Safely unloading lever actions

BUSHMAN79

BUSHMAN79

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I was just watching some YouTube videos on firearm safety,and it seems that most folks are on the wrong track when it comes to safely unloading lever actions. There is NO NEED to cycle rounds right into the chamber on most rifles. On the Winchester 92 and 94, just flip the rifle upside down, butt on your hip, and muzzle pointed in a safe direction. When you open the action, the first round will fall out. Repeat until the tube is empty, flip the rifle right side up, work the lever a few times to be sure, examine the chamber to be sure it is indeed empty. You never have a round in the chamber at all using this method. On a Savage 99, which is a controlled feed action like a Mauser 98, just partially cycle the lever, ejecting the unfired rounds. Since the 99 cocks on closing, the rifle will never be cocked while unloading as long as the rounds aren't fully chambered. Not sure about the Marlin, but I seem to remember that you could unload them without loading the chamber, too. Long time since I carried one.
 
Thats why I like my new Herny .30-30 Brass you just take the tube out and tilt the gun down to let the bullets fall out, I love this gun. I have a .22 Henry Golden boy same thing you got to love it! I have a .44-40 Winchester and a Mossberg .30-30 not the same but great guns too. You see I like the Lever guns.
 
Nothing dangerous about cycling the bullets through the action. By default, you WILL be in a location where your firearm may be loaded. Just keep it pointed in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger.
 
I've had my Marlin 336 for a couple years and my biggest complaint was having to cycle the rounds to unload. I honestly never thought of the loading gate.:bangHead:

I'm gonna go try it right now!
Thanks gunnutz!
 
Crap! Doesn't work with my 30-30. The lower fork of the loading gate won't go in far enough to allow the bottom of the case to pass. Maybe I'll get ambitous one day and remove the loading gate and "tweak" it.

Any other suggestiongs?
 
BigUglyMan said:
Cycle them through the action like we've been doing for over 100 years. If you're not a dolt, you'll be fine. If you are a dolt you'll know shortly.
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X2

I don't know how anyone can think repeatably spinning a loaded rifle around is safer than just cycling the damn thing.
 
joe-nwt said:
Nothing dangerous about cycling the bullets through the action. By default, you WILL be in a location where your firearm may be loaded. Just keep it pointed in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger.
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I started using my method after an old timer told me about one of his rounds dropping on a rock, landing on the primer, and scaring the Hell out of him. Seriously, why would you spray rounds all over the place, when using my method, they drop right into your palm? :confused:
 
'Boo said:
X2

I don't know how anyone can think repeatably spinning a loaded rifle around is safer than just cycling the damn thing.
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You don't "spin a loaded rifle around 'repeatably' to unload it, it stays in one position until it's empty. Of course, I don't expect one who can't spell to understand my explanation. Many accidental discharges happen when unloading firearms after hunting. One of my friends had a Remington 700 go off when he was cycling rounds through the action, due to a spruce needle. It got inside the trigger assembly, causing the sear to trip when the bolt closed. The potential is always there, whenever you have loaded rounds in the chamber. The crossbolt safety on modern Winchesters and Marlins makes cycling rounds through the chamber much safer, but still, your ammo gets a lot of wear and tear that is completely avoidable.
 
I just cycle the action of my Savage 99 enough to so as to not chamber the round but flip it back and catch it in my hand. If I don't cycle it enough it just lays there on top of the next round. PITA because of the scope bridge.

But better then letting fall to the ground. Ammo seems to have a nasty habit of hiding under some moss or burrowing under the snow. :redface:
 
fugawi said:
I just cycle the action of my Savage 99 enough to so as to not chamber the round but flip it back and catch it in my hand. If I don't cycle it enough it just lays there on top of the next round. PITA because of the scope bridge.

But better then letting fall to the ground. Ammo seems to have a nasty habit of hiding under some moss or burrowing under the snow. :redface:
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That is what I do, too. Yet people still insist on fully chambering the rounds and then letting them fly everywhere. :confused:
 
You can still get 30-30 rounds to eject out the loading gate, it's just a bit fiddlier. If you hold the gate open and then push forward slightly on the round and let it come back it will hop over the edge of the gate and then out.
 
BUSHMAN79 said:
I started using my method after an old timer told me about one of his rounds dropping on a rock, landing on the primer, and scaring the Hell out of him. Seriously, why would you spray rounds all over the place, when using my method, they drop right into your palm? :confused:
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Who said anything about spraying rounds all over the place?:confused: I have no problem catching the rounds as the are ejected. I just cradle the gun on my weak-hand forearm and use my weak hand to catch the rounds.
 
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