The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Prompted by the MAS thread..

Do you ever use the safety on your rifle (Or shotgun) For hunting with a walked gun I would expect the answer to be yes but otherwise do you?

The three rifles I use more than anything else are:
AI/AE - Never use the safety.
7mm Barnard - No safety fitted.
4(T) - Use the safety for two type and McQueen but that is all.

With my Miroku for clays, I break the shotgun when it is half out of the slip on the stand and only close it empty as it is half back in the slip. No idea how I got into the habit of doing this.

So safety catches do not figure greatly in my shooting.

I had a Falcon PCP air rifle in the 90's with a particularly dodgy safety/trigger set up.
If you pulled the trigger whilst the safety was applied, nothing would happen - But when you slid the safety off, the rifle would fire, without any pressure on the trigger.
In the end I took the safety out of the rifle.

As a consequence I now never apply trigger pressure to any rifle whilst the safety is on - just in case!

DM

I guess I kinda use the safety on my shotgun, I shoot "gun down" and take the safety off as the gun comes up to my shoulder ... It's a muscle memory thing not a conscious action !

General rule is that safety is on until ready to fire.

All depends on one's take on ready to fire.

There is no better time to re-read the safety advice given under Safe Shooting, in our Library section.

When hunting and the bolt is closed, irrespective of what we think is in the chamber (live or spent), the safety is on...and the barrel pointing in a safe direction.

When rifle target shooting, my bolt closes when I am ready to fire, not before....ie barrel is on target.

On clays, I only close the gun when pointing in a safe direction just before calling for the clay. My White Onyx, being a sporter, does not move safety to on automatically.

No safeties, my gun is "always loaded" and treated as such.

Shooting clays then the O/u is closed when pointed in direction of clays, the pump action is loaded in same manner, muzzle towards targets.

Full bore, mags inserted when instructed by R/o and removed as soon as shooting finished, ammo expended. Bolt closed when on target.

Think I've explained it right.

Don't hunt, so I don't see the need for safeties...I've a number of Baikal O/U and S/S Shotguns and they all come with an Automatic Safety. I find this a nuisance as I sometimes forget and miss the Clay.


On the Baikals I just remove the link that operates the safety when the gun is broken. I just cut the link off with a Dremel.

I've also a number of Firearms/Shotguns with a crossbolt safety, which can be engaged accidently, so I just slip a small 'O' ring on the groove of the safety, so that it wont move.


Ovenpaa Quote.....<I break the shotgun when it is half out of the slip on the stand and only close it empty as it is half back in the slip.>

I do that as well. :)

Aye while stalking ALWAYS had the safety on. Don't know if the safety on a rifle is foolproof mind. Many shotgunners are under a false sense of security with their safety catches, as far as I am aware "MOST" shotgun safety catches ONLY block the trigger, the hammer is still in the "cocked" position, should the gun receive a hard "jolt" somehow, it is possible for it to fire.

My Krieghoff had a small grub screw which when tightened held the safety catch in the fire position. A very good idea when in serious competition as the gun is always ready to fire, no mate picking it up and having a look, (playing with the safety) could then take the safety off and cost you a target.

As an aside, towards the latter end of my shooting career I ended up getting trigger freeze, which is similar to a darts player been unable to let go of his dart. To overcome this I had (very expensive £500) a RELEASE trigger fitted to the Krieghoff, which means you actually pull the trigger to "set" it, release to fire, then pull again for the second shot. As far as I am aware they are only used for Clay shooting, never ever seen one in the field.

Strange for a couple of weeks to be fair, but certainly good for the trigger freeze guys. Shot a big DTL comp with it (my last ever it turned out) shot 99 straight (couple of second barrels) thought to myself I'd at least finish my shooting with a hundred straight, got a low STRAIGHT away target and missed it with both Shots. The game's not over till the fat lady sings was never more relevant.

Regards

Phil*

Generally, no I do not use the safety. As Chuck said, I treat the firearm as loaded at all times, however when I unload or there is a stoppage the training kicks in - Check safe and apply, tilt, cock, lock and look in or whatever drill I'm going through.

When out in the field, the bolt is up (open) so the last thing I do is close the bolt, chamber a round and fire.

Cant believe I'm reading some of this??? Safety, Safety, Safety always safety,,,if it's there on the gun use it!!

SHOULD AN ACCIDENT HAPPEN,,,and remember there is no such animal as an accidental disharge!!! at a court of inquest you might have one hell of a job explaining why you didnt use the safety catch,,,,and if you have altered the design of the gun, inorder to disable the safety catch mechanisn then,,,,,,,,well I wouldnt like to be in your shoes!! if your safety catch does not work properly, then get it looked at and fixed,,,
They duty of care is firmly in your court,,,,and the law court!!

Back in the days when Fairburn and Syles were runnung the Shanghai Police Force, before releasing semi-auto pistols in to service, they drilled a hole through the safety in to the frame and pinned the safety into the "off" position. They had seen too many accidents caused by safeties. Policemen were taught to carry the pistol with an empty chamber and to work the slide as part of the draw. See: "Shooting to Live" and learn about real practical shooting. Fairburn was believed to survived over 200 gun fights.
Fred