It really doesn't matter to me. I have shot my bolt actions so many times it's like second nature. The side lever is pretty slick, however, I dropped my cricket and bent the cocking lever and it not a simple fix.
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Side lever cocking vs. bolt action cocking
- Thread starter DHart
- Start date
+1 I like bolt action also but have owned quite a few sidelever guns and liked em just fine. My favorite bolt action (might be hard to believe) was my Walther Rotek. It was about the only thing I liked about that gun haha. Rotek is basically an 850 air magnum. The Rotek bolt felt just like a .22 rimfire bolt action to me.
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I prefer The bolt action on my wolverine and huntsman to the lever on my hw100 and s510. I find the bolts are much faster to cycle than the levers and feel more robust. That said the bolt on my s400 is a bit wimpy and the skdelever on my buddies impact is pretty fast to use.
So for me there's no real winner when it comes to the operation. Really depends on the gun and design. I think either can be good or bad.
Aesthetically though I prefer The look of the bolts.
My $0.02
So for me there's no real winner when it comes to the operation. Really depends on the gun and design. I think either can be good or bad.
Aesthetically though I prefer The look of the bolts.
My $0.02
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Yeah I look at the other features of a gun when deciding so for me I'll take either. If I like an airgun overall I find that I can adapt to it pretty quickly no matter how it operates.
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Thanks for all the comments! I really need to get to AoA to test fire the side lever actions on the FX Crown, Wolverine R, and then Red Wolf. I'm sure I would enjoy shooting the Red Wolf, but there is something about being an electric gun that I just don't get excited about.
There is the extra effort required at the end of bolt action to cock the hammer spring on the Bantam. It's ok and certainly do-able. It's just that I think I would enjoy a lighter, smoother side-lever action, that doesn't take my eye from the scope, much more.
There is the extra effort required at the end of bolt action to cock the hammer spring on the Bantam. It's ok and certainly do-able. It's just that I think I would enjoy a lighter, smoother side-lever action, that doesn't take my eye from the scope, much more.
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To me the lever on the FX Crown feels much better than the Wolverine R, Its shorter and offers more resistance but feels solid and works well, The Daystate is still nice but feels flimsy in comparison and mine has a lot of play
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That's interesting, and good to know. Thank you. Obviously either gun is a sweet shooter, with the Crown being more versatile (calibers and power levels) and the Wolverine probably having a much more beautiful stock.
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I have 3 bolt action and 2 side lever rifles and have no preference for bench rest or hunting. If you are going to compete in speed silhouette at extreme benchrest, then you will definitely want side lever action, but otherwise, I don't think it matters.
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I own 2 HW 100s and two Daystate electric guns with bolts (( MK 4 and Air wolf ) To me the Side lever on the HW s is strange to cock on the forward stroke and the day state bolts are ultra smooth cocking - but I love them both makes no diference to me on the bench or out in the bush they both work just fine
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After going from a bolt gun (Marauder) to side side lever in the rear (Renegade) to an FX WC side lever and now a RedWolf. I wont be going back to anything but a side lever. The trade off of maybe worrying about the electronics is nothing compared to the benefits .
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I prefer a side lever but it is not at the top of my priorities. Luckily, it seems most high performance (accuracy wise) guns are lever action.
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I shot a marauder bolt action for 2 years and now a wildcat side lever. Side lever is way better. I like speed shooting my wildcat, 8 shots as fast as I can accurately shoot, usually takes 10-12 seconds from a standing position. Targets are golf balls at 20 yards.
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