For many reasons, over two-thirds of newly minted hunters choose a used bolt action rifle as their first weapon. Bolt action rifles, also called bolt action rifles for short, are widely available and thus cheap and easy to obtain. They are suitable for most types of hunting, essentially raised hide and driven hunts, which are often the preferred hunting opportunities for the young hunter. However, almost half of those who buy a used bolt action rifle for the first time end up selling their rifle within the first two years and opting for another model.
To make the first choice a little easier, we have compiled some important factors to consider when choosing a rifle:
Test in person and extensively
Most importantly, you should personally inspect and test the gun. Often, used bolt action rifles are offered on eGun, which seem very tempting due to the low price. Most of the time you are not lucky enough to have the seller living nearby, or the gun is not available for inspection. So before you bid in an auction or make a buy-it-now, you should contact the seller and arrange to have the gun sent to you for inspection, so that you have the opportunity to inspect it in detail and possibly test it on the shooting range. It is important to agree on a loan so that this test period can be granted without having to report the purchase and transfer of the weapon directly to the authorities as such. Reputable gun dealers often send guns purchased online from them for up to ten days for viewing.
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Condition of the weapon
The condition of the gun is the most important feature and should be at the top of the checklist. For example, is the stock in good order? Much more important than small quirks or scratches, which are inevitably caused by hunting use and can certainly lend a certain charm to the bolt action rifle used for hunting, is the perfect condition of the material exposed to stress. It is essential to make sure that no cracks have appeared in the stock. You should look very carefully and check the stock for even the smallest hairline cracks. Especially with wooden shafts, such cracks can be difficult to detect due to the grain.
In addition to the stock, the metal parts should be examined closely for bulges, rust and other conspicuous features. In the case of black blued barrels, this bluing layer can often be slightly attacked and the metal can gleam silver. This can be quickly repainted with the help of inexpensive tools, so such defects may be negligible.
However, it is much more important to check the smooth action of the bolt on a used bolt action rifle. A bolt must move smoothly and the movement should be natural for the shooter.
If the gun has a glass and it is to be used, one should be able to see clearly through it, it should not be contaminated or fogged. The coating of the lenses must not be affected, and traces of use and predication should be kept within limits.
Does the gun fit the shooter?
First of all, it must be ensured that the stock fits the shooter's body dimensions perfectly. The best way to do this is to get professional advice from a gunsmith or dealer and make a note of the dimensions. In addition to the stock dimensions, the scope should fit in terms of distance from the eye and height above the barrel. Furthermore, you should also pay attention to whether you can get along well with the safety catch, you can unlock the gun easily and as quietly as possible shortly before firing.
A trigger system, which is often still used in old rifles, can also be complicated to operate and can make young, inexperienced shooters feel insecure. The use of this system must be learned gradually at the shooting range.
If the used rifle already has a telescopic sight, this must be particularly examined, because the precision of the shot depends largely on the quality of the optics.
For most hunters, the question of caliber is also a matter that can be discussed for hours. With used bolt action rifles, it is usually not possible to freely choose the caliber - if you have found an offer where all other characteristics fit, you have to be able to live with the given caliber in case of doubt. Therefore, more and more modern bolt action rifles are of interest, where a caliber change can be done quickly and easily.Nevertheless, here you can inform yourself about the most important calibers and their essential characteristics.
The search on Gunfinder allows you to browse most online stores and exchanges for the gun that best suits your needs.
