How long do you keep the spring cocked on your centrefire

[pajamatime]

I have ARs that have spent years cocked. Those are hammer fired and at least one is ready to go for home defense.

My Glock has spent 7 years cocked so far, that is striker fired. Also must always be ready to go since it is a carry gun.

I actually firmly believe its mostly hype and that any "decay" of the "spring" is minimal at best.
With that said I always read the manual and if it says to do something then I do it for that individual firearms...who ever engineered the firearm in the first place surely knows more about the spring then I do type mentality lol.

with that said so far only one manual says anything close to tension or spring related say so and that is a manual for one of my OU break action shotguns.
Have not found any of my other firearms manuals to contain such information.

[RoginaJack]

Morning Chronos. if ever you come across bolt tubes that are built for Left Handed bolts, let me know would you; I'm after them for a Tikka.

Cheers,

Will do mate.

Have you checked with Lowey?

Have you thought about just leaving the bolt in the rifle and pulling the trigger

Chronos

Yes and apparently, they are not made for 'left handed" bolts despite requests to do so.

yes, but here in Qld. firearms must be stored with the bolt removed or action broken (opened)

cheers,

[on_one_wheel]

The valve spring in your car's engine are under constant heavy preload and they last a blody long time.
The same can be said for the suspension in your car and maxi brakes in trucks.
I have my doubts that leaving your rifle bolt in the cocked position will have any ill affects.

[Gun Nut Gordo]

lets be honest very few people decock the bolt when storing the rifle so it's essentially in the cocked position all the time, so I wouldn't worry too much about it if you have it at the ready when hunting

[<<Genesis93>>]

right....

Materials have an elastic and plastic limit, the point where they cease behaving in that manner.
Plastic = deformation is permanent, you deform or bend and it doesnt quite go all the way back
Elastic = deformation is temporary, bend a little and it return back as original.

Springs deform elastically up to a point then they behave plastic(ally)..... in the normal movement of firing pin spring.... you will never reach the elastic limit so therefore, IMHO, cocked or not - dontworryboutit... How many shotguns have sat in safes for literally decades without deterioration, lots!, of course some pedants will advise you to decock..... its up to you

Rifles can easily be de-cocked though, by holding the trigger while closing the bolt, whether for storage or walking around during the hunt (though tension remains in the spring)... now a 'safe' firearm is an unloaded firearm, but I'm quite happy to walk around on a loaded chamber/decocked.....

Various rifles can even be easily cocked without lifting the bolt eg Enfields AND Mausers, but you'll need to dis-mount the bayo for the Mauser re-cock!! old skool is cool!

[ChicagoTed]

as long as you have a decent gun i wouldn't worry about it

[headspace]

I reckon it's a reasonable question and have wondered the same myself at times, but there are plenty of examples of bolts left cocked when they are out of the rifle, so I don't consider it a problem. As far as hunting with a cocked rifle, I never put any faith in a safety catch. They may as well not exist on my rifles because I never use them. If I think A shot may be close I'll put a round in the chamber and walk with the bolt completely up. It's safer than a safety catch and quietly dropping the bolt handle is often quieter than the click of a safety. Safety's have been known to fail.
JD

[brett1868]

@Genesis93

De cocked on a loaded chamber is an accident waiting to happen because the firing pin is effectively rubbing against the primer. A sharp blow or a drop could be enough to set it off, de cock on an empty chamber only.

[Browning]

Crikey. I leave the spring tensioned in the safe all time...
I know about it but doesn't phase me at all.. Wouldn't worry about a few hours walking....
Be more worried about having a clean barrel or something really important like... Is the beer cold

[sandgroperbill]

I have a cousin who had a marlin .22 and a brother with a savage .17hmr. Both their springs went soft and wouldn't give a proper strike. Both had to have the springs replaced. Having said that, the springs in my brothers magazines were all weak, too, so i think it mostly comes down to the quality of the springs. All the other shotguns and rifles are fine, and some are 100 years old.

If a spring does go soft while sitting in the safe, my opinion is that itwas going to happen regardless. Take it to a smith and have it replaced with a good quality, strong spring.

[Title_II]

I reckon it's a reasonable question and have wondered the same myself at times, but there are plenty of examples of bolts left cocked when they are out of the rifle, so I don't consider it a problem. As far as hunting with a cocked rifle, I never put any faith in a safety catch. They may as well not exist on my rifles because I never use them. If I think A shot may be close I'll put a round in the chamber and walk with the bolt completely up. It's safer than a safety catch and quietly dropping the bolt handle is often quieter than the click of a safety. Safety's have been known to fail.
JD

I don't hunt but whenever I've wandered around with an AR-15 (in America) on the lands or very rarely in public, I have it cleared, cocked, safety on, and loaded mag inserted (no rounds chambered). I don't like carrying any firearm chambered that doesn't have a holster to cover the trigger, unless I am expecting to use it in short order.

[RealNick]

I reckon it's a reasonable question and have wondered the same myself at times, but there are plenty of examples of bolts left cocked when they are out of the rifle, so I don't consider it a problem.

Everything I can think of comes with the bolt cocked in the box when you get it from the dealer.

?

[zobster]

I have found that I can de-cock the bolt spring after removing it from the action. In my case, HOWA 1500, I hold either ends with my hands and twist, the sring will de-cock and a further twist will remove the firing pin completely. Problem solved!

[bigfellascott]

I've never decocked my springs on any rifles I own.

[juststarting]

I reckon it's a reasonable question and have wondered the same myself at times, but there are plenty of examples of bolts left cocked when they are out of the rifle, so I don't consider it a problem.

Everything I can think of comes with the bolt cocked in the box when you get it from the dealer.

?

Tikka came with the bolt out, in the box. Not sure if the spring was under tension, but the bolt was out...

[Title_II]

Why are you getting rifles with bolts removed? Is this an Australia legal thing? It doesn't make any sense.

[huccl]

Mine would regularly be cocked for hours regularly. For safety I have the bolt up while walking around or left on the shooting range bench while not being used.

I've done that for years without any problem.

[huccl]

Why are you getting rifles with bolts removed? Is this an Australia legal thing? It doesn't make any sense.

I dunno about that.

Lots come with the bolt in the box, not in the rifle.