KBintheSLC
Member
Never ever... unless you have a way of lowering the hammer safely. I have an 870 Express and it is dangerous to store it with one in the chamber... no hammer safety (only a trigger safety), and SAO.
Keep a shell chambered in your HD shotgun?
- Thread starter Weezy
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jakemccoy
Member
Until this thread, I thought it was common knowledge never to have one in the chamber of a shotgun until ready to fire or about ready to fire.
Regarding the time saving concept, unless you're in your bed spooning your shotgun, it's going to take at least 5 seconds to get to it from a dead sleep. A savings of an extra 0.2 seconds to pump (or charge) the gun does not buy much time. I can make that time up a hundred-fold by strategically planning the security layers of my house. Also, the working of the pump is not a fine motor skill. So, if I practice regularly with my pump, I don't imagine short stroking to be in the picture.
Regarding the noise of the "shuck shuck", I personally want to give the intruder the opportunity to take off. Also, the way my bedroom is situated it would be nearly impossible to "shoot at the sound" and actually hit me. Anyway, a home invader proactively shooting in the general direction of a sound that's somewhere in the house just seems really bizarre to me. I suppose it could happen. I just don't place it high on the list of possible things that could happen.
Regarding safety, having the chamber empty is safer for a variety of reasons. Shotguns have no hammer safety. Also, there could be children or a guest wandering into my bedroom. The reason is unimportant. An empty chamber provides a last tidbit of hope that a mishap won't change my life for the worse forever.
Taking all these factors into consideration, empty chamber wins by a landslide.
Regarding the time saving concept, unless you're in your bed spooning your shotgun, it's going to take at least 5 seconds to get to it from a dead sleep. A savings of an extra 0.2 seconds to pump (or charge) the gun does not buy much time. I can make that time up a hundred-fold by strategically planning the security layers of my house. Also, the working of the pump is not a fine motor skill. So, if I practice regularly with my pump, I don't imagine short stroking to be in the picture.
Regarding the noise of the "shuck shuck", I personally want to give the intruder the opportunity to take off. Also, the way my bedroom is situated it would be nearly impossible to "shoot at the sound" and actually hit me. Anyway, a home invader proactively shooting in the general direction of a sound that's somewhere in the house just seems really bizarre to me. I suppose it could happen. I just don't place it high on the list of possible things that could happen.
Regarding safety, having the chamber empty is safer for a variety of reasons. Shotguns have no hammer safety. Also, there could be children or a guest wandering into my bedroom. The reason is unimportant. An empty chamber provides a last tidbit of hope that a mishap won't change my life for the worse forever.
Taking all these factors into consideration, empty chamber wins by a landslide.
IrateIrishman
Member
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- Aug 12, 2008
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I joined THR to get involved in this thread. I keep a Charles Daley HD 12GA on hooks under my bed. Mag is full of 00 buck and 1 round riding the shell lifter on an open chamber. I don't lose capacity and all that is needed is to gently slide the pump forward to to be ready. In the morning it is unloaded and redeposited in my safe.
Geronimo45
Member
Empty chamber on all long guns, mainly due to drop-safety issues. Way I was raised, makes sense to me.
Handguns, now, have loaded chambers most all the time.
Handguns, now, have loaded chambers most all the time.
I don't believe in intimidation factor. Sorry, guys, I'm just not that intimidating.
And I don't care. I could care less if a BG who's invaded my home is frightened of me, or not. I just want to (1) do the right thing and (2) be safe. If I feel threatened, I'll fire. If I'm not threatened, I won't shoot. This is quite similar to how I would approach using lethal force from a concealed carry standpoint, and I see no reason to change how I address problems- except I have even less ability, in my own house, to retreat.
I wouldn't wave any CC firearm around before using it, nor (heaven forbid) a knife if that were my sole defensive weapon, and I don't plan on trying to frighten bad guys into compliance or pants-wetting with my superscary-sounding shotgun. Or carbine, for that matter.
John
And I don't care. I could care less if a BG who's invaded my home is frightened of me, or not. I just want to (1) do the right thing and (2) be safe. If I feel threatened, I'll fire. If I'm not threatened, I won't shoot. This is quite similar to how I would approach using lethal force from a concealed carry standpoint, and I see no reason to change how I address problems- except I have even less ability, in my own house, to retreat.
I wouldn't wave any CC firearm around before using it, nor (heaven forbid) a knife if that were my sole defensive weapon, and I don't plan on trying to frighten bad guys into compliance or pants-wetting with my superscary-sounding shotgun. Or carbine, for that matter.
John
jakemccoy
Member
JShirley,
Does that mean you keep one in the chamber or not?
-Jake
Does that mean you keep one in the chamber or not?
-Jake
I guess I'm kind of a hybrid between the two. The shotgun (Rem. 870) is loaded with a full tube and a shell loaded halfway into the chamber. I still get the +1 load and its not loaded completely. All it takes to get it ready is about 3/4" push on the slide and its ready to go. It gets stored safety on muzzle down.
Feanaro
Member
I keep a slug in one barrel and 00 buck in the other. The wonders of having two barrels. I'm not particularly worried about drop safety, the shotgun sits snuggly in the safe. If I don't have time to get to it, that's what my revolver is for. Fire? It's pointed at a little used closet.
My shotgun can't make a "shuck shuck" sound and I don't particularly care for the idea anyway. If someone is in my house at o'dark-thirty, with three cars parked in the driveway, in a state where shotguns are probably the fifth most popular household item... I can only assume their elevator doesn't go to the top floor.
My shotgun can't make a "shuck shuck" sound and I don't particularly care for the idea anyway. If someone is in my house at o'dark-thirty, with three cars parked in the driveway, in a state where shotguns are probably the fifth most popular household item... I can only assume their elevator doesn't go to the top floor.
Confused!
JShirley
Well, I am confused! Not having actually stated you have a loaded chamber in a shotgun or not, do you have a loaded chamber in your shotgun?
As one of the minority, I consider a ready to go weapon being loaded, which a shotgun is NOT loaded if only the tube is loaded with ready to be loaded stored shells, gun people think this way.
In the safe, empty of all rounds. In a ready gun position, loaded chamber.
My rational, you can mount a shotgun, and take the safety off, in one smooth movement, racking the pump. or jacking the bolt on a semi moves the gun more, and quite possibly causing a feed way malfunction.
Maybe the following is off topic? but close enough? I have personally seen shots fired when loading or unloading weapons, and heard of quite a few, is it not better to take your carry weapon to bed loaded, and re-holster when dressed? as apposed to shotgun in safe empty, fill tube at night? In our minds it might not be loaded, but in law it is.
So that was the off topic bit, why a shotgun in the house in the first place?
JShirley
Well, I am confused! Not having actually stated you have a loaded chamber in a shotgun or not, do you have a loaded chamber in your shotgun?
As one of the minority, I consider a ready to go weapon being loaded, which a shotgun is NOT loaded if only the tube is loaded with ready to be loaded stored shells, gun people think this way.
In the safe, empty of all rounds. In a ready gun position, loaded chamber.
My rational, you can mount a shotgun, and take the safety off, in one smooth movement, racking the pump. or jacking the bolt on a semi moves the gun more, and quite possibly causing a feed way malfunction.
Maybe the following is off topic? but close enough? I have personally seen shots fired when loading or unloading weapons, and heard of quite a few, is it not better to take your carry weapon to bed loaded, and re-holster when dressed? as apposed to shotgun in safe empty, fill tube at night? In our minds it might not be loaded, but in law it is.
So that was the off topic bit, why a shotgun in the house in the first place?
huntsman
Member
only when loaded
moga
Member
Chambered. Safety on. Ready to go if I hear breaking glass in the middle of the night. I have a first floor master. I may not have time to chamber before a threat is upon me. This possibility outweighs any worry of ND in my world. Before bed, the 590A1 is placed on the floor under the bed rail on my side right after I set the alarm and turn on the perimeter lights.
chas08
Member
(LOL) Sounds like my kind of department store...
I concur, my 870 is loaded, 00B chambered with two to follow and two Breneke slugs bringing up the rear, stock sleeve with the same combination for spares. The click of the safety coming off, is all the mechanical warning I'm willing to give up.
arthurcw
Member
Well...
Ours is stored with a dummy round in the chamber and the hammer down.
The dummy round keeps the actions held a little tighter with less slop. I've found it less likely to short stroke it when charging it.
The hammer down on the dummy also keeps me from needing the fine motor skills to find the slide release on the 870. I don’t like feeling for the button safety for the same reason.
I wish the sound was not part of the deal, but everything is a tradeoff.
Ours is stored with a dummy round in the chamber and the hammer down.
The dummy round keeps the actions held a little tighter with less slop. I've found it less likely to short stroke it when charging it.
The hammer down on the dummy also keeps me from needing the fine motor skills to find the slide release on the 870. I don’t like feeling for the button safety for the same reason.
I wish the sound was not part of the deal, but everything is a tradeoff.
jakemccoy
Member
arthurcw,
Good tips, thanks, but a dummy round is not necessary to bypass the whole slide release issue. As you know, hammer down on empty chamber eliminates the need to work the slide release.
-Jake
Good tips, thanks, but a dummy round is not necessary to bypass the whole slide release issue. As you know, hammer down on empty chamber eliminates the need to work the slide release.
-Jake
LJ-MosinFreak-Buck
Member
I say yes because mine's a single shot break action with a hammer. That's all.
Option 3
I voted NO in the poll, but thats not quite right.
Remington 870
Full Magazine
Action open, with one round on the carrier.
All I would have to do in an emergency is pick it up and close the action, plus it gives me 4+1 with a bit less danger than having the shell actually chambered.
Preparing for the flaming in 3...2...1...
I voted NO in the poll, but thats not quite right.
Remington 870
Full Magazine
Action open, with one round on the carrier.
All I would have to do in an emergency is pick it up and close the action, plus it gives me 4+1 with a bit less danger than having the shell actually chambered.
Preparing for the flaming in 3...2...1...
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
OK....
I co opted Son into timing me while I tried a couple things.
Remember, I'm 61 and not quite as fast as I used to be.
Weapon was stocked with dummy rounds, no shell in chamber, 3 dummies in the magazine, action locked shut, safety on.
From a low ready position to ready to fire, less than one second.
From the same position to firing and cycling another dummy in ready to fire, 1.3 seconds or less in three tries.
Like I said, I'm 61.
Could some of you folks who favor different storage conditions try the drill and report your times?
Thanks and PLEASE BE SAFE!!
I co opted Son into timing me while I tried a couple things.
Remember, I'm 61 and not quite as fast as I used to be.
Weapon was stocked with dummy rounds, no shell in chamber, 3 dummies in the magazine, action locked shut, safety on.
From a low ready position to ready to fire, less than one second.
From the same position to firing and cycling another dummy in ready to fire, 1.3 seconds or less in three tries.
Like I said, I'm 61.
Could some of you folks who favor different storage conditions try the drill and report your times?
Thanks and PLEASE BE SAFE!!
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