I found a copy of Farnam's book on defensive shotgun and rifle shooting at my local library. It's been a good read that has given me some things to think about and try at the range. In the book he suggests both storing and carrying a shotgun with an empty chamber, safety off, and hammer down. His primary argument for this as I understand it is that it removes any ambiguity as to the state of the gun with a pump action (I'm not very familiar with semi-autos so I'm not sure how this applies to them). It removes ambiguity since if you pick up the shotgun and the slide is forward but the slide lock is retracted, then you know that the hammer is down, which means that there is not live shell in the chamber. I think he also makes an argument that it also places less tension on the springs for storage. I'm curious what your opinions of this are? My understanding with springs is that holding tension on them is not as much of a problem as cycling the spring. If this is the case then the only real reason to store a shotgun with the hammer down is the ambiguity argument. I've always carried my gun in the field with a live shell in the chamber and safety on. The book recommends NEVER moving with a live shell in the chamber since most shotguns are not drop safe. While I already knew this, it has certainly made me re-think my carry procedure. I think that I have decided that while walking when hunting I will carry as the book suggests, then if I need to make a quick shot the slide is already released and I can chamber a shell while I move the shotgun to my shoulder. If I'm in a blind or other stationary position when hunting I think that I'll have a live shell in the chamber and the safety on. That way I'm not trying to chamber a shell with a weary bird approaching. What do you think? How do you store your gun for long term storage, and as a home defense weapon? What state is your gun in when you are hunting? I look forward to your comments.
hammer down carry/storage?
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krimmie
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It seems the author is being overly cautious. I always assume every gun I have/handle is loaded, and treat it as such(this removes ambiguity also).
As far as hunting goes, I keep my gun chambered with the safety on.
As far as hunting goes, I keep my gun chambered with the safety on.
Al LaVodka
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I agree 1,000%!
That is how I keep my HD shotgun loaded here -- only difference is I drop the hammer on a snap cap. Mossberg 500. Tube comfortably loaded with five American 2 3/4" rounds knowing that it'll hold five 3" Magnums, and there are five more shells in the sidesaddle (now wears a red-lens Maglite mounted in one slot). Got everything I reasonably need onboard. Safety? No Siree. But you do have to cycle the gun to shoot...
Al
That is how I keep my HD shotgun loaded here -- only difference is I drop the hammer on a snap cap. Mossberg 500. Tube comfortably loaded with five American 2 3/4" rounds knowing that it'll hold five 3" Magnums, and there are five more shells in the sidesaddle (now wears a red-lens Maglite mounted in one slot). Got everything I reasonably need onboard. Safety? No Siree. But you do have to cycle the gun to shoot...
Al
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My response focuses only on the Self Defense/HD aspect of a shotgun.
Sporting purposes of a shotgun vary greatly from the Self Defense/HD purpose. Sporting You know you are going to shoot something you know roughly where its going to come from. and you don't have to worry about a bird taking your shotgun. Self Defense/HD well the opposite of what I just said.
The method Farnam uses is what is typically refered to Cruiser ready. Chamber empty hammer down. Safety off.
On a shotgun the only thing the safety does is prevent the trigger from moving to the rear. Outside of that it does nothing to keep the gun from making a really loud noise should it be dropped just right.
I'm no scientist nor a specialists on the properties of metals and stress to those metals through cycling. So I can't comment on that other than repeat what I have gathered. Its not the tension on the spring but the repeated cycling of the spring that causes the wear.
The main reason for the hammer down on the shotgun is to free the action for quick cycling should you need to make things loud in a hurry. Line up a Mossberg 500/590, Rem 870, H&R whatever or any other pump gun made. set them all up the same way(chamber empty magazine with rounds inserted and hammer down). It doesn't matter where the safety is or what name is on the receiver. you need to shoot one pick it up cycle the action and squeeze the trigger. No safety to deal with just rack the slide shoulder the weapon and squeeze that trigger. It eliminates all the issues associated with platform differences.
I have taken several classes from an instructor that refers to Farnam as a Guru and his mentor. So the methods Farnam teaches trickle down with very minor changes to what is taught. Sit through a Farnam course or someone who uses Farnam principles and you will have no questions about this method.
Is it the only one out there, NO. Is it the best out there, Debateable. I can tell you this. This method is safe and simple. boiled down it is universal across all pump guns and easily adapted to most semiautos.
Why is this important
Sporting purposes of a shotgun vary greatly from the Self Defense/HD purpose. Sporting You know you are going to shoot something you know roughly where its going to come from. and you don't have to worry about a bird taking your shotgun. Self Defense/HD well the opposite of what I just said.
The method Farnam uses is what is typically refered to Cruiser ready. Chamber empty hammer down. Safety off.
On a shotgun the only thing the safety does is prevent the trigger from moving to the rear. Outside of that it does nothing to keep the gun from making a really loud noise should it be dropped just right.
I'm no scientist nor a specialists on the properties of metals and stress to those metals through cycling. So I can't comment on that other than repeat what I have gathered. Its not the tension on the spring but the repeated cycling of the spring that causes the wear.
The main reason for the hammer down on the shotgun is to free the action for quick cycling should you need to make things loud in a hurry. Line up a Mossberg 500/590, Rem 870, H&R whatever or any other pump gun made. set them all up the same way(chamber empty magazine with rounds inserted and hammer down). It doesn't matter where the safety is or what name is on the receiver. you need to shoot one pick it up cycle the action and squeeze the trigger. No safety to deal with just rack the slide shoulder the weapon and squeeze that trigger. It eliminates all the issues associated with platform differences.
I have taken several classes from an instructor that refers to Farnam as a Guru and his mentor. So the methods Farnam teaches trickle down with very minor changes to what is taught. Sit through a Farnam course or someone who uses Farnam principles and you will have no questions about this method.
Is it the only one out there, NO. Is it the best out there, Debateable. I can tell you this. This method is safe and simple. boiled down it is universal across all pump guns and easily adapted to most semiautos.
Why is this important
Rail Driver
Member
In the area of springs, as for my (former) Remington 870, I kept it loaded with one in the chamber... The only sound more fearsome than a shotgun racking in a dark house is the sound of one or more safeties clicking off after you rack the beast.
Now that I've traded off the 12ga, I've got a .40S&W handgun that spends every minute of its life either in my holster on my hip, or on my nightstand... It's always got one in the chamber.
The way I rationalize it is that guns are meant to have rounds in them, and springs only experience metal fatigue from being expanded and contracted repeatedly. Keeping a spring compressed does not fatigue the metal at all. Keeping magazines fully loaded, or keeping the weapon cocked doesn't cause any extra wear and tear on a firearm, and this has been studied in depth. ( google is your friend )
The only possible problem I can see is if your particular gun has a spring in its extended or expanded position when cocked... If that is the case, it's possible for the spring to experience metal fatigue, but not nearly as much as repeatedly loading and unloading the magazine or firearm.
Now that I've traded off the 12ga, I've got a .40S&W handgun that spends every minute of its life either in my holster on my hip, or on my nightstand... It's always got one in the chamber.
The way I rationalize it is that guns are meant to have rounds in them, and springs only experience metal fatigue from being expanded and contracted repeatedly. Keeping a spring compressed does not fatigue the metal at all. Keeping magazines fully loaded, or keeping the weapon cocked doesn't cause any extra wear and tear on a firearm, and this has been studied in depth. ( google is your friend )
The only possible problem I can see is if your particular gun has a spring in its extended or expanded position when cocked... If that is the case, it's possible for the spring to experience metal fatigue, but not nearly as much as repeatedly loading and unloading the magazine or firearm.
oneounceload
member
With my HD p[ump, it is in the condition the author described - hammer down on an empty chamber, safety off - one needs to rack and go.
Since I hunt with O/Us and SxSs, I carry them with rounds in the chambers, but action broken open, unless the dogs are onto birds
Since I hunt with O/Us and SxSs, I carry them with rounds in the chambers, but action broken open, unless the dogs are onto birds
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