Is a gun always loaded?

Is a gun always loaded?

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I dry-fire my presumably loaded guns, and point my presumably loaded guns, only at a cheap TV that backs an exterior wall with a known backstop.

How's that?

I'm having a hard time understanding why so many are having a difficult time with this protocol.

Les
 
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So as you can see the above article shows that the gun is always loaded way of teaching is ineffective. Does is mean that there are always bullets in the gun no. Does it mean to be carefull with your gun loaded or not. I thought so.

I guess things have come to the point that implied rules are no longer valid. That common sense is out of the question. Since I am a state appointed gun nazi and not a self appointed one; I am lazy. A self appointed would show ambition please give me some rules on how we should teach from now on. In a world where everything must be lawyer proofed to prevent lawsuits. Lets add say another 26 hours onto hunter safety classes and change the test from 52 questions to lets say 867 questions just to be sure we have covered any possible senario. I would hate to get sued because I failed to point out that if a car going 20 mph leaves Kentuckey senario. That sounds alot more reasonalbe than a gun should always be treated as if it were loaded.
 
So as you can see the above article shows that the gun is always loaded way of teaching is ineffective.
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My eyes must be failing me. Which part says "a gun is or isn't always loaded". ?

Les
 
If the gun was always loaded, I could never dry fire, clean or maintain it. :eek:

Not to mention, I would never run out of ammo in the middle of a string of fire....:p
 
While installing a new stock on my 10/22 a couple days ago, I realized at one point that I had the muzzle pointed directly at my crotch. So, no, guns are not always loaded. And yes, I did check that the magazine was removed and the chamber was empty before I started working on it.

Every gun is loaded until you have personally verified that it is not.

Question for gunsmiths: Could you do your job if you were prohibited from ever pointing a muzzle at yourself or someone else?
 
so.. I just took a my 1911 apart.. I cannot for the life of me see the round in the chamber that 73 % of you say is there... I took out the clip, removed the slide, recoil spring, and barrel, the round should have come out too... WHAT IS HAPPENING???????????????????? oh wait.. I UNLOADED IT>>>>
 
My eyes must be failing me. Which part says "a gun is or isn't always loaded". ?

Les
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Sorry may have been a bad example. Yes I agree that a gun is technically isn't always loaded. Yet teaching it in that way seems to work wether its parents, grandparents, friends, firearms instructors who ever teaching it. It seems to work. All anyone ask is no matter how you think it should be worded as long as we are responsible that is all we could ever ask. If anyone has a better way of teaching this please let me know. I am open to suggestions I just prefer simplicity.
 
I like the slant which is "A gun is always loaded until you verify that it is unloaded."

We used to refer to this as "gun store protocol" and it was as rigidly enforced as one of the Four Rules (even though it isn't a Rule...)

What it means, in application, is that if you set the gun down, turn your back on it, whatever, ... it's loaded again.

There was a story posted one one of these shooting forums not too long ago of a dad who was showing several guns to family, and removed the magazine from a Ruger MkII, locked action back and passed it around. While he was showing another gun, a family member "tidied up" by replacing the magazine for him. When he got back to the Ruger, he picked it up, dropped the bolt and pulled the trigger, to prepare for putting it back in case. Hole in coffee table, as I remember.

So, in a proper gun store, the salesman takes the gun out, opens the action and hands it to you. After you dry fire it at the ceiling lights, or the blister packs on the wall behind him, you open the action and hand it back to him. Any time a gun changes hands, verify it is unloaded first.

IMO, it isn't the range where people get careless, it's the "get together with friends" sessions, or "cleaning firearms" sessions. We need "gun store protocol" to handle these situations, which don't really seem to fit the Four Rules very well.

In combination, I think we can all stay safe.
 
Always loaded keeps you alive

I treat all my firearms as though they could be loaded, even when I know they are not, so I vote yes.

That means ANY firearm I handle I clear, check, and recheck. If I clear a firearm, decide to leave it on the table for five minutes to go get a Dr. Pepper, and come back to handle it again, I clear it and check it again.

That means that even when I know the firearms are cleared, checked, and rechecked, I never point them at anyone. It also means that when I pull the trigger on a cleared and checked firearm, I make sure it is pointed in a safe direction.


It is difficult to be overly careful, but it is easy to be careless. Don't leave to chance things you have a chance to control.
 
We seem to be going around in circles on this one. Seems to me that so long as everyone treats the firearm as being loaded for safety's sake we're doing the right thing. For the purpose of transporting and cleaning we're good to go providing we've checked the breach and pulled the magazine. On the bench between shooting I usually leave the breach open and stick a red 'flag' in so everyone can see that there can't possibly be a round up the spout. I'm kind of surprised there's been so much debate on what I'm sure we all do in real life when handling our firearms.
 
The only time that I allow my muzzle to wander is while cleaning. This is after I've initially checked and double checked the chamber, then broken the gun down.

I'm 100% sure my rifles aren't going to shoot when the bolt/carrier is laying out on the table - same thing for my pistols when the slide/barrel/spring are seperated and laying on the table. Really the only guns I have that can't be physically disabled are my revolvers - but when you've got the chamber open/empty and a cleaning rod down the barrel it's just as good.

I never allow people to give me the "it's not loaded" excuse when shooting or showing me guns and am very vocal about making sure people are following the 4 rules - unless we're cleaning.
 


always loaded.....ua, right :uhoh:
 
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Even if I see you clear it I will double check it when you hand it to me, and you should do the same, A gun is always loaded until you verify it's safe personally. The moment you set it down and look away or pass it on to a friend it becomes loaded again.
 
My deseased ex Marine uncle Mike would slap you in the head if he handed you a gun and you didn't check it again, Even when you watched him clear it. That slap made an impression on me at a very early age. All my weapons are loaded all the time, unless they are being cleaned, then a loaded gun is next to the one i'm cleaning.
 
My deseased ex Marine uncle Mike would slap you in the head if he handed you a gun and you didn't check it again, Even when you watched him clear it.
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Whenever I hand someone a gun and they ask me if it's loaded I respond with only "Check for yourself." I'd slap them, but that wouldn't go over very well with all of them :)
 
^--------------------

many people claim to be doing just that after they have shot themselves.....or someone else:eek:
 
As several others have stated, the original question was, is a gun always loaded, not should you treat a gun as if it is loaded.

A gun is not always loaded. However, with regards to muzzle control and general safe handling, you should treat it with care and respect.

Those of you quoting great grandpa, and the rules, and your instructor are not proving anything. It is right and proper to treat guns safely and not point them at people, etc. But the fact is, they can be unloaded.

Quote:
I'm much more apt to follow a rule that actually is based in reality than one that has been sensationalized in order to scare me into being safe.
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It is based in reality. You could check the chamber, check the magazine, and see light from the end of the bbl, and still have missed a round.
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I honestly believe that if you are capable of checking the chamber, checking the magazine, and seeing light through both ends of the barrel, and miss a round somewhere, that you do not have the mental capacity to own firearms.

Whenever I clean my guns I inspect the bore after swabing it. For some, like my AK, .22, and shotgun, that involves looking down the barrel from the muzzle end. Doesn't phase me a bit, as I know the gun is unloaded and incapable of firing.

Safe gun handling is important. No one in this thread is disputing or debating that. The simple fact is that when a gun has been personally verified by you as unloaded... it's unloaded. Laws of physics still apply. Bullets don't materialize. I sure wish they did though... :rolleyes:
 
The only guy I know who shot himself accidentally "was cleaning it". (.22 rifle, in just behind the jawbone, out through the nose... ouch).

Muzzle-direction safe-protocols were apparently not being observed.

Because, of course, it was "unloaded for cleaning".

Les
 
If one correctly clears and disassembles a gun prior to cleaning, then there is no danger... PERIOD!!!!!! if you are careless and neglect to check and clear the weapon, then you hold your fate in your hands.. no one has ever been shot by an unloaded gun, only a gun they were to irresponsible to check!!! I say this having friends who have done just that and they blame themselves as well.... is a gun alway loaded? NO, it most certainly is not... PERIOD!!!
 
No, a gun is not always loaded. I dislike the fact that one of the "rules" violates simple logic.

I don't need to be brainwashed into believing a falsehood just to help ensure my safety. Besides, you should be relying on more safeguards anyway.

Honestly, I don't care if a gun is loaded or not, because I'm going to treat it as if it is loaded until I can confirm its actual condition.
 
It depends with me. If I'm at my house then I know that none of the guns are going to be loaded, no reason to check. But if I'm out at the range then I always make sure to check.
 
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