Thread: Half cock or safety

While all this arguing about what is cocked and what is not is great, to answer the question from my own personal preference, I hunt with Howa 1500s with almost all my rifles in several calibers.
These safeties I do trust, I carry my rifle mag full chamber empty and safety in the bolt lock 3rd position, this locks the bolt closed and safes the trigger mech.
When I sight an animal I flick off the safety, cycle the round, with the Howa you can do this almost silently, and close the bolt and the safety goes back on to 3rd.

When I'm ready to shoot after my stalk or getting into position to miss and rifle is being aimed, just a flick of the thumb which again it not very audible and good to go.

I am not a fan of walking around with my action open or even half open. as soon as I'm back at the truck or the hut the bolt comes out with the ammo out the bottom of the hinge plate.

With my system I can rest my thumb next to the safety and feel it's in the rear position while walking which is for me, a little constant check of the state of the rifle without having to peep down at the gun or anything.

My two cents.