Am I harming my bolt actions?

[Nameless_Hobo]

When I'm done with my bolt actions, I usually decock them by working the bolt, then holding the trigger down while I close the bolt, which leaves the firing pin forward.

I've been doing this for a while now, as I was told when I was young not to leave the gun cocked, and as always, old habits are hard to break. However, my grandfather and father always just put in an empty case in and pulled the trigger.
So far, I've seen no problems, but, I'd like to know if I'm hurting my guns? I do this with both centerfire, rimfire and bolt action shotguns, would it affect these differently?
I'm not giving any undue stress to the trigger group, sear or firing pin, am I?

As a side note, I know I shall hear from some of the "Pulling the trigger isn't safe" people, I always make sure it's in a safe direction and check to make sure the magazine isn't loaded, I usually leave the magazine bottom open to it's not possible for it to feed rounds.
I'm safe, and I say this as someone who's had a ND.

 

[Outlaws]

You are fine.

 

[DnPRK]

Holding the trigger back while closing the bolt is the preferred way to gently de-cock the mainspring.

 

[pinstripe]

If your rifles decock while pulling the trigger and closing the bolt, then that is how it is designed. No damage at all. They are supposed to be uncocked when not in use.

 

[Jim K]

You are fine, that is the way it should be done. Most times with my own guns, I just make sure the chamber is empty, close the bolt and pull the trigger, but then none of my rimfire rifles have deficient firing pin stops.

Jim

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Just don't do that with a cz 452. The proper way to decock it is to just dry fire it.

 

[The Annoyed Man]

I wasn't aware of the trick of decocking by closing the bolt with the trigger pulled. Will most bolt rifles do that?

I've always kept a snap cap in the action, and I just go ahead and dry fire it. I've been told that the snap caps are no longer necessary in modern rifles because the metallurgy is so much better, but I just want to be sure.

 

[target1911]

Yes most, but not all, bolts decock that way.

You shouldnt dry fire a rim fire.....very bad

 

[Kestrel]

Just don't do that with a cz 452. The proper way to decock it is to just dry fire it.

Why is that? What happens with the 452 if you do that?

 

[Twud]

Although I use the close the bolt method, I've watched my smith just pull the trigger on an empty chamber many times.

 

[nwilliams]

As others have said you are doing nothing wrong. I do the same thing with most of my bolt actions, or I just store them with the bolt open.

 

[IndianaBoy]

There is nothing wrong with holding the trigger and closing the bolt on a CZ 452.

The 452 is designed in such a way that the chamber will not be peened if you dryfire it... but it is perfectly safe and probably less damaging overall to ease the firing pin forward by holding down the trigger and closing the bolt.

 

[DMK]

I always close my bolts while holding the trigger before casing them. I do it right on the firing line, pointing down range before putting them in the case.

For semi-autos, I just cycle the action, check the chamber, point it down range and pull the trigger.

 

[mondocomputerman]

On my AK, I pull the bolt half-way backwards, pull the trigger, and ease the bolt forward. The hammer follows the bolt to its resting position.

Not that it matters on an AK, I just don't like dry firing.

 

[Homerboy]

My Ruger 10/22 manual says dry firing the gun is fine and will cause no problems.