Round in the Chamber

[Dave0317]

I judge people based off this question. If you chamber a round and walk around you’re a fuggin idiot. There is no exception.

How does the entire US military function? There are units that will discipline you for having an empty chamber even on post. Good thing we have all the idiot cops carrying loaded guns into schools to stop active shooters. Good thing we have such idiot soldiers that they are willing to walk around with loaded guns and hunt down threats to our nation.

I don’t think hunters need to assume they should always have a loaded chamber, but it’s pretty ignorant to say someone else is a “fugging idiot” when they have a certain amount of training and experience that allows them to make an informed decision on when they can safely do so, and when they do or do not need that level of readiness.

 

[wyosam]

I generally have a round chambered when hunting. In my career I’ve seen quite a few accidental GSW. The vast majority happen with a firearm that is “unloaded”.


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[Deadspace]

Most people are so bad with weapons handling they shouldn’t even be allowed to have a gun near others, let alone walking around with one on hot standby. Public gun ranges taught me that. But we’re not most people. I think a large amount of us train a lot and are very aware of the status of our weapon and where the muzzle is pointed. With that said, if the weapon is in my hand, and I’m actively hunting, I have one chambered with the safety on.

 

[TaperPin]

You have any details on how all of those happened? On packs, taking off packs, walking through thick brush, etc.

I wasn’t there when any of it happened, and young adults don't always say exactly what happened, but what I knew of all of them is they were lazy about keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. As we all know many young guys develop horrible gun handling habits and are always flagging their own forearms, side of their lower legs, feet, hands, leaning the muzzle against their body and whatnot.

There must be a huge number of near misses and non fatal injuries in every town that guys never talk about.

 

[ozyclint]

Don't clay shooters start with their finger on the trigger?

What I was getting at is that the only time the gun is closed is when it's your turn to shoot. At all other times the gun is broken.

 

[Ucsdryder]

I stopped carrying one in the chamber because according to RS my trigger tech is going to go off at any second!

 

[texag10]

What I was getting at is that the only time the gun is closed is when it's your turn to shoot. At all other times the gun is broken.

Right, and that makes sense in the context of clay shooting, just like starting with finger on trigger is normal in clay shooting and will get you talked to/kicked out of pretty much every other shooting discipline that exists.

 

[Zsyacsure]

I always have one in the chamber as long as the rifle is not on my pack.

 

[Dave_S]

Voted yes. As others have said, context matters. Very comfortable handling a loaded firearm safely, but situation always dictates. No judgement for folks who choose to hunt condition 3. For the guy comparing this to nocking an arrow as soon as you leave the truck: that's not even close to the same thing, but I think you know that.

 

[Wrongside]

IMO, the poll should have a 3rd option. For many of us- “It depends.”

Personally, there are many hunting scenarios I prefer to carry with a loaded magazine, cold chamber. Horseback, rifle strapped to the pack, mountainous terrain, icy/snowy conditions, canoeing rivers, etc…

Hunting solo in thick timbered grizzly country, I’m going chambered. Otherwise, usually chambering for the closing stalk.

 

[Skerhunter]

Voted yes. As others have said, context matters. Very comfortable handling a loaded firearm safely, but situation always dictates. No judgement for folks who choose to hunt condition 3. For the guy comparing this to nocking an arrow as soon as you leave the truck: that's not even close to the same thing, but I think you know that.

How is it different? I must be dumb, please explain! It is an unsafe, not needed and just as ridiculous.

The most common argument I have seen for carrying a loaded rifle is you gotta be ready to shoot 100% of the time or an animal might get away (loaded 100% of the time in hand). And we wonder how hunters accidentally shoot other people every year. Based on this poll this thought process could be a contributing cause.

 

[Macintosh]

I have bird hunted probably 200 separate occasions with 100’s of hunters. No exaggeration.

I have never once seen someone load their gun when dog on point.

Not saying someone somewhere doesn’t do this. But that’s not in the same stratosphere with “a lot of bird hunters.”

I know some folks that do this, and they do it on wild ruffed grouse in PA, VT, NH (pressured birds, not the semi-tame ones Ive seen in the rockies, northern maine, ontario, etc). Ive had flushing dogs my whole life so the first time I saw it I about blew a gasket. These are folks who are very competitive in the northeast and midwest coverdog circuit. They send off a dog, and walk twitch trails all together talking shit with unloaded guns over their shoulders. Astro beeps signaling a point. They check distance and direction to dog, often a couple hundred yards away in very thick clearcuts. Then they spend an agonizing amount of time figuring out whose point it is. That person then loads and heads in. Then they find the dog on point and they marvel over the statuesque dog. They position a cameraman for the photo. Then the hunter walks in and the bird flushes, etc. I’m exaggerating a little here, but coming from the flushing dog world this was my first impression. I was absolutely floored that any bird ever held, but having seen it with my own eyes many times, it definitely exists and they are very effective hunting this way. They have unfathomably good dogs and their style of hunting allows it. Hunting with a flushing dog and being in the cover with the dog at all times, its simply not possible to hunt like that. Same as rifle hunting, some places it works, some places its optional, and other places it’s totally non-functional.

 

[JBradley500]

I guess I'm so accustomed to hunting in the below conditions that I've never thought to hunt without one in the chamber. Time to get on target is incredibly limited no matter if you're walking or sitting.

 

[Dave_S]

How is it different? I must be dumb, please explain! It is an unsafe, not needed and just as ridiculous.

The most common argument I have seen for carrying a loaded rifle is you gotta be ready to shoot 100% of the time or an animal might get away (loaded 100% of the time in hand). And we wonder how hunters accidentally shoot other people every year. Based on this poll this thought process could be a contributing cause.

Well for one thing, it would be pretty hard to shoot a hunting partner if you fall on your bow...

I'd also like to point out, I did not call you dumb. Those are your words. I simply disagree with your comparison, and I believe it to be disingenuous.

Also, in my opinion, quick shooting opportunities are much more unlikely/impractical with archery equipment purely based off the process of firing an arrow, coupled with the fact that projectile speed means you are less likely to be making a shot at a moving target (at least these things are true for me).

I do not wonder how hunters "accidentally" shoot other people. I cannot recall a single "accidental" shooting that I have read about that did not have very obvious causes--usually extremely poor weapons handling coupled with failure to observe one or more rules of firearm safety.

I'll make no argument for why I choose to carry my rifle condition 1 when I do, it doesn't matter. I simply choose to do so, as is my right, and I don't believe I need to justify that. I stated my opinion that it is every hunter's choice to carry their firearm as they see fit. Furthermore, I also believe we each have every right to decide who we feel comfortable hunting with.

The blanket statement that having a firearm in condition 1 is unsafe is not grounded in reality. You may feel that it is unsafe. That's fine. Thats is your prerogative. However, millions of firearms owners, millions of law enforcement agents, and maybe more applicably, millions of military personnel carry firearms in condition 1 daily. And apparently 58% of us choose to do the same (situationally dependent).

 

[maxx075]

There was a previous post about hunting back east and always carrying with one in the chamber. I do the same. Did out west too, except when the rifle was on my pack.

I carry a rubber in my wallet too, never used it though

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

My elk/moose rifle is a Ruger #1 and I always carry it loaded when I am in the field. My others are bolt actions with a non detachable magazine and I always carry them with a round chambered when I hunt, have for 70 years with no accidents. I sure as hell am not changing now. The guns are always on safe too.

 

[Skerhunter]

Well for one thing, it would be pretty hard to shoot a hunting partner if you fall on your bow...

I'd also like to point out, I did not call you dumb. Those are your words. I simply disagree with your comparison, and I believe it to be disingenuous.

Also, in my opinion, quick shooting opportunities are much more unlikely/impractical with archery equipment purely based off the process of firing an arrow, coupled with the fact that projectile speed means you are less likely to be making a shot at a moving target (at least these things are true for me).

I do not wonder how hunters "accidentally" shoot other people. I cannot recall a single "accidental" shooting that I have read about that did not have very obvious causes--usually extremely poor weapons handling coupled with failure to observe one or more rules of firearm safety.

I'll make no argument for why I choose to carry my rifle condition 1 when I do, it doesn't matter. I simply choose to do so, as is my right, and I don't believe I need to justify that. I stated my opinion that it is every hunter's choice to carry their firearm as they see fit. Furthermore, I also believe we each have every right to decide who we feel comfortable hunting with.

The blanket statement that having a firearm in condition 1 is unsafe is not grounded in reality. You may feel that it is unsafe. That's fine. Thats is your prerogative. However, millions of firearms owners, millions of law enforcement agents, and maybe more applicably, millions of military personnel carry firearms in condition 1 daily. And apparently 58% of us choose to do the same (situationally dependent).

The subject in question is who carries a loaded rifle when big game hunting (not Leo/mil whatever other scenario).

Every accidental shooting (rifle big game) occurs from the following (off the top of my head) - mis handling of a loaded firearm, shooting an unidentified target or missing hitting an unintentional target.

Fact - unloaded rifles will not cause an accidental shooting or following the other basic principles of hunter safety.

Also a loose arrow not secured in a good quiver is very dangerous to you and the people around you. Might not kill you but you’re gonna have a bad day with one in your leg.

 

[Dave_S]

The subject in question is who carries a loaded rifle when big game hunting (not Leo/mil whatever other scenario).

Yes. Leo/mil feels at least somewhat relevant, at least given situations involving long arms. And definitely given any situation involving said long arms when loaded and in the woods around other people.

Every accidental shooting (rifle big game) occurs from the following (off the top of my head) - mis handling of a loaded firearm, shooting an unidentified target or missing hitting an unintentional target.

Fact - unloaded rifles will not cause an accidental shooting or following the other basic principles of hunter safety.

Again, yes. That is what I said. Although, I'd argue that shooting unidentified targets or missing a target is not relevant given that would necessarily involve loading the firearm anyway. But it only supports my argument that carrying the rifle loaded is not in-and-of-itself unsafe.

Also a loose arrow not secured in a good quiver is very dangerous to you and the people around you. Might not kill you but you’re gonna have a bad day with one in your leg.

Sure. And a sharp knife in a crowded kitchen can be dangerous if proper precautions are not observed. My point is (to refer to your first sentence here) the subject in question is who carries a loaded rifle when big game hunting.

 

[Skerhunter]

Yes. Leo/mil feels at least somewhat relevant, at least given situations involving long arms. And definitely given any situation involving said long arms when loaded and in the woods around other people.


Again, yes. That is what I said. Although, I'd argue that shooting unidentified targets or missing a target is not relevant given that would necessarily involve loading the firearm anyway. But it only supports my argument that carrying the rifle loaded is not in-and-of-itself unsafe.


Sure. And a sharp knife in a crowded kitchen can be dangerous if proper precautions are not observed. My point is (to refer to your first sentence here) the subject in question is who carries a loaded rifle when big game hunting.

So you’re arguing that carrying a loaded rifle is just as safe as an unloaded one? That’s your argument?

 

[Dave0317]

So you’re arguing that carrying a loaded rifle is just as safe as an unloaded one? That’s your argument?

That’s not even close to what he said, lol.

He just said it’s not necessarily un-safe to carry a loaded rifle. Not that it’s safer than an unloaded, not that accidents are impossible. Just that it’s not unsafe to carry a loaded gun (presumably given the four safety rules are adhered to as close as possible).