"closing the bolt with the trigger pulled back in" |
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raubvogel
Special Member Donating Member Joined: October 01 2011 Location: Florida Status: Offline Points: 80 |
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Posted: October 05 2011 at 3:49am |
Stupid question: in http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3332&title=am-i-checking-the-headspace-correctly it was mentioned to close the bolt with the trigger pulled back in. I am trying to visualize that. Can anyone help me out? |
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Eric
Admin Group Moderator Joined: October 23 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 724 |
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You just squeeze the trigger as you are closing the bolt. Doing this keeps the firing pin from slamming forward on an empty chamber.
Eric |
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raubvogel
Special Member Donating Member Joined: October 01 2011 Location: Florida Status: Offline Points: 80 |
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Aha! It now makes completely sense! Thanks! But, when the chamber is, well, occupied, should you also squeeze trigger before closing bolt and firing first shot? |
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Eric
Admin Group Moderator Joined: October 23 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 724 |
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If you are going to close the bolt on a live round, you'd better be ready to fire! You never want to hold down the trigger with a live round in the chamber, IMHO. To me, that's an accident waiting to happen.
In other words, never chamber a round unless you are ready to fire. It's just good practice. Other members may have differing opinions, but I have always taught that you never chamber a round until/unless you are ready to fire. Eric |
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Shamu
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I think there is confusion between the chamber being occupied by something hard, like a headspace gauge, empty, & loaded with a cartridge maybe?
If the chamber is empty all you do by closing the bolt with the trigger pulled is release tension on the striker spring. This is a good thing. If you have something hard & unyielding, like a gauge, you are preventing the possible spring driven impact between an irresistable force (the firing pin) & an immovable object (the headspace gauge). The result of which is likely to be a damaged firing pin. Actually if you are checking headspace you need the cock on closing action to be relaxed so you can feel the gauge catching, so pulled trigger is the only way to go for that particular test. Never, ever do this with a live round, nor ever put the action into 1/2 cock either. Both of these are dangerous if there is a primer sitting waiting to be struck. Safety not withstanding empty chamber is best. |
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Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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A square 10
Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Offline Points: 14452 |
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closing with trigger pulled is a potential AD , you are releasing on a live round out of battry , if - if it goes off you potentially not only get the surprise discharge , bullet flying without aim but a face full of reciever
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raubvogel
Special Member Donating Member Joined: October 01 2011 Location: Florida Status: Offline Points: 80 |
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Ok, I decided to pull the bolt out of the rifle to figure out how it worked. From what I saw, when you push the bolt forward and lock it in place closing the breech, the center part of the bolt (firing pin?) catches somewhere that keeps it behind, loading the striker spring Shamu mentioned and keeping the firing pin inside the bolt assembly. Ok, now it makes sense! And, wouldn't that lead to being a good idea to store the rifle with the striker pin unloaded -- bolt removed, or breech open, or something like that -- as opposite to having the bolt close the breech (and safety on)? |
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A square 10
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yes , this rifle cocks-on-closing thus loading the firing pin spring in the act of closing the bolt , not that that is any less safe than one that cocks-on-opening , its still set to fire when closed ,
and 'set to fire' is the opperative phrase here - we do not want it to fire before the lugs lock into place securing the cartrige fully in the chamber , if this was a 22cal - maybe , not so big a deal , unsafe , dangerous , but less devestating than a 303
definetly use this opperation on an empty chamber to relieve the spring preasure when storing it , but its OK to dry fire a center fire rifle , you wont hurt it , soldiers have trained that way forever
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Richard/SIA
Senior Member Joined: February 02 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 387 |
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To check head-space accurately you should remove the extractor hook.
Spring tension can be pretty high, throwing off the "Feel". For hunting it is not that uncommon to load a live round, then apply the safety, thus avoiding the sound of working the bolt spooking the game. Obviously, this should only be done in the field.
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At over $3.00 a gallon for gas, I want it leaded, 100 octane, and my windshield washed!
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