Bolt Action - Right Bolt, LEFT PORT

[Zachary]

As this is the Bolt Action Forum, there is much discussion about many types of bolt action rifles.  Discussions also expand to areas such as types of hunting cartridges, bullets, etc.  Today I noticed something that is truly on point for this forum.

I noticed in a recent issue of Hunting magazine that Savage has a bolt action rifle that has the bolt on the traditional right side, but the port on the left side.

My first, and perhaps only question is - why?

Are any of you aware of this new bolt action design?

Zachary

[Don Fischer]

Someone is going to come up with some pretty funny answers for that one!

[Zachary]

And I am eagerly waiting, with amusement I might add, to read.

Zachary

[myarmor]

Yeap I noticed this one too. Here she is:
http://www.savagearms.com/12PrecVarm.htm

All I can say is this is one THICK gun.
-Aaron

[Zachary]

It appears that it's a single shot.  That is something that I can understand.  Specifically, the action is apparently more rigid in the single shot design, thus the reason why benchest shooter use single shot bolt action rifles.  However, that still does not explain the benefit, if any, of a left port.  Is it just so that Savage can be different?

Zachary

[Don Fischer]

Well seeing that, I've got an idea. If your laying on the ground with a bipod, indeed shooting off of a bench, you have no need to remove your right hand to either catch to mty or to install a new cartridge. When I shoot from a bench, I reach across my scope to catch the mty so it doesn't hit the ground. Then, with the load port on the right, I have to put the rifle down to reload.

[MGMorden]

Nesika Bay actions also have this feature available (and from what I've heard, it's often considered a desirable thing on custom builds).  

My guess is it mostly just comes down to preference.

[myarmor]

I kinda like it. I mean it is super thick to match up to the 1"barrel diameter, and it being a single shot solid design, it's gonna hafta be rugged and stiff. Just wonder how other manufactures barrels would fit up.
That with a HS Precision stock, and a nice large bolt handle too. It's a nice set up. I believe they put it out to compete with Remingtons XR-100.

[lilabner]

Yup. It will facilitate single cartridge loading and unloading of a rifle on a bench rest or bipod for right handers, who make up about 90 percent of the population.

[beemanbeme]

it is a gimmick dreamed up to sell to the bench rest crowd.  SUPPOSEDLY, it enables you to load and shoot faster during the window when the wind is exactly right.  
Another germanic solution to a non-existing problem.  Kinda like spiral flutes down a barrel.
From my tone of voice, you can deduce that I think its just another goofy idea.  But I am sure there will be folks that slobber down the fronts of their shirts on the way to the store to get one.

[MGMorden]

Kinda like spiral flutes down a barrel.

Spiral flutes look good enough that I don't think they need an actual function to get a lot of people to buy them. :lol:

[UtahMike]

Zachary -- the benefit from left port or in some cases, bottom port is that the benchrest shooter doesn't have to move to shoot.  He doesn't have to look up or break his consentration while shooting.

Try looking up this site  http://www.6mmbr.com/actions.html

Their are dozens of custom action makers, most of these actions run $1000 and up, way up.....

I'm not an expert but Savage isn't trying to be different, just better.  Not many rifles will shoot a .16" group Out of the Box.  That's what my model 12FLV in .308win has done.  Best group I've ever shot.  And I was a Remington man.......

[lilabner]

Hey, those fluted barrels have a purpose, too. The little grooves increase the surface area of the barrel and help with the hot barrel problem by radiating the heat off more efficiently. They claim.

[MGMorden]

Hey, those fluted barrels have a purpose, too. The little grooves increase the surface area of the barrel and help with the hot barrel problem by radiating the heat off more efficiently. They claim.

I think he was talking specifically about spiral flutes though, which cost more than straight flutes, but AFAIK don't do anything better than the straight ones.  Still, I think they look good enough to pay the extra $$$ for spiral over straight .

[Mike in Ct]

the right bolt , left port is to not let go of your grip...u use the left hand to flip up pull the bolt back then drop in the cartridge all left handed ..the design may make the action stiffer....it looks neat..the grooves in the barrel are to retain stiffness needed to shoot tight groups & have that diameter barrel get under certain weight requirments without cutting it short say to 20 or 21 inches to make it stiff..short range benchrest u see a few short stiff barrels ..long range u see the longer fluted jobs...mike in ct

[UtahMike]

MGMorden -  I mis-read your comment, yes I have the straight flutes on a Remington VSSF in 22-250AI.  But your right I'd love to have the spiral flutes just for the cool.....


Did you take a second and look at the flutes in the actions on the link I posted?

Mike

[lilabner]

Mike in CT:  I'm not disputing the stiffness/weight factor for competitive shooting. But, I see fluted light sporter barrels on rifles designed purely for hunting. Is that just a gimmick or is there some benefit in keeping the light barrel from getting hot so quickly? They had me convinced that those barrels will heat more slowly. It wouldn't be the first time I've been fooled.

[Slamfire]

Bein' a southpaw who once owned a Remington 788 with a left bolt, right port, I can testify it is a neat feature, on the bench. Trouble was, I didn't take the bench along to the Mojave or the Sierras very often.  :-D

[PEPAW]

Great idea.   I can see the bullet going into the chamber when I use my righties from the bench.  Wish my lefties had that feature.
Why not?

pepaw

[Mike in Ct]

flutes dont cool do dah.....I'd tell u to use one of those vented stocks & free float the sporter barrel if u feel the need to disapate heat..trouble is most sporter barrels like a bit of stock pressure up near the end...The remingtons plastic stocks clearly show the upward pressure points molded right in...with any factory light sporter barrels u have an uphill battel to fight for great accuracy..each finished unit is an entity to itself...Heres a good little test & u wont get jammed up trying it. Lets say u bought a light 243 bolt gun just for kicking around in the back of the truck or taking a walk about rifle..sports a nice but light 3.5 X ten power scope..u have the trigger fixed to a decent pull & the scope is solidly mounted...Take it out ..Give the barrel a quick wipe clean with a slightly oily patch then a dry one...Fire 3 shots..stop clean it again...take 5 to 6 mins between shots..proceed like that till u have the scope sight set to your liking..3 goes into 20 rounds 6 times =18 with 2 left over...clean it cool it...shoot one shot into a last clean target at 100yds ...or 200 if thats what u sighted for....wipe the bore & call it a day....next trip out make that target the first u shoot at & look at the group..4 holes..if after 3 trips to the range u are comfortable with that grouping for hunting I'd say u have a good gun there...The light weights can be tricky If they put 3 quick shots into a respectable group...be happy...For hunting that is all u need & then some..I've had sporters go with 3 shot groups from 5/8" at one hundred yds to 4 inches..U pay your money & take your chances....I love to hunt groundhogs...My targets are normally very far away by deer hunting standards...but the test for the gun I hunt with is the same..first shot cold barrel...That is the shot that counts..it is good to know the diff between clean cold & fouled by a few shots then fired cold..your results may vary but taking that approach keeps u grounded in reality...most light weights cant take that rapid fire from the bench shooting..don't shoot them that way & u will be alot happier..Hell some heavy barrels wont shoot great groups hot...mike in ct

[Chuck 100 yd]

Right bolt left port is very fast action type when shooting benchrest . With seven minutes to fire five shots and one wants to shoot in only one condition, you may have only a few seconds left when your condition returns to get your shots off. some guys can fire five shots for score in 20 seconds and keep them under .150". with the left port,both hands have something to do.
By the way this is my first post on Graybeard and I have a gray beard so I hope I can fit in. :grin:

[MGMorden]

Did you take a second and look at the flutes in the actions on the link I posted?

I did take a look at those.  Didn't see any barrels, though, just fluted bolts.  These look cool too, though I'm not informed as to whether or not that "do anything" besides look cool .

Still, I've long wanted a rifle built on such a custom action.  The Gorden actions you posted look nice, and I've drooled over the Nesika Bay site many times.  Still, at this time in my life I just can't justify even the action, much less having the rest of the rifle built around it :wink:.  Whenever I finally drop the cash on one I want to go all out with an exhibition grade walnut stock and fleur-de-lis checkering.

One day though I'd like to have matching customs built for myself, my brother, and my father.  I think the matching set along with a nice guided hunting trip to somewhere exotic (Alaska or Africa) would make for the ULTIMATE Christmas gift.  Maybe in 15 years or so  .