Archie wrote:I carry a round in the chamber with the bolt home but handle up, and the bold handle held up by a doubled, thick rubber band that in turn is looped round the scope.
Thoughts?
Only one place for rubbers...& i just deleted what i wrote here...but it did include such words as drunk...& ugly...
So is the rubber band because you dont trust yourself, or your awareness to not know if you've closed the bolt...?
If thats the case & you're that worried why have a round in there..?
Not having a go at all Archie...just trying to understand the need for a rubber band holding up the bolt...
I would hate anything obstructing the action on my rifles...absolutely hate it...i want controll...
Is there any chance when you fire a round the recoil & rubber band lifts the bolt causing it to fly back & wedge in your eye socket...?
If i approach say an area of land where i may need to get a shot off real quick, i pre chamber a round & have the bolt up in that "notch" if you know what i mean with thumb over the bolt & finger over trigger guard ready to go...
My experience tells me it is only fatigue &/or laziness that prevents me to carry a rifle for extended periods of time in the manner i mention above--as holding the rifle in such a way is not what id call "relaxing" for the right hand...& if thats the case-fatigue or laziness kicks in, there comes a much higher risk of an accident...
In which case, i empty the chamber...just not worth the risk...its just not...
This happened to me earlier this year...came face to face with mr fox on the outskirts of farm infrastructure after a long 2 hour morning walk with the 204...i was pretty fatigued so i emptied the chamber....so instead of mr fox gettig a smack to the heart from a round i already had in the chamber, he got chased away by hastily chambered & wasted rounds...but i rather that than fatigue or cramp in the trigger hand with a live one ready to go...
Each to his own Archie...if that works for you & is always safe, then its a good thing...but like i said id hate something around my bolt...
The man who knows everything, doesnt really know everything...he's just stopped learning...