Somebody please explain "cocks on close" to me

B

Big-Blue

New member
I've been reading about the 1903 Springfield and the 1917 Enfield. I ran across a phrase I don't understand. Google has been no help.

What does it mean when someone says a particular rifle cocks on close? Is that a good thing?

Thanks,
 
Prior to the 1898 Mauser, the Mauser bolt action rifles were cocked while the bolt closed. It's a strange sensation if you're not used to it. As the bolt closes, you can feel the cocking spring compressing near the end of the bolt stroke.

Starting in 1898, Mauser put a cocking cam on the bolt so that the action of raising the bolt handle cocks the striker. That makes it a little easier (faster?) to close the bolt, but if makes it a little harder to open the bolt since that action is also cocking the striker.
 
If you open the bolt on a modern American made bolt action, or a 1903 Springfield, or a 98 Mauser, you will see the firing pin cocks when you lift the handle up. These rifles cock on opening.

When you work the bolt on a S.M.L.E. Enfield, a 1917 Enfield or any Mauser from the model of 88 to the 1906 Swede models you will feel the spring compress and cock the firing pin as you push the bolt home the last 3/4 to 1" of it's travel before you drop the handle down. These rifles cock on closing.
 
Isn't there a third method of cocking the firing pin - by hand, by pulling a knob at the rear of the action?
It seems like the .22s worked that way at summer camp when I was a youth.
 
g.willikers said:
Isn't there a third method of cocking the firing pin - by hand, by pulling a knob at the rear of the action?
It seems like the .22s worked that way at summer camp when I was a youth.
Click to expand...
Yes, now that you mention it, as a kid, I had a Sears .22 Single Shot (cost about $15) that had a knob on the back of the bolt that you had to pull to cock. So it was a "cock-on-pull" system. LOL
 
Art, that "cocking knob" on the M1903's was an idea from a designer at Springfield Armory. It was a variation of the "cocking groove" that many Mausers had in their cocking piece head where a case rim would fit in to aid in pulling the firing pin back to recock it. That guy wanted a way to recock the M1903 without having to fumble around finding a round of ammo to do it with. A good idea, I think.
 
Most of the good military bolt guns of the period had the ability to recock. The early Lee Enfield cocking pieces had a disc which was later simplified to a grooved flat piece.
It was one of those "trendy, must have" things back then.
 
Not so a splendid idea on a cock-on-open gun. Lifting the bolt handle up and down will recock.

Much better on a cock-on-close gun as the recocking sequence is more involved.

Maybe that is why Herr Mauser didn't bother to have that in his design. Having a hunk of metal sticking out at the rear end of the bolt is not desirable, especially in a long action.

-TL
 
Prior to the 1898 Mauser, the Mauser bolt action rifles were cocked while the bolt closed. It's a strange sensation if you're not used to it. As the bolt closes, you can feel the cocking spring compressing near the end of the bolt stroke.Starting in 1898, Mauser put a cocking cam on the bolt so that the action of raising the bolt handle cocks the striker...
Click to expand...

Just a bit off with the Mauser model, JohnKSa.

If I can add that the first Mauser produced on a large scale,

the model 71, is a cock on opening.
 
Art, that "cocking knob" on the M1903's was an idea from a designer at Springfield Armory. It was a variation of the "cocking groove" that many Mausers had in their cocking piece head where a case rim would fit in to aid in pulling the firing pin back to recock it. That guy wanted a way to recock the M1903 without having to fumble around finding a round of ammo to do it with. A good idea, I think.
Click to expand...

It was a carry-over from the Krag.
 
When you work the bolt on a S.M.L.E. Enfield, a 1917 Enfield or any Mauser from the model of 88 to the 1906 Swede models you will feel the spring compress and cock the firing pin as you push the bolt home the last 3/4 to 1" of it's travel before you drop the handle down. These rifles cock on closing.
Click to expand...

Assuming you meant "...from the Model of 89..."

88 wasn't really a Mauser design, and cocked on opening.
 
... What does it mean when someone says a particular rifle cocks on close?
Is that a good thing?
Click to expand...

Big Blue, I've hunted thru the years from age 11, with the various Lee Enfield #1 and #4's and now with a 6.5 Swede.

I'm in the minority as I consider the COC superior in staying more on target when working the bolt.

It's easier controlling the forward thrust, as opposed to the side torquing.

Also, with a tight extraction you are dividing the effort required into two separate stages.
 
I have an extensively reworked 1916 Spanish Mauser, and it is cock on close. There is no assisting knob on the bolt to cock the piece, either. It is a good shove to get that bolt to close; I prefer cock on opening like my CZ 527M/CSR.

Here's both of them.

 
Since rapid fire matches and military rapid fire training events started over a century ago, cock on opening actions were favored. People tried various types on cock on closing ones (M1917 Enfields and their Remington 30 & 720 clones, 1898 Krags) but the M1903, Win. 54 & 70, and M98 Mausers prevailed. More reliable feeding and shorter lock times. Remington got smart and their 72X and 700 rifles were cock on opening.
 
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If I can add that the first Mauser produced on a large scale,

the model 71, is a cock on opening.
Click to expand...
Interesting. The 1896 Mausers made for the Swedes were still cock-on-close. I guess they requested that feature given that cock-on-open must have been an option.
 
Coo or coc, people make huge deal out of it. It is minor difference really. Whatever advantage or disadvantage they bring may only be significant in critical combat situations, provided you are properly trained. For casual shooting most of us are doing? Nah.

-TL
 
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