Re: SHWW Group
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bkster</div><div class="ubbcode-body">gas vs bolt safety
when your bolt is back anyone from any angle can see this
with gas only one side is veiwable to see if the bolt is back
range flags fall out of each type of rifle...
being able to see the bolt back at a glance is safer for the ro's
also alot of the postions now include moving with the gun
again the bolt back on a bolt action doesnt slam forward
and load a round in the chamber
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All the above makes sense to me. From the above information, it seems that prior to any movement, the bolt has to be opened, and remain open during movement so that there isn't a possibility of an unintentional discharge. Requiring an open bolt prior to any movement really is far safer than having a loaded firearm. I doubt that anyone would dispute that safety issue.
What I wonder is whether requiring an open bolt rule is a substitute for having the safety on, finger out out of the trigger, and muzzle pointed downrange but not over the impact berm.
I praise any venue that puts safety first, and believe there are many ways to achieve safety.
I have been to benchrest matches where muzzle control is between horrible, and non-existent simply because they point out that they have the bolt removed. When I complained about muzzles waiving all over the place, I was told by the match director that the bolts were removed, so an AD is unlikely. I still don't like having someone point their muzzle at me whether the bolt is out or not. I sort of think they had it backwards. If they observed proper muzzle control to begin with, they might be OK with simply having open bolts rather than removing them.
Any match director gets to set their own rules, and that is how it should be. I believe that with proper stage design along with adequate understanding of all safety rules and expectations, observation, and enforcement of those rules, matches where semi-autos could safely compete are possible.
In many venues, having a certification program where everyone learns all the expectations regarding safety is either impractical, or resented by potential participants. Having such a certification program would go a long way toward getting many of the various venues hosting matches on the same page regarding safety.
If a number of various clubs and match directors all agreed on what a "standardized" safety certification program would entail, perhaps we could get many of these pirate ships heading toward the same goal of increased participation and safety.
I'm finally ready to send my proposal for a practical rifle program off to the board at Upper Nisqually Sportsman's club. A safety certification program is one of the big items that I hope will sway the board of directors into allowing me to start up a practical rifle program. So far, the proposal has a letter introducing me, and about 5-6 pages of items such as scoring, safety, procedures, and other items describing the program I'm proposing.
If the board wants more information, or approves of the program, I'll be happy to share the final draft with other people trying to launch their own "pirate ships". I don't want to spend the time to write up the safety certification program unless I know that the board will allow the program to move forward. So, I'm holding off on that part for now. If anyone else is writing up a similar proposal, and would like a draft for such a certification program, I'll be happy to help out. Part of my former job duties was writing up firearms training courses just like that, so although it takes some time, it isn't all that difficult...just time consuming.
