Firearms Guide · Chapter 2
Rifle & Shotgun Action Types
Four action types cover virtually every rifle and shotgun you'll ever shoulder. Each trades speed, simplicity, and cost differently — pick the trade that matches the job.
Bolt Action
You lift and pull the bolt handle to eject the spent case, then push forward and down to chamber the next round. One deliberate manual cycle per shot.
- Inherently accurate — a locked, rigid action with few moving parts
- Utterly reliable with any ammunition that fits
- Handles the most powerful hunting calibers
- Simple to maintain; lasts generations
- Slowest follow-up shots of any action
- Working the bolt can disturb your shooting position
- Low magazine capacity (typically 3–5 rounds)
Best for: Large-game hunting, precision shooting, and anyone who values one good shot over ten fast ones.
Examples: Remington 700, Ruger American, Savage Axis, Tikka T3x
Lever Action
A loop lever under the receiver cycles the action. Flick it down and forward to eject and chamber; your hand never leaves the wrist of the stock.
- Faster follow-ups than a bolt gun, with practice
- Slim, light, quick-handling in woods and brush
- Legal in nearly every jurisdiction
- Pistol-caliber versions share ammo with a revolver
- Tubular magazines limit bullet shapes (flat/round nose mostly)
- Awkward to run from prone
- Slower to reload — rounds feed one at a time
Best for: Woods hunting, ranch guns, and shooters in restrictive states who want a capable rifle.
Examples: Henry H001 (.22), Marlin 336 / 1895, Winchester 94, Rossi R92
Pump Action
The forend slides back and forward to eject and chamber. You know it from shotguns, but rimfire and some centerfire rifles use it too.
- Extremely reliable — you are the gas system
- Cycles any shell or load, including low-power specialty rounds
- Simple, durable, affordable
- Slower and louder follow-ups than semi-auto
- Easy to short-stroke under stress without practice
- Manual effort per shot
Best for: Shotguns above all — the 12-gauge pump is the versatility king — plus budget .22 rifles.
Examples: Mossberg 500/590, Remington 870, Mossberg 464 (.22)
Semi-Automatic
Gas or recoil energy cycles the action automatically after each shot — one trigger pull, one round, and the next is chambered instantly.
- Fastest follow-up shots and highest practical capacity
- Low felt recoil — the action absorbs some of it
- Magazines reload in seconds
- Modern designs (AR-15 especially) are Lego-simple to maintain and customize
- More complex; quality ammunition and magazines matter
- Higher cost of entry for reliable examples
- Restricted or regulated in some jurisdictions
Best for: Defensive rifles, high-volume training, varmint control, and the do-most-things prepper rifle.
Examples: AR-15 pattern rifles, Ruger 10/22 (.22), AK pattern rifles, Ruger Mini-14
Practical Caliber Guide for Preppers
The prepper rule for calibers: popular beats perfect. When supply chains hiccup, common cartridges stay on shelves and affordable long after exotic ones vanish. Every caliber below is produced in the hundreds of millions of rounds annually.
| Caliber | Role | Typical Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| .22 LR | Practice & small game | ≈ $0.05–0.10/rd | The training budget multiplier. A .22 is a great first addition. |
| 5.56 NATO / .223 Rem | Defensive rifle | ≈ $0.30–0.50/rd | Light recoil, flat shooting, endless availability. |
| 7.62x39 | Defensive rifle | ≈ $0.30–0.50/rd | AK-pattern staple; hits harder up close, lofts more at distance. |
| .308 Winchester | Large game / long range | ≈ $0.70–1.20/rd | The do-everything .30-caliber; ammo and rifles everywhere. |
| .30-06 Springfield | Large game | ≈ $0.80–1.40/rd | A century of proven performance on everything in North America. |
| 6.5 Creedmoor | Large game / precision | ≈ $0.80–1.40/rd | Heavy-for-caliber, high-BC bullets in a popular modern cartridge. Past 400–500 yards it drops less and drifts less in wind than older designs, without punishing recoil. |
| 12 Gauge | Everything | ≈ $0.30–2.00/shell | Birdshot to slugs — one gun, a dozen jobs. |
Prices are rough 2026 bulk averages and move with the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is a bolt action or semi-auto better for a first rifle?
- Match it to the role. For learning fundamentals and hunting, a bolt action in .22 LR or .308 teaches discipline and accuracy cheaply. For defense, a semi-auto in 5.56 is the correct tool — fast follow-ups and magazine capacity matter when the stakes are real. Many preppers own both, which is exactly what the five-role battery suggests.
- What is the most versatile firearm a prepper can own?
- A 12-gauge pump shotgun. With birdshot it takes small game, with buckshot it's a serious defensive tool, and with slugs it's effective on deer-sized game to 100 yards. No other single firearm covers that range of tasks by swapping ammunition.
- What caliber rifle should I get for deer hunting?
- .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, and 6.5 Creedmoor are the three safest picks. All take every deer-sized animal in North America, ammunition is available in every sporting goods store, and affordable rifles chambered for them are everywhere. Pick the one whose rifle you shoulder best.
- Why do preppers recommend .22 LR so strongly?
- Because skill is the real stockpile and .22 LR is how you afford it. At roughly a dime a round you can practice ten times more for the same money, with no recoil to mask errors. It's also quiet, takes small game cleanly, and stores compactly — a few thousand rounds fit in a shoebox.