Mechanics of the Bolt Action Rifle

The word rifle comes from the German word "rifler" which means to spin. When a rifle fires a bullet it uses grooves to rotate the bullet before it leaves the barrel. This spiraling action on the bullet is why the German word was selected. This spiral rotation helps the bullet cut through the wind and stay in a straight line. Before all of this comes into play, a chain reaction must be set off. Today you will learn how a bolt action rifle works.

A rifle needs a projectile to fire, so first a cartridge must be loaded. The cartridge is made up of the bullet and the casing that holds it. The gunpowder is held inside the casing. Rifles are made in calibers, which are determined by the diameter of the bullet and also the amount of powder held within the cartridge. It is highly important to shoot the rifles exact caliber. Shooting any other caliber will result in the bullet getting stuck in the barrel, or possibly exploding the gun, causing serious injury or death.

To load a cartridge the bolt must be open and exposing the chamber. The cartridge is then set in the open space between the bolt and the chamber. Sliding the bolt forward will push the cartridge into the chamber and lock it in place. This rifle is now loaded and can be shot with a pull of the trigger. The safety mechanism is the second most important part of safety, coming in right behind handling the gun safely. The safety is simple, if red paint is visible then the gun can be fired, if there is no visible red paint then the gun should not fire if the trigger is pulled, but the safety should not be relied on.

Pulling the trigger sets the bullet off, but many things happen internally. The firing pin is located inside the bolt and lined up perfectly to strike the primer. This firing pin is connected to the trigger. The trigger pulls a latch off the firing pin to release the firing pin. A spring behind the firing pin expands and pushes the firing pin forward. When the trigger is pulled, all of these changes take place and act as a trip wire releasing the firing pin.

A primer is what causes the bullet to leave the cartridge. When the primer is struck, it creates a spark inside the cartridge, which lights the gunpowder and creates gases. These gases cause pressure that pushes the bullet out of the casing at high velocity. The bullet escapes the cartridge and goes into the barrel. The grooves rotate the bullet until it leaves the barrel