BOLT ACTION RIFLES
Selecting Your First Big Game Bolt-Action

Today’s modern bolt-action rifles are strong, durable and accurate. Here are some things to know before you choose...

ONE ACCURATE SHOT

Sometimes, that’s all you’re going to get, and you want a rifle that will put your bullet where it needs to go, first time, every time, and from a cold barrel. This is not only necessary for success; it is certainly the responsible approach because taking an animal should be done quickly and humanely.

There are several different types of rifle actions, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. But there is no arguing that, among seasoned big game hunters, the bolt-action seems to be Numero Uno when it comes to meeting a challenge.

Incredibly as it seems, the cornerstone of many of the finest big game bolt-action rifles today is an action design that incorporates features that have been around for more than a century. The Mauser-style action, as you will find on rifles from CZ-USA, has proven itself through generations of hunting adventures on every continent and against literally every game animal on the planet.

Smart shopping includes selecting a rifle brand for which there are various grades in case you are on a tight budget. Some rifle makers offer essentially the same gun but in different grades, such as standard, deluxe and custom, and they might have different bluing or different grades of wood on the stock.

RELIABLE, TOUGH

A Mauser-style bolt action is reliable and tough enough to provide a lifetime of service. It is so reliable that manufacturers like those at CZ-USA have used this action style on rifles chambered in every caliber from .22 Hornet to the .505 Gibbs.

When fitted together with a hammer-forged barrel, such a rifle will deliver superior accuracy time after time.

Another advantage of this type of rifle is the claw-extractor, which pulls spent cartridges out of the chamber, and is a key to positive controlledround feeding from the magazine.
Make certain your rifle incorporates a stout and dependable trigger mechanism. Again, the Mauserstyle mechanism found in rifles like the various versions of the CZ Model 527 and Model CZ 550 adds an important degree of safety because unless that trigger is pressed, the rifle will not fire.

THINK SAFETY

One important feature on a modern bolt-action rifle that must be given full attention and consideration is the manual safety. Rifles such as those in the CZUSA Model 527 series have a proven two-position safety. There is no question whether a safety is engaged or off because when this safety is engaged, the bolt is locked and cannot be opened, and the trigger cannot be pressed.

Speaking of the trigger, a rifle that comes with a single set-trigger is a keeper. How this type of trigger works is simple and effective.

A “set” trigger allows a shooter to press the trigger forward to a point where there is a felt or audible “click,” which engages the set trigger feature manually for a very light, precision let-off. The best of these triggers can be adjusted, though that sometimes requires the action to be pulled from the stock because the adjustment screw is internal.

On other rifles, like the CZ models, this adjustment screw is accessible from the outside without requiring the rifle to be taken apart. There is a small screw right behind the trigger and it can be adjusted with a small screwdriver.

This set trigger does not need to be used in order to fire the rifle, of course. By leaving the trigger in its normal position, without pressing it forward. You can also disengage the set trigger by merely raising the bolt handle and then lowering it again.

SELECTING A STOCK

Half of your rifle is the stock, and careful attention must be paid to the type of stock one selects for his or her rifle.

Traditional stocks are crafted from wood, and these can range in quality from simple and rather plain hardwood to high-grade walnut.

About 20 years ago, rifle manufacturers began offering some models with a remarkable new type of stock, made from laminated wood. Thin layers of hardwood, often treated with different color dyes, were joined under extremely high pressure to create a pattern that is beautiful, often a substitute for camouflage (called “Camo Laminate”), and virtually impervious to moisture and changes in the weather. CZ-USA,, for example, has four such stock colorations, brown laminate, Spring Camo Laminate, Varmint Laminate and Sunset Camo Laminate.

While this type of stock is sometimes slightly heavier, there is no question that it is stronger. On the plus side, the additional weight of this type of stock helps soak up felt recoil, contributing to more comfortable, and subsequently more accurate shooting.

BIG, DANGEROUS GAME

For big, and sometimes dangerous game, you will want a rifle built sturdy enough to handle a very powerful cartridge.

When this question is raised, you may want to look at a different family of rifles. For example, CZ-USA not only manufactures the Model 527 series, there is also a Model 550 series. Again, the heart of this rifle is a Mauser-style action with a claw extractor, hammerforged barrel and single set-trigger.

Rifles for big cartridges are typically a little heavier with larger barrels to accommodate the larger caliber bullets. They will be slightly larger in magazine and receiver dimensions as well.
However, a rifle of this grade will be just as accurate, comfortable and reliable. It will be graceful, yet sturdy, and will do what it was designed to do.

SIGHTS, SCOPE MOUNTS

The modern bolt-action rifle offers shooters and hunters the option of either metallic sights or the use of a scope sight. Some rifles come from the factory “clean,” that is, without sights, but with scope bases for mounting a telescopic sight. Good quality bolt-action rifles often come with a set of rings and bases for a scope.

Check to see if the rifle you choose comes with these accessories. CZ Model 527 American rifles are packaged with scope mounts.

And here’s another tip: Buy the best scope you can afford for your new rifle. It will be a combination of gun and glass in which you will never be disappointed.