Why do manual safeties make things so difficult?

[Mark-II]

Well, if your pistol is a 1911 the safety is for carrying it cocked and locked. If it's on then it's assumed that youve already loaded and readied the gun.

For bolt action rifles I read somewhere that it's to prevent the bolt coming open and possibly falling out of a slung rifle being carried through brush and the like. Also keeps crud out of the action by keeping it closed.

As above, though - I don't use safeties. Either the gun is loaded and about to be fired, or it is unloaded. If I'm in a situation where a gun must be rendered safe, the ammunition is removed and the action is unlocked.

If I hunted it would be the same - I'd rather the animal hear me racking the action and bolt, than carry a rifle with one up the spout. That did happen to me once, actually. boo hoo

[kennymo]

I just can't bring myself to trust most safties. An Uncle and a couple close buddies have had close calls with them, both through defect and negligence in thinking that the safety is on. (The last guy is a moron, I will never, ever go hunting with. Who the hell checks to see if the safety is on by pulling the trigger?). The only devices I have any faith in at all are the half cock and the transfer bar safety. Anything else, that gun gets pointed in a safe direction at all times until I'm damn sure it's unloaded and double checked. For hunting purposes, if I'm carrying a bolt action the handle is kept out of battery until I'm ready to shoot. If I'm slinging it on the shoulder, the chamber is empty.

[CLW .45]

I just can't bring myself to trust most safties. An Uncle and a couple close buddies have had close calls with them, both through defect and negligence in thinking that the safety is on. (The last guy is a moron, I will never, ever go hunting with. Who the hell checks to see if the safety is on by pulling the trigger?). The only devices I have any faith in at all are the half cock and the transfer bar safety. Anything else, that gun gets pointed in a safe direction at all times until I'm damn sure it's unloaded and double checked. For hunting purposes, if I'm carrying a bolt action the handle is kept out of battery until I'm ready to shoot. If I'm slinging it on the shoulder, the chamber is empty.

Please, tell us that you DON'T consider the half cock, transfer bar, or having checked that it is unloaded to be an excuse to NOT point that gun "in a safe direction at all times."

[kennymo]

Please, tell us that you DON'T consider the half cock, transfer bar, or having checked that it is unloaded to be an excuse to NOT point that gun "in a safe direction at all times."

Don't be ridiculous. They're just the only ones I bother using at all so far as carrying with a round in the chamber goes....

[CLW .45]

Don't be ridiculous. They're just the only ones I bother using at all so far as carrying with a round in the chamber goes....

Thanks for clarifying that.

Your bolded statement was worrisome.

[FlyingHigh]

[RobertMcC]

I never use safeties..

My mauser the safety wont go on with the scope on, It has a position I can cycle the action tho.

The Mosin I don't have a safety ( Unless I manually drop the cocking piece )

The Cooey no safety, only de cock it.

My single action no safety, just position of the hammer.

My Single shot shotgun, no safety just hammer position.

My 1911s are the only one I use the safety, when shooting matches I have a loaded gun.

Then again I dont trust no mechanical safety but my own.

[ScottNT]

I´s all part of running the gun. On my 1911 I don´t even know that i´m switching it off, just memory.