Storing bolt separately - firing pin issues

[CPShines]

I have bought my first full-bore rifle and intend it to be a gun for life. I am storing the bolt in a separate ammo safe. It's going to be in there a lot more of the time than it is going to be in the rifle, so my question is this. When it's removed, it's cocked and the firing pin is retracted. Will longterm storage of it like this damage the firing mechanism over the years?

My previous experience is with shotguns so I am not used to leaving the firing mechanism cocked in storage. I know dry-firing is ok with rifles, just not sure if the bolt should spend months at a time in a cocked state. What do you think?

 

[windygun]

If you supply the rifle make and model, someone should be able to explain how to decock/recock the bolt manually, or try YouTube.

 

[bobjs]

well i purchased a tikka 243 sleeper that was in a cabinet for 5 years, unfired and the bolt was in a large safe in the back of the house,

bolt was cocked since the gun was purchased, still working years later,

bob.

 

[CPShines]

It's a Schultz and Larsen Classic, if that helps. Sounds like it should be ok.

 

[paul o']

I dry fire mine onto an old case when I remove the rifle from safe I removed the case and de-cock the bolt and place that in transit pouch

 

[shakey jake]

Why remove your bolt? I dont and think its a poor idea,asking to forget it

 

[rem284]

Why remove your bolt? I dont and think its a poor idea,asking to forget it

I am not sure of the current conditions of my FAC but it did used to state that ammo, bolt and was to be stored separate from rifle. I have always stored mine out of the rifle. I have forgot my bolt a couple of times but think it is better than breaking a condition of your FAC and running the risk of getting caught out

 

[Woodlander]

Why remove your bolt? I dont and think its a poor idea,asking to forget it

I’ve done that before,long walk back to retrieve it....but good practice to store it separately,I’m sure.

 

[CPShines]

Why remove your bolt? I dont and think its a poor idea,asking to forget it

Security. It's not on my FAC, just seems like a good idea. I won't forget it as I have to get the ammo and mag from the same place.

 

[enfieldspares]

I wouldn't worry about the coil spring on the bolt on your rifle. It'll be OK. I also store the bolts dismounted from the rifle. It lets the air circulate through the barrel and receiver and not create a closed bottomed twenty-four inch long pipe.

 

[CPShines]

I dry fire mine onto an old case when I remove the rifle from safe I removed the case and de-cock the bolt and place that in transit pouch

That's got me thinking. I will see if I can remove the bolt without cocking it.

 

[paul o']

I don't I leave it in and have done for years , i'v done the getting there rifles on the point cans of ammo no bolts so been there done that I drove 100 miles but left all the .338 AI training rifle bolts in the safe I only remove mine now if I am to leave it in the car the bolt stays with me rest is chained in to the car .

Why remove your bolt? I dont and think its a poor idea,asking to forget it

 

[shakey jake]

Id never heard of the stipulation on an fac, what do they want you to do semi autos and break barrels? Seems over the top to me but id never thought of enfields idea, that makes sense

 

[chill123]

I have always stored my bolt separately from the rifle .Granted I have forgotten the bolt at times , however if some one does break in the gun cabinet ,a rifle without a bolt is useless to them It's just stops another firearm falling into the wrong hands .Store the bolt next to you bullets so you don't forget it .

Chill

 

[bogtrotter]

Have always stored the bolts separately, have a rifle that the bolts been stored this way for forty years still works fine.

 

[Humpers]

Id never heard of the stipulation on an fac, what do they want you to do semi autos and break barrels? Seems over the top to me but id never thought of enfields idea, that makes sense

This old chestnut again...

Suggest you check on your FAC, as there's a standard condition which should be applied to all FACs that says something like "The firearms and ammunition must at all times be stored securely so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, access to the firearms or ammunition by an unauthorised person" (that's my emphasis there).

So it's not considered "reasonably practicable" to remove the bolt on something like a semi-auto, but it is on a bolt action so the Police will expect you to do so when it's in your cabinet or being transported. The Home Office's Firearms Security Handbook specifically mentions removing the bolt (section 2.2).

So if you leave an easily removable bolt in your rifle and there's an inspection or your firearms get nicked then you are likely to be considered as not having taken reasonably practicable steps to secure your firearms and may loose your ticket.

And trying to argue that "it's too much trouble" or "it means I might forget the bolt when I take my rifle" will be rejected out of hand.

 

[Dunwaters]

I seem to remember Remington experimented with this. They left a rifle cocked for a few decades,testing the spring every now and again. The experiment was discontinued after about 40 years with no degradation in the spring performance. It was a coil Spring, flat springs may need a bit more TLC.

Stay safe.

 

[CPShines]

I seem to remember Remington experimented with this. They left a rifle cocked for a few decades,testing the spring every now and again. The experiment was discontinued after about 40 years with no degradation in the spring performance. It was a coil Spring, flat springs may need a bit more TLC.

Stay safe.

Excellent, thanks all - sounds like I can rest easy.

 

[Moray Outfitting]

Dunwater wins! ( it was was competition? ).

I dont recall exact details, but employing not undue artistic license - Remington did indeed run a main spring test program commencing late 40's/ eaerly 50's with I believe 10 rifles - or at least bolts. They were left cocked aside from initial testing annually, then every five years. By the late 60's everyone was getting very bored and at the turn of the 1970's the degree of change in the 'spring capacity' in the majority of samples was so small as to be unmeasurable for practical purposes and they scrapped the program and got very bitter about having missed the whole swinging sixities thing .

Wonky memory, but I think I first read about it in ancient times when magazine articles left you better educated and contained punc-t;uation. I think it was in Guns & Ammo and by Jon Sundra; might be wrong but the gent deserves remembering every now and then.

Regards bolt in/ bolt out. Just general observation - we remain under ever tighter scrutiny. Little argument will sway the anti- but the audience we must win is the layman, joe public - who has no strong view on firearms either way. But they certainly feel it reasonable that the things arent commonly available, are controlled and ownership is granted to demonstrably responsible individuals who take their responsibility seriously.
Home Office guidelines - beefed up now beyond the merely suggestive status cover such topics and its not being elitist to say all FAC holders should be at least passingly familiar with the highlights.

If you have a firearm, ammunition and bolt in your car and all are together in one easy to remove slip for example what is the position? How reasonable is it to anticipate a car incident where you might be incapacitated or forceably away from the vehicle - already at law deemed a public place. Have you met the comditions of reasonable security?

What chance such a thing happening - ie a car crash? Well, the law requires you to have insurance and cars after 3 years an annual check on key safety areas. Does the level of confidence with which you express views on a friendly forum reflect the confidence level you'll feel in Court to answer those very same questions? How well does the rationale of 'convenience' sound to your ears in such circumstances?

Light on answers, lots of ? marks - for a good reason. Each to their own and each to stand by their choices. But keep in mind each individual one of us is responsible for the continuation - or demise - of this sport that we profess to be passionate about. Time to raise our collective game?

 

[enfieldspares]

At one time I had responsibility for seventy No4 rifles and, yes, the bolts were stored separately from the rifles. Two wooden boxes, each with a grid with five rows of seven holes. In white paint next to the hole, from 01 to 70, a two digit rifle number. That bore no correlation to any rifle's actual serial number.

On the rifle, on the butt, in white paint that same number. Again from 01 to 70. The actual serial numbers on the rifles were never used for the purposes of bolt storage although, of course, the person that drew the rifle was responsible, then, to check the correct actual serial number match of bolt and rifle.

It's where I was told by the marvellous line of total bull**** that it was important that bolt and rifle must have the same serial number as this was vital for accurate shooting as "they were machined from the same block of metal". Never for years did a thought ever cross my mind as to why it was BS!