MaterDei
Member
Yes, but they get locked up when I have visitors with children over.
Remember to keep the chamber empty for the sake of firefighters trying to save your property. Rounds in mags or cylinders aren't an issue, but a round coming out of the barrel could harm them.
Could you please elaborate on "sitting, holstered"? Does this mean there exists such a thing as a holster that stands up by itself as opposed to being worn?If my CCW isn't on me it is sitting, holstered, on my end table/night stand/bathroom counter/etc always within easy reach.
When I'm not here or at the range my gun (686) is locked up. Are you saying that if there would G-d forbid be a fire and it is locked up loaded, that would be dangerous for the firefighters? What about ammunition not in a gun, does that explode in a fire?
Thank you for the extensive reply.From personal experience:
1. Handgun and rifle ammunition locked away in a typical military ammo box won't explode like a bomb as the cans are aluminum. If you visualize a popcorn bag in the microwave, you can get the idea of what happens.
The individual casings of the rounds will burst as they "cook off" with the fire's heat and the bullets will cut through the metal can as they flop around. We had several large ammo cans of .50 caliber rounds burn in a fire. We thought it was a fire fight until we saw the flames come out of the the small living structure.
The rounds were tossed anywhere from several inches to 20-30 feet away from the location of the cans. Obviously, no one went near the fire until the popping stopped for safety.
2. Given the required amount of heat, ammunition sitting in the chamber of a semi-auto will "cook off" and fire straight out the barrel as if someone pulled the trigger. I've witnessed that several times as well. At home, I generally keep any firearm I'm not using unloaded and locked away. Firearm(s) I plan to use for self-defense in the house are "in use" and positioned as needed. Just think muzzle awareness.
3. Sitting there means being atop of, or laying on, in an unused manner.
Thank you for the extensive reply.
Two questions:
1. You mention ammo in an aluminum box. Currently any range ammo I have is in plastic ziplock bags, SD ammo not in the gun is in the cardboard boxes it comes in. What happens? And (OK, 3 questions) if this is dangerous, what is a safe way to store it?
2. You mention a semi-automatic firing as if the trigger had been pulled. Would a revolver behave the same way?
Wow, thank you very much. I imagined that the advice to unload the gun before locking it in the safe was a nanny-state type thing, now thanks to your post I see this is not the case.1. The ammo will react the same to fire whether in factory packaging, baggies, or ammo cans. Afterwards, you'll generally find the shell casings split. All ammo cans do is make it easier to carry, store, and keep dry, but any of the three ways is fine.
2. Any firearm with a round in a chamber will have similar results. Any restriction focusing pressure release in one direction results in increasing the force with which the projectile will fly.
Well, i have to disagree. If the child is old enough to know how to chamber a round and make it ready to fire....if you have kids in the house you absolutely need guns that are hard to rack.the slde needs to be very hard to use.
I have two kids but we keep the bedroom door locked and the cabinet in the living room is tall enough my wife has to tip toe to reach the gun.