One in the pipe?

[Brass Balls]

Do you keep one in the pipe of your home defense shotgun? Why?



I know this subject has been beat to death in reference to handguns and I always carry a handgun with one in the pipe, but it seems that when it comes to shotguns many folks do not and I wonder why. Is a shotgun's safety any less effective than a handguns?

I've been shooting shotguns longer than any other firearm, but oddly enough have always used a handgun for HD because it has been easier to keep a pistol safe in my bedroom than my rifle safe. The time just recently came to get a second large gunsafe and this one is going to go in my bedroom along with a shotgun.

I've always hunted with a loaded chamber and the gun on safe and unless there is a good reason not to, I plan to keep my HD shotgun in the same condition.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

I apologize if this subject has been recently discussed. I did do a search for a couple of different terms before posting.

 

[Plinkerton]

I have been thinking about what to do in this situation recently. I had two different thoughts on this subject. Keeping the chamber empty, would allow you to pump the shotgun (if it's a pump) and perhaps the noise would scare the intruder away enough, that you wouldn't have to shoot anyone, which I would rather not have to do. But, keeping it empty, in a situation when you needed to use it, would force you to pump it, making a lot of noise, and telling everyone where you were at.

Keeping one in the chamber would possibly allow you to "sneak up on" the "bad guy" and blow a hole in him, before he even knew you were there.

So, I am not sure which is the better thing to do. It seems like they could benefit differently in different situations, but you obviously never know which situation you're going to be in until you're in it.

-Plink-

 

[Soap]

If I wanted to try the psychological scare angle I would have a life size cardboard cutout of Janet Reno watching over my bed. I keep one in the chamber.

 

[Preacherman]

Depends on the situation. If I have a shotgun in the car, I carry it "cruiser ready" - chamber empty, action unlocked, mag loaded. It's easy to shuck one in as I pick up the shotgun (if I have to). At home, in bed, I have the chamber loaded, as if I need the shotgun in a hurry, I might have to grab it one-handed while rolling out of bed, and there might not be time to get my other hand onto the fore-end to operate it. I know I can get off at least one good shot with the round in the chamber.

 

[sm]

What Preacherman said.

 

[Arc-Lite]

the begining of december on another post, I told of someone in my home, and racking the slide, the story went on...but the reaction to the fact I racked the slide was, LARGE.... mostly like, why did you not have one up the spout?..... well now, I figure, one up the spout, and you still can rack the slide, if you wish...kind of best of both worlds. Arc-Lite

 

[Plinkerton]

Somewhat unrelated, but are there any negative issues with leaving the mag tube loaded overnight, every night? Will the spring have issues quickly?

 

[Third_Rail]

Springs are usually not damaged by leaving them either compressed or expanded - they are stressed most when going back and forth. Short answer, you're fine to leave the shotgun loaded.

 

[R.H. Lee]

No, but's that's specific to my situation. The shotgun is under my bed, and my bed is a long way from any point of entrance. To get to me, you've gotta go thru a locked gate, over a fence and a wall, either thru a door or break glass (by which time the dog would be going nuts), then find your way upstairs. I'd be awake and on my second cup of coffee waiting for you.

 

[mbs357]

I keep a single barrel 12 ga. next to my bed. Once loaded, there are no safeties, just pull the hammer back and fire. Since my home often has little ones in it when I'm not around, I don't like the idea of keeping a round chambered. All they'd have to do would be to pull back the hammer (not very much resistance) and pull the trigger. The way I see it, if I'm not in control of the weapon, it doesn't need to have a round chambered. When you're hunting, the gun is there with you the whole time, no chance of a kid grabbing it and fiddling with it. If they were my kids, they'd know better. My sisters probably won't mess with them...but my cousin... ehhh. The upside to the single barrel, is that I can load a round silently (assuming I don't open it far enough for the extractor to take action). Another advantage I have is a strap (don't know the correct term, I guess Bandolier) around the stock that holds 5 shells.
Also, what rounds do you all use in your shotties? Buckshot?

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

If I wanted to try the psychological scare angle I would have a life size cardboard cutout of Janet Reno watching over my bed.

Pure hotness.

Do you keep one in the pipe of your home defense shotgun? Why?

I keep my shotgun cruiser ready with one on the carrier (Benelli).

No deep or powerful explanation as to why my shotgun is kept this way, other than that's the way I've always done it.

-Jim

 

[DevLcL]

I agree with you mbs357. I too often find myself away from home while others are around. There arn't any kids usually but sometimes even my buds act like 5 year old. While I'm sure there smarter then to discharge the gun on accident, I'd rather not take the risk. I have a pump which I keep unload while Im gone. When I get home I usually put a few in the mag then give it a pump flip the saftey on before I go sleep so I can have one ready. In the morning empty it. Or at least before I leave. Maybe I just need to put a lock on my door

 

[Dave McCracken]

I doubt there's one simple, easy answer here. I keep mine as follows.

"Cruiser Ready" condition is with a full mag(I leave it down one round to not stress the springs), empty chamber, safety on and action locked. Someone not familiar with shotguns will take a lot of time to make it fire,if they can do it at all. The cognescienti can fire it in a twinkling. As for noise being pro or con, the answer's both.

And, since I'm the only person here that shoots shotguns on a regular basis, there's other arms here for the rest of the family.

 

[Gordon]

I keep mine like Dave, except if I have my double barrel OUTSIDE hammer gun standing guard THEN I keep chambers loaded. Call me paronoid but I don't like striker fired (hammerless) shotguns with the chamber loaded unless it's carried in the "ready" position.

 

[enfield]

Because my shotgun is next to my bed and not under my immediate control all day, I keep the mag loaded but the chamber empty. No kids in the house.

 

[Black Snowman]

another +1 to what Preacherman said.

 

[9mmMike]

"Cruiser Ready" condition is with a full mag(I leave it down one round to not stress the springs), empty chamber, safety on and action locked. Someone not familiar with shotguns will take a lot of time to make it fire,if they can do it at all. The cognescienti can fire it in a twinkling. As for noise being pro or con, the answer's both.

This is exactly what we do as well. When I pick up the gun my hand goes right to the release. It's automatic.

Mike

 

[mbs357]

I agree, Gordon.
I don't like hamerless guns period.
Yea, I'll shoot them, but I just don't like them.

 

[SapperLeader]

I keep mine cruiser ready for the reasons Dave mentioned. If I had a way of keeping the gun secured from untrained hands, I would keep the gun with the chamber loaded, magazine down by one in a heartbeat. The way Im set up now, the handgun is by the bed for immediate access, and the shotgun is two steps away cruiser ready. If my doors dont slow intruders down, and the dog doesnt wake me, I have bigger problems than my shotgun being cruiser ready or chambered round

 

[yorec]

As Preacherman first put it...

Additionally I try to remember the simple rule: What good is a gun that doesn't go BANG when you pull the trigger?

 

[lbmii]

Cruiser ready plus a double action style trigger is what I am doing right now. But I am considering chambered with the double action trigger.

Concerning mag springs: Springs costs 3 to 4 dollars each plus shipping. I bought a bunch of springs and change them in my shotgun every time I set the clock foward or back for daylight savings.

 

[carebear]

Loaded mag. Empty, fired on(?) chamber, safety off. Just rack and go.

Mental block on leaving long guns chambered that don't get handled as often I guess. The bedside pistol is locked and loaded anyway.

 

[R.H. Lee]

Loaded mag. Empty, fired on(?) chamber, safety off. Just rack and go.

Mental block on leaving long guns chambered that don't get handled as often I guess

Same way here.

 

[Mannlicher]

aways. An empty gun is useless. The time to load the chamber, just might be all the time you have. Instant reaction is crucial to a threat.
The stuff about 'racking the action to scare off the bad guy' is just, IMHO, dumb. WAY too much fantasy tactical babble.

 

[9mmMike]

aways. An empty gun is useless. The time to load the chamber, just might be all the time you have. Instant reaction is crucial to a threat.
The stuff about 'racking the action to scare off the bad guy' is just, IMHO, dumb. WAY too much fantasy tactical babble.

Boy, I guess the egg is really on my face!