Straightpull

Straightpull refers to a type of bolt-action firearm mechanism in which the bolt is cycled by a straight back-and-forward motion rather than the traditional lifting and rotating of the bolt handle. In a typical straight-pull system, pulling the bolt straight rearward extracts the spent cartridge, and pushing it forward chambers a fresh round. Many designs use a fixed bolt head with locking lugs that engage in the receiver, requiring no rotation of the bolt to lock or unlock. Some variants employ a cam track or locking sleeve to guide the bolt between locked and unlocked positions. The action can be faster to operate than a classic rotary bolt under certain conditions and is often considered easier to use with gloved hands or in stressful situations.

History and usage: Straightpull bolt actions were widely developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They are strongly associated with Swiss service rifles, such as Schmidt–Rubin designs, which used straight-pull mechanisms to enable rapid firing without the need for turning the bolt. Other European arms of the era experimented with straight-pull concepts, though military adoption declined with the rise of rotating bolts and semi-automatic designs.

Modern context: In contemporary firearms, straight-pull designs survive mainly in sporting, hunting, and specialty rifles. They are valued by some shooters for potential rapid cycling and simplified handling, though rotating-bolt designs remain more common for many applications. Straight-pull remains of interest to historians and firearms enthusiasts for its distinctive mechanism and historical significance.