Bolts in your rifles

[waterford103]

I just leave 'em in ,If someone has the nouse to break in, finding the bolts isn't going to be too difficult .Plus there is no requirement to do so and Firearms officers /admin have enough daft ideas anyway ,don't suggest any more.

[dave_303]

Sorry to dig up this old thread. Can I confirm my understanding of the following rifles as I want to remove my bolts to try to free up some cab space:


Mosin Nagant (possible intended purchase) I think cocks on opening but not sure.

Clarifications / corrections appreciated.

Thanks

Charlotte

Charlotte, Mosins cock on open, However when the bolt is open you can turn the cocking piece 90 degrees and it will decock the bolt. Russian policy was to store the rifles with bolts in, but in the open position with the cocking piece turned to decock, relieves spring pressure and also allows air to flow through the barrel, aparently preventing rust.

For reference, all my bolts are kept in, decocked,

[SevenSixTwo]

How are we defining 'bolts' here?

In NI it's a requirement to "keep the bolt out and seperate" so I've assumed that also applies to the bolt or, more practically, the 'bolt carrier group' of an AR-15/10.

[Tower75]

How are we defining 'bolts' here?

In NI it's a requirement to "keep the bolt out and seperate" so I've assumed that also applies to the bolt or, more practically, the 'bolt carrier group' of an AR-15/10.

The bolt, or breech-bolt/carrier device. In this context they’re the same. The police services of some counties, and certain FLO, like you to remove the bolt or breech-bolt on your rifles and store them separately; some counties and FLOs don’t care either way.

I leave all mine in. My FLO doesn’t care. There doesn’t seem to be rhyme or reason for it. One FLO I knew liked all bolt-action rifles to have their bolts removed, but he was happy to have the breech-bolt of a self-loading .22LR rifle left in…

Oddly, no one makes a fuse about the lockplate of a muzzle-loader being removed, or the breech-block from a Martini-Henry.

[carlsenior]

All Bolts out, stored in ammunition locker of seperate cabinet

[Rearlugs]

I had up to 250 rifles stored in cabinets at one point...

My FEO once asked about bolts - but just out of curiosity, rather than as part of the security audit.

I showed him that a bolt from a black powder Lee Metford mk1 would happily fit and function in a 7.62mm Ishapore 2A1, and made some intimation about how dangerous this could be, if the bolts got mixed up as a result of being stored separately. To the FEO, with little technical knowledge of firearms this was more than enough justification for my practice of keeping all the bolts in the rifles!

(Actually, I'd be quite confident that a Metford bolt would pass 7.62mm proof - as its more less an identical component to those fitted in later 7.62mm rifles)

I don't remove bolts because of the risk of mixing, or loss, or misidentification (especially mismatched bolt numbers in old military rifles). I always follow the firearms law concept of "reasonable security" and "threat to the public". As I consider full-bore rifles to be negligible threat to the general public (ie stolen fb rifles are practically never used in a shooting incident), I don't see the merit in trying to store them in a de-activated condition.

[SevenSixTwo]

I'm none too enamoured about storing the BCGs separately but as my rifles have to be transported broken-down anyway, it's no major hardship to do so I suppose.

[Primer]

I've read the info on suggested safe storage of rifles in a vehicle if you leave the vehicle unattended, where it says you should try and secure the rifle to the vehicle and in a locked boot and then take the bolt or forend with you, could you imagine walking round town with the forend of a rifle or shotgun poking out the top of your asda carrier bag, it would bring the ARU's out in no time and get you a tasering in the back.

[dromia]

I had up to 250 rifles stored in cabinets at one point...

My FEO once asked about bolts - but just out of curiosity, rather than as part of the security audit.

I showed him that a bolt from a black powder Lee Metford mk1 would happily fit and function in a 7.62mm Ishapore 2A1, and made some intimation about how dangerous this could be, if the bolts got mixed up as a result of being stored separately. To the FEO, with little technical knowledge of firearms this was more than enough justification for my practice of keeping all the bolts in the rifles!

(Actually, I'd be quite confident that a Metford bolt would pass 7.62mm proof - as its more less an identical component to those fitted in later 7.62mm rifles)

I don't remove bolts because of the risk of mixing, or loss, or misidentification (especially mismatched bolt numbers in old military rifles). I always follow the firearms law concept of "reasonable security" and "threat to the public". As I consider full-bore rifles to be negligible threat to the general public (ie stolen fb rifles are practically never used in a shooting incident), I don't see the merit in trying to store them in a de-activated condition.

Concur, currently 80 odd firearms on my personal FAC plus my RFD stock which is substantially more. Mine are stored in a secured gun room not cabinets.

[Ben Denise]

I only have one bolt action rifle, and I leave the bolt in when stored. I have never even thought of taking the bolt out of my lever actions. To do so would be compeltely impractical.

I am also in the process of buying 2 AR-15 rifles and don't envisage taking the bolts out of those either.