Editing Bolt action (section)

{{short description|Type of firearm mechanism}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=August 2019}}

{{about|the firearm mechanism|the wargame|Bolt Action (wargame)}}

[[File:Swing Mk4 Right Side.jpg|thumb|Swing Mk4 bolt action target rifle]]
[[File:Oiled Rifle action bolt.png|thumb|A Kelbly rifle action bolt that has been oiled to run smoothly]]
[[File:Rackandchamber.jpg|thumb|A [[United States Marine Corps|US Marine]] [[Extractor (firearms)|extracts]] a spent round from an [[M40 (rifle)|M40A3]] using a bolt-action mechanism]]

'''Bolt action''' is a type of manual [[Action (firearms)|firearm action]] that is operated by ''directly'' manipulating the [[bolt (firearms)|turn-bolt]] via a [[cocking handle|bolt handle]], most commonly placed on the right-hand side of the firearm (as most users are [[right-handed]]). The majority of bolt-action firearms are [[rifle]]s, but there are also some variants of [[shotgun]]s and [[handgun]]s that are bolt-action.

Bolt action firearms are generally [[repeating firearm]]s, but many [[single-shot]] designs are available particularly in [[shooting sport]]s where single-shot firearms are mandated, such as most Olympic and [[International Shooting Sport Federation|ISSF]] rifle disciplines.

From the late 19th century all the way through both [[World Wars]], bolt action rifles were the standard [[infantry]] [[service rifle|service weapon]]s for most of the world's military forces, with the exception of the [[United States Armed Forces]], who used the [[M1 Garand]] [[Semi-automatic rifle]]. In modern military and [[law enforcement]] after the Second World War, bolt-action firearms have been largely replaced by [[semi-automatic firearm|semi-automatic]] and [[selective-fire]] firearms, and have remained only as [[sniper rifle]]s due to the design's inherent potential for superior [[accuracy and precision]], as well as ruggedness and reliability compared to self-loading designs.

Most bolt action firearms use a ''rotating bolt'' operation,{{Dubious|date=June 2024|reason=Aside from the vast majority of rimfires, which use non-rotating bolts.}} where the handle must first be rotated upward to unlock the bolt from the [[receiver (firearms)|receiver]], then pulled back to open the [[breech-loading weapon|breech]] and allowing any spent [[cartridge case]] to be extracted and ejected. This also cocks the [[firing pin|striker]] within the bolt (either on opening or closing of the bolt depending on the gun design) and engages it against the [[sear (firearm)|sear]]. When the bolt is returned to the forward position, a new [[cartridge (firearms)|cartridge]] (if available) is pushed out of the [[magazine (firearms)|magazine]] and into the [[gun barrel|barrel]] [[chamber (firearms)|chamber]], and finally the breech is closed tight by rotating the handle down so the bolt head relocks on the receiver. A less common bolt-action type is the ''straight-pull'' mechanism, where no upward handle-turning is needed and the bolt unlocks automatically when the handle is pulled rearwards by the user's hand.