[FilWi]

Hi gun experts,
Name's Filip, and I'm a writer from Sweden. I've got a science fiction story, a space magic western, in a world where manufacturing is cheap and precise, and there are things like plasma weapons or other items of massive firepower.

Militaries use fully automatic weapons, or possibly semi-auto.

In such a world, why would bolt-action rifles exist? I need them for story reasons, but the best reason I can come up with is "because semi/auto/self-loading are restricted to security forces." I.e. because the writer said so.

Would there be a valid reason to keep manufacturing bolt action weapons when semi's are just as dependable and just as cheap?

TIA!

 

[ItstheHOFF]

Accuracy from the least amount of moving parts...?

 

[FilWi]

Could work. For sport shooting? Or rapid-fire trials? Or something else?

 

[ChaZam]

Militaries use fully automatic weapons, or possibly semi-auto.

The military also makes use of bolt action rifles, specifically snipers. I don't see that changing anytime soon. The bolt actions accommodate many of the long range cartridges that have been developed for that long range anti personnel work easier than the existing auto or semi auto platforms do.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Why do they STILL manufacture flint lock and cap and ball guns today?

 

[Junction15]

Bolt actions are typically simple in design; very strong; accurate in general; simple to operate; easy to field strip for cleaning. Well made bolt rifles have a certain "character" about them. They can easily be "modernized" with rails and lights and any sort of doo-dad you want to hang on them. But a "true to form", classic bolt action rifle is a work of art all by itself. Much like a well made revolver is.

Semi-auto and full-auto weapons would seem to be very effective for killing the enemy, although bolt rifles have been used very effectively in many wars. It isn't always about how fast you can ready the next shot. It's where you send the bullet.

When I first began deer hunting, I used a semi-auto rifle. I foolishly reasoned that if I didn't get my deer on the first shot, I could deliver 4 more fast follow-up shots. And I did not get a deer again for many years. It wasn't until I traded that off for a nice bolt action rifle that I began to consistently get my deer. It slowed me down and forced me to focus on the one clean shot.
Yes, I could have disciplined myself to do the same with an autoloader - eventually. But the bolt action rifle demanded that I show some self-control that I was overlooking.

I just purchased a new rifle yesterday in 22 WMR (not for deer hunting). If you were to guess that it is a bolt action, you would be correct.

 

[onthepaper]

How is this for a story line ...

A rigged election in the USA in the year 2020 puts a socialist in the Whitehouse as second-in-command to a stumbling, old Washington political grifter. The grifter soon realizes he is overwhelmed and merely a puppet to the left's socialist agenda so goes about his family's business of influence peddling and dumps the affairs of the nation in the hands of the left who quickly forces his feeble hand to outlaw all assault-type weapons.

This is quickly followed by legislation banning all automatic and semi-automatic weapons following a disinformation campaign of altered violent gun crime statistics spread by the left's liberal media outlets including Facebook, Google and Twitter and is bolstered by the left's global ecommerce monopoly Amazon, suspending sales of any sporting arms parts or accessories.

The auto and semi-auto weapons ban spreads to the United Nations who globally condemns the sale of any firearm to individuals and threatens humanitarian and economic aid sanctions to countries who continue to do so. The bans gain momentum and eventually spread worldwide as governments who sponsor terrorism, socialism and marxist law jump on board banning all such weapons except where it benefits their agenda and cause. The world spins into chaos and the remaining citizens are left with antiquated bolt action rifles and revolvers against the new world order.

 

[geral ray johnson]

Hi gun experts,
Name's Filip, and I'm a writer from Sweden. I've got a science fiction story, a space magic western, in a world where manufacturing is cheap and precise, and there are things like plasma weapons or other items of massive firepower.

Militaries use fully automatic weapons, or possibly semi-auto.

In such a world, why would bolt-action rifles exist? I need them for story reasons, but the best reason I can come up with is "because semi/auto/self-loading are restricted to security forces." I.e. because the writer said so.

Would there be a valid reason to keep manufacturing bolt action weapons when semi's are just as dependable and just as cheap?

TIA!

 

[geral ray johnson]

work of art

 

[Jack Ryan]

If you've ever watched CSI, you know you don't want to leave any incriminating evidence behind.
An old antiquated bolt action may have been manufacture prior to the standard ID procedures such as fire stamping and recording firing pin marks, extractor marking, required RFID matching to match the ammunition with the firearm. Not to even mention how much easier it would be to police your brass.

 

[theGrizzFan]

If energy (plasma) weapons become developed and commonly used in the future, there will be armor and body armor developed to reduce or eliminate the damage of these energy weapons. Light weight futuristic energy resistant body armor may very well not be resistant to the physical damage done by our weapons of today, especially if todays weapons become so obsolete and uncommon that they would not be considered a realistic threat.

 

[Ten Man]

.......Would there be a valid reason to keep manufacturing bolt action weapons when semi's are just as dependable and just as cheap?

YES! Bolt action rifles can shoot many cartridges that are not suitable for semi-auto rifles.

 

[rando]

Our rights are being taken away as to what we can purchase or own. Its coming to the point to where we will only be able to buy bolt actions in the future. How about a double barrel bolt action with double set triggers.

 

[Mindy up North]

How is this for a story line ...

A rigged election in the USA in the year 2020 puts a socialist in the Whitehouse as second-in-command to a stumbling, old Washington political grifter. The grifter soon realizes he is overwhelmed and merely a puppet to the left's socialist agenda so goes about his family's business of influence peddling and dumps the affairs of the nation in the hands of the left who quickly forces his feeble hand to outlaw all assault-type weapons.

This is quickly followed by legislation banning all automatic and semi-automatic weapons following a disinformation campaign of altered violent gun crime statistics spread by the left's liberal media outlets including Facebook, Google and Twitter and is bolstered by the left's global ecommerce monopoly Amazon, suspending sales of any sporting arms parts or accessories.

The auto and semi-auto weapons ban spreads to the United Nations who globally condemns the sale of any firearm to individuals and threatens humanitarian and economic aid sanctions to countries who continue to do so. The bans gain momentum and eventually spread worldwide as governments who sponsor terrorism, socialism and marxist law jump on board banning all such weapons except where it benefits their agenda and cause. The world spins into chaos and the remaining citizens are left with antiquated bolt action rifles and revolvers against the new world order.

 

[runfiverun]

sound suppression capabilities might be a good out.

 

[chesterwin]

Hi gun experts,
Name's Filip, and I'm a writer from Sweden. I've got a science fiction story, a space magic western, in a world where manufacturing is cheap and precise, and there are things like plasma weapons or other items of massive firepower.

Militaries use fully automatic weapons, or possibly semi-auto.

In such a world, why would bolt-action rifles exist? I need them for story reasons, but the best reason I can come up with is "because semi/auto/self-loading are restricted to security forces." I.e. because the writer said so.

Would there be a valid reason to keep manufacturing bolt action weapons when semi's are just as dependable and just as cheap?

TIA!

Manually working the bolt is the only way to build the electro-magnetic energy needed to discharge an overwhelming pulse.

 

[Moroco Mole]

Or how about for safety's sake. Bolt action .22 single shots, with a manual cocking device, have been often used as a my first gun, trainer. Often, magazine Fed bolt rifles have been used as military trainers. Forces safety on still green gun users by breaking things down in stages, forcing them to concentrate on what they are doing.

 

[BattleRifleG3]

As noted above, modern military does use bolt actions. Certain Danish military in Greenland carry US 1917 rifles in 30-06.

 

[chesterwin]

As noted above, modern military does use bolt actions. Certain Danish military in Greenland carry US 1917 rifles in 30-06.

One step back? Or two steps forward? Just asking.

 

[Felix's Tattoo]

Remember that Elmer Keith always referred to bolt actions as ‘army guns.’

Don’t care for them myself for hunting.