Thread: Bolt Problems

Originally Posted by Tahr

Just to add...an old 303 on half cock is about as dangerous as dangerous can be.
Any sort of thump can set it off, and you have to fully cock it to deactivate the half cock. Try that with wet slippery fingers and see what happens.

Where do you think the expression "going off half cocked" came from? It was probably coined by someone with only one foot.

The expression actually comes from the days of flintlock firearms, going off at halfcock meant that the flint wouldnt hit the frizzen with enough force to ignite the powder in the pan. Hence the term going off half cocked - not being fully prepared.