Ozzy Fudd Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 (edited) im a bit confused about this, and in two minds. its always been drummed into me never to point a gun at anything unless youre going to shoot it, and that using the scope to id a target is very bad practice indeed. but ive read a few people on here saying they take a quick look through the scope for positive target id. now im not saying who or in what context, because im not posting this to have a go at anyone, so can we try to keep the "holier than thou" posts out of it so what does everyone think? as i said, im a bit confused, well no, in two minds really would be a better way to put it. firstly, as i already said, its been drummed into me since i was old enough to hold a gun that you never point a gun at anything unless youre going to shoot it, be it a bb gun, shotgun, rifle, etc, and that even if youre 100% sure its unloaded, treat it as if its loaded. because of this i usually carry a small pair of binoculars with me when i take the rifle out, so that im not tempted to use the scope. but at the same times theres a little niggling voice in my head saying if theres no mag in, if youve cleared the breach and dry fired a couple of times to be sure its definitely not loaded, then its perfectly safe to do. Edited March 5, 2010 by Ozzy Fudd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 I've voted yes, loosely. I often static hunt rabbits, so I'm on the floor, concealed and waiting, so I use the scope to watch the warrens. But thats very different from wandering and pointing the rifle and scanning hedgelines, although I must be honest I don't really see a problem with it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 simple answer is if you're pretty certain then often the best glass you've got to help you is on the rifle, with safety on and obviously finger off the trigger you can positive ID. Obviously binoculars are better but depends whether you've spent mega bucks on bins, normally you'll be pretty certain before picking the rifle up from a combination of where the quarry is and what it looks like in the lamp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 Yes - Just don't put your digit anywhere near the trigger and leave the safety on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Fudd Posted March 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 mostly yes so far, interesting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeymagic1969 Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 Not a problem if you know 100% that the rifle is safe - done a few times to identify whilst stalking to see if its a Buck or Doe -( but also use bino's - sometimes time wont allow) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bicykillgaz Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 i agree safety on and finger away from trigger is fine, thats the way i do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 i open the bolt if i need to id something and don't have the binos with me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3jackwhite3 Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 i have usualy got a pair of binoculars on me so i use them but if i havnt then i use the scope, the gun is always safe as i only put a round in the chamber when im about to take the shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Fudd Posted March 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 mostly yes so far, im quite surprised, i thought the no's would have had it and that i was going to be jumped on for posting this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 i agree safety on and finger away from trigger is fine, thats the way i do it NO, A safety catch doesn't always prevent the gun from firing. The only safe way is with the bolt open and breech empty. I was out with a mate a few months ago, as we walked around the field I was lamping the edges when I picked up 2 pairs of eyes. We couldn't make out what they were so Nigel had a look through his scope (bolt open and unloaded) we still couldn't really see so we left them. We walked on a bit further and I shone the lamp in the same place only to see 2 kids running away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gixer1 Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 (edited) NO, A safety catch doesn't always prevent the gun from firing. The only safe way is with the bolt open and breech empty. I was out with a mate a few months ago, as we walked around the field I was lamping the edges when I picked up 2 pairs of eyes. We couldn't make out what they were so Nigel had a look through his scope (bolt open and unloaded) we still couldn't really see so we left them. We walked on a bit further and I shone the lamp in the same place only to see 2 kids running away. I agree, one of my friends, a local keeper always says that gun mounted lamps are bad for the reason you end up waving a rifle around, loaded or not it is bad practice...safety catches are mechanical and so therefore cannot be completely trusted. in addition to that a guy that works in my local gunshop was stalking and watching something in his scope when he saw something flash past....turned out to be a girl jogging and it put the skits up him... scopes should be used to place a shot...bino's/spotting scope for looking around, having better glass on your rifle is no excuse as if that is the problem better looking glass can be bought. Gixer Edited March 5, 2010 by gixer1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 I rarely lamp alone, but those who do must have scope mounted lamps and therefore do this all the time no? My bino's are almost as expensive as my scopes so I don't neeed to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 I rarely lamp alone, but those who do must have scope mounted lamps and therefore do this all the time no? My bino's are almost as expensive as my scopes so I don't neeed to Well, no, not really. If it's not TOO dark I'll use the NV monocular and if it is I'll use a second lamp (hand held) using a twin cigar plug from the battery and a monocular. Good tip here, my town is renowned for the number of charity shops. Believe it or not, we even get coach trips because of it!!! Usually there's something wrong with binos that end up in these places so I have a shufti and try to find a decent pair that have one duff lens. Buy it cheap and cut the duff half off. Hey ho, nice one handed tool that stuffs easily in your pocket for a £5er. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albob Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 (edited) i lamp a hell of a lot on my own,carrying gun/17amp battery and 170 lamp and binos would get in the way and actually id`ing is rarely done and so should not be an issue if safe practice is done. the thing that gets me is the ,you should not rely on the safety.eh?if you have fitted a brookes trigger kit(or had the trigger etc fettled)and done a drop test etc,the safety is not going to go off,as you gently put the gun to your shoulder or lay it on the ground to get to the prone position to shoot .the ones that do go off are because of to light a trigger and banging the gun or flicking off the safety,which tells you it is too light a trigger setting. al Edited March 5, 2010 by albob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 I will use my scope all the time for checking out what deer is infront of me . Do as I do and allways have done ,and that is carry your rifle in condition two . That is magazine loaded ,in my case 3 cartridges and the bolt closed and locked down without a cartridge in the chamber . This is achived by pushing down on the cartridges in the mag with the thumb and closing the bolt over the top of the cartridges so the chamber is empty . when ready to shoot draw the bolt back and chamber a round . Condition 1 is chamber and magazine loaded ,condition 3 is empty magazine and empty chamber . Harnser . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 snap Harnser, bolt open is fine but this way is far better than having a round sat ready to push in were you to trip and push the bolt forward, same as when rabbiting I'll often take a shot then wait till I've another to make before cycling the bolt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 snap Harnser, bolt open is fine but this way is far better than having a round sat ready to push in were you to trip and push the bolt forward, same as when rabbiting I'll often take a shot then wait till I've another to make before cycling the bolt Spot on . Harnser . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 (edited) i open the bolt if i need to id something and don't have the binos with me same here lift the bolt and slide back a touch this is were i believe some rifles are floored, my annie can be bolted with the safety on, but the tikka requires the safety off to work the bolt to add to that i dont wander around lamping with a loaded rifle, but on spotting a fox will load, however on first looking at the fox through the scope i do the above by this time i know 99.99% it's a fox but till you look at it through optics you should always have a doubt, it's a nice quiet action, unlike taking a cartridge up from the mag Edited March 5, 2010 by Paul223 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytie Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 As a general rule I would vote no. I use my bin's for scanning, when i find something worth shooting, I put up the rifle. If you were to get in the habit of scanning using your scope, it would/could only be a matter of time before you made a mistake. If you do not scan with your scope, only binoculars, it is one less thing to go wrong. It is like climbing into the high seat, do you unload completely or just make sure your chamber is empty with the bolt closed on it. If you do the former, every time, you should never have an ND, if you do the latter there is the possibility of things going wrong. **** happens, lets try and be as safe as we can, especially in company. ft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 It is like climbing into the high seat, do you unload completely or just make sure your chamber is empty with the bolt closed on it. If you do the former, every time, you should never have an ND, if you do the latter there is the possibility of things going wrong I climb into seats with an empty chamber with bolt forward and locked by the safety, same way I carry my rilfe if stalking in company, I can't see that ever resulting in an ND Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pipmoff Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 I do use the scope to ID things when out shooting but I do not carry a loaded rifle. I do not chamber a round until I have made a positive ID and I am ready to take the shot then I will cycle the bolt and take aim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 (edited) Hell, everyone uses the scope to scan around, everyone knows the rights and wrongs of this but I suspect the poll for once is relatively accurate, it says 80% plus do....... probably more. ATB!! Edited March 5, 2010 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albob Posted March 6, 2010 Report Share Posted March 6, 2010 Hell, everyone uses the scope to scan around, everyone knows the rights and wrongs of this but I suspect the poll for once is relatively accurate, it says 80% plus do....... probably more. ATB!! i don`t use mine to scan around,only to id something to gather more information on wether to shoot or not.i think that is what this poll is about. al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted March 6, 2010 Report Share Posted March 6, 2010 (edited) Hell, everyone uses the scope to scan around, everyone knows the rights and wrongs of this but I suspect the poll for once is relatively accurate, it says 80% plus do....... probably more. ATB!! i don`t use mine to scan around,only to id something to gather more information on wether to shoot or not.i think that is what this poll is about. al Fair comment but I think we are singing from the same hymn sheet and perhaps we are just playing with words. If you use your scope to id something you are "scanning" around as you don't know what you are looking at (or pointing your gun at) until you have identified it!! ATB!! Edited March 6, 2010 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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