A buddy sent me a pile of Gun Rags because he knew I wasn't buying any of them. He said I "might learn something" or "get a few grins".

1. One of the articles was written by a guy who I tend to trust more than most of the current crop of Rag Hacks. He was basically mentioning the design differences with a rifle that a Professional Hunter in Dangerous Game country would typically carry, in comparison to rifles carried by those who are not Guides or Pro Hunters.

Some of the comparisons were with rifles chambered for the same cartridge, but some with a shorter barrel compared to a longer barrel. He had good points for both and spoke about the importance of balance regardless of the length.

Then he was talking about 24"-25" barrels (don't know why he excluded 26") and said that, "They also offer a tad more velocity and a reduction in muzzle jump and blast. (Than a shorter barrel.)

Has anyone noticed, that with barrels of the same contour, the shorter barrel has more muzzle jump?

2. He also mentioned the location of the Safety on the rifle could be a problem. "On rifles with the safety attached to the receiver, rather than on the bolt, one also runs the risk of bumping the safety to the "on" position. Not a good situation when one is depending on another shot."

(NOTE: I feel sure he meant rifles with the Safety location along side the end of the Bolt, like on a Remington or a Weatherby.)

He did not say it had ever happend to him. In a later issue of the same Gun Rag, a different Hack mentioned he had seen what the previous writer had written about the Safety location and tried to get the Safety to "bump ON" with his rifles. He mentioned he couldn't get it to happen.

Have you ever experienced the Safety being "bumped ON" when cycling the Bolt, with or without gloves?

with a shorter barrel and therefore shorter overall leangth, a 2 inch muzzle jump coverts to a greater angluar deflection than the same gun with a longer overall length from a longer barrel. that said, the longer gun will feel like the barrel jumped less, even though it moved the same amount. there is also a bit of extra weight for the blast to move, but that's pretty negligable, it's most about the geometry.

Don't know about the the barrel jump idea.

Personally, I prefer a tang safety for any serious hunting rifle. I have large hands and it is still necessary to take my hand out of the firing position to disengage a safety in any other position other on the tang. I could see where this delay and mis-positioning could have bad outcomes with dangerous game.

Ahhh...I think if the nice Hack had examined such a safety he might have noticed the "fire" position is when moved forward, exactly where it might be pushed during recoil. Not that it would happen, anyway.

Magazine writers have to write something, so they do. I quit buying gun mags many years ago, the good (knowledgeable) writers are long gone. About all they write now is fluff, trivia and nonsense.

Of course a shorter barrel of the same contour means more muzzle jump.Even a lighter contour barrel of the same length means more muzzle jump.As for safeties,the only safety that I will not have on a hunting rifle is a tang safety.One experience with the safety on an A-bolt freezing up during freezing rain was enough for me.

Don't forget....these publications come out (usually) monthly and they have to print something even if there's nothing to say.

The old story.....say something even if you have nothing to say.

You just reminded my why I don't subscribe to any of these any more!

Now if I really want to read stuff on the other side of reality I can just read stuff like this right here:

quote:

I did a search of articles that deal with impact condition of the bullet specifically in terms of the reltationship between yaw at time of impact and the length of the narrow channel in the target and came up with the following:

There is definitely a relationship between yaw angle at impact and the length of the narrow channel, that is not disputed ! and it reinforces that for non deforming, non frangible bullets at least all things equal that narrow channel length would only be a function of the bullet's physical dimension as it pertains to mass distribution. ie the bullets axial and longitudinal moments of inertia.

The question therefore is what is the difference in yaw of repose of say a 30 cal bullet fired at same velocities from a 1:10, 1:12 and 1:14 barrel at hunting distances say at 200 m and at 300m. (We are assuming off course bullets that are symmetrical)

Fact is that the yaw of repose values at 200 and 300 m are very small, measured in 100ths of a degree and the difference at 200 and or 300 m between a 1:10 1:12 and 1:14 inch twist barrel is so small that it would have no significant impact Length of narrow channel at all.

The yaw of repose of a 30 cal Sierra match bullet for a 1:10 , 1:12 and 1:14 inch barrel at 300 m is something like 0.015 deg , 0.014 and 0.013 degree. For practical purposes it would not amount to measurable difference in distance it would take any of these bullets to turn inside the target and hence there would be no difference in wound profiles between these twist rates.

See what I mean?

I'd love to have Boddington's reply to that!

I don't pay much attention to what the gun writers have to say anymore, and I don't subscribe to any of the publications either.

Also I never paid much attention to muzzel jump, but just figured it was part of recoil - basically the same thing - either way something to consider regarding a quick second shot. But on the other hand, using a hard hitting rifle will increase the likelyhood of not needing the second shot, if proper attention is given to the first one. I've never tried one, but I understand that a muzzel brake reduces jump and recoil.

I don't like tang safeties, but mostly because I'm not accustom to them, and find them awkward. When I'm looking for the safety, I want it to be in a familiar place, on each rifle I use. I would rather use one of the old Mauser three position flag safetes than a tang safety. At first I wouldn't buy a CZ 550 because I didn't like the safety, but after shooting a friends rifle, I decided to buy one, with the intent of replacing the shroud and safety with a Lapour three position. After buying several more CZ 550s, and considering the cost of converting them all, then I discovered I could live with the factory CZ three position safety. It's positioned close enough to my familiar location to be acceptable. I even bought a CZ 527 with the backward safety, and found it acceptable for what I use it for, since it has many other redeeming qualities.

I just took a look at my CZ and see that it would be rather difficult to bump the safety back into a safe position when working the bolt. Same thing for a Ruger MKII. I also think it would be rather impossible on a Mauser or Winchester three position since the safety travels with the bolt. The nice thing of course about all mentioned, except the 527, is that one can work the bolt while the safety is engaged.

I could never understand how some guys find a side safety such as on a Remington or Howa acceptable. I've seen guys with their rifles slung on their shoulder, and after walking through the woods, or whatever, discover the bolt open. I've heard of bolts opening like that and apparantly just falling out under similar conditions. A safety that doesn't lock the bolt down renders the whole rifle useless to me, unless it's a rifle that I'm only going to use for stand hunting or shooting off the bench. That's why I think the term Remington 700 DGR is an oxymoron.

KB

Hey Vapo, Could you possibly "dumb that down a bit" for us meer mortals???

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
Don't forget....these publications come out (usually) monthly and they have to print something even if there's nothing to say.

The old story.....say something even if you have nothing to say.

You just reminded my why I don't subscribe to any of these any more!

Now if I really want to read stuff on the other side of reality I can just read stuff like this right here:

quote:

I did a search of articles that deal with impact condition of the bullet specifically in terms of the reltationship between yaw at time of impact and the length of the narrow channel in the target and came up with the following:

There is definitely a relationship between yaw angle at impact and the length of the narrow channel, that is not disputed ! and it reinforces that for non deforming, non frangible bullets at least all things equal that narrow channel length would only be a function of the bullet's physical dimension as it pertains to mass distribution. ie the bullets axial and longitudinal moments of inertia.

The question therefore is what is the difference in yaw of repose of say a 30 cal bullet fired at same velocities from a 1:10, 1:12 and 1:14 barrel at hunting distances say at 200 m and at 300m. (We are assuming off course bullets that are symmetrical)

Fact is that the yaw of repose values at 200 and 300 m are very small, measured in 100ths of a degree and the difference at 200 and or 300 m between a 1:10 1:12 and 1:14 inch twist barrel is so small that it would have no significant impact Length of narrow channel at all.

The yaw of repose of a 30 cal Sierra match bullet for a 1:10 , 1:12 and 1:14 inch barrel at 300 m is something like 0.015 deg , 0.014 and 0.013 degree. For practical purposes it would not amount to measurable difference in distance it would take any of these bullets to turn inside the target and hence there would be no difference in wound profiles between these twist rates.

See what I mean?

I'd love to have Boddington's reply to that!

Translation please??? LMAO

Hey stubblejumper, Where do you want the Safety positioned so it is protected from freezing rain, down by the Trigger Guard?
-----

About the "Muzzle Rise", doesn't it matter that the Bullet is in a longer Barrel for more time than a Bullet in a shorter Barrel? Picking nits?
-----

quote:

By Jim C.:
Ahhh...I think if the nice Hack had examined such a safety he might have noticed the "fire" position is when moved forward, exactly where it might be pushed during recoil. Not that it would happen, anyway.

That is the same way my Remingtons and my Weatherby work too. I couldn't get mine to "Bump to On" either.
-----

quote:

By Kabluewy:
I could never understand how some guys find a side safety such as on a Remington or Howa acceptable. I've seen guys with their rifles slung on their shoulder, and after walking through the woods, or whatever, discover the bolt open. I've heard of bolts opening like that and apparantly just falling out under similar conditions. A safety that doesn't lock the bolt down renders the whole rifle useless to me, unless it's a rifle that I'm only going to use for stand hunting or shooting off the bench.

I've also "heard" of that, but have never experienced it, never had anyone I Hunted with mention it happened on one of our Man-Eating Swamp Drive Hunts and no one ever lost a Bolt in ANY rifle.

I do P-FLR my Cases which places the Cartridge in Compression when Chambered and have never even had the Bolt "lift" any at all that I can recall.

Do you think it is a valid complaint, or just someone flapping their lips?

quote:

Hey stubblejumper, Where do you want the Safety positioned so it is protected from freezing rain, down by the Trigger Guard?

It's just fine on the receiver,as I have never had any receiver mounted safety freeze.

Remington 788, bolt fell out on hike, lost in snow. I was there, it was funny, at first, then my friend was rather disappointed that we could not find the bolt. We were not in a brushy area and no falls or other unusual events took place. I was able to "make the bolt fall out" on another 788 in the comfort of my livingroom after considerable "messing" with it. I honestly can't figure out how it could happen accidently, but of course it did. That particular model, Reminton 788, also has some really dangerous quirks with the safety and going "bang" at the wrong time. Again, you have to hold your mouth just right and it's not consistant but, all it takes is once to ruin your day...

Not saying this could happen on other Remington products and this might have been a total wild fluke, but it did happen one time.

Now since I don't spend my free time telling this story on the internet using different names and IP addresses I imagin that it might have happened to someone else at some time for someone to have reported it. Must be a rather rare event (lightening strike, lotty winning, whatever) but it was a real pain in the ass to my friend at the time.

Never had a tang safety "freeze" but then again I haven't hunted in freezing rain all that much. I'm thinking that freezing rain could play hell with a lot more than a safety.

I have two 20-ga slug guns (TCR-87s, one with a 23-inch barrel and one with a 18-1/4-inch barrel. The one with the shorter barrel recoils up a lot more than the one with the longer barrel, with the same loads. Also, there is a lot more muzzle blast.

iowa don,
have actually been able to physicly measure the amount of jump from both guns?.

i think you'd be surprised to find that both barrels go up pretty much the same amount. the energies at the muzzle are more or less identical.
the shorter barreled gun moves both faster (the shorter o.a. length needs to move faster to cover the same distance of jump in the same amount of time) and feels like it moves higher because the cumulative angle of rise is greater from a shorter moment arm ( the distance from shoulder to end of muzzle) giving the feel that the muzzle raised more. plus the gretaer amount of muzzle blast adds to the concieved effect that it jumped more.
in fact the only variable, the overall length of the moment arm would actually work to make the longer gun raise more because the longer arm would require less effort to raise the weight from the reaction of released energy. so in effect, the longer gun should, by mathamatics jump more.
it's pretty simple, try to lift a 1 ton weight 2 inches off the floor with a 3 foot long lever vrs. trying to lift the same weight the same distance with a six foot long lever, which is easier?.
the shorter lever needs to move through a greater arc( more degrees of rotation) to move the weight the same distance as the longer lever, ( makes the muzzle feel like it jumped higher). it also has to move faster to do the work in the same amount of time( making it feel like the muzzle jumped farther up).

as to the safeties....
two of the guns i own have sear block-side safeties and i do not like them at all. they make me nervous and i am constantly checking them when i use those guns and notice that i am much more aware of how i carry the gun and what the gun comes in contact with as i carry them in the field.

quote:

Originally posted by HunterMontana:
Remington 788, bolt fell out on hike, lost in snow. ...

That had to be depressing.

About the only time my rifle is in a Slung position, I'm dragging a Deer. Normally I keep it in my hands, but when slung, the Butt is usually "Up" rather than "Down". Comes from doing a lot of Hunting in the rain while wearing a poncho and it was the way we carried in the MARINE CORPS. Even with long barrels it does fine unless you need to kneel real quick.
-----

Hey merlinron, Your thoughts on the longer barrel are what I've noticed - it normally rises a bit more than a shorter barrel. Same about the louder Report confusing things.

As I got to thinking about it, I decided the Overall Weight of the rifle might have lead the Rag Writer to conclude the Shorter Barrel rises more.

And I can see where IOWADON could be correct with the Slug Guns, especially since he has two alike except for barrel length. Perhaps the "weight" removed by shortening the barrel does have a larger effect on muzzle rise than I originally thought.

Thanks for the responses, they do exercise the old gray matter.

On the safety being bumped to "safe", there was an article in African Hunter Magazine several years back by Don Heath on results of the shooting portion of the Zimbabwe Preffesional Hunter practical exam. He wrote of rifle issues and common user issues resulting from features of some rifles. One common problem was users bumping CZ safeties to "safe" while cycling the bolt during some of the shooting accuracy/time trails. I think it was the "reversed" safety rifles, don't recall the model #.

The shooting test is pretty demanding btw. I think the regimen can be found here: http://forums.accuratereloadin...22101325/m/347100925

Don Heath was in charge of the PH testing.

As far as Remington safeties, can't stand them and can't stand finding my bolt open and my chambered round missing. I don't carry a rifle slung all that much, but with my one and only Remington, every time I sling it for whatever reason I find the bolt open and the round missing.

JPK

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:
About the only time my rifle is in a Slung position, I'm dragging a Deer. Normally I keep it in my hands, but when slung, the Butt is usually "Up" rather than "Down".

You obviously don't hunt in the snow!

I definitely hunt in the snow and I keep my rifle in my hands when I am am hunting.

For the last 30 years I have hunted pretty much exclusively with a Remington 700. The only safety malfunctions I have seen were induced by the operator....Improper lubricant or whatever.


I spent 20 years possessed with hunting big coastal grizzlys....Pi$$ing rain, blowing snow, salt water, and generally the ugliest conditions you can imagine....Not one serious action related problem.

On the other hand I was taught how to properly clean a rifle....

I never accidentally flipped the damned safety on either!

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
You obviously don't hunt in the snow!

Hey Vapo, You talking about YANKEE Rain?

Your guess is dead on the nose. I don't even like to be out in it below 40deg and most of the time 50deg is cold enough for me.

I do use good old Black Electrical Tape across the muzzle to keep the wind blown silica(aka sand) out of the barrel though.

I had a 16ga Lefevre that my Father had lowned to a guy who got snow in the right barrel and created a ring about 4" down the tube. Never even offered to have it repaired. But you probably could have bought a M21 Win back then for $3k.
-----

Had a couple of seriously "good ole boys" stop by today. Told them I was interested in seeing if either of them could move the Safety on either the Remington or the Weatherby from "OFF to ON" or from "ON to OFF" by simply working the Bolt. I figure if it could possibly be Ham Handed into movement, these boys would have no problem at all doing it. Even supplied two pair of heavy gloves for them.

Just like x-man - no Safety's were harmed, injured, maimed, Killed, nor either moved even 0.0001" during this event.

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:
...with my one and only Remington, every time I sling it for whatever reason I find the bolt open and the round missing.

I sure would not be happy about that either.

Have you ever tried P-FLRing your Cases, or do you Hunt in Dangerous Game country?

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:
...with my one and only Remington, every time I sling it for whatever reason I find the bolt open and the round missing.

I sure would not be happy about that either.

Have you ever tried P-FLRing your Cases, or do you Hunt in Dangerous Game country?

Hot Core,

I don't know what P-FLRing means. While I hunt in dangerous game areas, I don't live in one, and this rifle sees use near home.

To overcome the problem, mostly I don't hunt with my one and only Remington much. But it is my rain rifle, so it sees some use. I keep telling myself that there is a three position safety in its future, been saying that now for about a decade... This time around, I think I'll actually get it done.

JPK

I have been working the bolt on Rem 700s for 37 yrs and I have NEVER accidentally moved a safety.I have caught the bolt handle on brush but I realized it and checked it.
Granted the 700s I hunt with are older models that the bolt locks when the safety is on. I just like them.
A tree limb pulling your bolt open happens. If your bolt stop doesnt hold your bolt in you have no business owning a rifle much less cleaning one.

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:
...I don't know what P-FLRing means. ..

Hey JPK, It means Partial-Full Length Resizing which is outlined there. P-FLRing causes the Bolt to close on the Case with a slight bit of resistance, or a snug close of the Bolt. With the snug Bolt closure, I've never had a Bolt open on it's own while fighting through our Southeastern Swamps and Woods.

P-FLR helps with accuracy also, but when Hunting in Dangerous Game country, I'd still want to Full Length Resize so a bit of trash in the Chamber won't bind it up.

Best of luck to you.

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:
I do use good old Black Electrical Tape across the muzzle to keep the wind blown silica(aka sand) out of the barrel though.

When I hunt in Wisconsin I use a condom to cover the muzzle....we call them Rebel innertubes!

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:
...I don't know what P-FLRing means. ..

Hey JPK, It means Partial-Full Length Resizing which is outlined there. P-FLRing causes the Bolt to close on the Case with a slight bit of resistance, or a snug close of the Bolt. With the snug Bolt closure, I've never had a Bolt open on it's own while fighting through our Southeastern Swamps and Woods.

P-FLR helps with accuracy also, but when Hunting in Dangerous Game country, I'd still want to Full Length Resize so a bit of trash in the Chamber won't bind it up.

Best of luck to you.

Thanks. I'm familiar with partial resizing. But I don't think that would stop the problem of my bolt opening, which stems from me being partially right handed and partially left handed. I shoot long guns lefty, and so the bolt is properly on the left of my rifles, but if I'm slinging the rifle, its naturally on my right side leaving the bolt catching on my clothing.

BTW, I don't reload for the 30-06, which this rifle is chambered for, never found it necessary with the plethora of offerings. I see your point regarding full length resizing for DG hunting, and I do it for my 375H&H as well as my 458WM which see quite a bit of use on DG in Africa (don't think its necessary for the 458wm, but do it anyway.) Also, a good practice if your going to be in DG country is to chamber every round - a couple of times - prior to leaving home. As I'm sure you have discovered, the quantity of even new brass that is out of round or out of spec is ridiculous. I have come to prefer once fired and then full length resized and trimmed brass - fired from my rifle - for loading ammo headed for DG country. This way, there can be no over dimension for my chamber.

JPK

Vapo, You are indeed wound up.
-----

Spoke with a young buddy of mine a couple of hours ago about the Safety moving. Get ready - he said it has happend to him "3 times" with Remington rifles.

1. Slung over his back with one arm and his head through the sling(bandoleer style) while Hog Hunting in the Carolina Swamps. No cartridge in the chamber. The Safety had been bumped from "ON to OFF"(forward) by Brush somehow during his fighting through the dense man-eating briers and vines.

2. Slung as before on an Elk Hunt in Wyoming. Apparently the same thing happened in the brush there.

3. Sitting on the ground with the rifle setting on a Bi-pod at about 45deg (to his right front). He looked down at the rifle and it appeared the Bolt was slightly raised. He reached down and forward to make sure the Bolt was closed and inadvertently moved the Safety from "ON to OFF"(forward). He was wearing heavy gloves and said it was very cold at the time.

I have no reason to doubt his word, but it does surprise me that it happened to him 3-times.
-----

He managed to toss in, "If you were actually HUNTING instead of sitting around in a Stand, it might happen to you too!"

I had no opportunity to respond because he was in the NC mountains and we lost the Tower about that time. I'll be ready for him tomorrow though.

rebel innertubes = redneck raincoats...

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:
Vapo, You are indeed wound up.
-----

Spoke with a young buddy of mine a couple of hours ago about the Safety moving. Get ready - he said it has happend to him "3 times" with Remington rifles.

1. Slung over his back with one arm and his head through the sling(bandoleer style) while Hog Hunting in the Carolina Swamps. No cartridge in the chamber. The Safety had been bumped from "ON to OFF"(forward) by Brush somehow during his fighting through the dense man-eating briers and vines.

2. Slung as before on an Elk Hunt in Wyoming. Apparently the same thing happened in the brush there.

3. Sitting on the ground with the rifle setting on a Bi-pod at about 45deg (to his right front). He looked down at the rifle and it appeared the Bolt was slightly raised. He reached down and forward to make sure the Bolt was closed and inadvertently moved the Safety from "ON to OFF"(forward). He was wearing heavy gloves and said it was very cold at the time.

I have no reason to doubt his word, but it does surprise me that it happened to him 3-times.
-----

He managed to toss in, "If you were actually HUNTING instead of sitting around in a Stand, it might happen to you too!"

I had no opportunity to respond because he was in the NC mountains and we lost the Tower about that time. I'll be ready for him tomorrow though.

This same dumb a$$ will blow up his rifle when he jambs a stick down the barrel.

I hunt some of the thickest and wettest terrain on the planet...When I have to bulldog through some thick ugly crap (which is often) the rifle is off my shoulder and in my hands where I can properly manage my weapon.

They key phrase is manage my weapon, not swing my machete, smash my club, or paddle my F'ing canoe!

If the USMC snipers can manage their Rem 700's through the jungles of Vietnam and now the deserts of Iraq I am quite bloody sure we can spend a day hunting with them in the swamps.


I wonder who is training these kids?
Perhaps kids are just getting dummer?

quote:

When I have to bulldog through some thick ugly crap (which is often) the rifle is off my shoulder and in my hands where I can properly manage my weapon.

Same here. And my stocks show the inevitable scratches from pushing stuff aside. But that is fine, the ones I use are designed for that, not setting in a Safe.
-----

Hey HunterMontana, Spoke to an older buddy in Califoney last night and mentioned the 788 Bolt disappearing. He told me that back in 1950 he bought his first M70 with the Bolt missing from a Texas Gun Shop.

The story went that a guy, who was not a Hunter, got invited on a Texas Hunt. It was through one of the companies who Lease Land just so they can invite their Customers to Hunt. So he buys a new 1950 M70, gets it sighted in with 3-shots and goes on the Hunt. Somewhere during the Hunt his Bolt fell out. He took it back to the Gun Shop for a Refund. Back then we could order lots of parts for firearms, but the Warranty Repair Station was going to take care of it anyhow.

Meanwhile my buddy sees the rifle and buys it. He discovered some very small Burrs on the Bolt Retainer that held it in place rather than let it spring back into position.

That one surprised me a good bit, because the M70s were all Hand-Fitted back then. Must have just snuck by the guy assemblying it.

quote:

Originally posted by merlinron:
rebel innertubes = redneck raincoats...

They make them specifically for guns





Just don't leave them laying around where your buddies can see them or you will never live it down!

Just my 2 bit, but I prefer electrical tape as I find it much tougher. Tape also stays and does not slip off.

Perhaps other guys barrels are fatter then mine?

#2 - I have heard of a side safety being pushed to the "Safe" position under heavy recoil. Easy fix to tighten up safety however. Not aware of bumping the safety on with the strong hand cycling the bolt.

quote:

Originally posted by Buliwyf:
#2 - I have heard of a side safety being pushed to the "Safe" position under heavy recoil. ...

Hey Buliwyf, Do you mean nothing touched the Safety and just the Recoil knocked it on?

My 350RemMag is fairly light weight and generates a good bit of Recoil, but I've never had that happen.

I am real glad I asked about this stuff, cause I had never even considered some of the problems that have been mentioned.

Hello Hot Core,

Yes, a buddy of mine has a lovely Whitworth .458 Winchester Magnum that was knocking the side safety on under recoil. Nothing touched the safety.

Easy fix to tighten the safety. He caught it getting ready for safari.

The hacks have got to get their inches in. Whether they make sense or not, doesn't seem to matter. They state a supposition and they dream up scenerios that seem to justify their posits. In fifty years of hunting, I have NEVER short stroked a rifle! If anything, the bolt is brought so smartly to the rear that, at times, I'm amazed that the bolt stop isn't ripped loose. I've NEVER had a rifle fire, on safe or off, until I was ready for it to fire. But then, I don't put my finger on the trigger until I am ready to fire. I've never had a bolt come open whilst carrying a rifle at sling arms and don't quite understand how it would happen. When I carry my rifle slung on my shoulder, my right hand is holding the sling and my right elbow is pressed against the action. The only way I can imagine the bolt coming open would be if you had the rigle slung and were trying to walk and swing both arms???
As far as the fellow that lost his bolt in the snow and couldn't find it??? If he couldn't back track himself in the snow, perhaps he should consider golf. They have these neat little flags and paths to tell you where you are and all.
To get back to the original question, in fifty years of hunting, I've never bumped a safety on or off, I do think these ultra light "mountain" rifles are a bitch to try and hold steady when shooting off hand or on moving game. A little more weight out front does help you.