Safe hunting practices?

Yeah, not recommended. I hunt with lever actions that have crossbolt safety's. I am used to them and like them. When stalking, rifle loaded, safety on, hammer at safe/half cocked.
Unload when approaching camp. We also discuss where hunter partner will be and from what direction we will approach the other if need be. Radios, binoculars and electronic hearing muffs are also used.
No way is any critter worth the least amount of risk to someone else. It's supposed to be a fun, enjoyable and memorable activity; not a lifetime of regret.
 
If the rifle is dropped while in the "chamber loaded, firing pin against primer" condition, any blow to the rear of the bolt WILL fire the rifle. It is safer than full #### without safety, but not my choice, and is not as safe as fully cocked with safety on. Certainly not as safe as hunting with an empty chamber and loading when game has offered a shot. But which method to choose depends on circumstances of the hunt. I would never move about with a rifle loaded and uncocked as described.
 
GMC403 said:
I know, I know, everyone has their preferred method of stalking: rifle loaded, rifle loaded w/safety on, rifle unchambered, etc....... but this one I hadn't heard of yet, till this weekend.

I was helping a fairly new shooter out at the range sight in his new scope. When he asked me to take a few shots with his gun I noticed a fair bit of his ammo had what looked like light strikes on the primers. I asked what the story was there.

He told me the guys he went hunting with last year (first time for him) told him that in their group, you load a round in the rifle, then close the bolt slowly while pulling the trigger. That way the firing pin drops but won't fire the round. When it's time to shoot, all you have to do is cycle the bolt handle to #### the firing pin and your ready to go.

Is this not nuts having the firing pin ride on the primer?, is this a thing guy's are doing?
Click to expand...

I trust you set him straight! That is not a move I would ever consider. If I have a round in the chamber, the safety is on and I am carrying in both hands.
 
When sitting on a stand my gun is loaded +1 in the chamber, safety on, muzzle in a safe direction. When dogging, magazine loaded chamber empty, too easy to accidentally bump a safety or hook a trigger when crawling through the thick stuff
 
Ridiculous! For hunting, rifle loaded with safety on! Don't ride the trigger guard with you finger. Grasp the wrist of the rifle with entire hand and only put finger on trigger when ready to fire. Common sense is lost on some people....
 
Q: On Mauser platform designs, can you actually see the firing pin move backwards when the safety is being engaged?

I know on the Enfield platform there is a visible movement of about a mm as the pin is lifted off by the safety mechanism, but is the same true for other types?
 
I don't usually stalk and hunt. When I'm walking out to my hunting spot I have a loaded mag in the M305. Once I get settled in I'll jack a round in the chamber, and the safety goes on. On the walk out I'll eject the round and once again have a empty chamber and a loaded mag. My partner uses a Rem700. He keeps it loaded on our walks out and in with the safety on. He is always on point. We also walk with our rifles in our hands, at the port, not slung up.
 
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