Semi Automatic Rifles

Stir up some action at the shooting range or hunt fast moving game - semi automatic rifles are a great choice. My first experience shooting semi auto rifles was in Northern Michigan with Dad's Winchester model 190. That little .22 was a great shooting gun. I did a little hunting with it but mostly used it for target shooting.

I have a great memory of spending an afternoon with a buddy shooting soda cans off a big log. We would line up a dozen or so and each start at opposite ends meeting in the middle. Well... not really so much the middle as John was shooting a bolt action. The Winchester could knock off about 10 cans versus 2 or 3 for the bolt. It was good for a few laughs and we could easily see the advantage of the semi automatic rifle.

Target shooting with a Marlin model 60 semi automatic rifle

It's no surprise that for plinking and small game hunting that semi auto rifles in .22 long rifle are so popular. The ammo is cheap so you don't mind doing lots of shooting. Great for developing shooting skills.

In center fire ammo the .223 Remington is the caliber of choice. Relatively cheap and plentiful- and there is a great selection of military style rifles chambered for it. The .223 is an accurate and light recoiling cartridge- perfect for some fast paced target practice.

For big game consider the more powerful centerfire cartridges. These semi auto rifles are well suited to hunting in wooded areas where quick follow up shots are often needed. No... not because we are lousy shots, but too often a sapling deflects that perfect shot. And... OK... sometimes we make a bad shot.

Types of Semi Automatic Rifle Actions

Blowback operated rifles function by using the rearward force of the cartridge against the breech bolt. As the gun is fired, the spent cartridge case is being pushed by expanding gases directly against the bolt face, pushing the bolt rearward and ejecting the case. There is usually a slight delay designed in to allow the bullet to travel sufficiently down the barrel before the bolt opens. A spring then forces the bolt shut while forcing the next round in to the chamber.

Recoil operated rifles allow the barrel and bolt to travel rearward together under recoil carrying the empty cartridge back. The barrel then is pushed forward by a large spring allowing the cartridge to be ejected. Next the bolt moves forward, picking up another round, and driving it into the chamber.

Gas operated rifles use small port holes in the barrel to redirect expanding gas from behind the bullet. The gas enters a cylinder where it drives a piston rearward. The piston is used to force the bolt open ejecting the spent case.

M1 Garand -proved itself on many battlefields.

The M1 Carbine was a light weight, compact military arm that fired a modest cartridge, the .30 Carbine.

The Marlin 60 is an inexpensive and relatively accurate semi automatic rifle. Highly popular .22 rifle was introduced in 1960.

The Remington 740, introduced in 1955, was a semi auto rifle designed for big game hunting. The Remington 742 and later the Remington 7400 were improved versions. Remington's model 750 is the latest offering.

SBI!