Carrying Loose Shotgun Ammo

[photog_shooter]

I'm planning on going duck hunting with a friend soon and during our chat about what gear to bring, he asked me how much ammo I was going to bring. I told him that I was just going to dump as many rounds as I could into one of the storage pockets of my hunting pack. He looked at me all wide-eyed and said all forcefully that loose shotgun rounds are an accident just waiting to happen. I asked him what he meant by that and he said that the primers on a shotgun round are so sensitive that even just having them bounce around in a pocket could cause one of the primers to go off. So my question is this... Is there any backing to his claims or is my friend way off with his thoughts?

 

[Deuce-deuce]

Your buddy is out to lunch.

 

[canmic]

They won't go off so easily but some might get messed up if they are just loose, depending on what happens to them. Those elastic shell holder things work really well though.

 

[armycat]

I regularly dump loose shotgun shells in my dump pouch for 3 gun and occasionally they get tumpled around vigorously. Many other shooters at our club matches do the same thing with a variety of different pouches. Pistol mags, rifle mags and other things end up in the pouches as well. While it would be possible to strike a primer a cause a shell to function the potential is so low I am not concerned about it at all.

 

[inthehizzy]

You'll be fine.

 

[tinbird]

Wss he planning on doing jumping extreme jumping jacks to warm up before actually getting down to hunting?

 

[photog_shooter]

I figured as much. I don't know if I'd feel comfortable having metal mags banging against a shotgun shell, but loose rounds in a pouch by themselves seems totally harmless. I mean, people use dump pouches all the time...

 

[canmic]

What I'd be worried about is that you are dumping them into a pouch on your backpack before tossing it into the vehicle and heading out to wherever you are going hunting (if I understood right?) Depending on what else is in the pack or gets put on top of the pack, they might get damaged (not worried about an actual primer going off, just messed up shells). A dump pouch would be a better idea. Them being loose isn't the problem, the problem is them potentially getting squished under other stuff or banged up if you toss your pack etc...

 

[yomomma]

I carry rifle rounds in my pocket...even with mags bouncing around you would have a better chance of seeing big foot than a round going off.

 

[Foxer2373]

The only danger of loose shells may be if you tripped, fell down and somehow it became lodged in your throat and you choked on it... You can buy she'll carriers by multiple companies specificly for duck hunting... But you know don't use them you might explode!!!

I have mag fed and also use the Velcro holders for quick changes in mine but if I'm only shot gunning. If I don't have a bush gun on me as well I'll carry a hsndful of slugs in my pocket just in case.

 

[galamb]

What, I have been carrying them WRONG for 45 years.

Maybe I should stop right now - I have probably used up all of my luck.

For thirty or more years I hunted upland game with a single shot 20 - just dumped the shells in both pockets of my vest - I guess I have a "death wish"

 

[Butcherbill]

You'll be fine, your friend on the other hand might be a nervous wreck if he knows you have loose shells in a pocket. Hell some of your shells might be pointed at him lol.

 

[photog_shooter]

What I'd be worried about is that you are dumping them into a pouch on your backpack before tossing it into the vehicle and heading out to wherever you are going hunting (if I understood right?) Depending on what else is in the pack or gets put on top of the pack, they might get damaged (not worried about an actual primer going off, just messed up shells). A dump pouch would be a better idea. Them being loose isn't the problem, the problem is them potentially getting squished under other stuff or banged up if you toss your pack etc...

Fortunately for me, I live in a small community in Nunavut. I just have to hop on my snowmobile or quad (both parked behind my house) and drive off to find the ducks. The pack goes on my back, or I can put it on the front or back racks of the quad. No worries here about other gear mashing up my ammo.

 

[FLHTCUI]

never mind....

 

[Claybuster]

I'm planning on going duck hunting with a friend soon and during our chat about what gear to bring, he asked me how much ammo I was going to bring. I told him that I was just going to dump as many rounds as I could into one of the storage pockets of my hunting pack. He looked at me all wide-eyed and said all forcefully that loose shotgun rounds are an accident just waiting to happen. I asked him what he meant by that and he said that the primers on a shotgun round are so sensitive that even just having them bounce around in a pocket could cause one of the primers to go off. So my question is this... Is there any backing to his claims or is my friend way off with his thoughts?

Way off. Clay target shooters carry loose shotgun shells in vest pockets, pouches and shooting bags all the time.

How much experience does your friend have? Shells exploding is sometimes a concern with people who know nothing about guns. When I'm introducing new people to shooting this is one of the things that I cover usually by explaining how the primer and firing pin work and dropping a shell on the pavement to show them there is no danger of it going off.

 

[cement head]

not a chance they will go off . tell your buddy if your so worried about my shells going off in my pocket why don't you carry them for me in your pockets so I'll be safe . LOL

 

[photog_shooter]

I dumped approx 100 rnds of 12ga into one of the pouches on my pack. My friend will just have to live with it and if he can't deal, then he can suck it haha. I've been carrying rounds loose in my pockets and packs for yrs and never had any issues. I took my friend's comment at a grain of salt but still, thought I'd pass it on and inquire.