Abstract: A bolt action for a repeating rifle including an elongated hollow bolt having formed thereon, circumferentially spaced, axially extending rails which cover a major portion of the length of the bolt. One of the rails extends to the forward end of the bolt which, in the assembled rifle, is positioned inside the forward receiver ring adjacent the rear end of the barrel when the action is closed. The elongated rail cooperates with undercuts formed in the spaced lateral rails of the receiver to enable shells to be more smoothly and easily fed from the magazine to the chamber. The bolt is retained in its firing position by a plurality of locking lugs carried in the rear receiver ring which cooperate with the bolt rails. The bolt handle and bolt handle shroud are integrally formed and are a separate piece from the bolt proper which is screwed into the bolt handle shroud and pinned in this position.