school me on rifles

[wickedblkgt]

What is "long action" and "short action" are they talking about the trigger?

[Nash B.]

It's talking about the distance the bolt has to travel to cycle. The trade-off is cartridge length (and case capacity) vs rifle weight.

[slowyellow]

It is based on cartridge length. For example .308 win is a short action and a 300 win mag is a long action. Just that simple man.

[Quadforce]

It is based on cartridge length. For example .308 win is a short action and a 300 win mag is a long action. Just that simple man.

interesting when I ordered my stock for my .270 they asked if it was a long or short action and had me measure the screw distance of the mounts.

[Vanner27]

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubb...41#Post1877441

Here is a good link that talks about all of your caliber choices and shows what action they are typically used in. The long/short action is just talking about how long the bolt and action is in a bolt action rifle.

There are 2 main action sizes:

The short action, which typically is chambered for shorter cartridges (.308, .223, .243, etc.). And the long action, which typically is chambered for the longer cartridges (300 win mag, 30-06, etc.).

[soap]

So a 300 WSM. Is short action?

[dee]

Yes, unless in a Tikka and I believe some Savage rifles are LA with short action calibers.

[slowyellow]

interesting when I ordered my stock for my .270 they asked if it was a long or short action and had me measure the screw distance of the mounts.

Yeah, I could be a little off. It is based on the actual action. I didn't even think of using a long action for a typical short action caliber. So you are correct, it is total bolt movement that will determine if it's SA or LA.

[dee]

They most likely asked to determine since it could have been a 270wsm or a plain O'Connor special.

[shumpertdavid]

I had a Left Bolt Savage .243 that was neither typical Long or Short Action by all the info I could find. I ordered a Choate stock to replace my factory one as it had a crack and I didn't want to risk it growing. Long story short I got the stock, gun wouldn't fit, called Choate to which it didn't measure either of there specs, tried to contact Savage (it was too old for their current records), tried to contact a gentleman that has a lot of older Savage books, and never was able to conclude anything other than not much info. So I sold the gun.