cross bolt safety

[billy]

Why do most everyone not like the cross bolt safety? Thinking of getting a lever gun and have never owned one ,always a bolt gun man.

[Keith L]

If you do a search on this subject you will get all the pros and cons.  It comes up every few weeks.

[DennisE]

I've got or had 5 different Marlin lever action rifles.  All have had cross bolt safeties.  I love 'em and the safeties have never been a problem except for guys that get excited and forget to take 'em off.  Dennis

[Coyote Hunter]

Two of my leverguns have a Cross Bolt Safety (CBS), two do not.

I don’t hunt dangerous game so the chances of the CBS getting me hurt are relatively low.  On the other hand, the CBS could prevent an accidental discharge if my thumb slips off the hammer while dropping it to the half-cock position.

When emptying the magazine I appreciate the CBS.  I don’t hunt with it engaged, however, as I prefer to rely on an empty chamber and the half-cock position.  The one time I did engage the CBS while hunting it cost me the biggest buck I have ever dropped the hammer on.  Clack!

If you really don’t like the CBS there are work-arounds.  Someone makes a device that allows you to remove the CBS and replace it with what look like screws.  Others simply push it into the “Off” position and tighten the set screw inside the action so it doesn’t move.  Others just put it in the “Off” position and put a small “O” ring in the groove.  

And people like me just leave it alone.