Corn-Picker
Member
People often say that a design that locks the firing pin (e.g. Model 70) is safer than other designs, but why? For example, if a Model 70 had a faulty trigger assembly, and it were tripped while on safe, would the rifle discharge when the safety was released? What is different mechanically about other (non-fire pin locking) designs that could potentially allow discharge on safety release?
Blaser has an interesting design with their R8, where engaging/releasing the safety actually de-cocks/cocks the firing pin. I would imagine that disengaging the safety takes some real effort in this case, because it has to compress the firing pin spring, but I've never handled one so I can't confirm that.
This is mostly an academic question for me, as I hunt cold (almost everyone else in my area hunts with one in the chamber). I'm OK with a deer or two busting me every so often in exchange for knowing that there isn't one in the chamber at all times; just my personal preference. Are there any states that forbid hunting with one in the chamber? Seems like hunting hot is more common east of the Mississippi, where the shots are usually close and game can hear a bolt cycling.
Blaser has an interesting design with their R8, where engaging/releasing the safety actually de-cocks/cocks the firing pin. I would imagine that disengaging the safety takes some real effort in this case, because it has to compress the firing pin spring, but I've never handled one so I can't confirm that.
This is mostly an academic question for me, as I hunt cold (almost everyone else in my area hunts with one in the chamber). I'm OK with a deer or two busting me every so often in exchange for knowing that there isn't one in the chamber at all times; just my personal preference. Are there any states that forbid hunting with one in the chamber? Seems like hunting hot is more common east of the Mississippi, where the shots are usually close and game can hear a bolt cycling.