Greetings All,
After reading the posts in this thread I thought I should check exactly what is in the Arms Code these days.
In the short description of the rule the code calls for a bolt closed on an empty chamber when close to game. Further on it allows for a half open bolt, where the bolt handle is up and drawn back part way and the round partly chambered, when close to game. It then states if this is not possible then an empty chamber should be used. In the next paragraph it allows for a previously tested safety to be used on semi auto rifles.
Most of us who have tried to use the half open bolt with a cock on opening action know that the bolt slithers around like a greased eel. Due to this a position where the bolt is fully forward and slightly down (often incorrectly called half cock) has been used. This is not as safe as the half open bolt as it only takes some downward pressure on the bolt handle to have the rifle ready to fire. For this reason it is not condoned by the arms code.
I was a Firearms Safety Insructor in the 1980's and 1990's and tried to have the fully forward and partly down position addressed as it was commonly used at the time. Regrettably I could get no traction and the Arms Code, by default, recommends only the empty chamber for 99% of todays hunting rifles. No bush ninja is going to be satisfied with that.
Regards Grandpamac.
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