Thread: Half cock or safety

Originally Posted by 7mm tragic

I've always hunted on half cock however the other day in my efforts to negotiate my way through some shit, my bolt got knocked out of half cock, slid back, ejected the round, never to be seen again.
I really hate losing ammo, doesn't happen often in fact very rarely but when it does it really grates.

I was always taught to never trust the safety on firearms and I never have.
I am wondering though if the modern rifle has changed the thinking on this.

I am unlikely to change from using half cock for 2 reasons, my M70 makes a very loud click when the safety is released and I'm likely to stuff it up in the heat of the moment if I change now.

I am however curious to the general consensus of the use of the safety.

Safety on Win. M70 is quiet enough to disengage with practice and is about as safe as you can get. It positively locks the firing pin in place. Not like the majority of safeties on other brands that only lock the trigger and maybe the sear. Also, there’s a fair few members on hear who spent many an hour walking around with cocked and loaded service weapons safety on without incident. Negligent discharges were never looked upon favourably.