[SubSolar]

I just bought a new Benelli M4. I want to keep it fully loaded (4+1+1) for self defense. However, when I want to show my friends it or go to the range, I obviously have to unload it first. Is it bad for the same shotshell to keep being chambered? The last round that I chamber, I am slowly letting the bolt close on it. I ask this cause I've heard that it's bad to keep rechambering the same handgun round.

[Dave McCracken]

Chambering isn't so bad. Keeping the same rounds in the mag may see some telescoping over time.

Every time you hit the range, shoot up the ammo you had in it. After cleaning, put in new ammo. Problem solved....

[SubSolar]

Telescoping?

[rcmodel]

Spring pressure from the loaded magazine may eventually cause "creep" or telescoping of the plastic shell casings, causing them to bulge slightly.

That can result in feeding/chambering problems.

As for keeping the chamber loaded?
You can chamber a round while picking the gun up and getting it in a position to fire!

IMO: I personally think it is an unsafe practice, for several reasons, and totally unnecessary in about 99.99% of cases.

For instance, what if your house catches on fire?
The round in the chamber could cook off and kill a fireman.
The ones in the magazine are pretty harmless if they cook off.

rcmodel

[CZguy]

For instance, what if your house catches on fire?
The round in the chamber could cook off and kill a fireman.
The ones in the magazine are pretty harmless if they cook off.

That's a good point. I keep my chamber empty, but will remember that point when the subject comes up in discussion.

[Dave McCracken]

Collapsing towards the base, making it shorter and eventually unable to be chambered.

[SubSolar]

I would keep the chamber empty, but then I'd only have 4 or 5 shells in the magazine tube. If I load one in the chamber and carrier I can have 4+1+1 or 5+1+1.

[the foot]

If keeping the chamber loaded in a shotgun is an unsafe practice, then keeping the chamber loaded in a handgun would also be an unsafe practice.

And what about us who use a double for home defense? Should we not have one in the chamber?

[Gunfighter123]

I do not keep a rd. in the chamber in ANY of the firearms in my house. I also feel that if you have time to pick up a SG , you have time to chamber a round.

As to a dbl. brl. --- I have no real problems with both brls. loaded in my HAMMER SG --- however , I will not keep my HAMMERLESS SG loaded as then the hammer springs are always cocked and may take a "set" with time.

As to the OP ---- I like to "rotate" the rounds in any firearm for HD. Everytime you chamber a loaded round , the "shock" can/will cause a crimp to come loose --- not often in SGs BUT in a semi-auto rifle or pistol , you can also have the bullet compress into the case after hitting the feed ramp a few times. This will raise the pressure of the round being fired --- sometimes to overload !!!

[Coronach]

You can chew up the rounds from repeatedly chambering and unchambering them. Every few months, I have to take the ammo with chewed up rims and leaking/softening crimps out of rotation at work and "dispose" of it.

Haven't had one fail to go bang yet, but if all the buffering has shaken out, the patterns can get odd.

Mike

[fireman 9731]

With a pump gun repeated chamberings/unchamberings will lead to some small dents in the bottom of the outside edge of the case head... if you unload it 'gently' they wont be quite as bad....

I have shot rounds that had a whole ring of dents around the whole case without any problems...

but if it was up to me, I would rather have dentless ammo in my gun...

[SubSolar]

I do not keep a rd. in the chamber in ANY of the firearms in my house. I also feel that if you have time to pick up a SG , you have time to chamber a round.

It's a little more complicated to do that with my Benelli. If my chamber is empty, in order to have it chamber a round from the magazine I need to open the bolt and then hit the cartridge drop lever. I'd rather have it chambered and ready to go if I was in a bad situation.

[rcmodel]

If you drop the hammer on an empty chamber, then stuff the mag full, it should feed normally just by yanking the bolt back & letting it go.

rcmodel

[SubSolar]

If you drop the hammer on an empty chamber, then stuff the mag full, it should feed normally just by yanking the bolt back & letting it go.


Yeah, true, although then I'd only have 4 shots instead of 4+1+1. I guess I could keep four in the tube and one in the carrier also. But I'd feel comfortable with more rounds.

[CZguy]

Yeah, true, although then I'd only have 4 shots instead of 4+1+1. I guess I could keep four in the tube and one in the carrier also. But I'd feel comfortable with more rounds.

One option would be for you to get a magazine extension. Then you could have more shell capacity and still have the safety of an empty chamber.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii299/badgerone/Shotguns.jpg

[Gord]

You can chew up the rounds from repeatedly chambering and unchambering them. Every few months, I have to take the ammo with chewed up rims and leaking/softening crimps out of rotation at work and "dispose" of it.

What Mike said. I haven't noticed any bulging of my rounds as of yet, but after three or four chamberings the crimp loosens up enough to where the grex will start trickling out. At that point, it's best to stop messing with them lest the crimp open up completely.

[SubSolar]

One option would be for you to get a magazine extension. Then you could have more shell capacity and still have the safety of an empty chamber.


I would, but am still worried about 922r rules.

[Sir Aardvark]

IIRC, the Huntington Beach, CA Police Dept. will rotate out their ammo after 6 months because they noticed that the shells would eventually "bulge" after time, making feeding unreliable.

[SubSolar]

IIRC, the Huntington Beach, CA Police Dept. will rotate out there ammo after 6 months because they notice that the shells would eventually "bulge" after time, making feeding unreliable.

Interesting, HB is pretty close to me. They also use Sig 220's like I do so maybe I should also follow their shotgun advice. :)

[icebones]

good posts. right on, i have several shells that caught my eye too. they all had bulged plastic near the brass. also, like the other guys said, dont keep a round in the chamber. ever. my 870 is a constant companion, it goes with me from bedside to truck and field. but whenever i keep it in "HD mode" i keep the chamber empty and downloaded 1 round to keep the spring from weakening. it has a 8 shot mag extension. and if six shells of 00 wont solve the problem, well something is very well indeed wrong.

[CZguy]

I keep the chamber empty and downloaded 1 round to keep the spring from weakening. it has a 8 shot mag extension. and if six shells of 00 wont solve the problem, well something is very well indeed wrong

Springs weaken from being over compressed, and the number of cycles. Keeping a full magazine is OK.

I agree with you completely on six shells being enough. Unless you think your house will be attacked in squad strength. :D

I believe that the fight will be over with one shot, if I do my part.

[icebones]

yea, but its just OCD on my part.

i once read an article (in G&A i think it was) about some guys refurbishing an old apartment building somewhere in europe (germany it think it was) they found a vintage MP40 with a few fully loaded magazines and it functioned perfectly, even after 50+ years of being fully loaded the magazines still worked perfectly.