When one sits down and thinks about it, for most hunting purposes it really makes no difference if one's rifle is a controlled round feed (CRF) or a push feed (PF). :shock: It might be an important issue if the game hunted could have you for breakfast, lunch or dinner depending on the time of day but otherwise why worry about it?
Again, that three position safety is nice and quite worthwhile but under some circumstances is slower than molasses in January. I know we're only discussing a fraction of a second but I have M70s with the three way safties and I have Rugers with the tang safties and when I'm lucky enough to draw the area I prefer hunting I take the Ruger M77 RSI tang safety guns. Some of the country is open enough that it makes no difference but other parts are almost jungle like. Once the first shot is fired opening day the deer head for the thick stuff and go nocturnal so it's "run to the jungle" and try to sort one out.
One other thing. For those who would like to hunt with their #1's, getting a rapid reload ain't all that hard. I'd use one of mine for my elk hunt but the outfitter won't allow it nor will the ranch we hunt one. Outfitter has the hunting rights for the place. I've done three hunts there, taken three elk all one shot kills including one running full out as if the hounds of hell was after it and got all three no problem. One elk was at 350 yards, thankfully standing still looking at me trying to figure out just what I was. 8)
Most of my custom rifles are based on Mauser actions. Of the four on Mausers, the .35 Whelen has an M70 style two position safety.The gun wasn't my build so no control over that. Got it for a good price at an estate sale and it fit me so well and felt so good I didn't even try and talk the price down. :shock: One is built on a commercial FN Mauser and the rest on milsurp Mauser action. The fifth Mauser is on a milsurp as well but it's stocked in a lightweight thumbhole stock and the safety is in the trigger guard like you see on some pump and semi-auto shotguns. That one was an experiment, a 5 pound .308 that is a joy to carry one high altitude hunts but a bear to shoot, not because of recoil but it's very hard to hold steady. I've taken a few deer with it but these days it's a safe queen.
Paul B.
