Store pump shotgun cocked or not?

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Mightee1

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Should I store my Remington 870 with the hammer back or should I pull the trigger before putting it in the gun safe? I don’t know if this will cause any long-term damage to the trigger / hammer / springs inside the trigger assembly.
 
Be prepared for the s**t storm. Spring wear is a subject that everyone has an opinion about. I personaly dont leave anything cocked.
 
I've got two 870's and neither are cocked unless I'm ready to fire. My sporting 870 sits on my gun rack, trigger pulled, decocked. My HD 870 is in my bedroom, fully loaded, and uncocked. If I ever need it all I gotta do is rack the fore end and it's ready to go.
 
I just can't bring myself to store mine loaded and chambered. If I did, I'd have to click the safety on or it would bug the heck out of me.

I don't know about ya'll, but when things go bump in the night, I'd much rather try to feel my way around to operate the pump action than fiddle around trying to find the safety button.


-Matt
 
I have a few guns that I got from family members that sat in a gun case or attic for years and years. (Talking over 10 years for each gun) each one was cocked and unloaded. The oldest is a Remington 870 made in 1954. Was in my grandfathers attic for around 30 years he would guess. Cocked the entire time.

I have never had any problem with any of them. :)
 
I store my 870 in "Cruiser Ready" condition. Cruiser ready is the most common method of storing the shotgun in a police cruiser.

Cruiser Ready consists of:
  • Chamber empty
  • Magazine loaded
  • Manual safety engaged
  • Slide locked in battery (hammer is cocked)

The action is locked in battery to prevent movement, vibration, gravity and handling from affecting the action. It requires manipulation of the slide release to chamber the first shotshell.

(IMO, the slide should always be locked in battery when stored. This conditions a defender to ALWAYS work the slide release to rack the slide when the decision has been made to chamber the first shotshell.)

To put an 870 in Cruiser Ready, on an unloaded shotgun, press the slide release and cycle the slide, engage the manual safety, and load the magazine.

Cruiser Ready is not going to harm your hammer spring - it's not going to take a set. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of 870s have been stored for years in Cruiser Ready condition with no spring damage. It's the repeated cycling of the spring (compress and release) over time that causes "damage" or wear.

Cheers!
 
Unchambered in both cases (shotguns), mags loaded. In fact, only my active carry pistols are "hot" at the house (except for the revolvers).
 
Empty chamber. Hammer down (so I won't have to feel for the slide release, or pull the trigger). Safety off.

No Kids, no roommate, Just me. I want it to be as simple as possible. Just rack the slide, and point and shoot.
 
I don't know about ya'll, but when things go bump in the night, I'd much rather try to feel my way around to operate the pump action than fiddle around trying to find the safety button.

Not busting on you.....but if I perceived the manipulation of my safety as too difficult, I would be spending a lot more time at the range developing the necessary muscle memory. I would also rather not telegraph my location by racking a pump gun. There are some idiots that are known to shoot sounds, regardless of their being able to ID the target or not.

YMMV
 
In my experience/research there is NO extra wear on the spring by storing the shotgun with the hammer cocked. Like magazine springs, the wear is brought about by loading and unloading the tension on the spring, not by keeping it cocked for long periods of time.

I always keep my 870 in the "cruiser ready" state: loaded magazine (none in the chamber) with a cocked hammer. Then all you have to do is release the slide and rack it once and you're ready to go. There is something about having an unlocked slide with a full magazine that has always bothered me.

There are many stories out there about old guns being found decades later with the hammer still cocked, and/or the magazines full, with the springs still functioning flawlessly.
 
Two words, "SNAP CAPS". Leave one in the chambaer and pull the damn trigger. My wifes Mossbery 500 beside the bed has a full mag tube and a snap snao cap in the chamber. If she needs it, she just jacks the slide. I leave all my auto and pump guns with a snap cap in he chamber, regardless of whether stored loaded or unloaded.
 
I like the idea, Bear, but I'm too damn afraid I'd come home from the range one day, reload with self defense ammo, and screw up loading the last round with a snap cap and put a hole in the floor (and my eardrums). I'm not hot on the idea of pulling the trigger with live ammo anywhere near the gun unless I'm on the range with the muzzle pointed at a target. I just know I'd make a bonehead mistake at some point.

On the flip side, I have no problems storing with a round chambered. The shotgun's in a secure place where it can't accidentally tip over, safety's engaged, and since it's *always loaded* I can consistently treat it as an always loaded weapon.
 
Uncocked. Firing on the empty chamber isn't the worst thing. My go-to shotgun has a loaded tube and sidesaddle but the chamber happens to have a snap-cap I fired into. No safety used... Pump-n-go.
Al
 
I like the idea, Bear, but I'm too damn afraid I'd come home from the range one day, reload with self defense ammo, and screw up loading the last round with a snap cap and put a hole in the floor (and my eardrums). I'm not hot on the idea of pulling the trigger with live ammo anywhere near the gun unless I'm on the range with the muzzle pointed at a target. I just know I'd make a bonehead mistake at some point.

On the flip side, I have no problems storing with a round chambered. The shotgun's in a secure place where it can't accidentally tip over, safety's engaged, and since it's *always loaded* I can consistently treat it as an always loaded weapon.
Snap cap goes in first, drop the hammer, them load the live rounds. In different rooms if you don't pay attention to what you are doing. My wife and daughters do it this way with their shotguns.
 
I store my 870 in "cruiser ready" as defined by Mr. Dodson. It makes a lot of sense to do so, and I cannot find any negatives as tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of 870s have been carried in this fashion since the 1950s. The big positive is the locked slide, which is important to me as I store my HD gun with the muzzle pointing upward.
 
I'm new here but just thought I'd take this opportunity to whine a little. Here in the communist state of MA (excuse me, commonwealth of MA) I believe the law states the trigger must be locked at all times and the gun empty with all ammunition locked in a separate container. So in the event of an armed robbery I'd have to tell them to please wait while i unlock the gun, unlock the ammo case, load it, and then reengage. Thank goodness criminals in MA are understanding and give us that needed extra time.
 
I leave mine cocked empty with full mag safety off...have never had a prolem with a hammer spring on any 870...including the beat up old police trade in models I bought cheap (and they are mega old and used!)
 
I get mixed messages on this subject.

Baikal double barrel shotgun manual recommends decocking for long term storage.

I have had a broken firing pin from dry firing an older Smith&Wesson pump.

Well tempered springs are hurt more by flexing than by being left compressed.

What does the Remington manual say?
 
Another vote for cruiser ready. This is the best option for me since I don't want to store it with a round chambered, and I don't like the idea of having to pull the trigger as part of the initial loading process.
 
One additional vote for 'cruiser ready'.

In addition to above points, I have known of intruders who vacated when they heard the sound of the slide being racked.
 
OK, a couple of questions for all you "cruiser ready" advocates. Why in battery if you are gonna leave the chamber empty. Second why cocked if you are gonna leave it in battery. Since neither of these conditions enhances bringing the gun to a usable state and arguably the in battery slows you down at least the "in battery part."

OH and for the "snap caps are an accident waiting to happen" guys. If you pay that little attention to what you are doing while loading a firearm, maybe you better sell them all because obviously you aren't very safe while using firearms. rolleyes.jpg
 
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