If you are considering purchasing a new weapon for sniping and long-distance shooting, or you simply want to know what professional snipers enjoy using for their weapons, check this out. After reading in-depth about the characteristics that make sniper rifles unique, figure out what type of loading mechanism is widely preferred by military snipers!
What is a sniper HTI rifle?
Before we can understand specifically what type of HTI rifle loading mechanism is ideal for advanced users, we need to know the basics of a sniper rifle. A sniper rifle is a highly accurate rifle that is made for shooting very long distances. Usually used in hunting, for those who are in reconnaissance missions, or for military personnel, sniper rifles are known for being used in high-precision shooting.
High-precision shooting is a type of long-range gun use that involves hitting targets extremely far away. The user of the sniper rifle will need to use the scope and possibly a ballistics calculator to determine the flight path of the bullet so they can accurately hit the target.
Furthermore, sniper rifles are usually known for their trademark reliability, consistency, mobility, and hiding abilities. Since the sniper rifle is used in the military, it can be easily concealed and stored underneath clothes or disguised while in the woods. Furthermore, the sniper rifle is known for its consistent accuracy, with the ability to constantly hit the same spot over and over again with minimal recoil or errant shots.
Most modern sniper rifles on the market today are weapons that are either bolt-action or semi-automatic action rifles. By comparing the pros and cons of bolt-action and semi-auto rifles, we can see which one is best for hunting/professional use.
Notable characteristics of the HTI sniper rifle
Before we move on to discuss the differences between bolt-action and semi-automatic sniper rifles, we need to look at the distinguishing characteristics of sniper rifles that make them stand out from other weapons. The main features of a sniper rifle are the telescopic sight, long length, prone-friendly stock, and compatibility with other accessories.
Telescopic sight
The main feature of a sniper HTI rifle is the telescopic sight. Since sniper rifles have to be highly accurate and able to see long distances, the sight of the sniper rifle needs to be highly accurate and extremely far-reaching. When compared to other optical sights on alternative weapons, the sight of a sniper rifle contains a much greater magnification and a larger objective lens.
The magnification of the scope refers to how much the scope can zoom in when they are trying to see the target. A low amount of magnification is between 1-4x, whereas the sniper rifle can zoom in up to 40x magnification in some models. Furthermore, the objective keeps the scope and magnification clear while you are zooming in. This avoids blurring of the picture when you are zooming into magnification of up to 40x.
Most telescopic sights on the sniper rifles have telescopic reticles that help the user favor the distance of the shot, helping the sniper provide an accurate shot placement by taking into account ballistics and outdoor variables, such as wind and temperature.
Action
The next characteristic that is highly notable for sniper rifles is the action. The action is what can change between bolt-action or semi-automatic when it comes to choosing the right HTI rifle for your needs. Regarding sniper rifles, each type of action has its own advantages and disadvantages depending on your use and your preferences. A bolt-action rifle is less expensive for beginners who are just starting out using sniper rifles and they are lighter. In addition, the bolt-action rifle is typically more reliable and consistent over a long period.
Furthermore, a bolt action is commonly used in militaries due to the ease of maintenance and user-friendliness. However, the pros of using a semi-automatic action instead of bolt-action are the ability to provide a higher volume of fire and more firepower within a short time frame, making it suitable for firing multiple shots off within a few seconds.
Magazine
The third characteristic of sniper rifles that you need to take into account is the magazine. The magazine refers to the type of cartridges used with your sniper rifle. A standard magazine cartridge was introduced in the mid-20th century called the .308 Winchester which took over as the typical option for people and militaries everywhere. However other options included standard military cartridges of the .30-06 Springfield, 8mm Mauser, or the 7.62x51mm.
Along with the standard military cartridges, some sniper rifles use anti-materiel cartridges. This type of ammunition is solely for use against other military equipment and technology and not for use against enemy personnel.
Barrels
The last characteristic that is notable for sniper rifles is the barrel. The barrel is the area of the gun that lets the bullet transport from the chamber out into the air. Barrels of sniper rifles usually have a heavier material and construction than that of other rifles to avoid any changes in consistency between the first and second shots. In addition, the barrels of sniper rifles are not covered in chrome to avoid any inaccuracy that can occur from an uneven application of the chrome inside of the barrel.
The barrels of sniper rifles and HTI rifles are usually free-floated, meaning the barrel only comes in contact with the refile at the receiver, thereby avoiding touching the stock. Having a free-floating barrel means that the sniper can avoid interfering with any of the mechanisms.
Lastly, the sniper rifle barrels typically have a muzzle brake or a sound suppressor. The muzzle brake acts to redirect some of the gases to avoid the muzzle of the barrel from moving upwards after shooting. This can lead to more consistency and less movement of the barrel when you try to reset your shot. In addition, the sound suppressor helps reduce the loudness of each shot when you fire the gun.
Bolt-action vs semi-automatic HTI rifle
Now that you know the purpose of the sniper rifle, sniper rifle characteristics, and the main components of a sniper rifle, you might be wondering – which is better, the semi-automatic action or the bolt-action rifle? Before you can know the pros and cons of each, you need to know the basics of each action method.
What is bolt-action?
The bolt-action is a type of firearm that the user must have to manually reload and dislodge each used cartridge after firing. This makes the shooting slower but can increase accuracy and consistency over time. The user will manipulate the bolt to unload and load the barrel by using the bolt handle, which is usually on the right side of the HTI rifle.
Most HTI rifles and bolt-action rifles use a rotating bolt, which means that the handler of the weapon must rotate the handle upwards so the bolt can be unlocked. The bolt needs to be detached from the receiver, a part of the HTI rifle that provides storage housing for other components to be protected from the outside elements.
Once the bolt is detached from the receiver, it has to be pulled back so the breech can open. The breech is the rear end of the barrel that has to be open for the ammunition to move towards the end of the barrel itself and outside. The movement of the bolt, the breech, and the receiver means that the cartridge case that has been used can be ejected outside of the HTI rifle.
When the bolt has been moved and the breech is open, the striker will then be cocked within the bolt and engage. When the bolt is moved, a new cartridge/ammunition will be loaded into the barrel chamber and ready to fire.
However just because the bolt-action seems more complicated, most HTI rifle options and bolt-action firearms are actually repeating. This means that these weapons are capable of being fired multiple times before the user of the gun has to reload new cartridges into the weapon to be fired once more. Therefore, although the user has to move the bolt to open the barrel, they can shoot multiple times without having to reload the ammunition.
Semi-automatic HTI rifle
When compared to a bolt-action firearm, a semi-automatic firearm can repeatedly fire by automatically loading ammunition into the chamber. The self-loading chamber will be able to take the cartridge without the user having to manually enter it into the chamber. The only manual action the user has to do is pull the trigger to fire the ammunition, but the reloading of the ammunition is done automatically by the HTI rifle.
Which one is better?
- Bolt-action HTI rifle options can work with a large range of ammunition types, increasing the versatility.
- A bolt-action HTI rifle can fire custom-made ammo for complete personalization info your rifle experience.
- A bolt-action HTI rifle is compatible with various scope designs for increased personalization of your firearm.
- A bolt-action HTI rifle has fewer moving parts, meaning they have less chance of breaking down over time or misfiring.
Conclusion
When comparing the bolt-action sniper rifle to the semi-automatic sniper HTI rifle, many snipers actually prefer the bolt-action style. Due to increased reliability, versatility with ammunition types, ability to fire custom-made ammo, and compatibility with scope designs, snipers feel more confident using this type of sniper rifle than other options.
Before you can choose the bolt-action or semi-automatic type that is good for you, you first need to do some research and educate yourself on the moving parts of rifles so you can feel confident during your first time shooting. Mark sure you know the key characteristics of sniper rifles, such as the scope, telescopic sight, action, and much more. If you are customizing or building your own semi-automatic rifle such as the AR-15, you need to find a reliable receiver. For a more complete guide on building an 80% lower, click HERE.