bolt action accuracy?

I was perusing thru an instruction manual for a kimball 22 bolt action magazine fired 22lr. They say accuracy is only guaranteed thru feeding the rounds in one at a time, as oppossed to using magazine. Can someone please explain to me, why this should make any difference, if each shot is aimed. Does not each round set into the breech almost the same way each time, whether put there by hand or fed thru the mag? If there is a difference, would this also apply to my shotguns? Chambering one round at a time?

Much regards Jerry

Subject: bolt action accuracy?

Sorry meant to say Kimber bolt action.

# They say accuracy is only guaranteed thru feeding the rounds in one # at a time, as oppossed to using magazine. # Can someone please explain to me, why this should make any # difference, if each shot is aimed. Does not each round set into the breech # almost the same way each time, whether put there by hand or fed thru the # mag?

A magazine feed stands a chance of deforming the bullet, which will degrade accuracy. If you want the maximum possible accuracy, hand feed each round into the chamber before closing the action.

That's generally true with semi-automatics. The first, manually loaded, round ends up somewhere out of the group of following rounds. This is usually attributed to the difference between hitting the slide release, and the natural semi-auto slide action.

I'm not sure if this would apply to bolt actions though, as the bolt is manually operated, of course.

Hi,

# They say accuracy is only guaranteed thru feeding the rounds in one #at a time, as oppossed to using magazine. # Can someone please explain to me, why this should make any #difference, if each shot is aimed. Does not each round set into the breech #almost the same way each time, whether put there by hand or fed thru the #mag?

Approach angle differs, dinging the bullet nose on chambering.

# If there is a difference, would this also apply to my shotguns? #Chambering one round at a time?

If your shotgun had no lifter and chambered heeled, exposed, outside-lubed slugs at a high angle, I suppose it could apply... but it doesn't.

# Sorry meant to say Kimber bolt action.

Time to get those arrow keys fixed.

# # They say accuracy is only guaranteed thru feeding the rounds in one # # at a time, as oppossed to using magazine. # # Can someone please explain to me, why this should make any # # difference, if each shot is aimed. Does not each round set into the breech # # almost the same way each time, whether put there by hand or fed thru the # # mag? # # A magazine feed stands a chance of deforming the bullet, which will # degrade accuracy. If you want the maximum possible accuracy, hand feed # each round into the chamber before closing the action. #

Also, Most bullets aren't copper, so it's very easy to dent the bullet when the loading mechanism loads it into the chamber. (why semi-autos are even worse accuracy - that action turns into full-on ramming it in)

Saying this in a different way, the speed at which the bolt rams the cartridge into the chamber is partly determined by how many cartridges are left in the magazine, and the side pressure of the magazine spring. It can do it fast and hard enough to measurably distort the cartridge, and change headspace and jump distance and internal volume, things that might affect accuracy.

It should happen to a greater extent at higher calibers, and not very much to a .22, but it will happen a little, always, and even in a bolt gun.