For a deer hunting rifle....

I have a few 1903 Springfields and 98 Mausers in various chamberings. Most have the Beuhler style wing safety, which I don't especially like. They are slow to operate, and it cost me a shot at a big buck before.

I want to change them to either the Model 70 style two position with original trigger, or the Timney trigger with safety.

Which do you prefer for a hunting rifle?

I don't have any Rugers or Winchesters, but a friend has both I could handle. Are the 1903 and Mauser versions the same as the commercial rifles?

Pros and cons as I see them, the side swing safety lets me keep the two stage trigger, which I prefer for hunting. It also costs a bit more. I would have to send it to a gunsmith, so add a bit of shipping.

The Timney I could do all the work myself. Its a bit cheaper, but eliminates my two stage trigger. It also needs some more wood removal, is that going to affect strength?

Thanks

Growing up here in UK I prefer the system I first learnt with in a centrefire rifle - the 303 No 4 Lee Enfield so FWIW "side" safety (like the Timney system).

Even on a Mauser 98 I'd still prefer a "side" safety (like the Timney system). But push forward to fire and not push back like the BRNO ZKK 600.

The problem with the Mauser wing safety is that it can be NOISY! That may be OK if you are shooting across a beanfield or out on the hill. But from a high seat? Or at twenty yards in woodlands?

bja, I dont understand the terminology. you say the M70 bolt safety is a "side" safety and not the Timney. Enfield spares say he likes the Timney because it is a "side" safety.

So all confusing nomenclature aside, I like the M70 bolt mounted safety, for its positive action.

I would leave the Springfield alone, its a classic. But thats me. Seems your mind is made up. Maybe just take you one favorite and alter that and leave the rest?

Or, You trade in one of those classics to someone who likes them more and get one modern gun for hunting?

quote:

I want to change them to either the Model 70 style two position with original trigger, or the Timney trigger with safety.

Which do you prefer for a hunting rifle?

Absolutely prefer the Winchester type three position safety.....and for darn good reason....one does not have to load and unload the gun on the fire position. The unfortunate thing is that it's not cheap to install them. I do it myself or I wouldn't have it done.

As of late, I've gone to hunting with an empty chamber as that feature has less meaning now. I find that with the rifle on a sling over my shoulder, there is a tendency for my jacket to actually catch the safety lever and push it to fire.....and that is just unacceptable....so empty chamber is my most recent method of hunting.

I've got a couple of Mauser's in the works, and I'm having Win type safeties put on them. I'm going that route becauswe all but one of my other rifles are M70's and I want them all to have the same safety locations.

I learned this lesson swithching back and forth between Rem and Win shotguns bird hunting.

I prefer a safety which cams the firing pin back and holds it. I don’t like sear blocking safeties which are the most common safety on commercial actions. I can’t think of a single military action which did not have a “firing pin safety”. Your Mauser has a “firing pin” safety. That safety positively holds the firing back, there is a thick section of steel blocking forward movement . As proved thousands of times, you can bayonet and buttstroke someone and the firing pin is not going forward .

I have attached a picture of a over ride trigger. A sear blocking safety just prevents the movement of the sear or the trigger. The engagement surfaces are tiny and can be jarred out of place.



I like the M70 safety, it positively cams the firing pin back and holds it.