Had a new hunter with me duck hunting last year, he insisted that he would rather keep the chamber empty and he would rack one in (pump gun) when we were good to go, well let me tell you that was for him an eye opener ,three times he could not pump as he failed to release or pull the trigger. I frankly told him he was more dangerous waving the gun around trying to pump than having a "shell" in the pipe. So I had my limit before he had 3 and he managed to shoot my decoys in one of his struggles. Suffice to say has not been back, so do not know what his methods are now .I was taught by one of the best 50+ years ago ,muzzle direction and the gun is treated like it is "always" loaded. I do empty in heavy brush or crossing fence lines and ditches but otherwise good to go.
Do you hunt with loaded or empty chamber?
- Thread starter Mr.Rigpig
- Start date
FatCatsDad
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Taking time to chamber a round in heavy cover could easily be the difference between filling your tag or going home wishing your gun was loaded
I'd gladly hunt alone rather than with people not confident in their abilities or their groups abilities.
manbearpig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in the Third World
When walking around, usually empty unless stalking game.
Just about the only safety I trust 99% is a Mauser style safety.
Just about the only safety I trust 99% is a Mauser style safety.
This is the best practice.
I watched a gut wrenching testimony of a guy who shot and killed his best friend by accident. His gun was slung and on safe, he fell and slid down a ditch and the rifle went off. Since then I always have an empty chamber when walking with someone else and I expect the same from the other person. Prior to that I hunted for 35yrs with no issues but I just don’t think it’s worth the risk.
When I went grouse hunting last year, I brought my 12 gauge 870 and I had a loaded magazine but empty chamber. I thought I would have time to pump before I shot should I see a bird. This turned out not to be the case, and we did go home empty-handed that day.
This year I went hunting with my new sr410 revolver action. So obviously the chamber is technically loaded, but I actually spent a lot of the time with the hammer cocked. I would put it on half cocked safety when we were hiking or at other times when it seemed unlikely that we would see a bird, but whenever I thought there was a reasonable chance that I could see a bird, I had that hammer cocked and I was ready to fire. I did in fact see two separate Birds, and I was fast enough to bag both of them. Somehow I also managed not to shoot my buddy. I accomplished that through the use of a clever technique called controlling the muzzle and not pointing it at my buddy!
I tend to trust results more than anything, so I know how I'll be hunting next time.
This year I went hunting with my new sr410 revolver action. So obviously the chamber is technically loaded, but I actually spent a lot of the time with the hammer cocked. I would put it on half cocked safety when we were hiking or at other times when it seemed unlikely that we would see a bird, but whenever I thought there was a reasonable chance that I could see a bird, I had that hammer cocked and I was ready to fire. I did in fact see two separate Birds, and I was fast enough to bag both of them. Somehow I also managed not to shoot my buddy. I accomplished that through the use of a clever technique called controlling the muzzle and not pointing it at my buddy!
I tend to trust results more than anything, so I know how I'll be hunting next time.
manbearpig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in the Third World
Remember that part of the PAL course that describes how to cross a fence? ACTS/PROVE gun, lay it down on the other side of the fence, cross fence, then pick up gun, etc?
When I was a noob hunter I figured why go through all that formal crap, it's only a small fence and I can easily step over it.
And I did... and as I stepped over it I slipped on a piece of mossy wood on the other side and had a nasty fall - with my loaded gun (luckily the safety was on). I never made that mistake again.
Many of the gun safety "formalities" seem like overkill but are there for good reason -- such as to cover your @ss in unforeseen/unexpected situations.
Licensed to kill
CGN Regular
- Location
- Peace Country Alberta
Stepping on a slick, mossy wood can happen just as easily just walking through the woods. Seems to me that the incident was not because you were crossing a fence but, rather, was caused by the slippery wood.
Farmer2285
Member
- Location
- St. Paul Alberta
Depends on situation and gun but I usually hunt alone
Big game - loaded with safety on with constant safety checks( no not trigger pulls)
Upland birds- chamber loaded hammer down
Waterfowl- loaded safe on
Big game - loaded with safety on with constant safety checks( no not trigger pulls)
Upland birds- chamber loaded hammer down
Waterfowl- loaded safe on
Butcherbill
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
That would be brutal, gotta say though I bet most people trust a safety and never test it.
I generally test mine for function periodically, drop safe specifically. I’ve taken a couple slips and none of my rifle have ever gone off, old or new production. Knowing they are in working order and that my finger isn’t on the the trigger unless it’s aimed at something is a good habit to get into.
saskgunowner101
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- near Prince Albert
I asked my wife what she thought of all this (I'm rural, in the "loaded 10 feet out the door" camp), and even she finds it strange that people hunt without one in the chamber. To each their own I suppose, but it looks like more of a mental hang up type thing to me, nevermind the fact that a few here would demand the same of anyone who hunts with them. If I had a buddy try to impose a not loaded rule while hunting on me, I'd probably die laughing and never consider hunting with them if I lived. Couldn't care less if someone hunts with me without a loaded chamber though.
My opinion on post #206 is that better judgement would have prevented that. While I believe in chambered round and safety on pretty much all the time, even I run chamber empty those moments while hiking on clear ice, dead fall/blowdown tree snags or nasty elevation changes. If you're hunting in territory so nasty that if you fall on your butt you go for a ride down the hill into the ruhbarb, you'da wiped out unslinging that rifle and lining up on a deer anyway.
My opinion on post #206 is that better judgement would have prevented that. While I believe in chambered round and safety on pretty much all the time, even I run chamber empty those moments while hiking on clear ice, dead fall/blowdown tree snags or nasty elevation changes. If you're hunting in territory so nasty that if you fall on your butt you go for a ride down the hill into the ruhbarb, you'da wiped out unslinging that rifle and lining up on a deer anyway.
True, but can't you say that about pretty much anything?
Driving is fine... Till it's not.
People die in car accidents every day.
Jogging is fine... Till it's not.
People die doing that too... Often getting hit by cars!
Heck, for men of a certain age...
se x is fine... Till it's not!
Nevermind strenuous lovemaking, my neighbour down the road died of a heart attack this summer when he sat down on the throne and strained a bit too much making his deposit!
talk about a loaded chamber!!
(he woulda appreciated that joke)
I'm being a bit silly, and i'm not trying to draw false comparisons.
I am a big safety advocate, i'm a first responder and a range safety officer at our club.
I would never advocate being deliberately reckless.
But i also believe that it's not an attainable nor reasonable goal to try to eliminate absolutely all risk in life.
So you need to accept a reasonable balance.
manbearpig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in the Third World
I think the point was that there are always unforeseen circumstances - hence the "unforeseen" part.
Some safeties are "safer" than others. I have 100% confidence in a Mauser style safety, but I'm not sure I would trust my life - or someone else's - on any random safety.
I would never presume to tell anyone how they should hunt or what risks they should or should not take.
Based on observations of how the everyday random Joe disregards firearm safety - and how stupidity and recklessness is compounded by each additional person in a group - I choose to hunt alone.
Trimmer 905
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I usually hunt alone,so,I'm always loaded and chambered with the safety on when carrying in my hands or cradled which gives me 100% control. The only time I sling my rifle unloaded is when I'm done hunting and on my out of the bush.
100%True, but can't you say that about pretty much anything?
Driving is fine... Till it's not.
People die in car accidents every day.
Jogging is fine... Till it's not.
People die doing that too... Often getting hit by cars!
Heck, for men of a certain age...
se x is fine... Till it's not!
Nevermind strenuous lovemaking, my neighbour down the road died of a heart attack this summer when he sat down on the throne and strained a bit too much making his deposit!
talk about a loaded chamber!!
(he woulda appreciated that joke)
I'm being a bit silly, and i'm not trying to draw false comparisons.
I am a big safety advocate, i'm a first responder and a range safety officer at our club.
I would never advocate being deliberately reckless.
But i also believe that it's not an attainable nor reasonable goal to try to eliminate absolutely all risk in life.
So you need to accept a reasonable balance.
Quite often when some things are put in print they are taken as a blanket statement, when the opposite is true, as there is always exceptions.
It really doesn't matter how a person hunts- loaded or unloaded , what is paramount is how they control the muzzle with a firearm- safety on or not!
The big boondoggle about Remington safeties all the people suing forgot, was if the danged muzzle was pointed in a safe direction nobody would have been injured let alone killed!
Cat
The big boondoggle about Remington safeties all the people suing forgot, was if the danged muzzle was pointed in a safe direction nobody would have been injured let alone killed!
Cat
