When immersed in the world of the bolt-action rifle, you'll often hear the terms short action and long action. These terms refer to the length of the rifle's receiver and the cartridges it is designed to accommodate.
Understanding action length is extremely important when it comes to selecting a one piece scope mount for a rifle. Some shooters with brand new rifles often overlook the distinction between long action and short action, and end up purchasing a scope mount that does not fit their rifle. It happens so often that we compiled a reference: Which Picatinny rail do I need for my rifle?
A short action rifle is built for cartridges with an overall length of approximately 2.80 inches or less. Popular short-action calibers include .308 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .243 Winchester. Because the bolt travels a shorter distance, short-action rifles can offer slightly faster cycling, a marginally lighter weight, and a more compact overall design.
A long action rifle is designed for cartridges measuring up to approximately 3.34 inches in overall length. Common long-action calibers include .30-06 Springfield, .270 Winchester, and .25-06 Remington. These cartridges typically provide greater powder capacity and can deliver higher velocities or accommodate heavier bullets for certain hunting applications.
In practical terms, the difference between short and long actions is relatively minor for most shooters. Accuracy is generally unaffected, and both action lengths are capable of excellent performance in the field. The primary consideration is compatibility—each rifle action is engineered to feed cartridges within a specific length range.
Rifle Action Length and Common Calibers
| Action Length | Typical Cartridge Overall Length (OAL) | Common Calibers |
|---|---|---|
| Short Action | Up to 2.80" (71 mm) |
|
| Long Action | Up to 3.34" (85 mm) |
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| Magnum Action | 3.60" (91 mm) and longer |
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There are some exceptions to the rule. For example:
- The Winchester Short Mag family of cartridges is named as a magnum cartridge, but is designed to be used with short actions.
- 6.5 PRC is commonly chambered in medium or long actions depending on the rifle manufacturer.
- .50 BMG requires an extra-long, specialized action and does not fit standard magnum actions.
- .300 H&H Magnum is also considered a magnum-length cartridge despite its unique case design.
- Some manufacturers will put short action calibers into long action receivers, for production reasons.
- Some older cartridges such as .257 Roberts or 6.5x55 Swede predate the long/short action convention and don't fit into either category.