Air Arms Camargue tap loader

[Geezer]

The safety issue that drove the adoption of ratchets etc on tap-loading sidelevers is that the lever would be accidentally let go of during cocking.

Unlike the underlever, where the support hand will typically be on the grip or back along the stock, away from the flying lever, there is a very real chance that the support hand fingers on the s/l will end up under the flying lever and get chopped off.

Sensible gun handling should reduce the risk to very little.

But even if you have the support hand during cocking in a “safe” position, the torque of the unexpectedly free-flying lever in the scenario above can twist the gun in the hand so that the fingers get in its way. At least for a right-handed user.

These accidents did happen, with e.g. the early Hammerlis after which many later s/ls were patterned.

As a general rule, I very strongly disapprove of deleting any built-in safety feature on a gun. The exception being the magazine trigger disconnector on a Browning GP35 and similar pistols. Not because doing so improves the trigger pull and reload (it does) but because I believe it creates at least as many safety issues as the one that it cures.

[45flint]

The safety issue that drove the adoption of ratchets etc on tap-loading sidelevers is that the lever would be accidentally let go of during cocking.

Unlike the underlever, where the support hand will typically be on the grip or back along the stock, away from the flying lever, there is a very real chance that the support hand fingers on the s/l will end up under the flying lever and get chopped off.

Sensible gun handling should reduce the risk to very little.

But even if you have the support hand during cocking in a “safe” position, the torque of the unexpectedly free-flying lever in the scenario above can twist the gun in the hand so that the fingers get in its way. At least for a right-handed user.

These accidents did happen, with e.g. the early Hammerlis after which many later s/ls were patterned.

As a general rule, I very strongly disapprove of deleting any built-in safety feature on a gun. The exception being the magazine trigger disconnector on a Browning GP35 and similar pistols. Not because doing so improves the trigger pull and reload (it does) but because I believe it creates at least as many safety issues as the one that it cures.

Don’t disagree with canceling safety devices but it’s already been done so it gives me a chance to really look at the issues and how I cock my guns. I’m not a strong guy so I sit the rifle up with the butt stock on my leg or lap. The right hand holds the cocking lever and the left hand grips the end of the stock and barrel. Nothing is under the lever? I cock the BSA Light the same way except there is no stock so my hand is on the barrel. I’m more likely to get bit by the BSA if my holding hand slips down? The AA has a nice vinyl covered handle, far less likely to slip?

Reading about the early Hammerli rifles it does make me wonder if I should try to repair the bear trap for future owners?