Bolt Action Cocking Question

[BruceB]

Vern;

You musunderstood my point. Go back to post #7 on page one of this thread, and you'll see that P95 recommends closing the bolt WHILE HOLDING THE TRIGGER BACK, and thus leaving the rifle un-cocked with the firing pin resting directly on the primer. THAT was my concern, because it is a deadly-dangerous practice. Even a light blow on the striker on a rifle in this condition can cause it to fire.

You are of course absolutely correct about the Mauser safety (and the Lee-Enfield, too) camming the striker back out of contact with the sear. This is indeed the proper way to keep things as safe as possible with these rifles.

Nice to see you here.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Ahh, my apologies.

Lowering the firing pin on a live cartridge is close to suicide -- and a person who advises others to do it ought, in my humble opinion, be charged with manslaughter if anyone is killed as a result.

 

[P95Carry]

Bruce - I should add I think .. re my mention of uncocked on live round. I failed to say that this was an expedient only used under very limited conditions - a lazy man's move for a short-term benefit of having the gun ready - instance mainly target shooting way back. The gun would never have been carried this way and I was very aware of the need to keep trigger all ways back when performing same (in safe direction) ... I had proved the very possible likelehood of the sear snagging during the move some time before!!! Bang!

It would be fair to amplify your comment and whoever else made this point that it is not good practice as a recommendation - which is rather how I put it over. My bad. I am glad it was brought to light. Indeed the half cock is much safer way of doing this, if at all.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

The half cock is a neat way to render the weapon inoperable to someone who doesn't know enfields.