Many decades ago my old Dad told me "unloaded guns are the ones that kill people". Pretty sound advice. Playing with a firearm is a recipe for disaster. One, and only one, "mistake" and you've got an ND-with potentially disastrous results. When I hear of folks preaching the "dry fire" gospel (and even worse talking about doing it in their apartments) I cringe. I have dry fired a weapon BUT only in a safe area (field or range) and then only when ammo has been secured and the weapon has been double checked. If you insist on the practice PLEASE be Careful! People-ALL people-slip up from time to time. Do so when playing with a weapon and nothing good can happen. Practice is important in weapon handling, but if your practice forces you to violate some of the basic rules of firearm safety perhaps it's time to rethink you training program…YMMV
Should chamber be cleared when putting gun away for the night?
- Thread starter bushmaster1313
- Start date
Many decades ago my old Dad told me "unloaded guns are the ones that kill people". Pretty sound advice. Playing with a firearm is a recipe for disaster. One, and only one, "mistake" and you've got an ND-with potentially disastrous results. When I hear of folks preaching the "dry fire" gospel (and even worse talking about doing it in their apartments) I cringe. I have dry fired a weapon BUT only in a safe area (field or range) and then only when ammo has been secured and the weapon has been double checked. If you insist on the practice PLEASE be Careful! People-ALL people-slip up from time to time. Do so when playing with a weapon and nothing good can happen. Practice is important in weapon handling, but if your practice forces you to violate some of the basic rules of firearm safety perhaps it's time to rethink you training program…YMMV
AJ
US Veteran
If you handle firearms long enough, you will have an accidental discharge. That is an old saying I heard many, many moons ago. Hopefully, it is down range!
Always carry your gun in your hand with your finger on the trigger. In a real encounter, you won't have time to draw, let alone rack. Adrenaline causes you to lose small muscle coordination; you don't want to be fumbling with trying to get your finger inside the trigger guard while two thugs are shoving you or grabbing your arms. Having the gun in your hand also lets you control muzzle direction directly rather than depending on holster position/alignment - every firearms accidental injury is partly the result of muzzling something unintended, you don't want to delegate this to a piece of leather.
I could supply a meme to indisputably prove this, but then I'd have to spend a whole minute typing my opinion into the graphic.
I hope you're joking. I'm sorry, but that is the worst advice that I have ever seen or heard! 100% WRONG! In fact, most of the entire paragraph is without merit.
I am fairly certain that post #79 is;
So are you saying that you know you'll have time to draw, but not to rack? Or that the adrenaline dump will interfere with racking, but not with trigger access? Why does a second to draw not matter, but a second to rack guarantees death?
I'm using all the same arguments as the chamber-full guys. Aren't they still valid, when all I did was take it slightly farther?
Of course I'm not serious about carrying this way. But it ought to make you think about whether those arguments are really valid for anything but an encounter that you've "pre-planned" as to what the perp will do.
Let me try another one. You are standing on a park pathway and out of the bushes pop four attackers - two with submachine guns, one with a 12 gauge, and one with a flamethrower. Should you have your chamber loaded?
Not about the racking part. See the BOLD/Underlined portion of your post.
As you see in my original post, I am a staunch proponent of carrying with a hot chamber. You do what you feel is best for you.
AJ
US Veteran
Always carry your gun in your hand with your finger on the trigger. In a real encounter, you won't have time to draw, let alone rack. Adrenaline causes you to lose small muscle coordination; you don't want to be fumbling with trying to get your finger inside the trigger guard while two thugs are shoving you or grabbing your arms. Having the gun in your hand also lets you control muzzle direction directly rather than depending on holster position/alignment - every firearms accidental injury is partly the result of muzzling something unintended, you don't want to delegate this to a piece of leather.
I could supply a meme to indisputably prove this, but then I'd have to spend a whole minute typing my opinion into the graphic.
Eric300,
Are you dealing with being trolled?
Not trying to troll… just making the point that any plan on how to carry only benefits a percentage of possible encounters. I can imagine situations where chamber-loaded would be beneficial, many where it wouldn't matter, and some where it would be more dangerous. There may be a benefit; it also comes with a risk. I don't think there's a one-size-fits-all here.
Would it make any difference in the outcome?
Baltimoreed11754
Member
Don't think so. Unless your last name is Miculek.
No matter how many times I tell folks about this US Army practice they never believe me. I don't know what the standard is with M-9s or its successors but as double action pistols I'd guess the Army changed its ways.
sousana
Member
When I was at NSA Naples Italy in the 70s, the Marine gate guards had 1911s but could only load the mag but not chamber a round. Now, down the street at AFSOITH, Ahmed Forces Southern Europe, the NATO base, gates were manned by Italian Caribiniery who had fully loaded Beretta 9mm and fully loaded sub gins, the Air Force guards had fully loaded S&W M&P 10s as well as a fully loaded shotgun and AR.
For me, my home has a fully loaded S&W Rev in 45acp with 4" bbl and green Viridian laser in each room, nightstand has a fully loaded 1911, AR 8.5" pistol, and a coach gun. Each weapon has red magnets attached to indicate loaded, however, after 55 years, each gun I see I presume is loaded.
I once got a KILLER deal on a near mint 5906, guy handed it to me, I cleared it and out popped a Glaser safety slug. Guy was so embarrassed he dropped the price down to 375.00
For me, my home has a fully loaded S&W Rev in 45acp with 4" bbl and green Viridian laser in each room, nightstand has a fully loaded 1911, AR 8.5" pistol, and a coach gun. Each weapon has red magnets attached to indicate loaded, however, after 55 years, each gun I see I presume is loaded.
I once got a KILLER deal on a near mint 5906, guy handed it to me, I cleared it and out popped a Glaser safety slug. Guy was so embarrassed he dropped the price down to 375.00
I have avoided reading most all of this-----never expecting, nor even dreaming it could possibly last this long.
It seems to me there are several factors involved in possessing a weapon intended for defense purposes. We'll skip the obvious, and go right to the bottom line:
You must be of the mind to use the weapon as deadly force.
The weapon must be ready to provide deadly force----with no additional preparation of any sort whatsoever---other than possibly moving a safety lever.
The End
Ralph Tremaine
It seems to me there are several factors involved in possessing a weapon intended for defense purposes. We'll skip the obvious, and go right to the bottom line:
You must be of the mind to use the weapon as deadly force.
The weapon must be ready to provide deadly force----with no additional preparation of any sort whatsoever---other than possibly moving a safety lever.
The End
Ralph Tremaine
Ah, an Exception for moving a safety lever.
How about cocking the hammer from Condition 2? Worth an Exception? (Note: Any SA revolver would require this too, unless you are carrying on full-cock. Also consider the Beretta 950B, flip barrel so designed for full chamber, but single-action and no safety.)
What about modern SA autos that can be carried Condition 2 and can also have the safety on? (CSX, for example.) Does that get two Exceptions?
Maybe racking the slide should get an Exception too? Might be easier than cocking the hammer AND flipping the safety off…
Making Rules is hard!
How about cocking the hammer from Condition 2? Worth an Exception? (Note: Any SA revolver would require this too, unless you are carrying on full-cock. Also consider the Beretta 950B, flip barrel so designed for full chamber, but single-action and no safety.)
What about modern SA autos that can be carried Condition 2 and can also have the safety on? (CSX, for example.) Does that get two Exceptions?
Maybe racking the slide should get an Exception too? Might be easier than cocking the hammer AND flipping the safety off…
Making Rules is hard!
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Back to the OPs question. 
Yes, loading and unloading daily/nightly is unnecessary and potentially hazardous.
If not mentioned above, to me keeping the gun in its holster for carry and storage when at home is a good idea. One less opportunity to have your hands on a loaded gun just for storage purposes.
Yes, loading and unloading daily/nightly is unnecessary and potentially hazardous.
If not mentioned above, to me keeping the gun in its holster for carry and storage when at home is a good idea. One less opportunity to have your hands on a loaded gun just for storage purposes.
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Several years ago I read a recommendation from Federal Ammunition that you shouldn't chamber a round in a semi-auto more than three times. In addition to bullet set-back the primer mix in the cup of the primer starts to flake off which could make ignition iffy.
I don't rechamber rounds that often, so I'll use a Sharpie and place dots on the head of the case. After the round comes out of the chamber with three dots on it, that round goes in a box of range ammo.
I don't rechamber rounds that often, so I'll use a Sharpie and place dots on the head of the case. After the round comes out of the chamber with three dots on it, that round goes in a box of range ammo.
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