Would I just be lazy or also unsafe...

[sh1kar]

If in climbing into a high seat I merely uncock the rifle and withdraw the bolt an inch or so but leave it still grasping the round which is now partially chambered? Certainly could make life easier and quieter when reloading once settled in the seat. I assume rifle can't go off as trigger now no longer connected to firing pin sear at rear of bolt??

S

 

[palmer_mike]

It would make it easier and quieter, but not as safe......

 

[sh1kar]

because........?

 

[palmer_mike]

I guess any scenario is going to be hypothetical but for instance.....

If the bolt is open I assume the safety is off?
if one slips the bolt might catch on clothing etc and close, leaving a loaded rifle in ready to fire state pointing who knows where?

or 101 other variations on this theme...

 

[8x57]

What rifle is it that you can un-cock and withdraw the bolt slightly in the manner that you describe?

Personally I withdraw the round from the chamber and push it back down into the magazine closing the bolt uncocked on an empty chamber which I consider to be a safer option.

 

[rodp]

I suppose realistically the logical answer to this is another question. Is there any way at all the rifle can fire during this manoeuvre ?

 

[rick6point5]

Surely it be would of no benefit at all based on the fact you are making plenty of noise & movement arriving and climbing the highseat, to make a small amount of noise loading a round in the chamber a minute or so after is of no consequence.

 

[Tartan_Terrier]

So you'll be climbing the ladder while holding the bolt in the half way position? I can't see there being an issue with accidental discharge, but I can imagine that you may either lose your grip on the ladder, or accidentally let the bolt fall all the way open (losing the round on the ground).

I'd say that the safest way is to sling your rifle with the bolt either completely open on an unloaded rifle, or with bolt forward on an empty chamber, and use both hands on the ladder.

 

[sh1kar]

Sako 75 Press little button and uncock bolt - safety is still on. Withdraw bolt so can see a good inch of round brass. bolt at rear extended about 2.5 inches well beyond where safety tang engages sear at base of bolt at rear - climb high seat silently ( am very happy doing this am sure most of you can too if try! and btw stalked silently into seat, my guess is I am doing about 20 yards per minute max last 200 yards to seat and glassing every 3 steps the seat I have in mind) PS the metal rail is covered in pipe insulation so no clonking metal to metal. Climb in with rifle muzzle pointed down and sling over shoulder both hands and both feet on ladder, and twisting into seat so end up sitting holding stock as per normal with pistol grip and rifle muzzle aimed at base of seat. Slide home bolt, muzzle pointed earth and still with safety on. lift rifle to sit across ways in front on foam rails, lift butler creeks, set zoom appropriately, glass all round, tune into sd on iphone

views?

 

[Woodsmoke]

The only truly safe rifle is an unloaded one. Not going to preach, but I've never heard of anyone being shot with an empty rifle..........

 

[palmer_mike]

Sako 75 Press little button and uncock bolt - safety is still on. Withdraw bolt so can see a good inch of round brass. bolt at rear extended about 2.5 inches well beyond where safety tang engages sear at base of bolt at rear - climb high seat silently ( am very happy doing this am sure most of you can too if try! and btw stalked silently into seat, my guess is I am doing about 20 yards per minute max last 200 yards to seat and glassing every 3 steps the seat I have in mind) PS the metal rail is covered in pipe insulation so no clonking metal to metal. Climb in with rifle muzzle pointed down and sling over shoulder both hands and both feet on ladder, and twisting into seat so end up sitting holding stock as per normal with pistol grip and rifle muzzle aimed at base of seat. Slide home bolt, muzzle pointed earth and still with safety on. lift rifle to sit across ways in front on foam rails, lift butler creeks, set zoom appropriately, glass all round, tune into sd on iphone

views?

How have you got both hands on the ladder if one of your hands is stopping the bolt from sliding closed?

 

[8x57]

If in climbing into a high seat I merely uncock the rifle and withdraw the bolt an inch or so but leave it still grasping the round which is now partially chambered? Certainly could make life easier and quieter when reloading once settled in the seat. I assume rifle can't go off as trigger now no longer connected to firing pin sear at rear of bolt??

S

Sorry sh1kar but you are mistaken the small button on the bolt of the Sako 75 merely allows you to open the locked bolt it doesn't uncock the bolt.

 

[kimh]

The only truly safe rifle is an unloaded one. Not going to preach, but I've never heard of anyone being shot with an empty rifle..........

I've read this thread three times to think about how to say 'it's wrong' but not come up with the words until now...'The only truly safe rifle is an unloaded one. Not going to preach, but I've never heard of anyone being shot with an empty rifle'
Put yourself in the reverse? how did that accident happen (it may, it can, it will) so why put yourself in that potential position!

A blunt knife is a spoon, a sharp knife in the right hands will not cut you, but a blunt one will? up that ante to a bullet and a rifle and the meal on the table can get spicy

 

[sh1kar]

Sorry sh1kar but you are mistaken the small button on the bolt of the Sako 75 merely allows you to open the locked bolt it doesn't uncock the bolt.

very good point. but bolt isn't connected to trigger sear/tang tho at this point so there is no connective tissue that could release the firing pin? and btw trigger wont pull, safety on or off ditto btw on my mauser 98 's with 3 position wing safety

main question is what is status of bolt relative to trigger in pulled back bolt position relative to a safety on trigger sear that's at least an inch half away from mechanism that fires it??

purely hypothetical of course - I suppose I could try firing in such condition at range. Again hypothetically the bolt could somehow release the pin and I get a not in chamber discharge. in which case I lose a kidney or blow a chunk from high seat rail?

S

 

[sh1kar]

The only truly safe rifle is an unloaded one. Not going to preach, but I've never heard of anyone being shot with an empty rifle..........

define loaded

 

[Nelson]

If **** can happen it will . Don't let it. Loaded magazine in pocket. Rifle empty . A few extra seconds on any deer is not worth any risk at all .

 

[Neumo]

In my limited experience it is always best to take the extra time to climb into/over anything with no round in the the chamber, preferably with bolt closed and no mag loaded. That goes for climbing over any fence, gate, getting into/on any vehicle... Missing 1 deer is much less of a hassle than shooting yourself or someone else. It is always the people who want to take a short cut that end up having an ND.

If you a climbing into a high seat then the chance of a deer being so close that climbing the ladder with one up the spout, whatever state the bolt is in, is going to make a difference is unlikely. You will be in the seat for hours so 'saving' 5 seconds VS shooting yourself as you climb up a ladder banging the rifle on the parts of the high seat, catching things on branches of the tree etc.. Just not worth it.

 

[Hereford]

Keep 'em under the bolt until RTF, whatever you're doing

1.0.1 - dummy round, practice chambering as quietly as possible....

 

[crazyfrog]

In my limited experience it is always best to take the extra time to climb into/over anything with no round in the the chamber, preferably with bolt closed and no mag loaded. That goes for climbing over any fence, gate, getting into/on any vehicle... Missing 1 deer is much less of a hassle than shooting yourself or someone else. It is always the people who want to take a short cut that end up having an ND.

If you a climbing into a high seat then the chance of a deer being so close that climbing the ladder with one up the spout, whatever state the bolt is in, is going to make a difference is unlikely. You will be in the seat for hours so 'saving' 5 seconds VS shooting yourself as you climb up a ladder banging the rifle on the parts of the high seat, catching things on branches of the tree etc.. Just not worth it.

I agree 100%. Rifle unloaded, climb high seat load rifle, job done, shoot deer, unload rifle, climb down, go home safe and sound without shooting yourself or someone else.

 

[FrenchieBoy]

What rifle is it that you can un-cock and withdraw the bolt slightly in the manner that you describe?

Personally I withdraw the round from the chamber and push it back down into the magazine closing the bolt uncocked on an empty chamber which I consider to be a safer option.

This is what I have been taught to do. I am not going to try to say what is right and what is wrong but in my opinion this I believe is about the safest option. And of course, as has been said, reloading the chamber is not going to make much more noise than climbing into and getting comfortable in a high seat anyway!