Bolt vs Semi for Coyote/Thermal

Which Rifle Action type do you prefer:

  • Bolt Action

    Votes: 6 46.2%
  • Semi Auto (AR)

    Votes: 6 46.2%
  • other?

    Votes: 1 7.7%

  • Total voters
    13

waspocrew

WKR
Joined
Apr 2, 2022
Messages
640
Location
MT
I'm sure you'll hear both sides - in general, I prefer a bolt gun for both daytime hunting and thermal at night.

An AR is definitely nice for quick(er) follow up shots, but I feel I'm better with a bolt gun (probably from doing 98% of my shooting with one). I have an AR in 6 ARC I've been using for thermal lately and it's been a lot of fun.
 
Joined
Jun 3, 2018
Messages
868
Location
North Carolina
Depends on if you are a one shot one kill guy or a mag dumper. Some folks call in two, kill one, then dump 20 rounds at the other as it high tails it outta there. They like AR's. If you like to wait till they stop then kill them, a bolt is fine.
 
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Joined
Aug 23, 2024
Messages
53
Location
N.w. Pennsylvania
I like my bolts, feed easier, more caliber choices, I run a can so the ar15's ammo gets really dirty, bolts stay clean.

I picked other cause my new coyote rig is a beretta brx1 straight pull in 243
 

TxLite

WKR
Joined
Sep 6, 2018
Messages
1,769
Location
Texas
Generally speaking I prefer bolts for most situations. But thermal coyote hunting goes to the AR. I prefer having quick follow ups in the event that I run into a sounder of hogs
 

Lucks

FNG
Joined
Oct 10, 2024
Messages
10
I run bolt gun on my daytime rigs
and run AR on my thermal (night) rig for coyotes.
 

Nine Banger

WKR
Shoot2HuntU
Joined
Sep 28, 2023
Messages
523
I think its mission specific.

I'm running suppressed PCC right now for armadillo, coon, opossum. I've hit 3 incidental canines. Close quarters night hikes.

I'll put it on a bolt gun that has 10 round 223 mag when I sit over a field observing/calling from structure or a side by side.

In my AO I don't want to run and gun with a 223 given our topography and structure placement and the noise from report.
 
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