Remington 700 safety

[Heredoggydoggy]

I think the curiosity and question is wouldn't you have to cycle the bolt, thus ejecting your cartridge, to cock the firing pin?

No.  Just raising and lowering the bolt will cock the firing pin.  New bolt guns cock on the upstroke.  A few old bolt guns were designed to cock on the downstroke,but they can be converted to cock on the upstroke.  I was told why this is preferable, but can't recall....  I've noticed a small indent in the primer when one of my ARs chambers a round, by the floating firing pin lightly striking the primer, but I've never had a slamfire.  Still, I point the muzzle in a safe direction when chambering a round.  Ya never know...  After all, a gun is just a machine!

[high country]

You must realize that the firing pin is exposed on the back of the bolt. Drop your gun on your binos, bump the pin on a rock.....any number of really simple things can make a disaster. There is no reason to risk it, the safety was placed on the gun for a reason.

[timberghost72]

Not trying to jack the thread but is there a conversion to lock the bolt when the safety is on or can a smith do this? I have a 700 BDL about 10 years old and have had the bolt catch on something multiple times either partially of fully opening it up. Most the time it catches on my clothes. It gets anoying but I love the rifle so fixing this would be sweet.