Thread: One up the spout

I will use the 'half open bolt' position with the bolt cupped as described in the post above when ready and waiting to shoot, like watching an animal moving in the scrub. The rest of the time the chamber is empty and I find that I actually enjoy my hunting more this way because I dont have to think about the state of the rifle. It also adds a bit of excitement, having to very quietly chamber a round from the mag without alerting the quarry

I personally don't see how relying on a well designed safety when hunting alone is more dangerous than a half cock which would mean that the sear can be released.

you should always follow the rules of gun safety and ID your target 100 percent.

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

I personally don't see how relying on a well designed safety when hunting alone is more dangerous than a half cock which would mean that the sear can be released.

you should always follow the rules of gun safety and ID your target 100 percent.

I am sure we all agree, pointing the firearm in a safe direction and keeping it under deliberate control must be the primary safety measure.
The difference between a 'half open bolt' and the 'bolt closed and the safety on' is that it is very easy to lift the bolt and move it backwards to make the rifle safe with the 'Half open bolt'. Whereas the rifle on 'safe' (often/ mostly) has to have the safety moved to 'fire' before the bolt can be lifted and the round removed, so at this point it is more dangerous.
The bolt closed on a round with sear released is the method that I am concerned about

The failure of the zastava safety on the trigger mecanism is a well known topic. I think mentioned in the book bolt action rifles of the world.

As mentioned above, where the barrel points is the first thing that should mater the most.even if having an empty chamber. If walking behind a mate, most often I will have my barrel pointing behind me.
The second thing is adopt the safest method and stick to it. All the time. And check ,check and recheck:
You are bout to cross an obstacle, check prior and after ( actually you should have an empty chamber then). You stop for a bite, Check …. Etc.
I have learned to use a reliable safety while stalking in Europe. But I am equally confortable to use the half cock method. But I am not perfect and have a few times done some mistakes with no bad consequence and learned from them.

The method described by the poster about having the bolt closed and the firing pin resting on the primer of a chambered round is commonly called «* the African safety*» in France. It can kind of work , but is not that safe. I know of 3 different persons that had a shot go off. Two of them was when they were pressing the trigger and trying to slowly push the bolt down. Something went wrong in their manipulation ( often the trigger not pressed first) and the shot went off. Lucky for them the barrel was pointing in a safe direction but ittaught them a good lesson. The third one was a Remington 700 in the hands of a guy in Africa. He was in a back of Ute as they were traveling on tracks looking for game trails. The car came to stop and everybody jumped out. Apparently the rear of the bolt shroud got knocked on the side of the pick up truck and the shot went off.

The rifles I like for their safety are the Winchester and the kimber with their 3 positions safety on the bolt, also the older bsa . The blaser safety ( now copied by a few other European brands) and the modern browning blr, which has half cock position plus the top of the hammer that can be pushed forward and completely block the chance of having anything touching the firing pin.

in my book the three most important firearms rules are
#1 muzzle control
#2 muzzle control
#3 muzzle control

if the plurry thing is always pointed in a safe direction,even a dishonourable discharge will not result in injury or damage to anything...

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

in my book the three most important firearms rules are
#1 muzzle control
#2 muzzle control
#3 muzzle control

if the plurry thing is always pointed in a safe direction,even a dishonourable discharge will not result in injury or damage to anything...

Too true - I even comment to anybody with me that looks like they’re about to break that rule - even Mrs Finnwolf!

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

in my book the three most important firearms rules are
#1 muzzle control
#2 muzzle control
#3 muzzle control

if the plurry thing is always pointed in a safe direction,even a dishonourable discharge will not result in injury or damage to anything...

Never a truer word spoken Micky Duck.

I have in the past adopted a practise of having ba 3"12g loaded if we are moving into a goosehunting hot spot.
however
1/I loudly in form everyone in the party Im loaded aka HOT as we move off
2/I lead the column formation
3/should no game be spotted I unload /make safe -and inform the others Ive done so.
what does bloody annoy me is people who wander in and pick up a gun without asking permission of the owner.even if im shooting with cobbers should i havbe to move their weapon ill always tell em -Its called Respect.likewise when youre back at the wagons packing up it doesnt do any harm to do a mutual firearms check to ensure safety prior to stowing you guns.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

Whereas the rifle on 'safe' (often/ mostly) has to have the safety moved to 'fire' before the bolt can be lifted and the round removed, so at this point it is more dangerous.
The bolt closed on a round with sear released is the method that I am concerned about

That's why I bought a rifle with a 3 position safety. Changes the mostly to never.

Always identify your target beyond all doubt because you never miss and I will be missed

Originally Posted by Eat Meater

That's why I bought a rifle with a 3 position safety. Changes the mostly to never.

Always identify your target beyond all doubt because you never miss and I will be missed

Never say never

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

..more celibate than a Catholic priest me..

Some may say that's not a definitive benchmark..

I always feel nervous when I watch some US hunting videos when they stick one up the spout, close the bolt, apply the safety and start hunting.....

@6x47 Just for you ..... https://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=t&rc...ud5-OfZbP2hcjM

Yeh, seen it before, based on plenty of historic events.

Originally Posted by bumblefoot

I always feel nervous when I watch some US hunting videos when they stick one up the spout, close the bolt, apply the safety and start hunting.....

I do that with the semi autos and pumps when a shot is likely.