Differences Between a Remington SA and an LA

The primary difference between a Remington short-action (SA) rifle and a long-action (LA) rifle is the size of the cartridge. Several characteristics are different between the two rifles, so you can easily distinguish between the two types of action and also understand the functional difference between the two types of action.

  1. Cartridge Length

    • The cartridge length on the short-action rifles is shorter than long-action cartridges, but they are also fatter to accommodate the same amount of powder. The most common short-action calibers for Remington rifles are .243 and .308. The most common long-action calibers for Remington rifles are .30-06 and .270.

    Receiver Length

    • In some cases you cannot tell whether a rifle is short-action or long-action from the caliber of its cartridge. For instance the .308 comes in both a short-round and a long-round. To be sure whether a rifle has a short or long action, measure the distance between the screws on the receiver. A short-action Remington has a distance of 6-1/2 inches, and a long-action Remington has a distance of 7-3/8 inches.

    Bolt Throw

    • Since the cartridge is shorter in a short-action rifle, so too is the receiver and the bolt. This means a short-action rifle weighs less than a long-action rifle. Additionally, the shorter bolt provides a faster bolt cycle time. Not only does a short cycle time allow you to fire multiple rounds faster, but it also reduces the chance of the cartridge jamming when it is ejected.

    Trajectory

    • The short-action rifle and the long-action rifle provide trade-offs in terms of trajectory. A short-action cartridge is stiffer which produces greater accuracy than a long-action cartridge. A long-action cartridge, on the other hand, fires at a higher velocity, albeit with less accuracy.