Keeping a pump shotgun at the ready...

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mod34

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I'm sure it has been asked (and answered) before, but here goes:
Any issues with storing a pump action shotgun with a fully loaded tube? I always considered it akin to keeping a fully loaded magazine at the ready 24/7, but at least magazines can be rotated around. I'm about to add a Mossberg 500 defender to my arsenal of "don't come in" pieces, but wondered about the continuous strain on the tube spring.
 
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I have several shotguns of different makes that have been loaded for years. They work perfectly when called upon. They are Mossberg, Browning auto 5, Rem 1100 and a Ithica. Load em up and fergeddaboudit.
 
At worst, a extra coil spring cant cost that much. Just dont go hunting without the plug.
 
Load one short.

Well, I did have a problem once with a fully loaded mag tube on a New Haven (Mossberg) 600. I was a young struggling Husband, Student and Father and that shotgun was all I could afford at the time.

The tube spring took a set and the gun malfunctioned when I really needed it to work. It short fed a round and tied up the gun, leaving me with little more than a birch stocked club.

As soon as I could, I deep sixed the 600 and went to a Remington 870 and paid a few extra dollars for a Choate extended mag tube and extra power spring. However to this day, remembering that awful moment, I still load one round short.

Drew
 
Like buckeyeshooter, my SXS was always ready! But I bought a Mossberg/Maverick 88, 12ga, 18.5" pumper for HD. I've always left the mag. loaded, chamber empty. (love that "rack" sound!) I shoot it enough to know it works!
 
Benelli Nova Tactical w/2rd extension always loaded at the ready.

btw; is it not the compression extension cycle of springs that causes them to break and/or loose its coil factor? This is what I have been told over the years.
 
The degree to which shotgun magazine springs take a set, and the difference it may make in function, vary greatly. Benellis are quite sensitive to taking a set, and will malfunction if the mag spring gets too light. Most pump guns aren't that picky, although a sufficiently light spring can even make a Mossberg choke. I keep my Benellis downloaded by one, and I always replace the factory springs with Wolffs. My Mossbergs have Wolff springs, too, but I've never had one of them or one of my Remingtons malf due to a light spring. I keep my Mossbergs and my Remingtons fully loaded. I usually don't bother replacing the mag spring on a Remington until I notice it feeling lighter.
 
I may be an idjit for doing it, but i leave mine loaded and a round almost chambered, the forend an inch from lockup, so I can SEE the round, before chambering. I don't want to worry if it's there or not, and I'm not so sure I want it sitting ready to fire IN CASE someone with poor training were to handle it.

While I'm not expecting any such event, the practice eases my mind a bit. It would be awfully hard to claim 'it just went off' .
 
I keep the Benelli 121M1, the Mossberg 500, and the TTN 12 ga SxS coach gun loaded and chambered. The Benelli and Mossberg are on safe, the Coach has the hammers down.
All of them are pretty much into action as quiet as a mouse if I hear something.
Im not about to let slip exactly where I am and what I am armed with.


Jim
 
Zombies? Did anyone say "Zombies?" I think I can "rack" and shoot VERY quickly. (zombies kinda walk slow) Maybe I'll have to fight 'em off with the M65 3-incher w/158gr. LSWCHP+P that sleeps with me!

No wait, my Mini14 w/20 rnd mags..no, wait........How about an old M79 40-mike w/OOO loads? That's the ticket! One shot, no zombie, no door, no wall, open-air house!
 
reminds me of the 10-Best MGs on the Military Channel. The .50 was #1. But that .223 minigun sure looked impressive.
 
I don't know about pumps but my grandfather kept his A5 loaded in his closet for at least 50 years when he wasn't hunting with it. It never missed a beat and still doesn't.
 
IMHO (and it's JUST an opinion)
The Mossberg 500-590 and Winchester 1300 will either get an H-D spring as a replacement, or have springs rotated once a month. I didn't care for the set the OEM springs took in both the guns. When relaxed after being loaded, they were only at the the length of the empty full length magazine tube. I had 3 OEM springs for each to rotate them with. But I finally ended up getting Wolff replacements and never experienced the issue again. Oddly, I've never experienced it with an 870 or 37?
BTW: Keep an eye on the first few shells that are loaded into the mag tube. Some may tend to "mushroom" after being under the followers spring pressure for an extended time. JOMO?
(EDIT)
Begging your pardon? I neglected to address your original question?
If no kids and no stupid adults are expected to be encountered? I leave mine loaded, chamber empty.
If dopes are around, a long hasp bicycle or cable lock through the action is fine by me.
 
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my 870 has a choate extension, mag fully loaded,without one in the chamber. it gets shot every summer and reloaded with fresh ammo at that time. has never had aproblem in 15 years.
 
I have a Mossberg 590 series with modifications. The OEM safety button, magazine follower, and bead sight were replaced. Brownells has a more aggressive metal safety button, Brownells stainless steel magazine follower and Merprolight Tru-Dot Day/Night bead sight. The only other modification was a receiver mounted shell carrier.

I keep the shot gun with an empty chamber with chamber safety flag inserted, magazine and receiver saddle loaded to capacity with a mix of shell types.

There is nothing wrong with the Remington 870 except in my opinion the safety location. I prefer the Mossberg safety and slide release locations.
 
I have a Mossberg 590 in reach with the hammer down on an empty chamber. No button to push, safe, and you gotta make "that" sound. Doubles are great but unless it is a "hammer" model, springs are under tension. Joe
 
My Remington 870 is best kept in "Cruiser Ready" mode. That is chamber empty, hammer dropped, safety off and a loaded magazine tube. It is very safe and can be made ready to fire in an instant without the need to locate any buttons, etc.
 
For keeping at home, etc., I think the mag spring would be fine for a long time.

I had something strange happen while I was still working. I carried my issue 870 in a case behind the truck seat. I loaded it with some Federal #1 buckshot and carried it for a couple of months before taking it out to shoot it. I was surprised to find that some of the buffering material had shaken out of the end of the shells and accumulated on the inside of the magazine tube. This caused the shells to bind in the tube and resulted in a jam. After cleaning out the tube and smearing a little candle wax in the end of the shells I had no further problems. Up to that time I had been carrying Winchester shells, which are sealed with a heating element that is applied at the center of the crimp. The Federal's do not have this, although they are otherwise of excellent quality.

Most of my time was spent on rough dirt roads that rattled my teeth and the truck, so I can easily see how it could happen, but it sure wasn't something I would have anticipated. Live and learn.
 
I would make sure the shotgun in question is well broken in, any little burrs, etc smoothed out-through repeated dry firing. Which will also let you get the feel of the gun.
 
I have my 1922 vintage model 12 Winchester fully loaded with #4s. It had set with a plug installed until about five years ago. Had always been a hard shooting gun, lots of turkey shoots and ducks. It had been my dad's favorite shotgun. The mag spring shows no signs of loosing strength as it will cycle all rounds through with no signs of jams.
I thoroughly cleaned the gun several years ago.
So today it is ready, round chambered and the magazine full, safety on.
oldogy
 
The magazine spring is not the only spring in a gun. I know people that don't leave their O/U and SXS cocked because they are afraid the hammer springs will set. The pump gun also has a hammer spring so why only worry about the magazine spring. I have never had any kind of a spring in any kind of gun to set in over 60 years of shooting. Larry
 
Some like to load the magazine to one less than capacity. The reasons I have heard are decreasing the likelihood of shell deformation, decrease spring compression/set AND making it easier to load in a different type of round than what's already in the tube should the desire/need to do so arise. For example, if you have all buckshot in the magazine but circumstances call for a slug, you can push a slug round into the magazine and rack the action and you're ready to go with a slug. Sounds reasonable but not mandatory. YMMV
 
I have a old S&W M-3000 pump that has been loaded for about 23 year's or so. Take it out once a year and shoot the ammo out to check for proper function, clean it, reload with fresh ammo and good for another year. So far so good!
 
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