Thread: T3 Half- cock issue

Originally Posted by robhughes-games

or have one up the spout and have the bolt closed with the sear disengaged. then you just need to lift the bolt up and close it again.

That is absolutely the most dangerous way to carry a rifle! The average mainspring has a compression weight of 16 pounds which would be holding the firing pin against the primer. One good stumble which knocks the rifle could (and has in many instances) fire the rifle. Half-bolt or a proven reliable safety, both coupled with the muzzle in a safe direction, are the only two safe ways to carry a rifle with a loaded chamber. I have always used the half-bolt, and only when I am definitely onto an animal, otherwise I have the bolt closed on an empty chamber. Incidently, half-cock only refers to rifles like the Lee Enfield that have a half-cock position on the striker, the use of which is notoriously dangerous and not what it was designed for. The design was a safety feature in case the rifle was dropped when loaded (not uncommon in military use). The sear would catch the half-cock bent (notch) if the sear was released without the trigger being deliberately held back.