Skidoor,
Tell your buddy and anyone else that thinks that is safe is out of their minds. I just took my bolt out of my Springfield custom and put it in the same position it would be in if you did that in the rifle. The firing pin stays out about 1/16 of an inch like is does when firing a shell. Absolutely not safe.
And if they are doing that in Africa they are nuts too.
EDIT::: I just now did the same thing to my Mauser 98 action and my Rem. Model 700 and the firing pin sticks out and stays out in that position. This is a good practice when the gun is EMPTY and you want to take the tension off the spring to store a rifle like I do in my safe. All my bolt guns I do that to just for storing.
