Bolt throw is the angle through which the handle of a bolt-action rifle rotates to disengage the locking lugs before the bolt can be drawn rearward. A conventional two-lug action typically uses a 90-degree throw, while multi-lug and purpose-built designs cut that down to around 60 degrees. The shorter the arc, the less the hand has to travel to break the action open.

A short 60-degree throw has two practical payoffs for precision shooters. It gives more clearance between the bolt knob and a low-mounted scope’s ocular bell, and it lets the shooter cycle faster while staying on the gun, which matters in timed stages and on follow-up shots. The trade is higher mechanical effort to unlock, since the same camming work happens over a smaller rotation.

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