Except for the ability to load/unload on safe is there any difference between these 2 types of aftermarket safetys for mausers?

My main concern is which one is more silent and which one is most unlikely to involuntary move to fire position?

Three position, properly installed, is the better. With the three position you may have the safety on, bolt unocked, or have the safety on with bolt locked. Not so with the two position, it is just safety on, bolt locked. (You may cycle the bolt with the safety on with three position, not so with the two position). Fitting a two positon is a more involved job than a three position (seems like a contradictory statement, but it is true)and it can be more difficult to make a two position safety work smoothly. So, from a gun building perspective, install a three position safety. I have the special milling fixture for installing the two position safety, but the three position safety is much easier and faster to install, so it is therefore less $$$$ for the labor.

Plus the three position looks a hell of a lot better than the two position and does not have the converted military look. And it works a lot easier!!

[This message has been edited by John Ricks (edited 11-30-2001).]

Thanks for the info but I'm more confused now. I was told by another source that the 2 -pos would be cheaper?? Or was that perhaps just for the safety not labor? Plus that the 2-pos would probably be less noisy. Both safetys, as I'm told, look like a M70 safety. Are we talking about the same things here??

I've had a number of custom Mauser-based rifles built with two-position safeties, and I've found them to work just fine.

Even so, the Model 70-style three-position safety is much better. PM Enterprises offers a three-position safety and bolt shroud assembly for Mauser 98 actions that beats the tarnation out of the two-position conversions. Yes it does cost more, but believe me, it's worth it.

AD

PCH: Your source of information may have been referring to replacing the firing pin safety of the Mauser with a trigger safety, like a Sako.

The trigger safety can be made virtually silent, whearas the firing pin safety will always make some noise and naturally requires more finger pressure to operate. Also, installing a trigger safety (which probably comes built into the new trigger) is not expensive.

On the other hand, no trigger safety (which only blocks the movement of the trigger) can give you the inherent security of a firing pin safety, which blocks any movement of the firing mechanism itself. Example: A gun equipped with a trigger safety and dropped out of a tree stand would be more likely to discharge than one equipped with a Mauser-type safety, whether two-position or three-position.

Unfortunately, I have seen several 3 position M70 safeties that, due to wear, have become 2 position safeties.

I prefer 2 positions because I am worried that I would push the safety to the middle position, pull the trigger and nothing would happen.

Both safetys are supposed to be M70 style in looks and function, except that one is 2 position. I believe that Precision Metal makes them. It's not a Sako style safety.

I don't know but I somehow like the idea of a 2 position M70 safety. I just feel I don't need the middle position of a 3-pos. But, I've never tried one so I'm only speculating. I like to keep things simple.

Thanks for your input!

The middle position on the "3" position safetys is the take down position.

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NRA Life member

My preferance is the 2 position M70 style swing safety made by Chapman.

I have been able to obtain a smooth yet positive function with these.

I do recognize that the 3 position is a good quality safety though.

For me the 2-position wins without having any competition��.
I have not found it as prone as the 3-position to get caught and released by twigs and other stuff! It seems to have a more positive grip at the �safe position� than the 3-pos.
It is also very easy to operate smoothly and, most important, quietly. Just put your thumb on top of it and push down wards at the same time as forward and release it after it has reached its �fire position�. The 3-pos. most often give up a little click no matter how careful you move it. The middle position on the 3-pos. just don�t give me any advantage that I think I need. I can strip the bolt without it and I do not need to have a gun with a �safe way� to empty it. Sooner or later Murphy shows up and BANG � oops forgot to put it in the middle position��. I�ve seen it happen with another type of safety/gun that also was supposed to be super safe to empty. That guy almost killed my father.

After having used both I know the 2-pos. suits me best but many others seem to prefer the other one.
I also don�t mind the looks at all as I like to retain as much of the original �lines� on the gun as possible � I actually think it�s beautiful!
In terms of money, not time, it is here in Sweden the most economical one (ca 1300:-/ca 3000:-).

I will have a competent gunsmith put a 2-pos. on my Oberndorf Mauser in 9.3x62 this spring.

Cheers

K9