Olympics Biathlon right now: What kind of action

[Eleanors38]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by krispos42 (a host of the Gun Control & RKBA group).

do the rifles have? The women shoot five-shot groups from prone with a bi-pod, and standing off-hand, ejecting empties with a mere flick of the bolt handle, straight-pull.

One of the Russian skiers fell from her skis, and broke off the (apparently) wooden stock. Is there a rule against folding or at least synthetic stocks? Seems like a helluva way to lose a competition. The American is doing well.

For shooters, the last shot is most often missed, if any shots are missed at all.

I post this here as my questions are somewhat technical, and there is a larger pool of expertise.

[FarPoint]

1. I'm clueless to your question...

Yet I thoroughly love this competition.

[pangaia]

2. I don't know anything about that.

Having said that, looks like it's electronic to me.
But them I'm a drummer.

[2naSalit]

3. There are specs

for the guns. Most are .22 mag (I think). They have a weight specification but I have seen both wood and synthetic stocks. It's a matter of personal preference with the materials, it's the weight that is key.

We have several biathlon events near where I live so I get to see it often. There is the one and only biathlon specific gun shop in the world in the town nearest me (15 miles away) and he sponsors qualifying events there... a former biathlon competitor (Lake Placid).

http://www.altiusguns.com/main.php

Looks like there's lots of info there.

[gejohnston]

5. .22 LR

before 1970 they used a high powered center fired that may or may not have been standardized.

[2naSalit]

6. true.

I asked Mr. Sheppard about that. He tried to talk me into trying biathlon (even at my age) but I declined due to expense, but I did take up nordic freestyle because I like it and the trails are closer than the nearest downhill facilities.

I volunteer at many of the events down the in the town.

I think some use .17 also... ? that has been developing over the past decade.

[gejohnston]

4. bolt action

http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/snow-sports/biathlon4.htm

[Eleanors38]

7. The turn bolt with locking lugs must not be an advantage...

in terms of accuracy. Never shot a straight-pull. Does the ease of action translate to high power?

[clffrdjk]

11. The straight pull can still be very consistent

Which is where the bolt action accuracy comes from (bolt always in the same position) where it lacks is in the amount of locking lug available to hold the bolt closed. A .22lr doesn't need much more than a tiny pin so a straight pull can work, but as you get into larger cartridges the strength required of the locking lugs grows tremendously. Hence the need for rotating bolts in higher caliber cartridges.

[Eleanors38]

14. That must explain the high-powered German Blaser.

I can see where rotary-bolt lock ups and toggle switch actions can allow high pressures and "easy" actuation both. Even in .22, the gentle action is impressive. I wonder if the bolt is designed to reduce thumb abrasion, or whether the grrl's thumbs have callouses.

[clffrdjk]

16. They probably get more abrasion from the polls.

[NYC_SKP]

8. Did they not once have air rifle competitions?

I have a terrific Beeman .22 air rifle with scope.

It gets more use than anything else, which isn't much.

[Straw Man]

10. In Summer Olympics, yes.

I've never heard of air rifle biathlon, although that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

A popular sport for club-level competition is "primitive biathlon," using snowshoes and muzzle-loaders.

[Bazinga]

12. The changing weather conditions of biathlon likely make air rifles unfeasible.

No expert, but that seems like a pretty good reason to keep it rimfire.

[Straw Man]

9. Toggle-bolt action.

It's a straight-pull action that works by a hinged, scissor-like lever, almost like a Luger pistol action turned sideways, if that makes any sense to you. And of course, manually operated, not semi-auto. The advantage is speed and increase ability to maintain your sight picture and your hold while cycling the action.

It's not electronic, although they flick it so fast and effortlessly that it almost looks as though it is.

Biathlon competition used to use the standard service rifle of each competing country. It was standardized to .22 rimfire in the 1970s, I believe. Regular .22 LR, not magnum.

Biathlon is hugely popular in Europe, where they get to see televised competition every year, not just every Winter Olympic year.

I have a Russian Izhmash "Biathlon Basic" (with the emphasis on "basic&quot rifle. I compete with it in a .22 rimfire target league, but not biathlon: just offhand shooting from the standing position. It's one of the best .22 rifles I have ever shot: extremely accurate, with a wonderfully crisp trigger. That and some higher-end biathlon rifles by the same manufacturer were imported in to this country up until a few years ago: excellent target rifles at an affordable price.

[oneshooter]

13. Here are some , as you can see, they ain't cheap.

http://www.nordicmarksman.com/Biathlon-Rifles.html

http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/snow-sports/biathlon4.htm

[Eleanors38]

15. Thanks. I've seen early-model Anshutz rifles. Pretty exotic,

entirely adjustable. Look like "bull barrel" set-ups. Certainly thick!

[spin]

17. For prone shooting the targets are the size of a silver dollar and placed 50 meters downrange. (n/t)

http://www.usbiathlon.org/terminology.html

[Jenoch]

18. I think I remember reading somewhere about

a female biathilon competitor who lived in California but had to train in Colorado because her gun had a folding stock and pistol grip. I might be wrong on the details.

[krispos42]

19. Locking

Sorry, but this is not within the scope of the SoP of the Group.

Regards,
krispos42, Group Host