bolt-action

adjective

bolt-ac·​tion ˈbōlt-ˈak-shən How to pronounce bolt-action (audio)
of a firearm
: loaded by means of a manually operated bolt

Examples of bolt-action in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Gunsite owner Buz Mills added combat tactics with AR-15 and bolt-action rifles. William La Jeunesse, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025 Most of his kills came slowly, a single shot from his bolt-action M40 after hours of waiting. Clay Risen, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2024 The two could hear the bolt-action rifle and the sizzling sound of lead ripping through the air. Danielle Bacher, Peoplemag, 28 Aug. 2023 That early bolt-action slug gun has since evolved into the 12 gauge Model 212 and 20 gauge Model 220. Tony Hansen, Outdoor Life, 22 June 2023 During a search in April of the home Teixeira shared with his mother and stepfather in Dighton, FBI agents found a gun locker about two feet from his bed containing handguns, bolt-action rifles, shotguns, an AK-style high-capacity weapon, and a gas mask, according to court filings. Travis Andersen, BostonGlobe.com, 21 June 2023 Fritz accomplished this goal by combining benchrest bolt-action rifle technology with a rifled shotgun barrel. Tony Hansen, Outdoor Life, 22 June 2023 During a search in April of the Dighton home Teixeira shared with his mother and stepfather, FBI agents found a gun locker about two feet from his bed containing handguns, bolt-action rifles, shotguns, an AK-style high-capacity weapon, and a gas mask, according to court filings. Shelley Murphy, BostonGlobe.com, 21 June 2023 During a search last month of the Dighton home Teixeira shares with his mother and stepfather, FBI agents found a gun locker about two feet from his bed containing handguns, bolt-action rifles, shotguns, an AK-style high-capacity weapon, and a gas mask, according to court filings. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 12 May 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bolt-action was in 1896

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bolt-action.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bolt-action. Accessed 10 May. 2025.

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