bolt action

Bolt action rotating bolt in Mauser m/96 A Kelbly rifle action bolt that has been fluted A US Marine extracts a spent round from an M40A3 using a bolt-action mechanism.

Bolt action is a type of manual firearm action that is operated by directly manipulating the turn-bolt via a bolt handle, most commonly placed on the right-hand side of the firearm (as most users are right-handed). The majority of bolt-action firearms are rifles, but there are also some variants of shotguns and handguns that are bolt-action.