Should repeating air rifles be left cocked or decocked for short or long term storage. In order to remove the magazine on both of my repeaters you have to obviously cock it. It then has to be fired with or without a pellet to decock it.
Cocked or decocked for storage?
- Thread starter beeser
- Start date
I always store the guns decocked. I load the magazine, and fire one pellet.
I feel like its safer to leave the gun dekocked, but it's nice to have the magazine loaded in the gun for convenience.
I'm curious to hear others opinions on this.
I feel like its safer to leave the gun dekocked, but it's nice to have the magazine loaded in the gun for convenience.
I'm curious to hear others opinions on this.
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Decocked at all times - but I have a Cricket .25 without a safety so that reinforces my choice. Better for all springs to be in their rest position than under compression.
Scott
Scott
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I leave all of my rifles uncocked. Same as a springer, the hammer spring in a pcp will fatigue and result in lost power. I don't know how long it takes to fatigue a metal spring but I don't want to find out I messed up in the middle of a hunt or match. The safety factor as mentioned is also high on the list of concerns. I understand having your 1911 chambered at all times but your airgun isn't called on for self defense so no reason to stress internal moving components.
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Decocked seems the way to go. I recall a video, possibly Ted's Holdover where he showed how to decock an FX Impact by pressing the trigger while the cocking lever was pulled back and then releasing it.... or something to that effect. I wonder if it's possible to do this with RAWs. If so, it sure beats the firing another pellet method.
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It really shouldn't have much of an effect if it's left cocked. But if your gun is capable of being de-cocked it's probably for the best. I know the Benjamin Bulldog you can un-cock it by fully extending the lever and then pulling the trigger. Very similar to how a revolver or muzzle loader un-cocks. Just be sure to have a firm grip on the lever when you pull the trigger though, that and it's a little unwieldy on the Bulldog.
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For years I shot a 1911 45 auto and there was always a buzz about not leaving the magazines loaded because it would weaken the magazine spring and cause loading issues and jams. I have a magazine that has been compressed for decades except when shooting and that theory is now proven a myth by practical application! Same thing on my Ruger Mark 1. Magazine springs compressed for 3 decades and no problems even with a very high rate of fire. I say it is a moot point in most if not all applications. Now for "safety"......that is a completely different horse. 
Thurmond
Thurmond
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I am very much aware of this debate regarding magazine springs. I have been assuming that the springer community knew otherwise regarding the large springs in their guns. Hammer springs? I got nuthin."T3PRanch"For years I shot a 1911 45 auto and there was always a buzz about not leaving the magazines loaded because it would weaken the magazine spring and cause loading issues and jams. I have a magazine that has been compressed for decades except when shooting and that theory is now proven a myth by practical application! Same thing on my Ruger Mark 1. Magazine springs compressed for 3 decades and no problems even with a very high rate of fire. I say it is a moot point in most if not all applications. Now for "safety"......that is a completely different horse.
Thurmond
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I store my Huntsman Classic either way, no pellet, no mag. But I would like to have the possibility to remove the bolt to store it somewhere else.
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Just pull back the cocking lever and hold it in position, hold down the trigger and gently move the cocking lever to it's closed position. Let go of the trigger and your done, decocked.
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