Thread: A word to the wise re safety!

We all can make mistakes and I made a sort-of mistake last evening.

Mrs Finnwolf and I were out after rabbits, shot one with my wee Sako 22, worked the bolt and put it into the half-cocked position and walked up to the rabbit, folded down the bipod legs to prop the rifle while I gutted the rabbit.

Due to being paddle-footed at times I knocked the rifle and tipping it downhill onto its side.

Propped the rifle back up, finished gutting the rabbit then picked up the rifle and carried on looking for more rabbits, after five or so minutes I decided to check the status of the rifle only to discover the wee bolt fully closed!!

I guess when I tipped the rifle onto its side it landed on the bolt and fully closed it, luckily with firm self imposed rule of no finger inside trigger (2lb pull) I wasn’t likely to accidentally fire the rifle but hey, ‘shit can happen’

Be careful out there people, stuff like that doesn’t always happen to ‘someone else’

In that situation (putting the rifle down) I would have had the bolt fully open, or closed and uncocked on an empty chamber. I only use half cock when I'm carrying the rifle and expecting to see game.

These sorts of reminders are good for us all.

Originally Posted by jakewire

These sorts of reminders are good for us all.

Exactly why I posted about this event - if it saves it happening to somebody I’d be happy.

My boo-boo was while carrying my Win M94 leveraction with one in the chamber but uncocked, I climbed over a log and semi-fell into a hole filled with supplejack and sticks. Once I climbed my way out I noticed the hammer was now cocked. It could have been very nasty if the supplejack etc had also held the lever against the stock and bumped the trigger.

Originally Posted by Finnwolf

We all can make mistakes and I made a sort-of mistake last evening.

Mrs Finnwolf and I were out after rabbits, shot one with my wee Sako 22, worked the bolt and put it into the half-cocked position and walked up to the rabbit, folded down the bipod legs to prop the rifle while I gutted the rabbit.

Due to being paddle-footed at times I knocked the rifle and tipping it downhill onto its side.

Propped the rifle back up, finished gutting the rabbit then picked up the rifle and carried on looking for more rabbits, after five or so minutes I decided to check the status of the rifle only to discover the wee bolt fully closed!!

I guess when I tipped the rifle onto its side it landed on the bolt and fully closed it, luckily with firm self imposed rule of no finger inside trigger (2lb pull) I wasn’t likely to accidentally fire the rifle but hey, ‘shit can happen’

Be careful out there people, stuff like that doesn’t always happen to ‘someone else’

....are you still going to be walking around with your rifle on half cock?

Originally Posted by Nickoli

....are you still going to be walking around with your rifle on half cock?

In easy paddocks and expecting to shoot? - mostly yes, done so for last 35+ years.
But now will open bolt when putting rifle down.

And remember, when you shoot your stag of a lifetime (or of the weekend) this roar, to double check that you haven't chambered another round on autopilot in case it jumps up again.

Originally Posted by Kimber 7mm-08

And remember, when you shoot your stag of a lifetime (or of the weekend) this roar, to double check that you haven't chambered another round on autopilot in case it jumps up again.

i totally disagree

one up the spout and carefully walk in with the safety off and finger on the trigger

I shot a stag for a farmer and to save meat damage I shot it in the "head"
went down like the proverbial sack of potatoes
when I was a meter from it it got up and chased me

now everything gets one in the brain as soon as I walk up to it

any time I put my rifle down or climb a fence while stalking I unload the chamber, but definitely not when walking up to something with antlers and a 300kg weight advantage, haha

Yep that's true, the reload is automatic and it should be. Next we will have to stop shooting things because it means loading the rifle.

As for a "half cock" bolt position - it should be done away with. In the event described if the OP had used his safety there would have been no issue.

The half cock position for a bolt rifle is a leftover from the old .303 days and is senseless or more dangerous depending on the rifle. Some rifles will decock themselves when the bolt flips shut. (Sakos, Tikkas and others) meaning you get a primer strike and the firing pin is then against the primer waiting for a knock to the butt until the operator notices.

There is no point in using the bolt of the rifle as a really large safety catch, if you already have an actual safety catch.

Originally Posted by Bill999

i totally disagree

one up the spout and carefully walk in with the safety off and finger on the trigger

I shot a stag for a farmer and to save meat damage I shot it in the "head"
went down like the proverbial sack of potatoes
when I was a meter from it it got up and chased me

now everything gets one in the brain as soon as I walk up to it

any time I put my rifle down or climb a fence while stalking I unload the chamber, but definitely not when walking up to something with antlers and a 300kg weight advantage, haha

Ah, for sure. I agree with what you said regarding approaching a shot stag.What I tried to get across but failed is to make sure once it's down (dead), to check if you have a round up the spout that you may have forgotten about in the heat of the moment.

Originally Posted by Kimber 7mm-08

Ah, for sure. I agree with what you said regarding approaching a shot stag.What I tried to get across but failed is to make sure once it's down (dead), to check if you have a round up the spout that you may have forgotten about in the heat of the moment.

yep id emptied my gun and locked it in my vehicle then climbed the fence to go 150-200m over and inspect my good work

bad move

Thanks for sharing @Finnwolf
I no longer use a half-bolt. I had a number of times when the bolt would either be knocked closed (very dangerous) or knocked open (very noisy). I now use the safety instead, as the rifle was designed to do.

Originally Posted by Dama dama

Thanks for sharing @Finnwolf
I no longer use a half-bolt. I had a number of times when the bolt would either be knocked closed (very dangerous) or knocked open (very noisy). I now use the safety instead, as the rifle was designed to do.

@Dama dama - in my growing up days Dad used to tell me not to trust a safety (possibly because in older guns some were pretty weak and/or unreliable.)

Being left handed the bolt handle is (normally!) easy to shield with my body and visually check.

With the Finnwolf I’ve no option as it doesn’t have facility for a half open bolt!

Thanks for posting, and glad nobody was injured. I love to learn when someone else has paid the school fees!