Thread: Half cock or safety

There are two important things that are not generally taught regarding handling and safety.
1) when checking the chamber is 'clear' / empty, very few people know to use the little finger of the right hand and slip the finger into the chamber. This check can be performed equally in the dark or light. It is failsafe and foolproof.
2) Few people know how to load a round into the chamber quietly by bringing the fingers of the left hand around the action to ride the shell forward into the chamber.
Once this is mastered there is little need to carry the rifle with one up the spout and the safety on.
Some actions like tikkas are enclosed and make safe quiet loading and unloading difficult.
Regarding the 'Half open bolt position' there are actions that have a very positive position and that I believe are made to be used that way. The BSA CF2 would be stiffest followed by early Sako's then M98's. modern rifles have an almost non existent HOB.