>> I have seen more problems occur with bolt actions than semi-autos that have been standardized and proven over many decades <<

I'm not disputing what your experiences have been and would be interested to read specifics on bolt-gun failures you have seen. But regardless:

While I don't have any issue with semi-auto rifles, I'll completely disagree with extending your experiences with problems to the respective genres. Reliable bolt actions have been around for about 120 years, With the exception of one action type (roller locked), at their heart all semi-auto actions chambered for anything more potent than a pistol caliber are, in fact, bolt actions. They just use energy from a fired cartridge to cycle the bolt instead of the user's muscle. If the semi-auto is reliable (which I do not dispute), the bolt action must be even more reliable. Besides the theory, the accumulated empirical data conclusively shows that bolt guns are more reliable.

And detachable magazines, unquestionably, are susceptable to all sorts of mayhem that renders its parent rifle hors de combat. Like last weekend when my buddy's well-maintained M1A had a BAD jam from a dinged mag. (My NM Garand was flawless, as always, but there's a mishap somewhere in its future, no doubt).

There's a place in my safe for both types, but if I had to choose just one... it would depend on why I needed just one.

I just couldn't let the "semi more reliable than bolt" arguement go unchallenged <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Regards,

Tom