Howa 1500 safety.

[fishburgr]

I've got a few guns but believe it or not just purchased my first bolt action firearm. A Howa 1500 in 223.

I can only engage the safety switch when the gun is already cocked. Is this how it should be?

Just wondering, Thanks.

[deye243]

Yep

[TassieTiger]

Why would you need to engage safety if gun is not cocked?

[av1]

Perhaps this may help, straight from the manual.

When the rifle is uncocked, the cocking piece (11) is recessed approximately 3/8th of an inch inside the bolt sleeve (12). In order to place the safety "ON" from this position, the rifle must first be cocked by raising the bolt handle fully upward, then closing it again. The safety operates directly on the trigger mechanism. For this reason, the trigger adjustments have been sealed at the factory. Any attempt to change these adjustments may render the safety inoperative and create a hazardous condition.

[flutch]

Perhaps this may help, straight from the manual.

When the rifle is uncocked, the cocking piece (11) is recessed approximately 3/8th of an inch inside the bolt sleeve (12). In order to place the safety "ON" from this position, the rifle must first be cocked by raising the bolt handle fully upward, then closing it again. The safety operates directly on the trigger mechanism. For this reason, the trigger adjustments have been sealed at the factory. Any attempt to change these adjustments may render the safety inoperative and create a hazardous condition.

Enter me, taking the trigger fully apart, honing and polishing parts and reducing springs substantially, now I have a trigger that breaks like glass, has no creep and only takes a few ounces of weight to fire. All while the safety still works perfectly