It works fine...good enough for me anyway...I prefer the flat handles in general, but when they are attached nearer the middle of the bolt, like on a Mannlicher-Schoenauer, they are easier to lift (When they are on the end of the bolt, like on a Mauser '98, there is always some sideway twisting of the bolt). But in my experience cock-on-opening bolts do not lend themselves to rapid fire anyway. If you want to shoot fast with a bolt action, my experience is that the cock-on-closing designs will generally cycle faster (rifles like the .303 Lee-Enfield or the various earlier Mauser 92s, 96s, etc.) However, my game, mostly deer, moose and coyotes, are generally ambushed with a single bullet, with a possible second shot used only as a coup-de-grace. The only time I remember really needing a fast second shot (big bear coming in fast), I didn't have any trouble cycling the bolt very quickly. That was with a Steyr-Mannlicher Model M Professional with a flat-type bolt handle.