Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska the safest bolt gun safety?

Steyr safe bolt system hands down. For all intents and purposes, a 4 position safety.
Plus you can latch the mag in one notch below where the bolt can pick up and feed a cartridge.

I'm going with M77 Mk-II.

the safest bolt gun safety question implies that you are carrying/hunting hot. A lot of virtue signalers here say they only put one in the pipe when they are ready to shoot - probably the same ones who have one in the chamber when out duck hunting.

Exactly.. Those shots require you to be ready in a split seconds notice. Those that have never BTDT, wouldn't have a clue.

Chamber round when ready would be my first choice but sometimes stealth requires otherwise. With a round in the chamber, I enjoy hunting with the Blaser R8 system best. Just have to quietly move the cocking slide into position when ready. A 3 position would be my next preferred and two position my last at least for rifles I own.

Steyr safe bolt no doubt. No way to bump it off.

Actually, plenty have and do have a clue... ever followed bears into alder patches? I will stop "virtue signaling" if you will.

I’m not sure we’ve had o d of these threads all year.

Finally!!

Let’s change some minds!!
🤪😂

Alright, you guys intrigued me on this Steyr bolt system. Looked it up, watch a video or two, and still don't know, or see a provision that would allow, if it locks the firing pin so it's impossible for it to fall, like a Mauser, Springfield, or M70 does.

So, does it?

Thanks,
Rex

Maybe some of the Pa guys will check in, but I’ve been hunting for 60 years and I don’t recall anyone ever hunting with an empty chamber

I grew up in PA and hunted whitetails until I moved out. When walking I never chambered a round, neither did anyone else in our party. When we found a spot to sit, round chambered.

Would you feel totally comfortable having someone walk behind you in rugged terrain with a round in their chamber?

I carry empty when I’m able, but with Blacktail blood on a guy in certain places one in the chamber is nice piece of mind when you can’t see ten feet ahead of you, Or when you return to base camp sheep hunting to resupply and a bear has rolled the whole camp into a ball but your all of your friends are 4 miles away… I'm not carrying empty. Guess I’m not that brave , lol

i'm in PA and i have not heard that either.

First place: Weatherby Mark V followed by 1917 Enfield & Remington 725.

I have shot whitetails from Connecticut to Washington and Michigan to Texas and a bunch of states between in all sorts of cover... no magic uncovered...

I've hunted the islands of Kodiak, Afognak, Knight, Green, Montague, Hinchinbrook and multiple units on the mainland for deer, elk, black bear, brown bear, sheep, mt. goat and moose since the 80's

Physically ... out hunting in the field... without a round in the chamber is simpleton stupidity

Digest that as you will

Considering the source, it came predigested...

Mosin Nagant 91-30. I can see the cold chamber thing out west where game is mostly seen at a distance but in the east I don’t know any who hunt cold. Seems strange that in the same areas you would bird hunt hot you would deer hunt cold?

I don't think it matters for the most part. A good 2 position safety that locks the bolt is fine. Remington got a bad rap for unintentional discharges, but the problem was in the trigger, not the safety. I have both Winchester 70's and Tikka's. Can live with the safety on either.

Hot or cold chamber depends for me. I've taught hunter safety courses since 1986. They don't recommend cold chambers as a general rule. They do teach that you unload the chamber when crossing a ditch, fence or any time you're walking in rugged terrain where a fall is more likely.

I primarily hunt here in GA, but have hunted in the western states a few times. I think the terrain, and the way you hunt in the west is going to be conducive to keeping a cold chamber more often than in the east.

the best feature of the M1917 safety is - it can be engaged with the rifle uncocked. This was pointed out to me years ago on a day long elk dragging session,

Same here BSA!

If I’m actually hunting, the rifle is in my hands at all times….. in which the safety being “changed” from safety all the way to fire position is highly unlikely. Plus, the safety position is checked often…..I’m not complacent about the safety!

If the rifle is on my shoulder, a rare occasion, the chamber is empty. Carrying the rifle on the shoulder, limits the ability to maintain complete safety control! JMO memtb