Storing bolt separately - firing pin issues
- Thread starter CPShines
- Start date
CPShines
Well-Known Member
First prize is in the post to Dunwater 
Seriously though, as several guys said that they'd left the bolts out for ages with no issue, the Remington 40yr test was the nail in the coffin. Case proved m'lud.
Seriously though, as several guys said that they'd left the bolts out for ages with no issue, the Remington 40yr test was the nail in the coffin. Case proved m'lud. 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?
All my rifles are stored with the bolts in but open
I can get more in the cabinet that way as the bolt handle sits behind the thumb grip of the one to its left...
Personally I have several duplicates of rifles and actions
storing them separately is not a practice I want to start.
Never forgotten a bolt yet
Short story
Kelso Deerstalking Fair this year
75 assorted rifles on the stand overnight.
Bolts removed and locked away for security (despite me being on the stand overnight)
All was going well until I put the Krico Long action bolt into the short Action rifle!
Went in OK but wouldn't come out!
rifle had to be stripped to remove it
right PITA!
I can get more in the cabinet that way as the bolt handle sits behind the thumb grip of the one to its left...
Personally I have several duplicates of rifles and actions
storing them separately is not a practice I want to start.
Never forgotten a bolt yet
Short story
Kelso Deerstalking Fair this year
75 assorted rifles on the stand overnight.
Bolts removed and locked away for security (despite me being on the stand overnight)
All was going well until I put the Krico Long action bolt into the short Action rifle!
Went in OK but wouldn't come out!
rifle had to be stripped to remove it
right PITA!
Minto
Well-Known Member
You needed a PA to bag n tag
Woodsmoke
Well-Known Member
Not enough Jaffa Cakes in it
Minto
Well-Known Member
Mr Edinburgh Rifles must have, I would think, a women in his life who would do it for love
antsa
Well-Known Member
Legalities (I live in a different jurisdiction) and technicalities (Young's Modulus) aside, I store my rifles in the safe with the bolts removed. The simple reason being that my six rifles and one shotgun will not fit side by side in my so-called 12 gun safe unless the rifles' bolts are out.
Cheers
Cheers
dave 67
Well-Known Member
On the back at the bottom of my S&L rifle bolt is a small piece of steel, when the bolt is forward and locked this sticks out showing you your rifle is cocked and moves in when fired.
When you open the bolt this moves back in so showing your rifle is de cocked and your spring is not under tension, IIRC bolt action rifles the bolts cock against your trigger sear so once removed the spring is not held in its cocked state.
I have removed my firing pin and spring not difficult to get out but a bit of a faff to get back in!!
When you open the bolt this moves back in so showing your rifle is de cocked and your spring is not under tension, IIRC bolt action rifles the bolts cock against your trigger sear so once removed the spring is not held in its cocked state.
I have removed my firing pin and spring not difficult to get out but a bit of a faff to get back in!!
Ozalid
Well-Known Member
I try to make it as hard for any thieves as possible, so guns, ammo, mags and bolts are always stored separately, also I’ve always stored shotgun forends separately, the gun is useless without one. Yes it’s a pain, but I never want to try and explain to the police how a useable firearm was stolen from me.
I have a memory like a sive, hut I have never forgotten a bolt yet.
There is always tomorrow of course
There is always tomorrow of course
bobjs
Well-Known Member
I have a memory like a sive, hut I have never forgotten a bolt yet.
There is always tomorrow of course
went all the way to wistow north Yorkshire to find I left mine in the cabinet at home ?
DOH
bob.
CPShines
Well-Known Member
Thanks, that's very interesting. Just out of curiosity I had a play with it just now. Here's the bolt after pulling the trigger - the piece of steel at the back (any idea what it's called?) is fully retracted:
Here's the bolt after lifting the handle and getting it ready to remove - this is how it is stored. I thought this was fully cocked, as the firing pin is retracted and the steel on the back protrudes a bit. I tried this with the safety fully on and in the middle position, and it was the same both ways:
But for the first time I noticed that when I close the bolt, the steel at the back comes out a bit further with the pressure of the handle locking into place, so now I am wondering if it is only fully cocked when the bolt is closed in the rifle:
I realise this has no bearing on storing the bolt, but I am curious and want to know how the firing mechanism works, so if anyone can explain it I'd appreciate it.
8x57
Distinguished Member
It's called the cocking indicator and is basically just an extension at the rear of the firing pin. Very often the end of such indicators are painted red but it can also be regarded as a tactile indicator that can be felt for and not just seen.
Your rifle possibly cocks on closing so the cocking indicator won't be visible until the bolt is closed, or if it cocks on opening then the position of the shroud will often mask the position of the indicator. Many bolt action rifles including Sako have very similar arrangements.
Your rifle possibly cocks on closing so the cocking indicator won't be visible until the bolt is closed, or if it cocks on opening then the position of the shroud will often mask the position of the indicator. Many bolt action rifles including Sako have very similar arrangements.
CPShines
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that. It definitely cocks on opening, it just seems to cock a bit more when the bolt closes. Maybe that's just the bolt being pulled forward as the lugs lock in place. Cheers.
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
Some bolts are easy to decock when out of the rifle and then easy enough to recock. My Heym has a detent you press and then twist the cocking shroud. Others like a Mauser are easy enough to decock, but then require a special knack to recock.
I wouldnt worry too much in storing the rifle bolt cocked. That’s how it was shipped. Yes it may shorten spring life but not enough to worry you in your lifetime.
I wouldnt worry too much in storing the rifle bolt cocked. That’s how it was shipped. Yes it may shorten spring life but not enough to worry you in your lifetime.
I will admit to being a stranger to the concept of having to remove a bolt from a rifle but in your post, unless I'm reading English with American glasses on, the regulation you quoted refers to access to the firearm. Not it's ability to be used once commandeered. Am I wrong?~Muir
deeangeo
Well-Known Member
Never at any FAC renewal examination by my several FEO’s over the last 38 years, of my firearms and ammunition, has any of them even mentioned or queried bolts in/out of rifles.
Indeed, has anyone ever had a query of such a nature in respect of pistols or revolvers, where no such ‘additional’ security is available. Prior to 1997, all my firearms including pistols and revolvers were stored in the same cabinets as my rifles.
Not at any time was it suggested or required that the pistols/revolvers should even be in a different cabinet and, back in those days, the lowest rank inspecting police officer had to be a sergeant where pistols were held.
Most rifle bolts can be manually de-cocked, although doing this in my modern rifles, dis-assembles the bolt. It can often be a PITA to re-assemble. Mine are de-cocked in the rifle by holding the trigger and closing the bolt, or simply left with the bolt open.
Indeed, has anyone ever had a query of such a nature in respect of pistols or revolvers, where no such ‘additional’ security is available. Prior to 1997, all my firearms including pistols and revolvers were stored in the same cabinets as my rifles.
Not at any time was it suggested or required that the pistols/revolvers should even be in a different cabinet and, back in those days, the lowest rank inspecting police officer had to be a sergeant where pistols were held.
Most rifle bolts can be manually de-cocked, although doing this in my modern rifles, dis-assembles the bolt. It can often be a PITA to re-assemble. Mine are de-cocked in the rifle by holding the trigger and closing the bolt, or simply left with the bolt open.
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My last FEO said he "liked" to see bolts stored separately from the rifle but never tried to mandate it.
Ha ha, because if someone breaks into your gun cabinet they can’t just as easily break open the ammo safe as well? Ridiculous..
i had an feo once telling me I should store my
hunting knives in the safe too...I just couldn’t bear to point out to the silly chap about my two fully loaded knife blocks in the kitchen down below...oh dear
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