Gully Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 I've bought a Silver Pigeon S Sporter which came with a manual safety (i.e. it doesn't set itself on when you open the gun). Just asking to save myself a few phone calls - is it an easy job to change it so that the safety comes on automatically like most game guns? Can I do it myself? Anyone have an idea on cost? If I get someone other than GMK to do it will it invalidate my warranty? Cheers, Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dead-Eyed Duck Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 It can be done, but it all depends on the action. Had it done on a Winchester 101 years ago. Specialist gunsmith job. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppythedog Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 It's a simple job if you have the right tools, I had it done on my last 687 and it was £40 parts & labour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 Why do you want an auto safe? Bloody nuisance if you ask me. My gun has one, and as soon as I can get it chopped, it's going! If the part comes off in one piece, you can have it EDIT: An open gun is a safe gun, if you have to shut it, do the safety, and swing, the pigeon has long gone in my experience! Carry it open, and shut it when you want to shoot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPARKIE Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 mines the same gun and i love being able to forget about the bloody safety ya better of without it in my eyes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_k Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 i am against them aswell i always forget about the thing, really annoying on a big drive. to many thing to do to little time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppythedog Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 i am against them aswelli always forget about the thing, really annoying on a big drive. to many thing to do to little time! Which is precisely why they are fitted, if you are always forgetting to switch it off then you are just as likely to forget to switch it on. IMO an auto safety is a must on game guns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 when out pigeon shooting if you forget two put it of,go two fire and nothing hapens pain in the *** better with out, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted January 31, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 When I started shooting all the guns I used had the auto safety and it became second nature to thumb off the safety as you mount the gun. I think its just a habit. It seems to me that it should be a simple lever that operated in the same way that the hammer is cocked. Maybe I'll open up the action and have a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 My current gun is a sporter and does not have auto safety. My previous few guns were game spec. and did have auto safety. I have lost countless birds and clays simply because I forgot to disengage the safety. I agree, that a safe gun is a broken open gun. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr smith Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 When I started shooting all the guns I used had the auto safety and it became second nature to thumb off the safety as you mount the gun. I think its just a habit. Just the same for me when i was out in the field,don't think an auto safety is necessary for clays though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binners Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 i am against them aswell i always forget about the thing, really annoying on a big drive. to many thing to do to little time! Which is precisely why they are fitted, if you are always forgetting to switch it off then you are just as likely to forget to switch it on. IMO an auto safety is a must on game guns. Im with you on that auto-safe for game and clays. you soon get in the habit of switching as the gun is mounted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 When I started shooting all the guns I used had the auto safety and it became second nature to thumb off the safety as you mount the gun. I think its just a habit. It seems to me that it should be a simple lever that operated in the same way that the hammer is cocked. Maybe I'll open up the action and have a look. Gully, It's a habit you'll soon get out of, auto safety's are a real pain on guns designed for clay shooting, they're simply not necessary. Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobby t Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 my gun is a non auto safety however through time i have just instinctivly when opening the gun engaged it and hve flicked it off when mounting just like a habit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millomite Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 Hmmmmm interesting. When I'm sat in a hide I dont want my gun open, I want it shut ready to fire without faffing around closing it, worrying about catching it in the netting and missing out on having a shot, or even worse catching the trigger as I close it and the gun going off because I forgot to put the safety on. I'd much rather have the gun loaded and closed, barrels facing away from me, with only the safety to knock off before I fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted January 31, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 I think I'll get the gun converted. I would rather miss something by accident by having the safety on than shoot something by accident. You can all laugh at me when I miss those clays because I've forgotten to take it off. Thanks for the input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 i am against them aswell i always forget about the thing, really annoying on a big drive. to many thing to do to little time! Which is precisely why they are fitted, if you are always forgetting to switch it off then you are just as likely to forget to switch it on. IMO an auto safety is a must on game guns. It doesn't matter either way really. Safety or no safety, your gun should never be pointing at anything that can't be shot! When I'm in the field (with the exception of when climbing fences etc), my gun is loaded and shut, with the safety OFF! It's ready to go when something turns up. If I didn't have to mess with the auto safe when the gun was closed, I'd have it open. It's always pointing across me at the ground, or the sky. If I'm walking with someone they either walk on my right side so their feet are safe, or go home. Safety catches should be called UNSAFE catches. If you learn to rely on them instead of muzzle awareness, one day you may shoot someone! My safety packed up on my gun recently, and it wouldn't fire. If it was the other way round and I hadn't noticed, without my awareness of my surroundings things could have been very nasty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppythedog Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 i am against them aswell i always forget about the thing, really annoying on a big drive. to many thing to do to little time! Which is precisely why they are fitted, if you are always forgetting to switch it off then you are just as likely to forget to switch it on. IMO an auto safety is a must on game guns. It doesn't matter either way really. Safety or no safety, your gun should never be pointing at anything that can't be shot! When I'm in the field (with the exception of when climbing fences etc), my gun is loaded and shut, with the safety OFF! It's ready to go when something turns up. If I didn't have to mess with the auto safe when the gun was closed, I'd have it open. It's always pointing across me at the ground, or the sky. If I'm walking with someone they either walk on my right side so their feet are safe, or go home. Safety catches should be called UNSAFE catches. If you learn to rely on them instead of muzzle awareness, one day you may shoot someone! My safety packed up on my gun recently, and it wouldn't fire. If it was the other way round and I hadn't noticed, without my awareness of my surroundings things could have been very nasty So what happens when you trip on brambles and drop your gun or worse you fall flat on your face with it under you loaded ,closed and safety off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 As I said, when climbing (also includes uneven, slippery terrain and trip hazzards, it's clear in my head but badly worded by me, sorry) the gun is unloaded. When walking across an open field if I trip and the gun goes off, never mind. If anyone was in that zone of fire, the gun wouldn't be pointing that way anyway. If anyone else is present, apart from my shooting partner, the gun is made safe until they.ve gone out of range. A gun can fire through shock without the trigger being touched at all (ie when landing on it!), so the safety may not help. Please don't rely on it to save your *** in a situation like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 Hmmmmm interesting. When I'm sat in a hide I dont want my gun open, I want it shut ready to fire without faffing around closing it, worrying about catching it in the netting and missing out on having a shot, or even worse catching the trigger as I close it and the gun going off because I forgot to put the safety on. I'd much rather have the gun loaded and closed, barrels facing away from me, with only the safety to knock off before I fire I agree. Ever since I have started shooting air rifles I was always getting into the habit of putting the safety catch on after a shot and taking it off just before a shot. I shoot an auto safety catch for clays and I'm in the habit of flicking it off before a shot every time and have never on clays missed a bird because of my safety. This habit carries on in the field and when I'm walking and unless a shot in imminent I keep my gun open. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invector Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 I was brought up on auto safeties, on shotguns, but I soon got used to manuals. As a matter of interest does anyone know of a rifle (not airgun) that has an auto safety?? Rifle shooters need to remember to put the safety on, so why not shotgunners? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_k Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 if you take time out and look at the police FAQ's and other info you will find it states that you sould never rely on a saftey catch, i think if you have someone fiddle about with your gun it is more likely to fail, it was made that way for a reason. i assume... i startes to shoot game with a semi at the weekend. this was a challange, but every second the gun was out of its slip it was pointed at the sky. i dont walk with my gun pointing at the floor as i do not wish to shoot some1's dog. you should never point your gun in the direction of anything you are not willing to kill regardless of if it is loaded or not. the safest thing to do is have your gun open or have it pointing it to the sky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 It can be done, but it all depends on the action. Had it done on a Winchester 101 years ago. Specialist gunsmith job. Don Just how OLD are you So you had your birthday card from the Queen then B) LG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dead-Eyed Duck Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 It can be done, but it all depends on the action. Had it done on a Winchester 101 years ago. Specialist gunsmith job. Don Just how OLD are you So you had your birthday card from the Queen then B) B) LG Well you miserable OLD basket As someone said - You are as old as the woman you are feeling. And the missus still looks like a 60's chick in hot pants to me Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobby t Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 really and truthfully we should all carry our guns broken and safety engaged. i did see a while ago in a mag about a guy who was walking SBS broke and under his arm safety off when he fell the gun landed barrels flat down the action closed and discharged 2X 30g 6's over his right boot leaving just the bottom half of his foot, thankfully the guy was fine and able to walk again. would the safety have engaged and caught the sears (if i am right) within the action and stopped the discharge? Either way i think for safety, broken and safety on is the best for when your shooting with company or in range of others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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