XD40EZO
Member
Do you keep your HD Shotgun Loaded? Do you leave one in the chamber or just in the mag tube?
Just curious...
peace,
Just curious...
peace,
HD Shotgun Question...
- Thread starter XD40EZO
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dfariswheel
Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2002
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- 6,656
Most people leave their HD gun in "Cruiser ready" condition like the police do.
Magazine loaded, chamber empty, hammer down on the empty chamber.
All that's necessary to use it, is to pump the handle, there's no strain on the hammer spring, and its safe.
Magazine loaded, chamber empty, hammer down on the empty chamber.
All that's necessary to use it, is to pump the handle, there's no strain on the hammer spring, and its safe.
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
Cruiser ready is the way we go here too.
Magazine is loaded 'one down' or one round short of being fully loaded. That leaves room for inserting a different load into the mag than the buckshot it is loaded with, and relieves a little pressure on the mag spring too. There's extra buckshot on board in the SideSaddle and a couple of slugs too.
Hammer's down on an empty chamber, always checked visually and manually before dry firing, safety's back on before the gun goes back into its hidey hole.
Takes too much time to load the magazine from scratch, don't like to keep it empty- but the slide can be run as soon as you get two hands on the gun, with the mag loaded. Don't like to keep the chamber loaded on a house gun, for sure when action is imminent but not when it is just sitting on the pegs. If you cut things so close you can't rack the slide on a house gun when you pick it up... well, maybe a bit more situational awareness and/or perimeter security is in order.
Stay safe,
lpl/nc
Magazine is loaded 'one down' or one round short of being fully loaded. That leaves room for inserting a different load into the mag than the buckshot it is loaded with, and relieves a little pressure on the mag spring too. There's extra buckshot on board in the SideSaddle and a couple of slugs too.
Hammer's down on an empty chamber, always checked visually and manually before dry firing, safety's back on before the gun goes back into its hidey hole.
Takes too much time to load the magazine from scratch, don't like to keep it empty- but the slide can be run as soon as you get two hands on the gun, with the mag loaded. Don't like to keep the chamber loaded on a house gun, for sure when action is imminent but not when it is just sitting on the pegs. If you cut things so close you can't rack the slide on a house gun when you pick it up... well, maybe a bit more situational awareness and/or perimeter security is in order.
Stay safe,
lpl/nc
El Tejon
Member
Yes, but no children here.
JNewell
Member
Go with cruiser ready, as outlined above; keep additional ammo on the gun (my preference would be a side saddle carrier, but YMMV).
Obviously, you need to consider security issues, and children are not the only factor there. There was a thread recently on heavily-discounted GunVault shotgun locks that secure the receiver. (A side saddle won't fit in the lock, though.) GunVaults offer very speedy access to a loaded (or unloaded) gun, and reasonable security (subject to the issues with the key)...but that's another thread, don't want to hijack this one.
Obviously, you need to consider security issues, and children are not the only factor there. There was a thread recently on heavily-discounted GunVault shotgun locks that secure the receiver. (A side saddle won't fit in the lock, though.) GunVaults offer very speedy access to a loaded (or unloaded) gun, and reasonable security (subject to the issues with the key)...but that's another thread, don't want to hijack this one.
cslinger
Member
3 days out of the week the shotgun is loaded......."Guess which three" 
Actually ours are loaded safety on. If I do plan on racking to scare somebody I figure I can waste a shell then.
Chris
Actually ours are loaded safety on. If I do plan on racking to scare somebody I figure I can waste a shell then.
Chris
XD40EZO
Member
Awesome! That's a new term for me "Cruiser Ready"... just curious, because i pretty much keep my handguns (or at least my HDs) chambered...
peace,
peace,
sm
member
No Kids-
Everything I keep on my person; or I keep on-site is fully loaded , and round chambered...
Snick & Shoot
Everything I keep on my person; or I keep on-site is fully loaded , and round chambered...
Snick & Shoot
308win
Member
NO KIDS. 1991A1 on top of nightstand - cocked & locked; 870HD leaning against wall between bed and night stand - loaded and safed with full magazine; XD9SC - carry gun in house - cocked; Model19 in nightstand - loaded, hammer down. Two one year old shelties - cocked and locked but they are more strategic than tactical, although one is evil black (and white)
jason10mm
Member
I keep the slide back and a shell loose in the chamber. So all I have to do is lift up the shotgun by the forearm and it chambers the shell. Not really sure why I keep it that way, but it does allow me to easily see if the weapon has a shell in the chamber, and I can clear it and close the chamber if I want to transport the firearm without emptying the mag tube.
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
Nice little admin detail for those with short fore-ends that do not cover the front of the loading port (y'all Ithaca 37/87 folks, not talking to you here) when the slide is back- your strong hand thumb can serve as a magazine cutoff to let you open the bolt on a pumpgun either with or without a round in the chamber. Just push the shell in the magazine forward a bit with the tip of your thumb and ease the slide back. If the fore-end covers the loading port you're apt to get pinched. Hold the buttstock under the strong side armpit with the gun in a sort of extra low low ready, watch the muzzle and ease the slide back with the weak hand after tripping the bolt latch if necessary. When you learn where the activation points are on the action bars you can get your thumb out of the way sooner.
Done right, you get the bolt open on an empty chamber without cycling the next load thru the action. Like anything else, if you do it wrong all sorts of bad things can happen. Feel it out for yourself, and be careful...
lpl/nc
Done right, you get the bolt open on an empty chamber without cycling the next load thru the action. Like anything else, if you do it wrong all sorts of bad things can happen. Feel it out for yourself, and be careful...
lpl/nc
Chuck R.
Member
I’m a Benelli fan, so I keep 6 in the magazine, one on the lifter. My boy is now getting mobile and in to everything, so I just purchased a V-Line “Top Draw†safe for my SIG 220ST:
http://www.kcsafe.com/Handgun1.htm
It’s big enough for the pistol, a couple mags and my Surfire light. I’m pretty impressed with it, so I’m going to order one of their long gun safes for my M1S90.
Chuck
http://www.kcsafe.com/Handgun1.htm
It’s big enough for the pistol, a couple mags and my Surfire light. I’m pretty impressed with it, so I’m going to order one of their long gun safes for my M1S90.
Chuck
Sportcat
Member
Hey guys... I'm still new to shotguns, but I have an 870 Magnum. What does
mean?
I presently keep mine totally unloaded, but will probably start keeping 6 shells in the tube. (no kids, but nervous wife).
mean?
I presently keep mine totally unloaded, but will probably start keeping 6 shells in the tube. (no kids, but nervous wife).
Rockrivr1
Member
I also keep my shotgun loaded in the magazine tube only. I don't have any kids yet so I don't worry about someone finding it and playing arounds. I figure if someone breaks into the house the distinctive noise the shotgun makes when I load up the first shell will make them think twice about sticking around
"hammer down on the empty chamber"
Actually this is more a revolver saying then anything else. This is when a shooter will load 5 rounds and leave the 6th empty. They would then put the hammer down on the empty cylinder when in the holster.
"hammer down on the empty chamber"
Actually this is more a revolver saying then anything else. This is when a shooter will load 5 rounds and leave the 6th empty. They would then put the hammer down on the empty cylinder when in the holster.
ReadyontheRight
Member
Pick up your 870 magnum. Make sure it's empty. You notice that you need to press the lever by the trigger guard to cycle the pump action to make sure it's empty. If you pull the trigger and put the 'hammer down', you can then cycle the pump action without pushing this lever.
So "cruiser ready" means you have the chamber empty, you have the magazine full (or full minus one to keep the springs fresh) and you have (SAFELY!) pulled the trigger on an empty chamber so the action is all ready to cycle a round into the chamber.
Of course, be VERY careful when pulling the trigger, point it away from anything you do not want to destroy and ensure that the chamber is truly empty.
Is there a term for this same condition with the hammer "up"?
4Truck
Member
I keep my 870 loaded w/ 6+1 and 6 in the sidesaddle
Moondoggie
Member
My 870 sits at the front of the safe, 4 ft behind me...when I'm home, safe's open.
It's "Cruiser Ready" with 9 in the tube + 6 in the sidesaddle. All 00 Buck & slugs, 2/1.
The 4506 in the nitestand has 1 in the chamber + 9 in the mag, safety off (it's a DA), the P-16 at my workbench is cocked & locked, and the other guns throughout the house are revolvers.
There's a flashlight by every gun.
Ahhhhh...the empty nest! Guns can be accessable and clothing is optional!
It's "Cruiser Ready" with 9 in the tube + 6 in the sidesaddle. All 00 Buck & slugs, 2/1.
The 4506 in the nitestand has 1 in the chamber + 9 in the mag, safety off (it's a DA), the P-16 at my workbench is cocked & locked, and the other guns throughout the house are revolvers.
There's a flashlight by every gun.
Ahhhhh...the empty nest! Guns can be accessable and clothing is optional!
Zach S
Member
I keep my 590 chambered with the mag tube downloaded by one. All other longarms are condition 3, even my 10-22. All functional pistols are fully loaded.
XD40EZO
Member
So you guys are saying that Shotguns are pretty "trust-worthy" and "safe" to keep locked and loaded (chambered)???... and I should give it same trust as I do with my pistols...
...coz my pistol's locked and loaded 27/4 (anywhere/anytime)...
peace,
...coz my pistol's locked and loaded 27/4 (anywhere/anytime)...
peace,
Sportcat
Member
27 hours a day/ 4 days a week
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
Maybe there's some misconceptions about Cruiser Ready....
From the Md Dept of Public Safety And Correctional Services Reg book.....
"The duty shotgun for all agencies is the Remington 870 Police Shotgun in 12 gauge. Variances may be granted by the Chief Of Operations or the Commissioner.
Issue ammunition shall be 00 buckshot, 9 pellet, 2 3/4" only. All officers will qualify with buckshot. Familiarization firing for new officers can employ birdshot for part of the training, but buckshot must be used for at least 50% of the rounds fired.
Shotguns will be kept stored in vehicles and towers in Cruiser Ready condition.
Cruiser Ready Condition is:
Safety on.
Action locked shut.
Chamber empty.
Magazine full on standard weapons, those with extended magazines loaded with 5 rounds.
All officers will be trained to employ the shotgun from Cruiser Ready Condition and return it to that condition after chambering any ammunition.
Any violations of the above will be treated as safety violations that could cause death and/or serious injury.Disciplinary action will be taken under DCR 50-yadayada"......
Think about it. No depts want their troops dropping hammers on supposedly empty chambers every shift change. Sooner or later that chamber won't be empty.
With the action locked closed, safety on and an empty chamber, cogniscienti can arm and fire in about one second. Those who know nothing about REAL pumpguns will take lots longer if they can do it at all.
I know of NO US depts where action unlocked or a chambered shell are part of their SOPs. Any that do are open to litigation up the wazoo.....
From the Md Dept of Public Safety And Correctional Services Reg book.....
"The duty shotgun for all agencies is the Remington 870 Police Shotgun in 12 gauge. Variances may be granted by the Chief Of Operations or the Commissioner.
Issue ammunition shall be 00 buckshot, 9 pellet, 2 3/4" only. All officers will qualify with buckshot. Familiarization firing for new officers can employ birdshot for part of the training, but buckshot must be used for at least 50% of the rounds fired.
Shotguns will be kept stored in vehicles and towers in Cruiser Ready condition.
Cruiser Ready Condition is:
Safety on.
Action locked shut.
Chamber empty.
Magazine full on standard weapons, those with extended magazines loaded with 5 rounds.
All officers will be trained to employ the shotgun from Cruiser Ready Condition and return it to that condition after chambering any ammunition.
Any violations of the above will be treated as safety violations that could cause death and/or serious injury.Disciplinary action will be taken under DCR 50-yadayada"......
Think about it. No depts want their troops dropping hammers on supposedly empty chambers every shift change. Sooner or later that chamber won't be empty.
With the action locked closed, safety on and an empty chamber, cogniscienti can arm and fire in about one second. Those who know nothing about REAL pumpguns will take lots longer if they can do it at all.
I know of NO US depts where action unlocked or a chambered shell are part of their SOPs. Any that do are open to litigation up the wazoo.....
XD40EZO
Member
sorry Sportscat...hehehe a little dyslexia kicked in... but y'all know what i mean...
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