Action Design For Hunting

[goalie]

I'm just waiting for one of the AR hunters to chime in..

I'll bite...

 

[goalie]

Thats half an AR!

Yeah, it shoots rather well and it's under 5# with silencer, optic, sling and mag, so it must be the "good" half.

 

[JohnJohnson]

However, there are couple stories here about what can go wrong. One guys uncle literally lost his foot.

There you go, that’s my argument. I want to carry a rifle that has a safety design that is good enough that 98-99 percent safe goes to 100.

Did I miss the part of the story where the rifle in question was a Tikka? Otherwise it seems you're inventing problems in your head.

 

[goalie]

I just want to go on record as proof that you can like (love) Tikka rifles and still acknowledge that a 3-position safety on a bolt action rifle is objectively better.

 

[goalie]

Most ever 3 position saftey I have ever owned. Got treated like a twofer.

You unloaded the rifle with the safety on "fire" even though you could have unloaded the rifle with the safety on "safe?"

Why?

 

[goalie]

Tikka's? Yes.

M70 and m77s I have always just ran in the middle position or safety off.

You have to on Tikka. I thought you said you used rifles with a 3 position safety as if they were 2 position.

 

[Kjc103]

there is the Sako 3 position safety trigger unit.
But sounds like the blaser would be perfect for you.

I have six of them, they’re great.

I keep trying to gravitate towards the S20 because it has all the benefits of a Tikka but a “better” safety.

I still would t feel 100 carrying it all day with a round in the chamber.

They are excellent actions though.

 

[mtnbound]

The majority of people are saying they have never had an issue with their safety or “just maintain control of the rifle”, Sure, I agree and yes, it’s totally possible it never comes up.

However, there are couple stories here about what can go wrong. One guys uncle literally lost his foot.

There you go, that’s my argument. I want to carry a rifle that has a safety design that is good enough that 98-99 percent safe goes to 100.

Again, the Blaser design is totally inert. The round cannot be fired, no matter how bad you **** up. The M77 is also extremely safe.

There you go, that’s the one thing keeping me from a Tikka. Maybe someone can work up a Tikka clone that improves on this one aspect.

I don’t think anyone is forcing anyone else to only buy Tikkas. If you feel they are unsafe then absolutely buy whatever platform you think gives you the best safety.
That being said there are more accidental discharges from weapons believed to be unloaded than from the design of Tikka’s safety system and in those instances the best safety is following the rules for safe firearms handling.

 

[ElDudarino]

My first hunting rifle was a Model 70 with 3 position safety. I used that rifle for 20 years. That thing got flipped to the middle or even fire more than a few times.

I’ve been using tikkas for years and have probably 500+ miles of hiking with them. Never once has the safety been anywhere other than where I put it.


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[Chris in TN]

I'm just waiting for one of the AR hunters to chime in..

I have one AR with a traditional sling set up for shoulder carry. I stopped carrying it that way when I found the safety flipped off after carrying it that way a few hundred yards. Shoulder carry puts the safety lever rubbing against your side.

I pretty much stopped hunting with it after that. I’ve got a lighter AR for the kids but I don’t sling it that way.


Never had an issue with any traditional bolt gun, though.

 

[nm.otter]

I just want to go on record as proof that you can like (love) Tikka rifles and still acknowledge that a 3-position safety on a bolt action rifle is objectively better.

I'll again point to the Sako 85/90 safety system. It's not 3-position per se, but delivers the same functionality in what I believe to be a more intuitive (and possibly safer) manner.

 

[Kjc103]

I don’t think anyone is forcing anyone else to only buy Tikkas. If you feel they are unsafe then absolutely buy whatever platform you think gives you the best safety.
That being said there are more accidental discharges from weapons believed to be unloaded than from the design of Tikka’s safety system and in those instances the best safety is following the rules for safe firearms handling.

Tikkas are not unsafe, they’re awesome.

They’re not ideal for carrying it with a round chambered, very few rifles are. Very few can do this safely,

 

[Marbles]

I'll again point to the Sako 85/90 safety system. It's not 3-position per se, but delivers the same functionality in what I believe to be a more intuitive (and possibly safer) manner.

Like this?


People who think safeties make a rifle safe are a little scary. Once the design hits a certain level of reliability, the difference is the user.

The Tikka design is prone to two user errors, failure to adequately reinstall the trigger, and users making the trigger less safe with aftermarket springs.

The question then becomes, how do you use the rifle and what is good enough. A lighter spring in a range queen is not as concerning as a lighter spring in a hunting rifle, and a lighter spring in a combat rifle is flat unacceptable.

 

[Formidilosus]

Tikkas are not unsafe, they’re awesome.

They’re not ideal for carrying it with a round chambered, very few rifles are. Very few can do this safely,

What are you talking about?

 

[amassi]

You really that worried about opening the bolt with the safety off?

It’s time some of these posters take up pickleball


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[amassi]

I have heard this said many times. I cant wrap my head around it. Why would it matter if you had to take the safety off before unloading a chambered round?

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Well you see- Guns are hard to grip without placing your finger in the trigger guard and pulling the trigger for maximum control especially when your booger picker is extra slick


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[wapitibob]

Safety is off and rifle can be fired, who'd of thought..

 

[amassi]

Yes sir. IMO the only time the safety should be in the fire position is when the weapon is about to be fired, or dry fired on the range. I would especially be concerned about putting a weapon like this in the hands of a youth. Just another way to have an accident IMO.

To each its own though. My reason for responding was due to how much I like the X-Bolt’s locking bolt system, the safety location, and being able to unload it while the safety is in the safe position.

You’d be shocked how many “safe” x bolts get negligently discharged every year when trying to unload
You either are capable of handling a firearm in all conditions or you are not capable. There is no work around and in BACOS case certainly no magic button


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[BLJ]

People who think safeties make a rifle safe are a little scary

 

[ddd-shooter]

The PRINCIPLES are what’s foolproof, not the mechanical device in your possession.

Yes, hunters who look for a mechanical way to make up for their negligence are the issue.
OP used the negligent examples in this thread to justify the need for a company to “fool proof” his rifle.
If you’re at the ready, be at the ready! Carry a round chambered with confidence.
If you’re on a horse, or at camp, or in a vehicle, or otherwise not in control of the rifle- don’t have a round chambered!

I walked two miles yesterday looking for squirrels with a group of 6 people-3 children. My lever action .22 mag didn’t have a safety. (Shocker) No one was injured, because we practice proper firearms handling.
I can also carry a revolver that’s loaded, shotguns with no safeties, etc.

The PRINCIPLES are what’s foolproof, not the mechanical device in your possession.