Thread: Sako 75 halfcock

I load the mag when I reach the hunting area and leave the camp or vehicle 'Safety perimeter' to start hunting. If someone has a detachable mag there is going to be nothing unsafe about charging it at home and transporting it like that. If it is not in the rifle it is safe. I was taught that when using a bolt action to carry it with the mag loaded and the chamber empty. Then when expecting to take a shot chamber a round silently ( by using the fingers of the left hand wrapped around the action and gently riding the round being chambered) and move to the 'half open' bolt position. If the shot is not taken, silently return the round to the mag. I do sometimes hunt with a single shot hammer gun which is very straight forward and safe, although it would not comply with 'Rule 3'

Yes Tentman I have hunted with a semi auto - a BAR 7mm Mag and a BAR 300 Win Mag and I have used an AUG in NZTF. Personally I don't like hunting with semis as they are noisy to load or alternately must be carried with one up the spout and the safety applied, so they are inherently less safe in practice because they cannot be easily loaded and unloaded; A firearm with a round in the chamber must be less safe than a firearm with an empty chamber.