Author Topic: Cross bolt safety....how do you carry? (Read 2585 times)

hogship · « **on:** January 28, 2005, 03:54:07 AM »

If you're going to have a recently made centerfire lever Marlin or Winchester rifle, it looks like you're stuck with the cross bolt safety. Personally, I'd rather have the traditional half-cock, but that's not an option.

The queston is, how do you hunt with your cross-bolt safety rifle? For myself, I've resigned myself to carrying with round chambered, safety off, and in half-cock posithon.

Should I reconsider?

hog

Chuck White · « **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2005, 04:15:49 AM »

While I am actually moving through the woods, I have my "Cross-Hammer" safety ON.

If I am out "sitting", I have the Cross-Hammer safety in the fire position and the hammer at "half-cock"!

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #2 on:** January 28, 2005, 05:28:34 AM »

I hunt with a round in the chamber, on half cock, with the daggone aggravating safety off.

The safety has cost me a kill on several occasions because I forgot it was on, and pulled the trigger only to hear the new "Marlin Clack".

Leverdude · « **Reply #3 on:** January 28, 2005, 01:21:32 PM »

If you have a Marlin its an easy fix to replace the saftey with a part from long hunters shooters supply. It doesnt alter nuthing so if you want you can put it back in or if you ever sell it it can be made original. I put one in my GG & just use it the way yur supposed to. Its nicely finished & has a screw on one side & a pin on the other. The blue matched really close, if you dont know its not right you cant tell. I think it was $17 bucks but in all honesty that could be wrong. I can say it wasn't expensive because I'm a cheapskate. If you have a Winchester your screwed cusz they dont even have a half cock any more.

big medicine · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2005, 02:19:57 PM »

safety off and hammer on 1/2 cock.

hemlock-45/70 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 28, 2005, 02:51:15 PM »

Like the rest I carry mine on half-cock with the safety off. Unlike most others I actually like the safety. I use it when lowering the hammer to half-cock, and when unloading. I grew up with a pre-safety Marlin, half-cock works fine for me for my hunting needs. The safety is just some added insurance that your thumb won't slip off the hammer when letting it down. Why not use it?

gallatin · « **Reply #6 on:** January 28, 2005, 04:11:05 PM »

I carry my c.b. loaded and half cock. I use the crossbolt back at the car when unloading, though lately I'v taken the advice of some here and unload through the loading gate. this has led to travelling with a round half in the loading gate, makes it quick to load a round when jump out of the truck fast
John

TNrifleman · « **Reply #7 on:** January 29, 2005, 12:56:13 AM »

The cross bolt safety is useful for administrative purposes (loading and unloading) While hunting, chamber loaded, hammer on half cock, gun handling rules strictly followed.

Pat Marlin · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2005, 06:35:14 PM »

I agree with all the above on the safety virtues of the crossbolt, but when carrying a round chambered and half cocked the cross bolt accidently bumped can cause a clak, just when you're ready to harvest a fine specimen.

On the Marlin, there's an easy fix... install a rubber "0" ring on the red end of the crossbolt groove when hunting... it'll never bump to safe.. :wink:

The Winchester doesn't have a groove (at least on mine), and it doesn't half cock niether, so you're stuck with paying attention... :lol: :eek:

kenscot · « **Reply #9 on:** February 17, 2005, 06:10:05 PM »

I wrapped a thin piece of copper wire around the safety and carry it on half cock

TennesseeNuc · « **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2005, 08:30:58 PM »

I carry it with one in the chamber, safety off, on half-cock. I ,also, use the safety when unloading. Haven't had a problem so far.
Best,
TnNuc

darrell8937 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 24, 2005, 08:26:31 AM »

I use a small c-clip available at most hardware stores. they usualy have a whole drawer of them in diffrent sizes. buy the one that looks closest and then the next couple sizes up annd down. they are cheap.. I carry mine safety off.(locked off with clip) at half cock. I remove clip at end of hunt for added safety. once you find the correct size buy a bunch. they are eaisly lost.

dla · « **Reply #12 on:** April 24, 2005, 06:09:17 PM »

Cocked and Locked. Just like a 1911 (I wish Marlin would put a 1911-style thumb safety instead of the crossbolt.). Practice with the rifle the way you're going to carry it and you won't have a problem. People who hear "Click" instead of BANG don't practice.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #13 on:** April 25, 2005, 01:53:27 PM »

For the most part I carry it just like I do my leverguns that don't have a Cross Bolt Safety except that I have the safety off -- half cock on an empty chamber.

Once I load a round in the camber I carry at half-cock on a loaded chamer but I keep the CBS off.

Like others here have posted, the CBS is good for unloading. My biggest problem with it is it requires a different manual of arms. My hunting buddy insisted I use the CBS a couple years ago and sure enough the gun went "Clack!" instead of "Boom!" Biggest mulie buck I had ever squeezed the trigger on, too.

mjgear · « **Reply #14 on:** April 25, 2005, 08:53:52 PM »

Belt & Braces for me. Half cock and safety on. I have no problem with disengaging the safety and cocking the hammer as the rifle comes to my shoulder when a snap shot is required. If action appears imminent I just use the half cock.

I have never had a click rather than a bang because of the safety. I have had a 444 265gn miss my head by 12" when a friend fell whilst relying on the half cock only. Incidents like that do tend to focus you on safety issues! The man concerned is very safety conscious, but when you land hard enough to break an arm, 3 ribs and a color bone you WILL loose control of the rifle.

Play it safe and use both. It is only a matter of practice. If you need motivation just stop for a minute and think what you would say to your hunting buddy's wife if you had an AD. Not a pretty thought at all.

Regards

Michael G

Kodiak · « **Reply #15 on:** April 26, 2005, 03:37:28 AM »

When I carry the Marlin GS afield, with a round in the barrel, I place the hammer on half-cock. Only use the safety when unloading the rifle. Works for me.

Nanook 450 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 26, 2005, 03:01:45 PM »

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/taylor/crossbolt_safety.htm

Remove the cross-bolt safety.

I've learned to unload through the loading gate.

Flinch · « **Reply #17 on:** April 27, 2005, 09:01:18 AM »

I see this cross bolt safety as a solution to a non existant problem. I know some people like them, some dont.
I think marlin should offer the same models without the safety also, so as to make everyone happy.
But I know in this day and age everyone is sueing everyone for anything they can. Its sad that the gun industry has to idiot proof their products with more safeties and lousy 6 pound "lawer triggers" (although my marlin trigger isnt that bad) or be sued out of business.

JJ79 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 06, 2005, 05:39:09 AM »

I carry mine safety off, 1/2 cocked. In my opinion, though, it's a good idea to pick one method and stick with it!!!! Seems like it's the "back & forth" between using the safety and not using it that causes most of the problems/annoyances... Sticking to one method would produce a lot less unexpected "clicks"...or unexpected "bangs"!!!! Train your mind & muscles to do it one way, and don't switch...

IntrepidWizard · « **Reply #19 on:** May 06, 2005, 05:45:32 AM »

O ring on the off position[right side out] half cock---no exceptions.

90north · « **Reply #20 on:** May 28, 2005, 03:48:43 AM »

It's very easy just to take off the stock, push the safety to the off (fire) position and tighten down the allen screw so the safety won't move. Cost: $0 time: 10 minutes.

DeeInTejas · « **Reply #21 on:** July 19, 2005, 05:08:30 PM »

I had this very thing happen to me last fall. I was in a treestand. Gun was half cocked. Doe came walking by, I eased the hammer back and aimed, squezzed, clack! CS safety was still on. Thankfully the deer had not heard, there was enough noise out in the woods with the wind, dry leaves crunching under the deer's feet, etc. Cocked hammer back again, aimed, took saftey out, squezzed trigger, gun go boom. I will probably check every time from now on because of that. I hope. :grin:

myronman3 · « **Reply #22 on:** July 20, 2005, 02:22:09 PM »

i always wanted a lever, but never got one because of all the actions out there, a lever is the most likely to misfire. with the extremes in weather, it is really easy to have it happen when your fingers are cold and wet (and you cant feel them).
so i never bought a lever. then i saw a nice 1894 with a safety that blocked the hammer from falling and i bought it. if not for the c.b.s. i would not own a lever.
do what you want when your in the woods. put your egos aside, and quit advocating the non-use of them. can you be too safe? is there any trophy animal out there worth the risk?

if you arent familar enough with your weapon, perhaps there is a lesson here. and as a seasoned bowhunter, if i can come to full draw with my longbow, surely you guys can move your finger to switch off the safety? seems reasonable to me.

Leverdude · « **Reply #23 on:** July 20, 2005, 03:21:23 PM »

Sure does, if the only one you ever owned had a saftey.
What about the fellow been using a levergun for 20+years & never had one?
Kinda tough to get in the habit of using a saftey all the time if only ones got it.
Much easier to be safe & familiar if theyre all the same. IMO anyway

mjgear,

If your doing something tricky enough that you can fall & break arms & ribs & such a truly safe hunter wouldnt have a round in the chamber. :wink:

hogship · « **Reply #24 on:** July 20, 2005, 05:29:12 PM »

Quote from: Pat Marlin

I agree with all the above on the safety virtues of the crossbolt, but when carrying a round chambered and half cocked the cross bolt accidently bumped can cause a clak, just when you're ready to harvest a fine specimen.

On the Marlin, there's an easy fix... install a rubber "0" ring on the red end of the crossbolt groove when hunting... it'll never bump to safe.. :wink:

The Winchester doesn't have a groove (at least on mine), and it doesn't half cock niether, so you're stuck with paying attention... :lol: :eek:

Thanks for this advice, Pat Marlin. I took it, and installed rubber "O"rings on all three of my Marlins that have the crossbolt safety......it's just as though the crossbolt safety never existed in the first place. I'm using the half-cock safety exclusively now.

I also have a Winchester with the rebounding hammer, crossbolt safety, and no half cock......the o ring thing won't work there.

Anybody have the thought that Marlin just may have intended the "fix" in the first place to anyone that used their imagination? Could be, don't know what function that groove would have otherwise.

hog

35Rem · « **Reply #25 on:** August 03, 2005, 04:55:21 PM »

The Cross Bolt Saftey is a great idea... for loading and unloading the rifle.

When you are hunting, these guns are the same as they have always been. The half cock IS the only safety one should need, besides their brain.

I carry safety off, half cock.

The ...cough, cough, Winchesters have the rebounding hammer, so there's no question as to whether it's at half cock (1895 in 30-06).

Like I said the safety is great for loading and unloading. It's just a little more insurance while handling the rifle, especially if someone is not completely familiar with the action (new shooters).

Paul Barnard · « **Reply #26 on:** August 09, 2005, 03:28:12 AM »

I guess I am a little confused here. I have no more of a problem with my crossbolt safety on my 1895g than I do with the safety on my centerfire bolt rifle.

Hammer cocked all the way, round in the chamber, safety engaged. I see the animal, snick the safety off and fire the gun. Exactly like my bolt guns. Is there a difference I am not seeing? I just don't understand how the process of disengaging a safety on a lever gun is so much more problematic than doing the same thing on another action. Someone clue me in.

Keith L · « **Reply #27 on:** August 09, 2005, 05:29:49 AM »

Quote from: Paul Barnard

I guess I am a little confused here. I have no more of a problem with my crossbolt safety on my 1895g than I do with the safety on my centerfire bolt rifle.

Hammer cocked all the way, round in the chamber, safety engaged. I see the animal, snick the safety off and fire the gun. Exactly like my bolt guns. Is there a difference I am not seeing? I just don't understand how the process of disengaging a safety on a lever gun is so much more problematic than doing the same thing on another action. Someone clue me in.

I think it has more to do with habit than function. People who learned to hunt with lever guns and half cock safety could(will) be prone to having trouble remembering to do another step when using the crossbolt safety. I also learned on other than a lever and it hasn't been a problem for me either, but I can see how it may be.

hogship · « **Reply #28 on:** August 10, 2005, 06:07:53 PM »

Quote from: Paul Barnard

I guess I am a little confused here. I have no more of a problem with my crossbolt safety on my 1895g than I do with the safety on my centerfire bolt rifle.

Hammer cocked all the way, round in the chamber, safety engaged. I see the animal, snick the safety off and fire the gun. Exactly like my bolt guns. Is there a difference I am not seeing? I just don't understand how the process of disengaging a safety on a lever gun is so much more problematic than doing the same thing on another action. Someone clue me in.

Although your bolt rifle is in the full cocked position before taking the safety off, most hunters with a lever rifle don't carry their rifle in the full cocked position.....This being so, there is now TWO things to do before your lever rifle can be brought into action.

The lever rifle really didn't need another safety.....it was just lawyers, lawsuits and general perception by the uninformed that made it necessary.

hog

RGS · « **Reply #29 on:** August 11, 2005, 06:34:32 AM »

I am new to the lever rifle game, less then 10 years, so my Marlins have the safety. I also own a few New Model Blackhawks. They all have the transfer bar and no half cock notch.

Would it not be possible to loose the safety on the Marlins, keep the half cock notch and install the transfer bar system used on handguns?

From what I am reading in this thread this would seem to satisfy all but the true purist.

This seems so obvious, there must be something I am overlooking?

Rick