Thread: Half cock or safety

Not all safeties are created equal. For example, my rifle has a lever that has been knocked into the fire position in thick scrub, whereas other rifles have a button that slides forward. The latter is a lot harder to bump off. Then there are the ones that allow you to unload without deactivating the mechanism. These, if in button form are best. But even better is the empty chamber with bolt locked and closed.
For me, when stalking slow I have one up the spout, safety on but bolt unlocked and half open. Then there's a 2 stage process to close the bolt and take the safety off. Is it the best of both worlds?

Identify your target beyond all doubt because you never miss (right?) and I'll be missed.

Originally Posted by Eat Meater

Not all safeties are created equal. For example, my rifle has a lever that has been knocked into the fire position in thick scrub, whereas other rifles have a button that slides forward. The latter is a lot harder to bump off. Then there are the ones that allow you to unload without deactivating the mechanism. These, if in button form are best. But even better is the empty chamber with bolt locked and closed.
For me, when stalking slow I have one up the spout, safety on but bolt unlocked and half open. Then there's a 2 stage process to close the bolt and take the safety off. Is it the best of both worlds?

Identify your target beyond all doubt because you never miss (right?) and I'll be missed.

That is actually how I like to run things, in the olden days when I did the MSC course, I was taught the half-open-bolt methodology, at that time, Lee Enfields were still fairly prolific but were in popularity decline.
My partner did her MSC course in late 2018, I went along too, so that I could make sure I didn't contradict any of what they taught in the event the teaching had changed. The main difference to the course I did in the 90's was the change to teaching to use the safety catch rather than half-open bolt. The instructor did explain that there used to be a different way that they taught, but that for the sake of consistency and simplicity, safety catch was now seen as the best practice to observe.

As some on here have touched on, I also struggle to change old habits, but I can form new ones. So as per the quoted post above, I now observe both teachings. Half-open-bolt and safety on. But crucially, if in doubt, nothing up the spout.