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"closing the bolt with the trigger pulled back in"

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raubvogel View Drop Down
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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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Eric Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 05 2011 at 3:51am
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote raubvogel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 05 2011 at 4:28am

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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Eric Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 05 2011 at 6:03am
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.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 05 2011 at 6:16am
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 05 2011 at 9:00am
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote raubvogel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 05 2011 at 9:22pm

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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 06 2011 at 11:21am
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Richard/SIA Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 06 2011 at 5:34pm
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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