If I understand you correctly, I believe you are trying to "decock" the rifles? The later model E, with the lever safety, will allow you to decock it in that fashion ( as would all the premil, pre tang safety models) while the tang safety model won't. If you are concerned about tension weakening the firing pin spring, my understanding of springs is that using them, or compressing and releasing pressure on them, is what weakens them, not staying compressed. Someone else may have a different thought on it, however. Regards 0021