closing the bolt release Prone ?

[IDPA Mike]

I would think that the prone position would be the easiest,laying down and all .
I seemed to have an awkward time closing the bolt after I loaded the cartridge.
I loaded with my right hand and had to reach over the top of the rifle to close the bolt.
Off hand I can use my left hand to do this. Being new to the game, I didn't want to undo my sling grip to close the bolt.
What is the correct way to do this with the least akward movement.
I hope I explained my issue correctly.
Thanks, Mike

 

[PatMcD]

I think there are basically two ways to do it comfortably, and they depend on your shooting style.

If you take the rifle down after each shot, I see a lot of guys, before they put it back in the shoulder, grab the carry handle with the four fingers (like you were going to carry it) and hit the bolt release with the thumb.
If you leave the rifle in the shoulder between shots, just reach through the carry handle and hit the bolt release with your index or middle finger. I find that the easiest, but some can't keep the rifle shouldered for 20 shots.

 

[Mxyzptlk]

I take the rifle out of the shoulder for each shot and after loading, release the bolt with my thumb. I don't recommend keeping the rifle in the shoulder for the entire string, but don't move your non-firing elbow!

 

[BossHarley]

If using the fingers through the handle be careful of your pinky, it makes a real mess when the tip gets massed by the bolt slamming closed (from personal experience)

 

[bpm990d]

Oh man that sounds painful!

B

 

[charliet]

When I shot service rifle, I would grab the carry handle and extend my thumb down to bolt release...worked fine for siting and prone.
Years ago, when teaching a clinic, a women got her pinky in the loading port...it was real ugly...I was right there. It was far worse than any Garand thumb I ever seen...but she keep on shooting. I would have packed up and and left. I LEARNED right then to close the bolt with all my fingers out of the way.

 

[PatMcD]

Oh no,.....I can hear it now. On top of the Garand guys calling our rifles "Toys" and "Poodle shooters", now they have this to hold over us.

They get "M1 Thumb" and we get "AR Pinkie".

 

[mac1911]

AR pinky........thats funny. Im left handed, so single shot reloading is the tough one for me.