Thread: A word to the wise re safety!

Greetings again all,
After my last post I thought I should be really sure of what was currently in the Arms code about bolt actions. The code still talks of half open action where the cartridge is partly in the chamber and is basically what was in the code 50 plus years ago when many still had a .303 as their main hunting rifle. It is a reasonably convenient way to carry a cock on closing action with the firing spring stopping the bolt from going fully froward and your thumb stopping it from falling back. This position is nowhere near as convenient with a cock on opening action as most are these days. The position I call part open and others call half cock (it makes my skin crawl to actually type that) has the cartridge almost fully in the chamber with just a downward pressure on the bolt to have the rifle rady to fire as Finnwolf discovered. For firearms that can not use the half open bolt the arms code recomends the use of a previously tested safety catch and to my mind this applies to cock on opening bolt actions.
Regards Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings again all,
After my last post I thought I should be really sure of what was currently in the Arms code about bolt actions. The code still talks of half open action where the cartridge is partly in the chamber and is basically what was in the code 50 plus years ago when many still had a .303 as their main hunting rifle. It is a reasonably convenient way to carry a cock on closing action with the firing spring stopping the bolt from going fully froward and your thumb stopping it from falling back. This position is nowhere near as convenient with a cock on opening action as most are these days. The position I call part open and others call half cock (it makes my skin crawl to actually type that) has the cartridge almost fully in the chamber with just a downward pressure on the bolt to have the rifle rady to fire as Finnwolf discovered. For firearms that can not use the half open bolt the arms code recomends the use of a previously tested safety catch and to my mind this applies to cock on opening bolt actions.
Regards Grandpamac.

Agreed, outdated, generational and an inherently ‘kiwi’ approach that in my opinion is now not best practice.
A good discussion piece.
In my 20s I took a fall and thanked my lucky stars the bolt was closed on an empty chamber as I cartwheeled with the muzzle lodged in my groin. It hurt like hell but was quite aware of the consequences for my pelvis and major blood vessels.