Improving bolt action technique for rapid fire

[kendog4570]

Hello folks

Im a bolt action newb, but I recently got a m1903 and I love that rifle. Accurate and a great piece of history. I was trying some "mad minute" type rapid fire exercises, but unfortunately I find that I'm not that fast. Probably can only muster 15 shots in one minute. This is shooting Greek surplus ammo.

I find my first hangup to be ejecting the round --sometimes the bolt is very difficult to rotate after firing a round, and I have literally bang the handle upwards to rotate the bolt and extract the round. Is there anything that can be done about this? A tried and true technique? Would different ammo work smoother?

Likewise when inserting rounds from a stripper clip, this is another major hangup in time. The rounds just sometimes do not like to be pushed in. Is there a better technique for this too, or do I need to use special lube or cleaner cartridges? Or maybe I need to practice doing this with dummy rounds off range.

Any suggestions will help, thx.

The best way I know of to develop and improve bolt operating skills is to participate in NRA High Power competition. Almost half the match will be rapid fire stages where you must work the bolt and reload from clips efficiently, from two different positions. It is more of sustained fire, rather than rapid. Get good first, then get fast. With a 1903 you will most likely have to pick up your head or tilt the rifle when operating the bolt to pull it fully to the rear to eject the fired case. Loading from clips is another technique that requires some practice. Make sure you have good clips. Some aftermarket clips are junk. The bolt sticking needs to be looked at by a qualified person. A properly fit and timed 1903 is one of the smoothest operating rifles in the world.

[RNE228]

I know another Appleseed instructor; he has shot rifleman with 03a3. Have also seen a couple folks shoot rifleman with bolt action 22's. It is possible for the short timed fire course of fire(transition to seated, transition to prone).

AS_Rocketman could probably add more to this; I'm just a beginner instructor.

[Garandimal]

Coupla things, pd...

1. HXP is generally a little long in the body, which makes them a little sticky and hard to chamber in some bolt rifles, including the 03.

2. Some HXP is de-linked service ammo... and pretty grimy. Wipe it down good w/ a paper towel or shop rag before shooting.

3. Proper lube includes grease on all metal/metal sliding surfaces, including the fore and aft surfaces of the bolt lugs.


Look for some Prvi Partizan (PPU) PP3.4 150 gr. FMJ ammo.

If you shoot a lot, look for the 500 rd. sealed cans.




GR

[milotrain]

I know another Appleseed instructor; he has shot rifleman with 03a3. Have also seen a couple folks shoot rifleman with bolt action 22's. It is possible for the short timed fire course of fire(transition to seated, transition to prone).

AS_Rocketman could probably add more to this; I'm just a beginner instructor.

To add some context to this and what kendog4570 said: The appleseed course of fire is developed from the same course of fire that the national matches are derived from. There are plenty of excellent marksmen who run the 03A3 well in rapid fire stages across the country. Come shoot with the closest Highpower, CMP, or appleseed group you can find and you will will get very good very quickly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncBPtChn4ME&t=1m8s

^ here is MSgt Julia Watson running an 03A3 at the springfield match at Camp Perry. You couldn't do much better than emulating her.

[k1dude]

16 hits in 25 seconds at 300 meters with a 6.5x55



17 hits in 25 seconds at 300 meters with a 6.5x55

[CSACANNONEER]

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. I watched a friend shoot 5 rounds from a single shot, shell holder action in 36 seconds and set a FCSA world record doing so. He shot a 2.608" 5 shot group at 1000 yards but, 4 of the 5 rounds were in about a 7/8th inch group. Practice makes perfect.

[as_rocketman]

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. I watched a friend shoot 5 rounds from a single shot, shell holder action in 36 seconds and set a FCSA world record doing so. He shot a 2.608" 5 shot group at 1000 yards but, 4 of the 5 rounds were in about a 7/8th inch group. Practice makes perfect.

That's not impressive, that's superhuman, even if it took 36 minutes. Sure you didn't sneak in an extra order of magnitude somewhere?

[kendog4570]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncBPtChn4ME&t=1m8s

^ here is MSgt Julia Watson running an 03A3 at the springfield match at Camp Perry. You couldn't do much better than emulating her.

Notice how she moves her head in order to work the bolt? This is a must with the 03, or that long bolt will hit you in the chops.

[sonofeugene]

If the bolt is sticking, get some high moly content paste, like that used for engine assembly lube and smear the bolt, it's locking tangs, and all mating surfaces in the receiver. Then cycle the bolt a couple hundred times or more. Then wipe off all the excess moly, then clean thoroughly and lube as usual and that may free things up nicely. Moly is a tremendous dry lubricant that can work its way into the microscopic pores of the metal. It can handle extreme pressures and extreme temperatures.

[FourT6and2]

That's not impressive, that's superhuman, even if it took 36 minutes. Sure you didn't sneak in an extra order of magnitude somewhere?

Agreed. 0.26 MOA @ 1,000 yards is definitely a record of some kind if it's true...

Found this: http://www.fcsa.org/visitors/worldrecords.php Doesn't specify the distance or number of shots, though.

[waveslayer]

Marcus Blanchard is probably the fastest guy running a bolt. He practices and practices and practices, granted he's not running a 1903 gun as well...

My wife thinks I have only 3 guns

[milotrain]

Notice how she moves her head in order to work the bolt? This is a must with the 03, or that long bolt will hit you in the chops.

She's impressive to watch, I like that she's just out of the way of the bolt, no excessive movement and it's the first time she'd shot the 03. This woman shoots the nationals, places very high, puts the rifle in the safe and then does it again the next year cold.

[kendog4570]

She's been around the winners circle at Perry for 20 years or more. If that's her first time with the 03 I'll cut her some slack about closing the bolt on the 6th round! Twice! Seriously, I wish I could shoot near as well as she can on a bad day!

My point is in reference to the OP's comment about trouble ejecting with that particular rifle. You have to get the melon out of the way! When I shoot mine in sitting and prone rapid it is a combination of head movement and slightly rotating the rifle to the right. Any way one does it, the position is slightly broken down, and re established for each shot. With Winchester or Remington short actions I can keep my head planted.

[kendog4570]

All this posting has me inspired to load up some ammo for the Rock Island.

[not-fishing]

Get a K31, in European match competition the K31 outshoots the HK91 in both speed and accuracy.