Safety on rifles

[POJC]

I was wondering what your opinions were on using the SAFETY on rifles. I think rifles should be on SAFE except when in firing position ( or when moving with weapon in shoulder). You should train to "unsafe" when you move the weapon to firing position.

[jw]

The rifle should be on safe until ready to engage a target. As soon as the threat is neutralized the weapon should be set to safe again.

[reconsweden]

Hi there POJC, saw that you were from Denmark, so we´re neighbors since I´m Swedish.
We keep the safety on until your in firing position but this is peace time procedures only, in wartime it is up to the soldier or squad leader to make that judgement. This is especially true on the HKG3 where a soldier with small hands(like me) has to change grip to switch the safety off and you lose a fraction of a second plus it´ll throw you aim of for another millisec. Don´t get me wrong, I have trained as you said and I´m damn fast now compared to when I started my military training but in a combat situation I would keep the safety off and my weapon towards the enemy.


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Videre Non Videri

[MasterChief_USN]

I would have to agree. In my limited training I have several times on the gun range pulled the trigger to only to realize that I had to safety on. In a threatening situation it could mean the difference between life and death. In my home I keep my HK with the safety off just for that reason. I aslo have a benelli for back up.
MasterChief

[josepy]

You pulled the trigger with the weapon on safe because you are untrained with the weapon system.

Taking the weapon off safe before employment of the system is automatic in a trained hand.

Go away fake!

[Riley]

Weapon on safe until on target. I belive this is how it should be, but I shoot a cocked and locked HK USP and an AR/15 or M16 which all have safties that are conveniant and fast for me.

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Riley
Do it right, or not at all.

[RECON5]

JOSEPY - I have to agree. In the hands of a trained individual safety on can be deployed just as fast. The key being train with the weapon however you plan on carrying it. I believe the old saying is "Train like you Fight".

[reconsweden]

I have never pulled the trigger with the safety on, I´m not that green, its just that the G3 isn´t suited to my small hands and in an urban enviroment where speed is important, I lose a few millisecs changing grips, flicking the safety off and changing back again.
With the AK5 I use the safety without consius thought, its always on when the weapon isn´t pointed towards the target.

RECON5: I live by that motto, If someone don´t train like that how can they expect to handle a live situation...


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Videre Non Videri

[jaxmore]

A "Master-Chief" that can't even handle a weapon properly?...come on, you've got to be kidding me, right?...stick to the AirSoft-replicas before you hurt yourself!

...And fix that name of yours too.

[Sosah]

I doubt he's even handled the airsofts. Nevermind the real thing.

[This message has been edited by Sosah (edited 04-24-2000).]

[Toadie]

Reconsweden, I have to agree with you. I have got big hands (think so), but I also had serious problems with the G3. I als had to change the grip (weak fingers?), leaving the weapon most times unsecured. With the G36 there are no problems like this any more, I am with a safe weapon quiet as fast as with a unsecured.

[RECON5]

reconsweden - just supporting the point you made in your second post. You said it all. The second rule I learned was "Adapt and Overcome".
Remember 1*