Chamber Flag

Freeway · Dec 21, 2012

I am accustomed to having a chamber flag (flag safety) when transporting a rifle on/off the range... it was a Marine Corps thing. I have not seen any pictures in the forum where a flag safety is present.

Looking on MidwayUSA, I found this

Safe Tech Saf-T-Round Chamber Safety Flag 22 Rimfire Brass Polymer

Has anyone used one, have an opinion?

Thanks!

photoracer · Dec 21, 2012

Generally if you shoot in competition you have to use chamber flags. Or bag the firearms when not in use. But most ranges seem to leave that up to the shooter except in training classes.
Most of use use these as they come in singles or 5 packs:

Boonie Packer Chamber Checker Safety Flag Polymer Yellow

Incredible Me · Dec 21, 2012

In Holland we generally only use them on the range to show to officials the weapon is empty.

We have these:

Downside is that the part that goes in the barrel is a bit too tight, so i just hang it in the magwell.

Transporting and storage i do without, at the range i dryfire it once at the target and then put it away.

Kayback · Dec 21, 2012

I only use flags to take the rifle off the line and to the bag/rack.

If I'm taking pics I more than likely won't have one in the gun.

Mine look very much like Incredible Me's flags.

My 12 guage one is a 12 guage shell that's got rope through the primer well and sticks out the chamber.

KBK

Majorlk · Dec 21, 2012

All my chamber flags are a two inch piece of 1/2" dowel rod painted yellow. The ONLY time I use one is during a break in the shoot when a CEASE FIRE is called. Since my range does not allow uncased firearms anywhere except actually on the line, they are unnecessary for transport.

M29since14 · Dec 21, 2012

I haven't used the one in the link but I do use chamber flags with my pistols. I have heard of more than a few accidents that could have been prevented if the shooter had removed his magazine and inserted the chamber flag before leaving the range. It only takes a second or two.

DialTone301 · Dec 21, 2012

We use them during matches in the .22 pistols and rifles when we "show clear" instead of having to "hammer down" on an empty chamber.

Majorlk · Dec 21, 2012

M29since14 said:
I haven't used the one in the link but I do use chamber flags with my pistols. I have heard of more than a few accidents that could have been prevented if the shooter had removed his magazine and inserted the chamber flag before leaving the range. It only takes a second or two.

Casing (or holstering, for those with carry permits) a firearm before leaving the range solves that particular problem.

Lager · Dec 21, 2012

Most of the guys I know that are cheap, well, thats most of them use?
A piece of weed eater/trimmer line with a knot tied on the end about a foot long.
Works.

CJ45lc · Dec 21, 2012

Sign up & go to an Appleseed Shoot...they give you one for free

A few inches of weed wacker line works fine like Lager said

OldEagleEars · Dec 21, 2012

I've had 'em, lost 'em, had some more (repeat ad-infinitum). I lock open the slide on semi-auto pistols when clearing the range or keep the crane unlatched for a revolver (SAA's go in the pistol rug). Open action for rifles when I am in a lost-flag condition (lever down for the Henry). My range is sorta oblivious of these niceties and it does bug me! My grandkids are getting them on all their Christmas guns and they WILL be used....!

M29since14 · Dec 21, 2012

Majorlk said:
Casing (or holstering, for those with carry permits) a firearm before leaving the range solves that particular problem.

There is a reason for the chamber flag and a case is not any sort of substitute. It is just as easy to (unintentionally) put a loaded gun in a case as an unloaded gun. Putting the gun in the case only prevents unwanted fumbling around with it.

Kayback · Dec 22, 2012

And any laws aside, what's wrong with a loaded firearm in a bag?

It isn't going to go off by itself is it? It is the unwanted fumbling around that makes it go off.

A bagged gun is a safe gun.

KBK

Sprefix · Dec 22, 2012

All I could think of was Eddie Izzard and "Do you have a flag?". Funny (guy)........

station · Dec 22, 2012

Clubs where I shoot all insist on breech / safety flags.
Good way of showing nothing else in a chamber.
ATB

MMA_FAN · Dec 22, 2012

All my weapons at home are danger checked and secured or in my direct possession. Knowing all my firearms are loaded makes following the rule to treat ALL firearms as if they are loaded at all times is very easy. Now, being all the ranges here do not require them I have never had to use mine. ProtoCall for a line break at my range is: Bolt or slide locked to the rear, magazine detached, safety on. Transporting is the same. While we all should assume a fire arm is loaded at all times. It is in my opinion chamber flags only serve the purpose of comforting other people who are around you.

Kayback · Dec 23, 2012

MMA_FAN said:
It is in my opinion chamber flags only serve the purpose of comforting other people who are around you.

Yup.

We use them to tak the rifle off the line. So everyone knows it is empty. Even though the rifle/shotgun is kept in a safe direction, it is an easy way for everyone to see the gun is empty.

Majorlk · Dec 23, 2012

M29since14 said:
There is a reason for the chamber flag and a case is not any sort of substitute. It is just as easy to (unintentionally) put a loaded gun in a case as an unloaded gun. Putting the gun in the case only prevents unwanted fumbling around with it.

Then the person involved is NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY ARE DOING. IT'S CALLED NEGLIGENCE!

Majorlk · Dec 23, 2012

MMA_FAN said:
All my weapons at home are danger checked and secured or in my direct possession. Knowing all my firearms are loaded makes following the rule to treat ALL firearms as if they are loaded at all times is very easy. Now, being all the ranges here do not require them I have never had to use mine. ProtoCall for a line break at my range is: Bolt or slide locked to the rear, magazine detached, safety on. Transporting is the same. While we all should assume a fire arm is loaded at all times. It is in my opinion chamber flags only serve the purpose of comforting other people who are around you.

The protocol at my range is the same with the addition that at the call of a CEASE FIRE, the ROs use flashlights to actually confirm an empty chamber or revolver charge holes.

MMA_FAN · Dec 23, 2012

M29since14 said:
There is a reason for the chamber flag and a case is not any sort of substitute. It is just as easy to (unintentionally) put a loaded gun in a case as an unloaded gun. Putting the gun in the case only prevents unwanted fumbling around with it.

Fumbling and firearm should be two words never used in the same sentence or used in any description of how a firearm could or would ever be intentionally handled. All firearms should be treated as if they are loaded at all times even when they are not. They should be given the respect to never be fumbled with. If someone can not be responsible enough to give such respect to a firearm they should not possess one. A chamber flag is not an invitation to be any less cautious or any reason to assume the firearm is safe. As I said, the only purpose for the FLAG is to comfort those who are around you.

Chamber Flag

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