Can anybody with a 6.5-300 allay my fears that I'll poke my eye out when I work the bolt?

[Begle1]

I've only ever owned a short action.

How long of a bolt can you cycle without lifting your face off the stock?

I'm looking at Weatherby Vanguards and it looks like the bolt kisses the stock at full extension.

 

[Caseknife]

Don't worry about it, not a problem with poking your eye out. Long action or magnum actions have been around for 50 years and nobody has complained of your concerns. The bolt is not in line with your vision, should be a couple inches below line of sight.

 

[Castle Rock]

If you have to ask…….

 

[BAKPAKR]

It’s not like a long action is a Red Ryder BB gun. Besides, if your concern had any validity, the State of California would have already required a warning on the rifle.

 

[E.Shell]

I built one on a long action M700 and had zero problems. It's really not that much difference - only 0.66" in a Rem 700. Same action length as a .30-06, .300 WinMag, etc..

 

[wind gypsy]

Do you put your eyeball here when cycling a bolt? I’d be interested to see that.

 

[Begle1]

"Poking my eye out" is a bit of euphemistic hyperbole. "Without breaking cheek weld/ taking face off the stock" is the more accurate question.

I reckon it depends a lot on scope eye relief and positioning. If you have the scope forward in the "Appleseed position" then things must get tighter.


I reckon if your scope has 3"-4" inches of eye relief and your bolt throw is 3"-4", then as long as your scope is behind the rear of your bolt then you ought to be all right... Just another thing I'm overthinking...