Bolt action guns come in rotating bolt or straight pull. The straight pull requires only a pull back and push forward to operate. This is accomplished with spring-loaded ball bearings that lock into a groove in the bolt’s housing, or with lugs radiating from the bolt.
Rotating bolts most commonly come in three types. The Mauser has two locking lugs just behind the bolt head, enabling it to withstand higher pressure cartridges. Some models have a third locking lug as a safety feature. The Mauser cocks the action with the upward rotation of the bolt. This is called cock on opening because it cocks with the opening of the bolt.
The Lee-Infield type of rotating bolt action is a cock on closing action because it cocks when the bolt moves forward.
The Mosin-Nagant action is another cock on opening system, but it has a separate bolt head which rotates with the bolt and the bearing lugs, whereas the Mauser bolt head is part of the bolt and the Lee-Infield has a stationary bolt head and a rotating body.
Bolt action rifles may have an internal magazine loaded by hand, a detachable magazine, or no magazine, with the latter requiring individual loading of bullets into the chamber. Bolt action rifles generally limit capacity to two to ten rounds to keep the magazine flush with the stock and to limit the weight of the gun. The magazine may take the shape of a tube or box.
