SxS: Do you walk with it open?

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huntingfish

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Wow, this seems like a silly question, but from certain comments I've read, am-I to understand that some (most?) people who walk with a SxS in the woods while hunting leaves it opened?

Wouldn't you waste precious moments closing the action when a bird suddenly takes flight?

Thanks!
David
 
Walking transport? Open with fresh rounds in....

External hammers? Closed half cocked.

Actively hunting? Closed cocked...



I like open while moving around case it it casual.

But if I'm looking for game...... game on....



Also David.
 
Daver_II said:
Walking transport? Open with fresh rounds in....

External hammers? Closed half cocked.

Actively hunting? Closed cocked...



I like open while moving around case it it casual.

But if I'm looking for game...... game on....



Also David.
Click to expand...

This.

Also, if your action is open, debris from trees, etc. can be a real hazard. My understanding is it is best to avoid. Truthfully, this serves my desire not to miss a chance on a bird too...

In the grouse woods, debris in general is a hazard. Most of the time I'm closed & cocked on my hammerless double. Ideally I like to grouse hunt w/ just the dog given you really have just the safety between you & a discharge. But I will go out w/ friends & family w/ lots of talk about safety throughout the day. I use a flusher & that's just part of the hunt. Maybe if you have a versatile, you can wait until you got something on point before chambering...
 
I hunt with setters. When hunting with pointing dogs I typically hunt with action open and close on the point. But when I’m dogless, or using flushing dogs, I typically have the gun closed. But not always. I hunt late season sharp tail with no dog and often use my Manufrance Ideal that has such a poorly thought through safety, I don’t use it. Hunt with the gun open and close on the mount. But closing the action while the gun is rising to my shoulder is not delay enough to miss the birds. If I miss, and I do, it’s not because of that.
 
I often walk with a hunting buddy and his kids for upland. Action is always open with 2 chambered. On flush, action is closed and mounted, in a similar fashion to canvasback.
 
I don't think that walking with your gun open is any more or less safe than walking with your gun closed and the safety engaged because the real safety is in your head! Having said that, I will walk with my gun loaded and action closed with the safety on while hunting sharpies or ruffies by myself without a dog so the safety concern is really only about me and not others. Not saying that it can't be done but to trip and shoot your self with a shotgun is likely pretty difficult to do. Hunting over flushing dogs can have you hurrying to keep up and having to shoot at some birds that are further out than what you'd normally see over pointers so action closed with the safety on and be very, very aware of muzzle control. In my opinion this is probably the riskiest scenario of any hunting situation but again, the safety is in your head! Hunting over pointers... well often you really don't have to even put shells in until the dog points if you don't want to, it's really a very civilized way to hunt, and probably the safest, I suppose you could always stay home though.

Many years ago at a local trap shoot I attended, an old boy had a fatal heart attack when he closed his gun and raised it to shoot. His gun safety disipline was such that the action of his gun was open with the live round still in the chamber when he hit the ground. Such is muscle memory and ingrained habits when you shoot a lot of targets that it's automatic to control the gun even when distracted by an unusual ocurance. I think that most hunters could benefit from going to a few target shoots once in a while if for no other reason than to be around people who are slightly anal about gun safety.
 
When hunting my gun is closed with careful attention to muzzle control. When walking in or out of the hunting area my gun is open and over my shoulder generally as i hang onto the barrels. I havent lost any shells this way yet and the shells keep debris out of the barrels
 
I only walk with the action open to demonstrate safety when I'm in real or potential view of the public as in coming up to or crossing a road or meeting some idiot dog walker on a trail. Don't want some idiot phoning 911 saying there's a man threatening cars or people with a firearm. The wildlife I hunt here most definitely will not give you the chance to close your gun, reaction time allows you to raise and point it only. And the point made by Brybenn about keeping debris out of the barrels and action is a good one, got some nasty brush around here.
 
When hunting, I always have the action closed and cocked. This includes external hammer guns. I am acutely aware of muzzle safety, and I keep my trigger finger outside the trigger guard except when in the act of shooting.

I avoid auto-safeties whenever possible and the safety is kept in the off position while hunting.

When the decision is made to take a rest break, or we are approaching the edge of a property or other hunters/people, I break open the action and remove the shells. The action remains open with the shells out until resumption of hunting. Both barrels are checked for obstructions every single time before shells are re-inserted.

After 5 decades of hunting various game, and 3 decades of competitive shooting, I have learned that muzzle awareness is the most reliable safety practice possible. It also very easily becomes habitual.
 
We hunt with the gun loaded and safety on, opening the action when meeting up or approaching the vehicle.
For me, a hammer gun is loaded but not cocked. Cocking happens as the gun is brought to the shoulder.
If I am too slow by this, and miss game as a result, so be it.
As stated by others, muzzle awareness is essential to safety.
 
The general vibe of this thread is pretty much what I had in mind, but since I haven't hunted with dogs before, that whole aspect is very interesting to hear about.

Cheers everyone!

David
 
Muzzle control and awareness of surroundings and what's happing is absolutely important to safety. And keeping your trigger finger off the trigger until the moment that a decision has been made to shoot. I hunt upland birds with the gun cocked and closed, safety on. If facing any kind of obstacle, or meeting others in the afield, or on poor footing, the action is opened. I would not hunt with anyone who carries their gun loaded with safety off, no mater how safe a gun handler they are. That's just a lazy excuse for a very unsafe practise.
 
I hunt with barrels closed, safety on. In woods, it is usually much more awkward to manoeuvre a broken shotgun than it is to handle a closed one. It tends to get caught and hung up much more readily.
When I cross a fence or negotiate other obstacles, the action is opened. Zero chance of accidental discharge. (One of the great safety benefits of the double!)
 
Longwalker said:
Muzzle control and awareness of surroundings and what's happing is absolutely important to safety. And keeping your trigger finger off the trigger until the moment that a decision has been made to shoot. I hunt upland birds with the gun cocked and closed, safety on. If facing any kind of obstacle, or meeting others in the afield, or on poor footing, the action is opened. I would not hunt with anyone who carries their gun loaded with safety off, no mater how safe a gun handler they are. That's just a lazy excuse for a very unsafe practise.
Click to expand...

Agreed 100%
 
Rifle or shotgun, if I am on foot there is a round chambered with a safety on. I only unload the chamber/s if there is some serious obstacles to defeat like small cliffs and such where I don't think I can control the muzzle. Areas I hunt grouse with a hinged open shotgun in "open" would often mean your shells are falling out anyway.
 
Gun closed and empty ,dog goes on point load up and walk in ,no bird is worth an accidental discharge...and if you think it can't happen just ask me
 
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