HowStuffWorks "Rifle Actions and Materials"
In general, hunters say that falling-block action rifles are accurate and work well for left- and right-handers. Repeating rifles also come in a variety of actions.
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/hunting/traditional-methods/choose-rifle2.htm
Repeating rifle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A repeating rifle is a single barreled rifle containing multiple rounds of . Two employees working at Robbins & Lawrence: Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repeating_rifle
Winchester rifle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Winchester rifles were among the earliest repeating rifles; the Winchester repeater is . Benjamin Henry continued to work with Smith's cartridge concept, and .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester_rifle
Bolt action - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bolt action firearms are most often rifles, but there are some bolt-action . from a prone position than other manually repeating mechanisms and work well with .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolt_action