Do you keep a round in the chamber?

[Trr15]

A recent thread got me thinking about this. Growing up chasing northeast whitetails, everyone hunted with one in the chamber. After years of western/mountain hunting, it seems like there is a mixed bag when it comes to this. When you're chasing elk or any other mountain game, do you keep a round chambered? Why/Why not? (Obviously, I understand the safety implications). If you don't carry one in the chamber, have you ever been burned by this when you needed to take a quick shot?

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I have always carried loaded with one in the chamber, and always will. A non loaded firearm is a heavy club, and doesn't fill that role particularly well.

Esse quam videri

 

[Titan_Bow]

I never have had one chambered and don’t see the necessity really. Now if you are still hunting, sneaking through dark timber or something like that where a sudden shot might be expected, then I could see chambering one for that. I hunt primarily buy myself, or with my 13 year old son. Why induce the added risk? I’ve lived in Colorado for 12 years and can think of at least a couple stories out here where a hunter fell and shot themselves or their partner. I just don’t see any pluses for carrying it. The mountain west is typically big country, and wide open. You are typically going to see your opportunity and plan for a stalk, it’s then when I would decide when it makes most sense to chamber.


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[FURMAN]

Not unless I have spotted and animal and I am on a stalk or the shot is imminent.

 

[Justin Crossley]

I used to be in the same camp as Backpack Hunter. I would almost always have a round in the chamber for the same reason he mentioned. Until two years ago.

My ten-year-old son, my best friend, my dad, and I had just hiked over a ridge on the opening day of deer season. We all sat down in the grass and began to glass. I had my pack sitting between my son and me with his rifle sitting on top. Thankfully I had it pointed in a safe direction because I reached to grab something out of my pack without looking and hit the trigger causing his rifle to fire. When I loaded his rifle earlier I put the safety on like I always do but it had somehow gotten switched off.

I was sick to my stomach the rest of that day due to thinking how that could have turned out. I decided that night that there isn't a trophy worth not being as safe I possible so I no longer carry a round in my rifle chamber when I'm with other people.

 

[FURMAN]

I used to be in the same camp as Backpack Hunter. I would almost always have a round in the chamber for the same reason he mentioned. Until two years ago.

My ten-year-old son, my best friend, my dad, and I had just hiked over a ridge on the opening day of deer season. We all sat down in the grass and began to glass. I had my pack sitting between my son and me with his rifle sitting on top. Thankfully I had it pointed in a safe direction because I reached to grab something out of my pack without looking and hit the trigger causing his rifle to fire. When I loaded his rifle earlier I put the safety on like I always do but it had somehow gotten switched off.

I was sick to my stomach the rest of that day due to thinking how that could have turned out. I decided that night that there isn't a trophy worth not being as safe I possible so I no longer carry a round in my rifle chamber when I'm with other people.

This is why I will not hunt with someone who has a different Idea of safety than I do. You can not have accidents back. I can always find another animal. My hunting group is constantly showing empty chambers. I am very glad your situation turned out for the good.

 

[LaHunter]

While hunting out west in the mountains, my chamber is empty until it’s time to shoot, same for anyone I am with. I have killed 3 mule deer where the shot happened very quickly at about 100 yards and I was able to chamber a round and make good shots each time. While whitetail hunting from a stationary stand / blind I will usually have a round in the chamber if I’m by myself

 

[Murphy]

Anyone who needs an animal bad enough to walk around with a round in the chamber is a danger to others. I don't really care if that offends those that do so or not. It's the truth and I will never hunt with those people. It's been said already but you can't take an accident back. Maybe I'm just getting old but so what if I loose one chance at something while hunting? I'll find another

 

[Desk Jockey]

For upland, rabbit and squirrel, yes, but I unload when getting into a vehicle or coming out of the hunting area or field.

Not for deer. I chamber a round in the stand sometimes but unload when I leave the stand. Spot and stalk is an empty chamber over a loaded magazine.

Spend enough time around guns and you will see an accidental discharge. They are scary as hell and more often than not happen when you are not “switched on” like relaxing on a break or getting in or out of a vehicle.

If you are unlucky, you will see someone get hurt or killed. In my circle of friends, one buddy took a shot to the thigh when his dog stepped on his loaded gun. Another guide I know lost his brother, dropped a shotgun getting out of a truck and took a round to the head.

Just not worth the risk to me.

 

[realunlucky]

Anyone who needs an animal bad enough to walk around with a round in the chamber is a danger to others. I don't really care if that offends those that do so or not. It's the truth and I will never hunt with those people. It's been said already but you can't take an accident back. Maybe I'm just getting old but so what if I loose one chance at something while hunting? I'll find another

Murphy gotta disagree here bud muzzle control is where safety starts and ends. If your muzzle points at me empty or not we are going to have drama.


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[realunlucky]

Murphy gotta disagree here bud muzzle control is where safety starts and ends. If your muzzle points at me empty or not we are going to have drama.


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Since I started hunting with my kids I've gone to empty camber because it's truly safer and a better way to learn.

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[Akwoodchuck]

Always keep a round chambered....also an unsheathed knife in your front pocket and a wire snare around your neck just in case....

 

[wannakillabigbull]

Never will hunt with one in the chamber, or hunt with someone that does. I want to shoot a big bull and all but not bad enough to shoot someone or myself. I’ve seen rifles accidentally discharged. I’m also an engineer and don’t trust safeties 100%.

 

[Jimbob]

Depends where/how you hunt. If you hunted the woods where I grew up you would have one in the chamber or you wouldn't really be hunting.

Still hunting for moose or deer in thick woods the time to load a round is one thing and even more of a factor is the sound.

Even if you are not still hunting but on stand animals can appear out of nowhere. One time I had a deer bust me because I was clipping my release to my bow string. The metallic snap of the jaws clamping shut made the doe take off, I changed to a silent hook release. If I was rifle hunting I would have to sit there with one in the chamber or the sound of racking a bullet would scare the animal away once I saw it.

What about grizzly country? Everything I have read about attacks is that they came out of nowhere, barely any time to react.

You telling me that I should be breaking down a moose with my 11 yr old boy in grizzly country and NOT leave one in the chamber? or walking with fresh meat on my back and an empty chamber?

I do not think it can just be a hard no, never have one in the chamber. Some hunting styles and some situations warrant one in the chamber.

 

[EastMT]

Even in Kodiak, empty chamber. Odds of a safety getting bumped in the alders is too high.




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[TREE ‘EM]

Safety comes from presence of mind, not from an empty chamber.

 

[tthompson4]

I’ve always had one in the chamber. I’ve never even heard of someone in Wisconsin hunting with and empty chamber. Just keep the business end pointed in a safe direction.

600k hunters every year it seems the accidental shootings are getting in and out of a stand with a loaded gun or not knowing your target and beyond.

Do the guys who hunt with an empty chamber bird hunt the same way?




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[Backpack Hunter]

I find this to be a weird idea. How many carry their self-defense firearm without a round in the chamber? What about chukar, rabbit, grouse, pheasant, dove, squirrel, duck, partridge, turkey hunting?
I'm hearing a lot of people saying it is unsafe, but what makes it more unsafe than the previously mentioned endeavors? If you are following firearm safety rules why is there even an assumption that it is unsafe?
To the OP, sorry about the hijack I am truly curious. I can start another thread if you like?

 

[Ucsdryder]

If it’s strapped to my pack then unloaded. If it’s on my shoulder, in my hand, or in my gun bearer it’s loaded and ready to go.

 

[davsco]

slung or in my hands, round chambered safety on. finger outside the trigger guard unless i'm on target and ready to fire, muzzle doesn't point at anything i don't want to destroy.