Ambidextrous Rotating Safety on a 10/22 for Small Game Hunting: Yay or Nay?

[twofewscrews]

Hi,

In the coming weeks me and my wife intend to go squirrel hunting for our first time. We're going to take my 10/22 and I was pondering putting on an ambidextrous rotating safety made by taccom3g. I already have one on a Ruger PC Carbine, but that's strictly a range toy. Given that its our first time I won't be loading it up with more then a single shot a time, I figure why tempt fate, but I am curious as to what you all think about putting an ambidextrous rotating safety on a hunting rifle, 10/22 or otherwise.

On one hand, it would allows for a quick(er) return to safe after taking a shot or not, and if one has small hands, like my wife, it can be/maybe easier to manipulate then the cross bolt safety.

On the other hand, it can be caught on brush and go from safe to fire. I don't plan on running through the brush like a madman but its something to consider.

I think the cross bolt safety is the "safer" route but I have no experience upon which to base this. Any opinions welcome.

 

[courtgreene]

Whatever you’re used to is what you’ll be more likely to use and use correctly.

 

[Jim Watson]

And since you already have one on the PC

The US Army went from a crossbolt to a lever on the M1 Carbine, but that was to avoid hitting the nearby magazine catch.

 

[WestKentucky]

I have had guns with several style safeties and I really can’t say which ones I would prefer or avoid. On most guns, they are what they are for a reason. I would likely not go monkeying around with something I know and trust, but if you also know and trust the twist dongle type then that point is moot. I’m still at the point of ain’t broke-don’t fix.

The main thing of ain’t broke-don’t fix is simple familiarity and complication. I once missed a chance at a 150” deer because I had the wrong marlin 30-30 in my hands. Granddaddy’s gun didn’t have a crossbolt safety. Dads did. I couldn’t figure out why the gun wouldn’t shoot for anbout 3 seconds until the deer ran out of range. Don’t be that guy. Complication is the bane of all things mechanical. It’s hard to break a sledgehammer. No moving parts, just beat stuff. Occasionally replace/tighten the wedge and you’re good until you break the handle. It’s not hard to break a ratchet. The complicated nature of the mechanism just makes it more vulnerable to failure. Same goes with gun parts. K.I.S.S.

 

[Hookeye]

I was a small kid (size wise) and had no problems w my 10/22 , in grade school.
My ol lady is petite and has no problem w her 10/22 safety.
Lefty, so less than ideal. She says its not am issue.

 

[jmr40]

Manipulating the safety quickly is important for some types of shooting. But I just don't see it as important on a 22 for squirrel hunting. It will take a bit longer to disengage for a lefty. But it isn't something that can't be overcome.

FWIW I find a crossbolt safety behind the trigger guard faster and easier to use either right or left-handed than the one in front of the trigger guard on the 10/22.

 

[jmorris]

Given that its our first time..,

Full stop. One of the most important things to do is see how Ruger‘s engineers designed, MIM & Machinists created before you go changing things.

After that, only change one thing at a time and see if you and it likes it better. If you change two things and nothing gets better, there is a good chance (odds wise) one made it better and the other didn’t.

 

[twofewscrews]

Full stop. One of the most important things to do is see how Ruger‘s engineers designed, MIM & Machinists created before you go changing things.

After that, only change one thing at a time and see if you and it likes it better. If you change two things and nothing gets better, there is a good chance (odds wise) one made it better and the other did

I learned early on, the hard way, to only change one thing at a time. Sound advise for sure.

 

[twofewscrews]

Manipulating the safety quickly is important for some types of shooting. But I just don't see it as important on a 22 for squirrel hunting. It will take a bit longer to disengage for a lefty. But it isn't something that can't be overcome.

FWIW I find a crossbolt safety behind the trigger guard faster and easier to use either right or left-handed than the one in front of the trigger guard on the 10/22.

I figured the safety wouldn't make a huge amount of difference but I wanted to be sure. For example it I know it makes more sense to put a pistol grip on a Maverick 88 with a crossbolt safety then it would to put it on a Mossberg 500 with a tang safety, as the former allows access to the safety without breaking your grip and the latter does not.

 

[twofewscrews]

And since you already have one on the PC

The US Army went from a crossbolt to a lever on the M1 Carbine, but that was to avoid hitting the nearby magazine catch.

Funny, I almost put a crazy extended magazine release on it, can't remember which company, but chose not to as it protruded enough from the trigger guard that it could easily get snagged.

 

[drobs]

Left hander here, just use your right hand to push the safety off.
No need to add anything to the gun.

Or roll your shooting hand / index finger under the trigger guard to push the safety.

Side note on Remington 870 shotguns, I roll my wrist over the stock / grip and use my thumb to disengage the safety.

 

[film495]

how does that work? is it like a garand type safety, just you activate it with your finger outside the trigger guard? seems pretty good. can you bump it by accident or anything?