Do you hunt with loaded or empty chamber?

[Wellse]

If your finger isn’t in the trigger guard loaded chamber isn’t a safety concern. Especially something like goose hunting with a magazine plug, that extra round can make a difference

Heard of a story from the States,
few guys in an Aframe goose hunting, loaded shotgun was knocked over and discharged when it hit the ground. One of those guys didn’t make it home, and the rest of his friends have to live with that memory for the rest of their lives.

 

[Wellse]

I have a few preferences depending on the situation. Magazine is always full regardless of situation (better to have it and not need it)

If I’m still hunting - round chambered
Dogging - chamber empty
Stalking - round chambered

Waterfowl hunting my preference is to stovepipe the “chamber” round in the action.
Quick visual that the gun is safe, and don’t have to worry about it getting knocked over by a dog or hunting partner, or being down range when hunting from layouts. Can’t ever recall a scenario where this has effected my ability to harvest waterfowl.

 

[Brassman66]

When more then just by myself, Mags on Bolt Actions are full and in the Gun with Chamber empty, rule applys for anybody.
Most of my work up north is in Country where we see 3 Grizzlies before we see the first Moose.

If I hunt by myself on VI, I carry a Drilling which will have a round in each Chamber with Safety on.

Cheers

 

[maifire]

I hope you’re joking. This is what your bolt face looks like when you do that. I might try this and bang my butt against a tree to see if i can make it fire.

No, not joking at all. Though i absolutely prefer the half-#### of say, an enfield, this mechanically works well for me. The firing pin is in contact but not under tension. Banging butts is a personal choice.
ND’s are typically caused by an external force but sometimes not. A firing pin under tension gives the ‘sometimes not’ a better chance in my mind.
I prefer to not run a chance of a misfeed, to protect my action by keeping it closed and not rely on the firing pin being held back.

 

[Bustercluck]

No the bolt face does not look like that when closing the bolt and dropping the firing pin while actually closing it. It has a primer against it, so it cannot protrude past that.

The firing pin isn't cocked and has no tension on it.

Banging your butt stock against a tree with a live round in the chamber is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

Better to bang your head against the tree with no guns around........

I really can’t tell if tou’re serious or trying to be funny here

 

[Mr.Rigpig]

Situation definitely dictates.

In heavy bush having firearm loaded makes sense, as one can pop out at any moment from anywhere.

Out in the wide open spaces, once an animal is spotted you have all the time in the world to chamber a round as you execute your stalk into shooting distance.

 

[mikeyb]

Walking to a stand or blind or glassing spot, loaded magazine, chamber empty. It has cost me a few animals that I've bumped into, but I take no issue in erring on the side of caution.

Walking while hunting, loaded magazine, chamber loaded, safety on/hammer at half-####. I don't love safeties but if I'm going to use them, this is when it happens as just a bit of extra insurance. My preference is a wing-style Model 70 safety for functionality, or a tang safety for convenience/ergonomics.

Climbing into a blind or tree stand, unloaded & chamber empty, just paranoid like that.

 

[scruffee]

Depends. Alone, loaded.

With someone, unloaded unless I'm in a blind, in thick brush or pushing bush.

 

[canadian hunter312]

An unloaded gun is the same as not having a gun.
Rabbit hunting with my eldest grandson, yes, it's loaded.

I think it comes down to the area, game being hunted and style of hunt. For my area where there’s thick bush, if you’re going to hunt with an empty gun you might as well leave it at home. More often than not, the deer, turkey, coyote, small game, etc will seemingly appear out of nowhere at 20-40 yards. But someone out west who can see game for hundreds of yards will have time to load up.

Probably 75%+ of all game I’ve shot over the years wouldn’t have ended up in my freezer if I carried an empty gun.

I don’t even have a sling on my shotgun or deer gun because it would cost me shot opportunities.

Heard of a story from the States,
few guys in an Aframe goose hunting, loaded shotgun was knocked over and discharged when it hit the ground. One of those guys didn’t make it home, and the rest of his friends have to live with that memory for the rest of their lives.

This is an example of unsafe gun handling, not that it’s unsafe to carry a loaded gun.

If a gun is not in your immediate control it is to be unloaded. Always. By allowing the gun to be in a position to fall and discharge, the shooter set themselves up for disaster.

 

[Fox]

I’m suprised how many people are wandering around with one in the pipe. I have had one in the chamber at times, but usually it’s because something weird is going on and I’m nervous about my surroundings.

I don’t carry one in tbe chamber and I don’t hunt with people who do. The risk vs reward doesn’t make much sense to me.

Pretty simple, you are a western hunter.

Once we are in a hunting space and not with the other guys it is loaded, meaning one in the chamber and safety on. I hear crashing the gun is shouldered and the safety off with the gun pointed down, then you can pop up and shoot.

Snap shooting a whitetail at close range when having to chamber a round is impossible.

If I were hunting an open field with hundreds of yards of distance before I could expect a deer to pop out then sure but then again it would be almost as safe to have one in the pipe and the safety on with the gun pointed in a safe direction.

 

[Thunderhog]

I really can’t tell if tou’re serious or trying to be funny here

A little of both and I'll explain. When you place a live round in the chamber of any bolt or lever action rifle, all while lowering the firing pin, it is almost impossible for the gun to fire. The firing pin would not protrude out of the bolt face as the cartridge primer would be sitting against the bolt-face.

The idea of banging your butt-stock of your expensive firearm against a tree to see if it fires is about as smart as banging your head against the same tree to see if it might hurt........

The odds are low the rifle would fire, unless you were to drop it off a cliff maybe, and it landed on it's buttstock. Of course this wouldn't be too bright either......

I too was not sure if you were serious or not, hence my crass comment.

We take care of our firearms extremely well. Worked my entire life to upgrade to the models I always wanted or needed as a tool. We certainly would not be banging anything against a tree.....

I wasn't trying to offend you, and if I did, I apologize. We respect the tools we own in order to make them last and hold an excellent resale value......

 

[Bustercluck]

No, not joking at all. Though i absolutely prefer the half-#### of say, an enfield, this mechanically works well for me. The firing pin is in contact but not under tension. Banging butts is a personal choice.
ND’s are typically caused by an external force but sometimes not. A firing pin under tension gives the ‘sometimes not’ a better chance in my mind.
I prefer to not run a chance of a misfeed, to protect my action by keeping it closed and not rely on the firing pin being held back.

If you’d like you can pull your firing pin out and use this technique to see how many pounds of force your firing pin is holding against your primer. I think a remington 700 should take somewhere between 24-26 pounds to compress the spring, but that’s my memory, not something I read in a book recently.

 

[Bustercluck]

A little of both and I'll explain. When you place a live round in the chamber of any bolt or lever action rifle, all while lowering the firing pin, it is almost impossible for the gun to fire. The firing pin would not protrude out of the bolt face as the cartridge primer would be sitting against the bolt-face.

The idea of banging your butt-stock of your expensive firearm against a tree to see if it fires is about as smart as banging your head against the same tree to see if it might hurt........

The odds are low the rifle would fire, unless you were to drop it off a cliff maybe, and it landed on it's buttstock. Of course this wouldn't be too bright either......

I too was not sure if you were serious or not, hence my crass comment.

We take care of our firearms extremely well. Worked my entire life to upgrade to the models I always wanted or needed as a tool. We certainly would not be banging anything against a tree.....

I wasn't trying to offend you, and if I did, I apologize. We respect the tools we own in order to make them last and hold an excellent resale value......

I’ll try it.

 

[Fox]

A little of both and I'll explain. When you place a live round in the chamber of any bolt or lever action rifle, all while lowering the firing pin, it is almost impossible for the gun to fire. The firing pin would not protrude out of the bolt face as the cartridge primer would be sitting against the bolt-face.

The idea of banging your butt-stock of your expensive firearm against a tree to see if it fires is about as smart as banging your head against the same tree to see if it might hurt........

The odds are low the rifle would fire, unless you were to drop it off a cliff maybe, and it landed on it's buttstock. Of course this wouldn't be too bright either......

I too was not sure if you were serious or not, hence my crass comment.

We take care of our firearms extremely well. Worked my entire life to upgrade to the models I always wanted or needed as a tool. We certainly would not be banging anything against a tree.....

I wasn't trying to offend you, and if I did, I apologize. We respect the tools we own in order to make them last and hold an excellent resale value......

So you are decocking the gun, unless you do this on a lever action (the safety) you have to cycle the gun to #### them, unless you are running military surplus. If you are lifting up that bolt handle and then lowering it to re-#### it (#### on open only) then you might as well cycle the full action.

Why not just leave the gun cocked, if you use proper firearms control the gun will be safe no matter if it goes off or not.

 

[Mr.Rigpig]

A little of both and I'll explain. When you place a live round in the chamber of any bolt or lever action rifle, all while lowering the firing pin, it is almost impossible for the gun to fire. The firing pin would not protrude out of the bolt face as the cartridge primer would be sitting against the bolt-face.

The idea of banging your butt-stock of your expensive firearm against a tree to see if it fires is about as smart as banging your head against the same tree to see if it might hurt........

The odds are low the rifle would fire, unless you were to drop it off a cliff maybe, and it landed on it's buttstock. Of course this wouldn't be too bright either......

I too was not sure if you were serious or not, hence my crass comment.

We take care of our firearms extremely well. Worked my entire life to upgrade to the models I always wanted or needed as a tool. We certainly would not be banging anything against a tree.....

I wasn't trying to offend you, and if I did, I apologize. We respect the tools we own in order to make them last and hold an excellent resale value......

I think for an "Impact discharge" in that situation, the firearm would have to hit muzzle first, so the inertia of the firing pin could travel forwards into the primer.

For a firing pin to stick out past the bolt face AND have a round chambered would indicate a serious headspace issue. If there was no headspace issue then there would be spring loaded pressure on the primer but you could bang the stock against a tree all day without it firing, again, needing the impact on the muzzle to cause it to fire.

Safety off, c0cked and loaded could fire by banging butt against a tree if trigger was light enough to trip.

 

[Fox]

I think for an "Impact discharge" in that situation, the firearm would have to hit muzzle first, so the inertia of the firing pin could travel forwards into the primer.

For a firing pin to stick out past the bolt face AND have a round chambered would indicate a serious headspace issue. If there was no headspace issue then there would be spring loaded pressure on the primer but you could bang the stock against a tree all day without it firing, again, needing the impact on the muzzle to cause it to fire.

Safety off, c0cked and loaded could fire by banging butt against a tree if trigger was light enough to trip.

Try it, you can bang the hell out of a rifle and nothing will happen, they do not just jump the sear, if your gun is set that light it should be restricted to the range only. Plus, if you are hunting with the gun loaded you need to be ready to shoot, if you cannot control your gun and let the butt smash in to the ground with enough force to go off you would be in terrain that you should have unloaded it anyway.

 

[wallz]

It’s actually mind boggling how many people here don’t trust themselves to handle a gun safely while it’s loaded. I don’t think I’d feel comfortable hunting with someone like this. If you can’t trust yourself, I sure as heck won’t trust you with a gun for the short time it is loaded in your hands.

My gun is loaded during the entire hunt, when legal. I’ve never actually heard of people hunting without one in the chamber until I read it on CGN years back.

THIS^^^^

Out of truck, or sxs and the rifle gets loaded, safety on. Few extreme situations when it is unloaded, like crossing a fence line. Even when sitting near, or beside the sxs the rifle is loaded and ready. Many times I have driven into an area and just sat near, or in the sxs and calling. Rifle is loaded and ready, just not in the sxs with me.

If shouldered and heading into seemingly heavy thick bush the rifle is carried in hand under the arm, pointed in safe direction weather alone or with more than one.

The other one that baffles me is when backpacking the amount of guys that burry their rifle in the pack and need to remove the pack to get at the rifle. Mine, always within easy reach even when the pack is on. Many time I'll go for extended walks with day pack, so rifle is always loaded and easily accessible with the pack on.

If you hunt with me and you don't trust yourself to carry a loaded firearm, we won't be hunting together much more.

 

[Gatehouse]

Most firearms should be used the way the manufacturer intends them to be used- and they put a safety on firearms for a reason. No manufacturer tells you to chamber a round on a bolt action then close the bolt while decocking it, or do one of the other funny little procedures that I've seen or heard about over the years. Manufacturers spend lots of money and do lots of engineering to figure this stuff out.

Load the magazine and chamber and engage safety, follow the 4 rules of gun safety and you are good.

If you can't follow the 4 rules due to terrain, obstacles, other people in the area, inability to control the firearm etc- then you might want to use a different method.

If someone chooses to hunt with an empty chamber 100% of the time that is their choice, but it's not the only safe choice.

 

[Thunderhog]

So you are decocking the gun, unless you do this on a lever action (the safety) you have to cycle the gun to #### them, unless you are running military surplus. If you are lifting up that bolt handle and then lowering it to re-#### it (#### on open only) then you might as well cycle the full action.

Why not just leave the gun cocked, if you use proper firearms control the gun will be safe no matter if it goes off or not.

Correct, we are de-cocking the rifle while lowering the bolt or hammer.

Yes, the bolt has to be lifted straight up and then lowered. This maneuver is lightning fast and leaves no opportunity for a mis-feed or jam. I have practiced this for over 40 years, one gets very quick with this action.

Safe muzzle control and proper firearms safety are always used.

A cocked rife can fire if the safety fails, a un-cocked rifle cannot. Accidents do happen to many people, we are extremely careful when hunting. This technique works for us and apparently Maifire as well. It's personal choice.

Everyone be safe out there and always practice good muzzle control.....

 

[SurplusNut15]

It sort of depends, when hunting by myself I'll more often than not have a round chambered with the safety on and mag full/partially full, with another person, which hasn't happened to often, I'll go chamber empty as a lot of others have said here.

Because I hunt grouse with a 3 round limit on repeating shotguns, I consider carrying with one in the chamber something that makes those guns different from a double barrel with extra steps. I wouldn't say I've often needed all three, but I carry em anyways, yet to have any accidental discharges or drops or anything, I pay a lot of attention to the gun in my hand. With a .22, the Henry is really annoying to empty the chamber on after it's been loaded, but as with my others, their mag capacity is completely sufficient to carry with an empty chamber.