The safety on the mosin makes it useless for hunting, IMHO. It is totally clumsy, even sitting in your living room. To put the rifle in the crook of your arm, your taking yourself out of the firing position. True, it takes about 3 seconds. That is alot of time just to click off the safety and then start aiming. It don't go no easier if your hands are cold either. I don't think the Russian army used it. I think they probably had kinda the same firing drill as the French, who built thier rifles without safeties. I think the Blackhawk Down movie has the Russian soldiers translation of safety.