Gun Storage Safety

[USAF385]

I personally have examined a revolver multiple times to ensure it's unloaded before handing it off to someone. I could open the cylinder, count six holes and close it, only to have to open it again, turn the cylinder and examine it again 15 seconds later. I'm very OCD when it comes to making sure my guns are unloaded.... I'm worse with my semi autos.....

 

[HAWKEYE10]

When I worked they would not allow guns even
in the parking lot. I carried the gun to work anyway. I
had a 45min. drive to and from work and no way would
I not take it. I told no one not even my close friends.
The only people that had their car searched where those
that really went off the deep end. As for taking the
grandkids to school I leave it in the car and keep my
mouth shut, even the kids don't know. Don

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I consider repeated loading and unloading, particularly of a slabside gun, to be a greater danger than leaving a loaded, even cocked-and-locked, gun in the safe. Any gun that gets moved daily into the safe is moved loaded, with due regard for the position of the trigger. Any revolver that is hung on a hook has the hook behind the trigger, and has a conspicuous (bright yellow) "LOADED" tag hung over it, both for me, and for my survivors, if I get run over by a truck while the gun is in the safe. When I was carrying a 1911, the gun came out of my pants in the holster, and stayed in the holster, safety on and trigger guard still covered. It had a "LOADED" tag placed on it.

A bit of care and thought need to go into storing a loaded gun or two in the safe, but I consider it a much better bet than loading and unloading guns several times a day.

 

[whw]

Any revolver that is hung on a hook has the hook behind the trigger, and has a conspicuous (bright yellow) "LOADED" tag hung over it, both for me, and for my survivors, if I get run over by a truck while the gun is in the safe.

Model520Fan,

Thanks for the feedback. The "hit by a bus" scenario is at the front of my mind. I wouldn't want my legacy to be the accidental death of family member because I left a loaded gun in the safe after kicking the oxygen habit. Having narrowly escaped an aneurysm that was ready to give way, I have seriously considered what would happen if I wasn't around to make sure everything is safe.

Again, thanks for the comments.

whw

 

[M29since14]

Whw... A lot of good, sensible advice given here. Let me add one caution that deals with a subject that nearly caused an indoor ND for me. With your Chief, as you unload there is the distinct possibility that a live round can be "caught" by the thumbpiece, not drop free, and then make its way back into its chamber. If you are working quickly, you might not notice this and end up with an "empty" gun that actually has one round in it. I had this happen years ago and I caught it at the time, but it was a wake-up call.

If you always turn the revolver so that the muzzle is pointing up (as S&W's literature recommends) when you press the extractor rod to unload it, all rounds should drop free. I had gotten cavalier about that and the results suffered accordingly. Even so, there is no substitute for careful inspection to make sure all chambers are empty - and then checking again.

Getting back to the question about autoloaders, I agree with others that unloading is probably a danger in its own right (possible confusion) and that if secured, there is no pressing need for it. If you are one of those who is not diametrically opposed to pistols with magazine safeties, you might consider using one and popping out the magazine as an added precaution. We all understand this is not a safety procedure in and of itself, but it is one more impediment to an AD/ND.

When my kids were little, I set aside the 1911s in favor of a 6906, and later a 3913, and I always removed the mag before setting the gun down. It made me feel a little better, in fact, good enough, I guess, but I never thought of it as a good substitute for unloading the gun, when I thought it was necessary.

Ultimately, you know your daily routine and what level of readiness you think you need to be in. You're best qualified to make the decisions, but I do not think you are foolish to worry about bullet set-back and the possible confusion from loading/unloading. Now that my kids are older and wiser, I could probably go back to the 1911s and C1, but as long as they live there, I would rather be safe than sorry and do not feel I am in any sort of danger that makes having a loaded and locked pistol a necessary thing.

BTW - in Indiana, I believe there is an exclusion for parents who have proper licenses to carry when delivering their kids to school functions. You cannot enter the school with the gun, but having it with you while seated in your vehicle is not a violation. You might see if there is a similar exclusion in your state's law. That could ease some of your burden.