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Old 06-28-2016, 02:45 PM
Mark40 Mark40 is offline
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Is it harmful to the buffer spring to keep an AR stored with the bolt locked back. I know that springs are supposed to wear out only through repeated compression and release. I keep all mags loaded, but for some reason I don't feel as comfortable leaving my rifle with the bolt back, safety on and a loaded mag inserted. Strictly from a mechanical, rather than safety standpoint. I'm not sure I'll keep it that way anyway, but I'd like to know the pros and cons.
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Old 06-28-2016, 03:24 PM
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I don't think it is harmful from a mechanical standpoint, but it isn't the safest practice to store it with bolt open and loaded magazine. Doesn't take much of a bump to make the bolt close, inadvertently chambering a round. I would store it with either the bolt forward, hammer down with empty chamber and loaded magazine, or round chambered with safety on.
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Old 06-28-2016, 03:54 PM
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It is currently stored not chambered but cocked with the safety on. It stays in my safe either way, and the first thing that happens on removal is a safety check. Unless of course it is coming out to repel a home invasion. I doubt very much that will change. I'm new to the platform and just want to learn as much as possible from those with more experience. Thanks for the input.
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Old 06-28-2016, 08:38 PM
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Why store it that way? It just seems the natural storage is with bolt closed. But I guess it can't hurt really.
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Old 06-28-2016, 09:17 PM
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No more than having magazines stored fully loaded. Everything does wear out over time but as long as the spring isn't over compressed or stretched, it should be fine.

That being said, I do know the military stores their firearms with the bolt and dust cover closed and the hammer up. So, I suppose over a long period of time, it might be easier on the springs to not be compressed for long periods of time.
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Old 06-28-2016, 10:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Kadonny View Post
Why store it that way? It just seems the natural storage is with bolt closed. But I guess it can't hurt really.
It seems to me it would be the quickest way to bring it into action. Just pick it up and hit the bolt release. Like I said, I probably won't do it but I thought it worth considering as an option.
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Old 06-29-2016, 01:51 AM
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Originally Posted by sgtsandman View Post
...the military stores their firearms with the bolt and dust cover closed and the hammer up.
The main reason for this is to keep out dust. The main reason for the hammer up is to ensure an empty chamber. With the mag out and the muzzle in a clearing barrel, they press the trigger. This ensures an empty chamber.
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Old 06-29-2016, 08:59 AM
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The main reason for this is to keep out dust. The main reason for the hammer up is to ensure an empty chamber. With the mag out and the muzzle in a clearing barrel, they press the trigger. This ensures an empty chamber.
And that would make it hammer down, not up.
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Old 06-29-2016, 09:49 AM
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I don't have room in my safe for all my guns, let alone 30rd magazines on the guns that fit.

Personally, if I were to keep an AR ready to repel the zombie hoards, I would not keep it in my safe partially loaded. If you can't keep it out of the safe with the hammer down on an empty chamber with a loaded mag, keep it in the safe with the hammer down and the magazine on top. I see nothing to be gained by storing a rifle in the manner the OP wishes to do.
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Old 06-29-2016, 10:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Mark40 View Post
It seems to me it would be the quickest way to bring it into action. Just pick it up and hit the bolt release. Like I said, I probably won't do it but I thought it worth considering as an option.
See for me that is just not intuitive. I want it stored with bolt closed and hammer down to mimic how I store my automatic handguns. None of us (pretty sure) store our handguns with the slide racked open......right? No matter what gun I pick up if deploying from storage I know I have to charge the weapon (or rack the slide) to load it. Intuitive.

Just my take.
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Old 06-29-2016, 10:46 PM
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Loaded mag, one in the chamber, safety off. I don't have kids at home so I'm not worried about anyone screwing with my rifle. I keep my M&P9 the same way in the nightstand. It isn't the safest way to store my rifle, but it's just that---my rifle.
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Old 06-30-2016, 12:55 AM
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And that would make it hammer down, not up.
Interesting. I've actually never heard the phrase "hammer up" before so, I just thought you were speaking literally. When the sear is released on an empty chamber, it is physically up from it's cocked position so, that's what I thought you were saying.

I honestly don't remember anyone ever saying hammer up to mean a cocked gun before. I wouldn't because the hammer is not up when cocked.

Anyway, any gun I've ever touched in the military, was stored in the fired position. I store mine the same way. I see no value in leaving it cocked unless there's a round in the chamber.
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Old 06-30-2016, 09:01 AM
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Originally Posted by Rastoff View Post
Interesting. I've actually never heard the phrase "hammer up" before so, I just thought you were speaking literally. When the sear is released on an empty chamber, it is physically up from it's cocked position so, that's what I thought you were saying.

I honestly don't remember anyone ever saying hammer up to mean a cocked gun before. I wouldn't because the hammer is not up when cocked.

Anyway, any gun I've ever touched in the military, was stored in the fired position. I store mine the same way. I see no value in leaving it cocked unless there's a round in the chamber.
Someone else said "hammer up" in the thread... never heard it called that either, but have used "hammer down" terminology to mean the hammer is down on an empty cylinder (revolver world)... I took it to mean that "hammer up" was meant to say that the hammer is back and ready to fire.
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Old 06-30-2016, 10:07 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cyphertext View Post
Someone else said "hammer up" in the thread... never heard it called that either, but have used "hammer down" terminology to mean the hammer is down on an empty cylinder (revolver world)... I took it to mean that "hammer up" was meant to say that the hammer is back and ready to fire.
Yup, took it exactly the same way. In my book, hammer down is not cocked but rather the hammer is "down" on the firing pin.
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Old 06-30-2016, 12:02 PM
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The hammer is cocked or down.

That said, if I was describing the hammer position to someone on the Net looking at his lower receiver and FCG somewhat confused about something, I might very well say hammer is "up".

Right here we have the hammer in the half-cock notch position... but I digress...


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Old 06-30-2016, 12:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChattanoogaPhil View Post

Right here we have the hammer in the half-cock notch position... but I digress...

Phil, try not to go off half cocked!
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Old 06-30-2016, 12:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Kadonny View Post
In my book, hammer down is not cocked but rather the hammer is "down" on the firing pin.

Hence we have the term, "Drop the hammer" or "Dropped the hammer on him".
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Old 06-30-2016, 05:52 PM
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Or the term "hammer down".

It makes sense in how it's being described as far as "hammer down" = uncocked and "hammer up" = cocked.


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Old 06-30-2016, 06:51 PM
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Phil, you have a SPIDER living in your buffer tube.
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Old 07-11-2016, 08:37 PM
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I agree in an AR, when the hammer is down it physically looks like it's up. But we all know it's down. So in summary, up is down, and down is up
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Old 07-11-2016, 08:48 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rastoff View Post
The main reason for this is to keep out dust. The main reason for the hammer up is to ensure an empty chamber. With the mag out and the muzzle in a clearing barrel, they press the trigger. This ensures an empty chamber.

...and ringing ears and soiled undies for whoever 'they' are, when 'they' realize the only proper way to ensure a chamber is clear, is by pulling the BOLT to rear (and visually inspecting chamber), not the TRIGGER.
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