What's the diff?

[Rustyinfla]

     OK I've been searching the forums I've gone all the way back 13 pages. I understand what controlled round feed is as in a Mauser and I have a Rem 700 so I understand the alternative but in real life what's the difference? I saw one post about the DISADVANTAGE of controlled feed as well but there was no explanation.
  I'm about ready to get a Ruger 77 RSI in .308. everything I've heard about them is all good, and I like the looks.

                Thanks,
                 Rusty <><

[Dave in WV]

There's nothing wrong with the Ruger. The only disadvantage is (if it really is) with the Mauser you have to feed rounds into the chamber from the magazine. You can't load rounds into the chamber and close the bolt on a true CRF action. Rugers and Winchesters have beveled lips on their extractors and you can load directly into the chamber and close the bolt. I have a M77 stainless and love it.

[Cement Man]

Ditto what Dave said.  The Mauser (CRF) action is considered superior by some due to the controlled feed and stronger extraction. As a result, it has often been preferred for dangerous game animals(reliability).  The "push feed" does not control the round going into the chamber and arguably has less reliable extraction, but encloses the case head completely with resultantly more support - and thought by some to be more accurate.  I think that purists can make a case for either side.
I have several rifles of each type, and I have never had a reason to criticize or really prefer either action.  I have worked my bolt as fast as I can shooting at running game with a push feed and never missed a lick, and my CRF/Mauser type rifles shoot as accurate as any of my others.  I am not a bench rest champion shooter, but a hunter.  In my experience, there has been no practical difference.  I have had excellent results with both.  BTW, I have a 77 RSI in .308 and I really like it as well. 

[beemanbeme]

In the real world, its a ford-chevy argument. 

[Rustyinfla]

 Thanks, I'm not sure that it would make any difference since that's really what I want but I was just curious. There's just something appealing about that old world look to me.

        Rusty <><

[Rogue Ram]

The difference is when the cheesy little Remington extractor breaks when you are out in the middle of nowhere, you are done hunting. "Yea but how often does THAT happen?" Often enought that many smiths offer the Sako extractor conversion for about $75 bucks.

As a side note, the original military mausers' claw extractor closes harder on the case head area when you pull it out because of the way the bolt is designed....if something hangs up, the harder you pull the harder the claw pinches. Supposedly the modern CRF guns do not do this.

I have both, and always have a Mauser as a backup at camp if I am primarily shooting the Remington.

RR

[Coyote Hunter]

There's nothing wrong with the Ruger. The only disadvantage is (if it really is) with the Mauser you have to feed rounds into the chamber from the magazine. You can't load rounds into the chamber and close the bolt on a true CRF action. Rugers and Winchesters have beveled lips on their extractors and you can load directly into the chamber and close the bolt. I have a M77 stainless and love it.

Dave –

Strictly speaking, that is not true about the Mausers. 

My Rugers (M77 and M77 MKII) are generally fed one round at a time which is directly loaded into the chamber. (Lots of range shooting and I rarely load the magazines at the range.)  They work beautifully either way, though.

A true Mauser can be singly loaded directly into the chamber but you cannot simply close the bolt like I do with my Ruger rifles – you have to use one hand and depress the extractor where it is undercut.  Easiest way is to cradle the action in your off hand and use your fingertips to depress the extractor as you close the bolt.  This flexes the extractor and allows it to snap over the cartridge rim.

[Dave in WV]

Coyote Hunter , I agree with everything you posted. If I wasn't clear about being able to close the bolt on a chambered round with the M77 I can only say "my bad". I do it when I load mine to hunt. I've read about being able to squeeze the extractor on a Mauser and jump the rim on a chambered round but have never tried it.

[Rustyinfla]

 Coyote Hunter,
     Thanks for that tip. I've never heard of doing that before. I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks. I have an M48/BO I'll have to try that on. I was always told that you could no way never chamber a round in an unmodified Mauser with loading it from the magazine.

   Thanks,
      Rusty <><