Safeties....2 position or 3 position??

[8mm/06]

What is your personal preference?
I have a few different kinds to deal with, but started hunting with Military rifles and iron sights, thus I grew accustommed to the 3 postion safeties to the aft of the bolt. Obviously when I moved on to my first sporters or guns with scopes I eneded up with 2 position Buehler safeties or foward/backward types that were either tang mounted or on the right side to the rear area of the bolt.
Now, I seem to have a hankering to obtain some of the 3 position safeties that are available after-market for Mauser 98's and Swedish 96/38's. You know, the ones that are Winchester 70 knock-offs. The forward backward swinging 3 position types.
I don't know why I want to be able to open the bolt and load and unload with the trigger disabled but it's just something I got used to when handling my first riflesand liked the set-up.
What are you personal choices folks?

And a second question here. What do you think is the quietest safety going for getting it on and off in the woods without even the slightest sound?

[DM]

I've hunted with 2 position safetys for more than 50 years, and even before that, i learned to keep the muzzle of my rifle pointed in a safe direction. The "safe direction" is what will keep you out of trouble, not a 3 position safety...

Personally, i have no problems with a 2 position safety, and a 3 position is just more of the same...

I do like the way i can push down with my thumb, when working the safety on my 700 Rem., to "control it", makeing it absolutely silent!

DM

[8mm/06]

Thanks for the info about the Remington saftey and it's quietness.
Anyone else have an opinion of their favirite safety configuration and which they have found the quietest?

[oldelkhunter]

Out of all the 3 position safeties you mentioned the Winchester is the fastest to use simply because it has less travel, a bigger wing to push against and is smooth and quiet. That said I prefer a tang safety or a side safety ala Sako which is the best of all worlds being quiet smooth a 3 position and all. The Weatherby MK V safety is also a nice handy safety as is the CZ safety(newer models that fire in the forward position).

[Folically Challenged]

I don't care so much about the number of postions. What I HAVE noticed is that it would be nice, at times, to have the bolt locked. When I was crawling through some nast [excrement] on an elk hunt last Fall, my bolt was pulled open numerous times by the thick tangles of alder branches. Eventually, I had to keep my hand back on the rifle, holding the bolt down. This had never bothered me before, but it was certainly a nuissance on that trip.

FC

[eldeguello]

ORIGINAL: 8mm/06

What is your personal preference?
I have a few different kinds to deal with, but started hunting with Military rifles and iron sights, thus I grew accustommed to the 3 postion safeties to the aft of the bolt. Obviously when I moved on to my first sporters or guns with scopes I eneded up with 2 position Buehler safeties or foward/backward types that were either tang mounted or on the right side to the rear area of the bolt.
Now, I seem to have a hankering to obtain some of the 3 position safeties that are available after-market for Mauser 98's and Swedish 96/38's. You know, the ones that are Winchester 70 knock-offs. The forward backward swinging 3 position types.
I don't know why I want to be able to open the bolt and load and unload with the trigger disabled but it's just something I got used to when handling my first riflesand liked the set-up.
What are you personal choices folks?

And a second question here. What do you think is the quietest safety going for getting it on and off in the woods without even the slightest sound?

On bolt actions, I prefer a safety that will allow you to empty the chamber & magazine while the safety is ON, but I do like a tang safety as well. I use single-shots, so I like the tang safety of the type on the Ruger No. 1 & No.3. You can empty the chamber with the safety ON.

[trailer]

I"™ve hunted with my Remington 700 for years and have always liked the design of that safety and it"™s location Now that I"™ve been using Sako rifles for a couple of years it works very well. It"™s also quite and I like the 3 position design. However I don"™t like the safety on my CZ. Just my personal preference...

[nchawkeye]

I prefer 2-position, on the tang, like my Ruger, and my 12 garge double barrel that I grew up with...

[Briman]

I prefer 3-position safeties ala Winchster and Mauser. Not only do thes elock the bolt down, but they also lock the firing pin back when opening the bolt to unload. I have zero faith in sear/trigger blocking safeties.

[harter66]

I'm a sucker for forged steel so I'm a mauser and copies junkie . I like the 3 position safties though my hunting style and areas leave me with the practical optionof the empty chamber.