Safety preference - 3 position or tang safety

I was curious what people’s preference is on safety type on a custom rifle build. It seems like the 3 position Winchester safety is by far the most common. However, on a stalking rifle, something where I would be shooting at 300 yards or less having to take a quick shot, a tang safety would be ideal because it is more natural. So like a British or German style stalker would be great I think…like the old Steyr/Mannlicher/Pugh or the Voere Mausers.

I have killed a number of deer with a Savage, with mere seconds to shoot, and the tang safety was great. Wondering if anyone would build a high end custom on a Mauser action and want a tang safety. If not, why not? Would you ever put a tang safety on a Dangerous game rifle? Seems like there are many double rifles that have exactly that. So switching back and forth between your double and bolt gun would be more automatic if you sued the same style safety. Thoughts?

The Ruger Tang Safety is my second choice, the Model 70 will always be my first choice.

I like tang safeties, so why is it I have a total of ONE? It's because of the different brand rifles I like, few of them have a tang safety....in a perfect world all my safeties would be identical.

I will take the Model 70 3 position safety. Why? Simply because am used to it. And routine is safe.

Once the shooter familiarizes himself, accessing just about any style safety becomes automatic. I can disengage the trigger guard safety on my A5 shotgun without thinking when a bird is flushed. And I usually use my thumb, not my forefinger. I've never considered it safe to be using my trigger finger for anything but engaging the trigger. Seems like a lot of shuffling involved but I am on target very quickly and very accurately. I even make it a habit to engage safety when loading that A5 for skeet. Shoot low gun and disengage as I mount and shoot. I rarely shoot less than 20/25.

When stalking, it's pretty much the same scenario. Rifle at ready in both hands with safety engaged. Safety can be disengaged just as the rifle is raised to be mounted. I have a Model 70 style 3-position safety on my 98 Mauser 404 Jeffery. No problems disengaging it quickly. My Springfield 03A3 now has an unusual wing style 2-position striker safety on the left side of receiver. The right side Buhler style wing safety Dad installed was not safe. If the bolt handle jiggled the safety could, and often did, disengage. This safety stays locked but required some modification (added a locking setscrew to bolt shroud). To access it I had to remove the Springfield's signature knurled striker knob so my thumb can slip over the top of cocked cocking piece (attached to end of striker rod) into the notch in the shaft of safety wing.


Sounds difficult but actually it's probably easier to disengage than the Model 70 style. The problem is the gun has QD rings for optional iron sights. When the scope is removed the unshielded wing on the safety is sticking up in the air when engaged. It can be easily snagged on clothing or brush and inadvertantly disengaged. So for now I carry the gun with an empty chamber if scope is removed. I am in the process of fabricating a Model 70 safety to fit the Springfield.

I don't see anything wrong with 2-position trigger block safeties on the side of receiver. Easily accessed, cheap to install (they come attached to "deluxe" Timney trigger upgrades), and very secure. Sure, the gun must be off safe to be loaded or unloaded but any idiot should know how to do that safely. How many of you with 3-position safeties actually bother switching to position two to unload your rifles? I don't think I ever have.

3 position safety either Winchester or Ruger, you can load and unload the gun without it being able to fire.

Depends on what action you have for the build.
Tang safety is awesome.
Winchester safety is comamon.
Both are good though.

I have smaller hands and a thumb safety is quicker and more natural for me. The Winchester style safety is a little difficult for me to reach, though I have both.

Paul

3 position Winchester style for me, that is why all my CZ 550s have been converted. Muscle memory is the key.

Regarding the two position safety being unsafe for loading…I feel like most custom rifles have the ability to drop the floor plate and empty the rounds, then pull the bolt back for the last rounds. Seems safe. And faster than racking every round into the chamber before pulling it back out.

Thank you for the feedback. Any difference when comparing a stalking rifle for deer vs. a Dangerous Game Rifle when it comes to safety style preferred?

Purely from a safety point of view, I like the Ruger / Winchester style safety. From a hunting point of view I prefer tang safeties. Instinctive and fast.

@Ontario Hunter - Are you REALLY flipping the safety to OFF while having your finger ON the TRIGGER?

I am partial to the 3 position tang sight.

HunterX said:

Regarding the two position safety being unsafe for loading…I feel like most custom rifles have the ability to drop the floor plate and empty the rounds, then pull the bolt back for the last rounds. Seems safe. And faster than racking every round into the chamber before pulling it back out.

Thank you for the feedback. Any difference when comparing a stalking rifle for deer vs. a Dangerous Game Rifle when it comes to safety style preferred?

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This is one advantage of good old fashioned controlled round feed. The bolt does not have to be completely closed for extractor to pick up the next cartridge, as opposed to push feed. Thus CRF can be safely unloaded with safely disengaged and working the bolt, as long as bolt is not completely locked closed while cycling. The striker cannot be released if the finger is not on trigger. Again with the idiot operator exception. Anything can happen with them. Least worry is unloading the gun! With the bolt only half closed the cocking piece sear would not be close to engaging the trigger sear so unlikely striker could release even if idiot is somehow depressing the trigger while cycling to unload. Anyway most human beings don't have hands big enough to work an open bolt forward with thumb while hanging onto trigger with forefinger of same hand. That would be a Cirque de Solei stunt. . Personally, I don't care to be picking my cartridges up out of the dirt or snow so I never drop the floorplate to unload. I typically half close my CRF bolt till extractor picks up cartridge and then gently retract till cartridge is just kicked loose. With rifle tipped left the extracted cartridge cartridge will stay inside the receiver. Roll the rifle right with left hand still holding fore end and pick the loose cartridge from receiver with right hand. Hunt in the Great White North and you learn quickly how to safely unload a rifle without dropping a shell in the snow.

Savage tang safety for me.

Ray B said:

@Ontario Hunter - Are you REALLY flipping the safety to OFF while having your finger ON the TRIGGER?

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Not ordinarily but left hand was needed to take the photo with my phone so I had to find some way to hang onto the rifle with only right hand while positioning my thumb for demonstration. Purely staged for the photo op.

I guess I've never gone hunting with a rifle where snap shooting would be required, save for rabbit hunting with a .22 rimfire. But I guess if you were, the tang safety would be the better choice.

But for me, give me the 3 position safety. I prefer not to open the bottom and drop rounds on the ground. When I go to fire, it's virtually impossible to not take your finger off the trigger and going from full safety on to fire is a more deliberate physical move. So no wondering if safety is on or off and not likely to forget.

I have a custom gun in the works right now, built on an old Mauser action. It will have a 3-position safety.

I far prefer Winchester 3-position safety’s.

Winchester M70 safety hands down for me.
I’ve sold off all of my non Winchester rifles in favor for the familiarity and reliability of the M70 safety. In fact, I prefer to keep my bolt up when stalking as a visual cue for others & all I have to do is push it down quietly when ready to fire.