My next build will be a 338 on a FN Magnum Action. Ive already installed barrel and will be starting on stock soon. It has a current side safty. Im wanting to put on a new 3 position safty. Ive worked with a Gentry on a model 700 and it was a bite. Any suggestions???? Thanks Elton

I'd recommend Ed Lapour's if your budget allows.

I've installed a ton of Dakotas and they are to be preferred over the Gentry. Far fewer problems.

quote:

I'd recommend Ed Lapour's if your budget allows.

I've installed a ton of Dakotas and they are to be preferred over the Gentry. Far fewer problems.

What Mike said.

I've installed them both, along with the Dakota which I think Gentry makes. I won't do any other again unless it is a Lapour.

thanks so much for everyones responses. Will look at Ed's safty. thanks elton

I'm really happy with the Satterlee 3 position on my 375H&H

Satterlee also makes a left-side M70-style safety and bolt sleeve for the Mauser, I just ordered a new one. My thumb falls more naturally on the left side when I'm gripping the rifle.
Regards, Joe

Hey Joe - is Satterlee the only one doing a left side M70 style for Mausers ? I think I need another one but they are fairly pricey . . .

Cheers

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Kobe:
I've installed them both, along with the Dakota which I think Gentry makes. I won't do any other again unless it is a Lapour.

Jim,

Would you mind expanding on your preference for the La Pour safety? Would be curious to hear your insights on this.

What do the La Pour safeties go for these days?

Thanks in advance.

quote:

Originally posted by J.D.Steele:
Satterlee also makes a left-side M70-style safety and bolt sleeve for the Mauser, I just ordered a new one. My thumb falls more naturally on the left side when I'm gripping the rifle.
Regards, Joe

I have three of them - two being used on my .500 and .423 caliber builds both on commercial FN M98 Mauser actions and one spare for a future build.

The Satterlee safety is nice, I'll say that. It's just that Ed's is nicer and Ed won't sell you one unless he has one.

Yikes Mike,

I see that PT&G is now building a three position safety that looks a lot like the Dakota.

last month's tech corner at Brownells shows installation of the Dakota in all its glorious, gruesome and "there has to be another way" detail.

Mr. Lapour's safeties are the heat, and they are all that.

quote:

Originally posted by z1r:
The Satterlee safety is nice, I'll say that. It's just that Ed's is nicer and Ed won't sell you one unless he has one.

I've purchased three from Stuart and no money was asked for until the safeties were ready for shipment; money orders were sent and safeties were immediately shipped. I've had zero issues getting updates from Jackie or Stuart except when they've been out of town.

quote:

Originally posted by pinotguy:

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Kobe:
I've installed them both, along with the Dakota which I think Gentry makes. I won't do any other again unless it is a Lapour.

Jim,

Would you mind expanding on your preference for the La Pour safety? Would be curious to hear your insights on this.

What do the La Pour safeties go for these days?

Thanks in advance.

The Lapour safeteties flat out work. To install another Dakota is a work in frustration. The locking pin engagement is critical, it needs to be exactly correct or it won't work. I think the detents in the lever are too shallow. On top of that, you always run the risk of the timing being off.

quote:

Originally posted by capoward:

quote:

Originally posted by z1r:
The Satterlee safety is nice, I'll say that. It's just that Ed's is nicer and Ed won't sell you one unless he has one.

I've purchased three from Stuart and no money was asked for until the safeties were ready for shipment; money orders were sent and safeties were immediately shipped. I've had zero issues getting updates from Jackie or Stuart except when they've been out of town.

I spoke with Stuart Friday and he said he had several left over from his last run. I ordered one of them via MO. He said a personal check was fine but I sent him a USPS MO 'cause that's how I prefer to do business.

AFAIK Satterlee's the only one doing the left-side safety.

I've used a couple of the LaPour/Wisner sleeves on 1903 Springfields, ones made before James sold the tooliing to Ed, and they were superb.
Regards, Joe

I called Ed today and his safty is $220 plus shipping. That a little stout for me. I would drive a nice new sports car but reality tells me I need a truck worse. So does anyone have a nice used Ed Lapour for a FN that they would part with. Otherwise Im going to settle on a Dakota from Brownells. I may change my mind before it all said in done. I know quality is never cheap and I really like the best.
Thanks Elton

quote:

Originally posted by elton:
I know quality is never cheap and I really like the best.
Thanks Elton

That's what you get with Ed's.

Jim is correct in at least some of his statements about the Dakota. The detents could stand to be a little deeper/more positive. But then again, much of that has to do with fitment. I find that on safeties where the Cocking Piece could have been fitted better the stops are less positive than on those where the CP is better fitted.

Most of the timing issues I've encountered were on Gentry safeties. The Dakota is servicable, certainly to be prefered to one of those gawd awful trigger mounted safeties!

I've used plenty of La Pour safeties. You are WAY aheasd of the curve if you send him the bolt. Seems he make three sizes.. If you get the big to fit the small...you'll be at it a day and a half minimum.


I really like the style of the Gentry, but it's a crap shoot for indexing...I even just threw one away.

The Recknagel, available from NECG usually fits up with a minimum of fuss. They do needs a bit of file work to streamline...but VERY functional.

Two Satterlee's were also a pretty easy installation.

The 98's were manufactured by countless factories all over Europe. No small wonder that after market units can be a fitting headache

Duane,

Thanks for the insights.

Hopefully this isn't too much of an imposition but is there a chance we might be able to get one of your tutorial threads (with photos, of course) on the fitting and installation of a 3-pos. safety on a Mauser bolt?

Does anyone besides Ed La Pour make a 3 position safety for a 1917 Enfield?

quote:

Recknagel

Recknagel makes a left side M70 safety for the Mauser 98.

Well I took Duanes advice and sent my FN to Ed Lapour for a saftey. I glad I did; he found my action was not up to standards with a Rockwell of 25. He recomended heat treat. The action was built in the 60s and not sure what had been done to it in the past. Didnt think this was an issure with the FNs. Im really excited to get it back. Thanks for the great forum Elton

From this thread and others I have learned that both the Ed Lapour Safety and the Gentry safety are made such that many of them need to be custom fit.

It has been suggested by many that one send in their bolt to Mr. Lapour so that he can custom fit his safety. It has also been suggested to stay away from the Gentry Safety.

It would seem logical to me that if one were to send his bolt in for the Gentry Safety the Gentry folks would know how to fit their safety just as the LaPour folks would know how to fit their safety.

I have never seen anyone complain about a Gentry safety that was installed by Gentry.

Maybe there are some who would complain. So, for those folks who had a Gentry safety installed by Gentry and found something lacking, please tell what that was.

The fitting that Ed does is more like selecting the proper thread fit of the shorud to the bolt. There is a wide variation in the thread size used in the bolt itself. So, as I understand it, Ed selects a shroud that fits the particular bolt best. This ensures a safety that doesn't wobble around in the back of the bolt.

Gentry, well, the issues I have had with them mostly involve timing. Threads were cut too far forward on the shroud nose so that when screwed into the bolt, the shroud flange was not far enough forward. This leaves too large a gap between the shroud and receiver when the bolt is in battery. This can cause the locking pin to fail to engage beacause it doesn't reach the back of the bolt. Those are the better shrouds.

I have received some that were 90 degrees off! No amount of "fitting" will fix that.

There is no comparison between Ed's Safeties and Gentry's.

As for Gentry fitting the safety, well, it helps to have a shelf full sitting around so you can keep trying til you find one that fits and is timed properly.