Locking bolts

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FeckArseIndustries

FeckArseIndustries

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Hi folks,

I like the look and feel of the Benelli Lupo. However, on safe, the bolt doesn't lock, should this be a concern?

If you can spare a moment, your thoughts and experience would be appreciated.

Thank you.
 
Its personal preference at the end of the day. Quite a few people like a locked bolt, however there's been plenty of rifles used over the last 100 years or so which don't offer this too. I think it largely depends on your intended use and environment. Crawling/wading through undergrowth and brambles to get into position vs. walking a few hundred yards from the truck to a high seat are two totally different scenarios. I think I'd rather have it than not if I had two similar rifles with little to chose between them, but it wouldn't be a deal breaker if it meant having a rifle I loathed or was otherwise not fit for my purpose.
 
As said it’s personal preference l myself like the idea off a locking bolt ( it’ll never accidentally open in thick cover etc ) the gun will still be safe
wither it locks or not, just remember your safety.

Rgds, Buck
 
FeckArseIndustries said:
Hi folks,

I like the look and feel of the Benelli Lupo. However, on safe, the bolt doesn't lock, should this be a concern?

If you can spare a moment, your thoughts and experience would be appreciated.

Thank you.
Click to expand...
I like a safety that locks the bolt.
I nearly lost a kudu because of it.
I tried to take the shot and there was a clunk, I opened the breech and out flew a complete round. The bolt had lifted in the thick bush.
I managed to chamber another and took the shot, a 54" kudu bull.
It is also reassuring that when the bolt is locked the safety is on.
 
My preference would be a rifle with a locking bolt. It provides a belt and braces approach to safety. I'd hate to drop a live round somewhere unknowingly. Unlikely, but possible.
Thanks for your help.
 
Personally, I would prefer to have the option of having the bolt locked and the safety on. But obviously it depends on circumstances.

Another issue is that when training young people to shoot, the safety catch is often overlooked. While you can certainly use a gun safely without ever using the safety catch, it is important that young shooters learn how to use it and are comfortable with it, as part of training. And, in the case of a rifle where the safety can be engaged only when the bolt is open, you might be tempted to never use the safety catch.

Incidentally, not directly related, but just to point out that American law enforcement typical carry pistols with a round in the chamber and the safety on. Israeli security services carry the pistol with no round in the chamber and the safety off.
 
Personal preference, but I don’t rely on the safety. Most safeties do not lock the firing pin. Some safeties lock the bolt as well as the trigger, some lock the firing pin, some lock both, some allow the bolt to open whilst on safe, some have a middle detent which keeps it on safe but you can open the bolt, others you have to push to fire before you can open the bolt.

If you are concerned the bolt getting snagged on branches and opening the bolt and dropping a live round in the bush, I suggest that is the least of your problems. A rifle getting snagged in the bush is a sure fire way of making a rifle go off.

If you have a round chambered and you are crawling through bush the rifle should be in your hands and totally under control. Besides the only reason that I can see for having a round chambered and you are pushing through bush that could snag the bolt is because you are expecting a charge from something big and grumpy.
 
Heym SR20 said:
Personal preference, but I don’t rely on the safety. Most safeties do not lock the firing pin. Some safeties lock the bolt as well as the trigger, some lock the firing pin, some lock both, some allow the bolt to open whilst on safe, some have a middle detent which keeps it on safe but you can open the bolt, others you have to push to fire before you can open the bolt.

If you are concerned the bolt getting snagged on branches and opening the bolt and dropping a live round in the bush, I suggest that is the least of your problems. A rifle getting snagged in the bush is a sure fire way of making a rifle go off.

If you have a round chambered and you are crawling through bush the rifle should be in your hands and totally under control. Besides the only reason that I can see for having a round chambered and you are pushing through bush that could snag the bolt is because you are expecting a charge from something big and grumpy.
Click to expand...
If I had to chamber a round every time to get a quick shot in heavy bush, I wouldn't ever get a shot.
I agree many safeties don't lock the fing pin.
The most important safety rule is muzzle awareness, then, heaven forbid, an accidental discharge won't hurt anyone or thing.
The original post was about whether the safety should lock the bolt or not.
I have owned four Ruger 77's. Two of which locked the bolt with the tang safety applied, the other two didn't.
In the case of my kudu, the bolt handle was raised enough to prevent the rifle from firing. The rifle was being safely carried through thick bush, expecting a shot any second.
That is why I prefer a safety that locks the bolt handle.
 
Namman said:
If I had to chamber a round every time to get a quick shot in heavy bush, I wouldn't ever get a shot.
I agree many safeties don't lock the fing pin.
The most important safety rule is muzzle awareness, then, heaven forbid, an accidental discharge won't hurt anyone or thing.
The original post was about whether the safety should lock the bolt or not.
I have owned four Ruger 77's. Two of which locked the bolt with the tang safety applied, the other two didn't.
In the case of my kudu, the bolt handle was raised enough to prevent the rifle from firing. The rifle was being safely carried through thick bush, expecting a shot any second.
That is why I prefer a safety that locks the bolt handle.
Click to expand...
No argument here, but as you say you are carrying the rifle and in Africa in thick bush slings are generally not used. And if you are anticipating a shot then the rifle is in your hands and under control.

Too often I have seen rifles being carried by guides / stalkers, round chambered in the rifle on their shoulder with muzzle pointing backwards towards me.
 
Heym SR20 said:
No argument here, but as you say you are carrying the rifle and in Africa in thick bush slings are generally not used. And if you are anticipating a shot then the rifle is in your hands and under control.

Too often I have seen rifles being carried by guides / stalkers, round chambered in the rifle on their shoulder with muzzle pointing backwards towards me.
Click to expand...
Agree.
Muzzle awareness is the priority !
 
When I used to work in West Africa, the local paramilitary police uses to stop cars and 'check the papers" (in reality, they were just fishing for tips). I always felt uncomfortable when the muzzle of the loaded rusty 9mm Carl Gustaf hanging off the policeman's shoulder pointed at my face when he leaned into the car - it's an open bolt submachine gun, they don't get much more dangerous than that..... one can only hope that they had the safety on. Either way, you're obviously not in a position to argue.
 
markj1 said:
When I used to work in West Africa, the local paramilitary police uses to stop cars and 'check the papers" (in reality, they were just fishing for tips). I always felt uncomfortable when the muzzle of the loaded rusty 9mm Carl Gustaf hanging off the policeman's shoulder pointed at my face when he leaned into the car - it's an open bolt submachine gun, they don't get much more dangerous than that..... one can only hope that they had the safety on. Either way, you're obviously not in a position to argue.
Click to expand...
There have been many accidents with firearms which fire from an open bolt when dropped etc. Stens were notorious.
Bren guns fire from an open bolt but I have never heard of one going off except by pulling the trigger.
Has anyone heard differently?
 
Namman said:
There have been many accidents with firearms which fire from an open bolt when dropped etc. Stens were notorious.
Bren guns fire from an open bolt but I have never heard of one going off except by pulling the trigger.
Has anyone heard differently?
Click to expand...

I think that it will take a fairly big bloke to have a 19 pounds Bren gun 'knocking about' their person in the same way the (some) people people with ordinary physique mishandled the lightweight Sten... or Carl Gustaf. But I suppose that if you did drop the Bren repeatedly, it might eventually go off? BTW, the Uzi is another one notorious for going off.
 
markj1 said:
I think that it will take a fairly big bloke to have a 19 pounds Bren gun 'knocking about' their person in the same way the (some) people people with ordinary physique mishandled the lightweight Sten... or Carl Gustaf. But I suppose that if you did drop the Bren repeatedly, it might eventually go off? BTW, the Uzi is another one notorious for going off.
Click to expand...
I was thinking more like jumping into a bren carrier or jeep after a firefight and bumping it about !
I would imagine taking the mag off would be last thing on your mind !
 
FeckArseIndustries said:
Hi folks,

I like the look and feel of the Benelli Lupo. However, on safe, the bolt doesn't lock, should this be a concern?

If you can spare a moment, your thoughts and experience would be appreciated.

Thank you.
Click to expand...
As one of the few folk who has a Lupo I can chime in on this one.

The bolt does lock on safe, that's why there is the button just behind the bolt. Something I certainly miss on my Bergara. Just got it out of the safe to double-check :)
 
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