I inherited a Parker-Hale rifle that has a mauser 98 style action. The safety is part of the trigger assembly. When the safety is in the "on" position, the bolt locks down. Therefore, the safety must be placed in the fire position to unload the gun. Does anyone know the logic behind this design? What can be done to change this?

The logic is that it's cheaper to make a two position safety than a three position safety.

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Originally posted by Kilibru:
I inherited a Parker-Hale rifle that has a mauser 98 style action. The safety is part of the trigger assembly. When the safety is in the "on" position, the bolt locks down. Therefore, the safety must be placed in the fire position to unload the gun. Does anyone know the logic behind this design? What can be done to change this?

If you take the barreled action out of the stock and carefully look at how the safety works you'll see that all you need to do is cut a bit of a notch using a dremel tool in a piece of sheet metal on the safety. This will allow the bolt to open on safety but you'll have no bolt lock at all. Have a look see.....

Let me ask a couple beginner questions. Is there a safety issue with the bolt not being able to lock down? Can the bolt be retrofitted with a three position safety even though the current safety is located on the trigger assembly?

I don't know the model but what you have sounds like a classic trigger safety as found on the (all but very recent) Zastava actioned mausers and on all Sakos and Tikkas.

The safety has an arm on it that locates through a slot in the action to bear on the bolt and prevent it from turning. As you correctly stated it means that unloading must be done with the safety off.

In Europe this is not thought of as much of an issue but we have less rugged country generaly. Many of us prefer this sort of safety because it is so easy to slip off silently when game appears a short distance away.

Of course it makes is doubly important to ensure the trigger is properly adjusted and that you unload with the rifle in a safe position.

IF (and I don't know it is) it's the same as a Zastava safety, the leaver is held on by 2 flat head machine screws, unscrew them and it comes off - you will need to remove the little ball bearing and spring in the trigger housing that provide the 'detente' You now have a trigger with no safety. It should be a simple matter to change the shroud and machine the cocking piece for a 3 position safety.

Mauser firing pin design doesn't allow the rifle to fire until the bolt lugs are engaged. I would assume the Parker Hale is the same but it would pay to check. The reason the bolt is locked is to stop it opening when the rifle is carried on a sling and catches on something.

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Is there a safety issue with the bolt not being able to lock down?

This is probably what your safety looks like. This is an early MKX. If you look at the leading edge of the safety bar you will see a tab that goes up into the action. This tab is what keeps the bolt closed. Somewhere along mid production the tab was removed from the bar to allow the bolt to be opened while on safe. I believe Remington did the same thing. Due to the safety issue of having the gun in the fire position to remove ammo. I've heard some claim that without the tab the bolt handle could be lifed by accident a little during hunting and then not fire. I have some of each. I prefer the ones that will open on safe. If you want to alter the safety just remove the tab. However there are usually some around that have the new style and want the old like yours. The action and bolts on both are the same. Just offer it as a swap. Yes there are a number of ways to add a two or three position bolt safety. Will run you between $125-200 and you will still have a stock made for the side safety.

quote:

Originally posted by Kilibru:
Let me ask a couple beginner questions. Is there a safety issue with the bolt not being able to lock down? Can the bolt be retrofitted with a three position safety even though the current safety is located on the trigger assembly?

IMO this is a personal preference issue only.....if one follows the rule about never having the muzzle pointed in a unsafe direction this is a mute point.

A three position (m-70 style) safety can be added for about $250

Thanks for everyone's time on the responses. My safety is the "classic" trigger safety so the above information definately will be helpful.

The first time your bolt handle hangs up on a twig, opens and chucks a live round on the ground, you will regret removing the "lock down" feature.
The wife's Rem loves doing that little trick

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Originally posted by Tailgunner:
The first time your bolt handle hangs up on a twig, opens and chucks a live round on the ground, you will regret removing the "lock down" feature.
The wife's Rem loves doing that little trick

This is a serious question, not a "smart ass" remark posing as a question...

How is the rifle being carried when twigs hang up on the bolt handle and open the bolt on your wife's Remington? In over 50 years of hunting, including in the dense cover of the Oregon coast range and some of the brushiest country in Arizona, I've never seen this happen and have never had it happen to me.

That doesn't mean it isn't possible or isn't an issue. I am just curious as to why/how it happens........

The type of safety you have mentioned is what the Remingtons went through a few years ago. The lawyers safety is one that allow the bolt to be opened with the safety in the on position. I suspect that this gun is one made before the lawyer safety's came into play. Don't really know if the Parker-Hales went through this but it is my guess. As far as modifing your safety to allow raising the bolt while on safe I would ask Keith Atcheson if he thinks it's a good idea.

If the gun is carried upright over the shoulder on a sling (carrying strap) the brush can in fact open the bolt. It has happened to folks I hunt with.....I use a M-70 so it's not a problem.....however it is a problem and if the bolt don't lock and you carry on a carrying strap over the shoulder this is a real possibility.

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If the gun is carried upright over the shoulder on a sling (carrying strap) the brush can in fact open the bolt

Like I said I have both. Guess it has never been a problem for me. When I carry the rifle on a sling the there is not a round in the chamber anyway. When I use a sling it is in the mountains and there is normally plenty of time to chamber a round. If the shot needs to be that quick then being on my shoulder doesn't help.

Alberta Canuck

I seen a bolt come open a couple of times and loose the shell in the chamber.

The times I saw was with a 03 spring feild with milltary safety in the middle position. I browwed the rifle to a young lad that had no gun. He would always carry it with the safety in the middle position more then once. When he had the rifle over his shoulder on the sling I would look and there the bolt would be hanging and he had loss another shell.

But then those old springfeild actions are slicker then goose shit. With a rough remington or mauser it might not happen.

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But then those old springfeild actions are slicker then goose shit. With a rough remington or mauser it might not happen.

I thought you would like that.

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Originally posted by p dog shooter:
I thought you would like that.

Actually I have three VZ-24 actions that are so smooth that gooseshit would be envious.....

AC
Slung, over the shoulder. Now that I think about it, it could even have been the sleeve of her coat flipping it open (as she has had rounds eject while traveling across a mowed hay field).
Whatever the cause, it's not something most people care to have happen.

vapodog but then My 416 taylor on a stainless Ruger MKII has the same trouble.

Can a rifle be to slick.

I find it nice when the bolt is smooth.

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The safety has an arm on it that locates through a slot in the action to bear on the bolt and prevent it from turning. As you correctly stated it means that unloading must be done with the safety off.

The only value of the bolt lock-down feature is to keep the bolt from being inadvertently opened while you are carrying the rifle with a round in the chamber. If this capability seems important to you, then do your unloading by:

WITH THE MUZZLE POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION, LIKE AT SOFT EARTH OR A BIG TREE TRUNK, push safety off, then immediately open the bolt and draw it to the rear. Remove the round that was in the chamber, then open the floorplate of the magazine and let the rest of the rounds drop out the bottom into your hand, held under the magazine box. Then close the floorplate.

Or, after removing the chambered round, push the bolt forward only that amount required to have the next round pop up under the extractor claw. DON"T CLOSE IT AGAIN ON A LIVE ROUND! Pull the bolt back, remove round #2, then do it again, etc. etc., until the magazine box is empty and all live rounds that were in the gun are in your hand! (DON'T chamber the succeeding rounds, just eject them!)

An alternative is to have a new bolt shroud with a 3-position, Model 70 type safety fitted by a gunsmith. This is an individual job requiring fitting to each rifle separately. In other words, you can't just buy one and put it in yourself. Except, if by accident, one happened to fit and work correctly. If you can afford the alteration, this is the best (safest) plan!

Strange things can and do happen--one of my camp partners was heading to the blind one cold morning with his M70, his rattling horns, and wearing a parka. He got out of the truck, loaded his rifle, slung it over his shoulder, and casually tossed his rattling horns over his shoulder as well (the pair is tied together with parachute cord). Next thing he hears is Ka-boom!!! His theory as to what happened, as he swears the safety was on, is that an antler tine must have knocked the safety off (on a M70?) and then ticked the trigger. At any rate, those of us in camp sat straight up and thought the worst as it was still pitch black outside. In a minute or two, the cell phone rang and we were told he was OK, that he hadn't shot anything in the headlights, and that he would have a story to tell when he got in from the morning hunt.

I won't use those rattling horns anymore--must be some terrorist connection.