I`ve used the Krag-Joergensen Bolt action from the very start and I`ve noticed the same. Even a cheap repeter has a better range in auto-aim than the bolt-action has now. But still, it bites.
Was attacked by 3-4 newcommers in Armadillo this evening, the posse-leader was able to kill me first. Fighting from the horseback, allways moving I picked them quite easy 2-3 times before they paroled.
Will check out my Springfields range and compare, not a bad gun that rifle