Bolt-action rifle

The bolt-action rifle is a moderately heavy, single-shot firearm in RimWorld which deals a slightly higher amount of damage per shot; moderate time between shots; long range and very high overall accuracy.

Acquisition

Bolt-action rifles can be crafted at a machining table once the Gunsmithing research has been completed; from 60 Steel, 3 Componentss and 12,000 ticks (3.33 mins) of work. A crafting skill of at least 5 is required.

A bolt-action rifle is also one of the three starting weapons in the standard crashlanded scenario, along with a plasteel knife and a revolver.

Bolt-action rifles can be purchased from outlander and orbital combat suppliers, or obtained from the following raider kinds:

Raider Kind	Chance	Average Quality	Health
Scavenger Gunner	11.67%	Normal	40-110%
Pirate Gunner	22.61%	Normal	70-230%
Town Guard	18.63%	Normal	60-200%
Mercenary Gunner	12.17%	Normal	70-320%
Ancient Soldier	10.28%	Normal	100%

Analysis

The bolt-action rifle has the second highest overall accuracy out of all non-explosive ranged weapons in the game; marginally ahead of the charge lance and slightly behind the pump shotgun. On top of that, this weapon has a very good maximum range as well as a decent per-shot damage amount and armor penetration. Stopping power is also high enough to stagger not only humans, but also slightly larger targets such as cougars and all insectoids.

However, the bolt-action rifle's damage output at shorter distances leaves a fair bit to be desired due to its weaker close-up accuracy, easily being outclassed at those distances by weapons such as the revolver - larger burst-fire weapons will also generally outclass the bolt-action rifle in this aspect. The aforementioned poor close-up accuracy also means that the bolt-action rifle needs a competent shooter in order to be used effectively.

All things considered, the bolt-action rifle's most suited for field engagements (e.g. attacking siege camps) or as a general support weapon, both use cases due to its stopping power being able to slow down incoming melee or shorter-ranged ranged units combined with its range. As its description states, the bolt-action rifle is an excellent hunting weapon due to its respectable per-shot damage and long range, only being outdone by the sniper rifle and charge lance in this regard.

Against an unarmored human, a bolt-action rifle can kill with 3 hits to the torso, 2 hits to the head or neck, or 1 hit to the brain; cripple or destroy limbs in 2 hits; and destroy eyes and digits with a single hit. It'll generally take around 4 hits (~15.9 seconds average) to incapacitate that human from pain shock.

Overall, the bolt-action rifle is best paired with a careful shooter up to level 13, then with a trigger-happy shooter beyond that point.

Attack table

Ranged

Bolt-action rifle			Accuracy (Touch)	Accuracy (Short)	Accuracy (Medium)	Accuracy (Long)	DPS (Optimal)	DPS (Touch)	DPS (Short)	DPS (Medium)	DPS (Long)	Market value
Quality	Dam.	AP	Accuracy (Touch)	Accuracy (Short)	Accuracy (Medium)	Accuracy (Long)	DPS (Optimal)	DPS (Touch)	DPS (Short)	DPS (Medium)	DPS (Long)	Market value
Awful	16.2	24.3%	52%	64%	72%	64%	5.07	2.63	3.24	3.65	3.24	128
Poor	18	27%	58.5%	72%	81%	72%	5.63	3.32	4.05	4.56	4.05	191
Normal	18	27%	65%	80%	90%	80%	5.63	3.66	4.5	5.07	4.5	255
Good	18	27%	71.5%	88%	99%	88%	5.63	4.05	4.95	5.57	4.95	320
Excellent	18	27%	78%	96%	100%	96%	5.63	4.39	5.4	5.63	5.4	380
Masterwork	22.5	33.75%	87.75%	100%	100%	100%	7.04	6.19	7.04	7.04	7.04	635
Legendary	27	40.5%	97.5%	100%	100%	100%	8.45	8.28	8.45	8.45	8.45	1275

^{For the full effects of qualities, see Quality. Values shown in Red indicate the weapon is out of range at the reference point for this range band.
The value is provided due to the interpolated nature of accuracy between range points.}

Melee

Feature	Toggle
Attacks

Bolt-action rifle			Stock (Blunt)					Barrel (Blunt)					Barrel (Poke)					Human: Left & right fist (Blunt)					HP	Value
Quality	DPS^[1]	AP^[1]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	HP	Value
Awful	3.98	11.6%	7.2	2s	10.4%	3.6	8.33%	7.2	2s	10.4%	3.6	8.33%	7.2	2s	10.4%	3.6	8.33%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 37.5%	100	128
Poor	4.07	11.82%	8.1	2s	11.7%	4.05	20%	8.1	2s	11.7%	4.05	20%	8.1	2s	11.7%	4.05	20%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 20%	100	191
Normal	4.4	12.75%	9	2s	13%	4.5	25%	9	2s	13%	4.5	25%	9	2s	13%	4.5	25%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 12.5%	100	255
Good	4.74	13.73%	9.9	2s	14.3%	4.95	25%	9.9	2s	14.3%	4.95	25%	9.9	2s	14.3%	4.95	25%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 12.5%	100	320
Excellent	5.08	14.7%	10.8	2s	15.6%	5.4	25%	10.8	2s	15.6%	5.4	25%	10.8	2s	15.6%	5.4	25%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 12.5%	100	380
Masterwork	5.92	17.14%	13.05	2s	18.85%	6.53	25%	13.05	2s	18.85%	6.53	25%	13.05	2s	18.85%	6.53	25%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 12.5%	100	635
Legendary	6.59	19.09%	14.85	2s	21.45%	7.43	25%	14.85	2s	21.45%	7.43	25%	14.85	2s	21.45%	7.43	25%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 12.5%	100	1275

^{For the full effects of qualities, see Quality.}

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Note: This is the actual base average derived from the melee verb system updated in 1.1.2610, it may sometimes disagree with the listed value in the in-game infobox.
It may also change depending on the stats and the melee verbs available to the wielder if the weapon is wielded by some other than a baseline human.
↑ Chance for attack to be selected, assuming the weapon is wielded by a baseline human. It may change depending on the melee verbs available to the wielder

Bolt-Action Rifle vs. Comparable Weapons

This section goes over how well the bolt-action rifle fares against comparable weapons (similar value, tech level or similar characteristics) in 1 vs. 1 combat.

Methodology

All testing is semi-automated which allows for large sample sizes to be gathered per set of results with ease
All pawns have skill levels of 14 in ranged and melee
No pawns have any traits that affect combat performance
All pawns are of at least 18 years of age and completely healthy
Pawns are divided by walls to prevent stray shots from skewing results in any way
Weather is always kept clear
No cover is used for either team

Results in the tables below are the percentages of battles that bolt-action rifles either won or tied against the weapon listed in the first column of said tables, with a sample size of 2,000 battles per result. Higher percentages are better.

Unarmored

For the unarmored testing, all pawns wore normal quality plainleather pants, plainleather button-down shirts, plainleather dusters and plainleather cowboy hats.

Other Weapon	3	7	12	18	25	32	40
Charge Lance	46.25%	46.65%	43.78%	45.78%	49.60%	50.42%	-
Sniper Rifle	72.94%	73.11%	70.76%	67.98%	64.76%	63.01%	-
Assault Rifle	14.70%	13.75%	14.55%	20.45%	27.29%	-	-
Revolver	25.94%	35.20%	44.38%	58.87%	79.46%	-	-
Greatbow	64.67%	62.55%	59.92%	66.67%	72.30%	-	-

Armored

For the armored testing, all pawns wore normal quality flak pants, flak vests, plainleather button-down shirts, flak jackets and steel simple helmets.

Other Weapon	3	7	12	18	25	32	40
Charge Lance	37.68%	34.93%	34.10%	37.64%	41.52%	42.21%	-
Sniper Rifle	73.07%	70.27%	68.81%	64.03%	61.41%	59.91%	-
Assault Rifle	20.85%	23.55%	22.40%	27.77%	32.62%	-	-
Revolver	32.68%	40.00%	48.04%	64.51%	81.97%	-	-
Greatbow	67.16%	67.46%	66.20%	70.27%	75.64%	-	-

Version history

Approximately A9 - Renamed from Lee-Enfield to Survival rifle.
A16 - Renamed from Survival rifle to Bolt-action rifle
1.0 - Accuracy was nerfed in Prior to that, it was the most accurate weapon in-game, capable of reaching 100% accuracy at all ranges above Masterwork quality.