Guns In the Safe

[joesolo]

I have a couple of CCW guns depending on the clothes I am wearing. Some days I might carry one during the day and the other one at night. When I put gun #1 in the safe, sometimes I empty the mag and clear the gun. Other times, if I suspect I will change back later, I leave it loaded. What is your 2 cents....keep em loaded or empty every time? Let's not go to the "carry one gun" tangent please. Cheers

 

[RevolvingCylinder]

There will be no issues if you make sure you check the chamber(s) when you pull one out and always handle them safely.

 

[Primersinmyshoe]

I keep the 1911 and S&W642 loaded. Oh, the Seecamp .32 stays loaded too.

 

[kd7nqb]

I prefer the full mag but empty chamber condition when I put the gun in the safe. Thats pretty much the state my gun stays in when its not on my hip, only because it seems like a lot of ND's happen when handling.

I am no expert, just my 2cents.

 

[BobMcG]

My swap out carry pistol when stored in an alternate (not main) quick access safe is kept loaded.

 

[glockman19]

I prefer the full mag but empty chamber condition when I put the gun in the safe. Thats pretty much the state my gun stays in when its not on my hip, only because it seems like a lot of ND's happen when handling.

+1 me too

 

[Guitargod1985]

Since my ND last month, I've been storing all of my firearms unchambered with magazine/shells/whatever removed, whereas before I had every single gun in the house loaded.

The one exception are my two concealed carry guns, which I always know are loaded (the semi has a round chambered). Oh, and the bedside sotgun is loaded, but nothing in the breech because I've heard of some mechanical failures due to drops w/ a lot of shotties.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

I only have 1 handgun at the moment. It is always loaded, chambered, and within reach. I don't even own a safe (I do have a lockbox).

When I finally get another handgun and a safe, I am quite sure I will keep the gun in the safe with a full mag and loaded chamber. Yes, it is ALWAYS loaded.

 

[sublimaze41]

1/2 loaded at various times. I always assume the one I pick up is loaded until proven otherwise.

 

[HammerBite]

The more you fiddle with the gun the more opportunity you have to make a mistake. If the gun was safe enough to carry it will be just as safe sitting in the safe.

 

[xjchief]

I keep all my working guns loaded minus a round in the chamber. (I have a couple that I don't ever shoot that are packed with cosmoline)

I never have to worry about whether my guns are loaded or not, they are.

 

[waterhouse]

I keep mine loaded with a round in the chamber, but I also keep them holstered. If I want to switch carry guns I open the safe, take one holstered gun off, reach in the safe for another holstered gun, and put that holster on.

When I'm moving loaded guns around, I figure the less time the trigger is accessible and the less I "fiddle" with them the better.

I only have 2 carry guns, and one of them is usually on my hip or within arm's reach and the other is usually holstered in the safe. All other guns in the safe are unloaded.

 

[Mainsail]

If you’re not comfortable with leaving it loaded in the safe, leave it loaded inside the holster and then put it in the safe. A modern handgun inside a proper holster will not discharge; think of the holster as an additional layer of safety.

 

[30 cal slob]

for CCW guns that get rotated, i will often leave them loaded.

1) wheelgun - hammer down on an empty chamber. that's how i carry it.

2) pistol - condition 3 - loaded mag in the pistol but no round in the chamber.

and make 2x sure the muzzles are pointed in a safe direction while stored.

 

[riverdog]

Doesn't really matter as long as you are consistent. In your case of swapping carry guns, I'd leave it loaded in its holster as Mainsail described, perfectly safe. As it is, the guns in my safe are stored. The guns out are loaded.

 

[romma]

I would at least be careful unchambering and rechambering the same round repeatedly... Not reccomended.

 

[Harley Quinn]

If you are puting them in and out "back and forth", I'd leave um loaded all the time.

I never have one in the chamber around the house so it would not work for me, but if you are carrying all the time "out and about" locked and loaded is the way for 1911's

 

[Claude Clay]

ALL guns are ALWAYS loaded.....KISS.
Personally, top shelf front & laying flat guns ARE loaded. Any thing else in the safe isn't-but ALL require verification.
Also, PT-145 ( one of many which is custom) mounted on the inside of the door at my wrist height is ALWAYS loaded.

 

[Primersinmyshoe]

Wouldn't a holstered gun in the safe invite rust?

 

[The-Fly]

Here's the scheme I use, I have two safes...

Bedroom has a small pistol safe. It holds either my carry gun (g26) or my nightstand gun (xd 45acp 5"). Pistol safe guns are always loaded and chambered.

Primary safe in basement with the rest of the guns... my 6" 357 and my Beretta 92fs are loaded and chambered. The tactical AR and the AK, same. Everything else is unloaded.

Reason why I keep some of the handguns in the main safe loaded is if I am downstairs, and need to grab something in a hurry, and a rifle wouldn't be appropriate for whatever reason.

 

[mjrodney]

Handguns within immediate reach inside either of my safes are always loaded and ready to go.

Big bores are always within immediate reach.

In time of need, we don't want to have to ask ourselves which ones are loaded and which ones are not, so really it comes down to which one our fingers touch first.

During those times when there is no immediate need, my bride and I operate under the well known principals that ALL guns are loaded, that we need to keep our fingers off of the trigger until the sights are on the target, and that we never point them at anythin.......well, you get the idea.

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Every gun in my safe is unloaded.

Guns out of the safe are loaded. If I had one of those little boxes for 'locked/quick access' to a pistol, then I guess I'd leave that gun loaded. Otherwise, the one's in the safe are unloaded until recovered and loaded as I see fit.

-Steve

 

[waterhouse]

Wouldn't a holstered gun in the safe invite rust?

I've never had a problem with it, but it probably depends greatly on local conditions, rust preventative measures, and holster material.

 

[whitetiger7654]

I didn't read everyone's response so I hope it already hasn't been said.

I don't think loaded or unloaded is to big of a deal as long as the guns can't be bumped or accidently fired. What is important is doing the same thing all the time. Either load them or unload them not both. Always check when pulling them out also.

That said. I keep mine unloaded except the ones in my quick access safe for HD. I always check when I pull any gun out to verify if it's unloaded.

 

[Jeff F]

I keep all my side arms loaded. Never a question if one is loaded or not. My three HD shotguns are loaded. None of my rifles are kept loaded but are always treated as if they are.