yes, these back-to-basics versions still exist, despite the relative rarity on gun store shelves. They\u2019re reliable, trustworthy, and don\u2019t attract a lot of attention. Most rifles in this category have a single barrel, with a couple of interesting exceptions.<\/span><\/p>\n

    A break-action\u2019s operation is straightforward, simple, and adds a layer of safety when introducing new shooters to the sport. The barrel\/chamber rotates down from the receiver assembly\u2014trigger, stock, firing pin, etc.\u2014for removal or insertion of cartridges. When left open this way it all but eliminates any chance of a negligent discharge, even if a branch somehow engages the trigger during a long hike. It also makes it easy to visually determine if the gun is \u201csafe\u201d from a glance.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Multiple Triggers, Multiple Rounds<\/h4>\n

    A hinge makes rotation almost effortless. The barrel and receiver rotate and seat back together after inserting ammunition, although even then the rifle may not be ready to fire. In some cases, hammers need resetting. In others, they do so upon closing, but a safety can automatically engage. Don\u2019t look surprised at the multiple triggers, either. They allow shooters to select the cartridge or shell dispatched with each pull of the respective trigger.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Double-barreled dangerous game rifles chambered in heavy-hitting cartridges\u2014with names that end in Nitro Express, H&H, Rigby, and others\u2014are usually associated with safari hunters and their occasional need to stop rogue elephants. This style, however, can also digest more familiar and less-painful loads. There\u2019s no denying the style is timeless.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Drillings, sometimes called combination guns, have multiple barrels that are not identical in caliber. They are extremely popular in Europe, although the addiction isn\u2019t quite as catching in the states. Expect at least one barrel\u2014sometimes two\u2014to digest shotshells, but another will chamber rimfire or centerfire rifle cartridges. The attraction is undeniable for small-game hunting.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Lever Action Rifles<\/b><\/h3>\n
    \"a

    Henry makes a variety of different lever-action rifles with more caliber options than you’d expect.<\/p><\/div>\n

    Make no mistake about it, lever-action rifles are far more complicated machines than they appear. Done right, all the parts work in unfailing concert to provide an effective, yet hard-to-beat nostalgic experience. Winchester \u201cwon the West\u201d with lever-action styles in the 1800s, but modern manufacturing continues to produce amazing specimens of this species.<\/span><\/p>\n

    How Does a Lever Action Work? Operation is simple. A large loop under the trigger and stock rotates down, away from the rifle. That opens the action while extracting and ejecting empty or loaded cartridges from the chamber. Reverse the motion and the bolt glides forward, picks up any ammo stored in the magazine below and seats it properly into the chamber, locking the thing tightly in preparation for the next shot.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Lever Action Tubular Mags<\/h4>\n

    A tube-shaped magazine runs beneath and parallel to the barrel. Cartridge-carrying capacity varies by model and chambering, but in all cases the ammo lines up single file for feeding\u2014bullet nose touching the base (primer) of the cartridge in front. That makes selecting the right ammo, particularly a centerfire version, a critical safety consideration. Pointed bullets not designed for the duty can strike the primer ahead during recoil with enough authority to touch off a round.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Hornady\u2019s LEVEREvolution is a good example of a safe-to-use modern load with polymer tips that improve exterior ballistics. For nostalgic hunters or wannabe lawmen, the lever action is a prized and very common type of rifle among modern shooters. As a result, Widener\u2019s offers a wide<\/span> variety in .30-30 Win. ammo<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to keep those rifles fed.<\/p>\n

    Pump Action<\/b>\u2014Hunting, Target Shooting<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
    \"a

    The pump-action Winchester Model 62A rifle is a classic rimfire plinker.<\/p><\/div>\n

    Shotgun versions get the glory while pump-action rifles\u2014sometimes referred to as slide-action\u2014live in relative anonymity. Some timeless favorites use this method of operation, including the rimfire-digesting Winchester Model 62 and Remington Model 12. The Remington 760 and 7600 centerfires continue to be popular options, with the latter still in production.<\/span><\/p>\n

    A shooter slides this rifle\u2019s fore-end\u2014sometimes called a forestock\u2014back and forth during operation, with spent casings extracted and ejected during the rearward cycle. Pushing it forward again picks up a fresh cartridge from the magazine, chambers it, and locks things pressure-tight at the full-forward position. It\u2019s now ready to fire and repeat the process.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Magazine styles vary, from drop boxes to tubular versions. The latter, naturally, requires the same lever-action attention to cartridge choice.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Bolt Action Rifles<\/b><\/h3>\n
    \"a

    The Remington Model 700 is a bolt-action rifle that comes in a variety of centerfire calibers.<\/p><\/div>\n

    Instead of a separate mechanism forcing the bolt to extract, eject, pick up and chamber a round from a \u201cremote\u201d location, bolt-action rifles employ a much simpler handle. It\u2019s short, direct, and about as close to unfailing break-action simplicity as you can get. Even after more than 100 years of service, the bolt action is still one of the most popular rifle types.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Push it forward and the bolt picks up a fresh cartridge and chambers it, ready to shoot. After a shot, bring it back, and the empty brass extracts and finally ejects. In most cases, the bolt rotates slightly at the forwardmost end to attain full lockup, where it contains all pressure properly in the chamber. It requires an identically slight twist to unlock and start the rearward stroke. There are, however, a rare few bolt actions termed \u201cstraight pull\u201d that don\u2019t require that extra motion.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Magazines for Bolt Actions<\/h4>\n

    Most bolt actions have magazines. Capacity varies by model and cartridges the rifle digests. Their configurations are often different, with some of them removable from the bottom for easy reloading. Others are a permanent fixture, and their ammo is either stuffed f from directly above or below after opening the bottom metal.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Bolt-action, single-shot rifles also exist. They are also a great place to introduce newcomers to the sport because removing the bolt provides the same unfailing safe-for-travel configuration as break actions. Its \u201cmade safe\u201d status is also obvious.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Popular Types of Rifles: Semi-Autos<\/b><\/h2>\n
    \"a

    The Knights Armament Company SR-15 E3 Mod 2 Semi-Auto Rifle chambered in 5.56.<\/p><\/div>\n

    Modern semi-automatic rifle bolt carrier groups cycle back and forth in the same fashion as their bolt-action siblings. The difference is in their ability to capture energy or gas generated during each shot and repurpose it to perform that chore without a shooter ever working a lever, bolt or pump. The cycling is fast and efficient<\/a>, but each shot requires a separate trigger squeeze.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Semi-automatic rifle operating systems vary considerably in design. Even modern sporting rifles come in different varieties, including traditional gas impingement or the slightly later-arriving piston-driven system. Other guns get the work done for you by tapping into the energy of recoil or by the blowback mechanism typically found in rimfires.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Magazine capacities vary in nearly all the models, from hunting-friendly five- and six-rounders, up to the 30 or more ideal for competition and lengthy range sessions. This variety of options makes the semi-auto one of the most popular rifle types. A visit to your favorite gun store makes it obvious looks, accessories, and features are virtually limitless.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Summing It Up<\/h4>\n

    Modern ammunition options are the same\u2014improved and better than ever. There\u2019s never been a better time to dust off that break action that\u2019s been collecting dust in the closet, or empty a few mags at the range – no matter which variety of the types of rifles sit in your gun cabinet.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    By Guy J. Sagi The creativity and engineering prowess poured into today\u2019s rifles may be unlimited, but all firearms fall into distinct categories defined by their method of operation\u2014regardless of cosmetics. Here\u2019s an abbreviated look at the five major types of rifles. Types Of Rifles Break-Action Lever Action Pump Action Bolt Action Semi-Auto Break-Action Basics […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":6444,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[661,747,748,749,198,750],"class_list":["post-3551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history","tag-bolt-action-rifle","tag-break-action-rifle","tag-lever-action-rifle","tag-pump-action-rifle","tag-semi-auto-rifle","tag-types-of-rifles"],"yoast_head":"\nTypes of Rifles - The Most Common Among Shooters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In this helpful article, we'll go over the most popular types of rifles and options to help you find the right firearm for you.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/types-of-rifles\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Types of Rifles - 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