The gun is both loaded and unloaded until you check the chamber.
It’s especially loaded if a customer’s going to pick it up, or you’re going to clean it, etc. and unloaded if it’s oh-dark-thirty and there’s the sound of forced entry coming from downstairs.
Check the chamber!
One of the many things the Army drummed into our heads during Basic and Infantry training was firearms safety. After all, when you’re issuing fully automatic weapons and ammo to a bunch of teenagers, well, the training has to be rigorous.
Each morning, we’d draw our weapon from the armory. The first thing we did was check the chamber. Once we got to the range and were issued our ammo, we’d do our day’s live firing. Throughout the day, we checked the chamber repeatedly.
When we finished firing, we’d hold the weapon above our shoulders with the magazine out, bolt carrier back, and barrel downrange. The DIs would run a rod down the barrel to make sure there wasn’t a round stuck in the chamber. We’d then close the bolt carrier, put the weapon on semi and pull the trigger while still pointing downrange. When we returned to our armory, we’d once again check the chamber before returning our weapon for storage.
If there’s anything that Army training does (besides warp young minds, but that’s another story), it teaches a profound respect for weapon safety. I left the Army over 30 years ago, but to this day, the first thing I do upon touching any firearm is to check the chamber. Some things, you never forget.
That’s one reason I’ve been partial to revolvers — clearing a wheelgun is a one-step process.
“That’s one reason I’ve been partial to revolvers — clearing a wheelgun is a one-step process.”
Yeah, what about a break-down shotgun?
I generally carry with one in the chamber. I don’t want to have to take the time to chamber a round if I need my gun. Who knows IF I’d have that time.
Having said that, I’ve had several people question WHY I UNLOAD my pistol before I hand it to them. (these are friends and family, I’d never give it to a stranger) Before I hand it to them I remove the magazine, pocket it, pull the slide, and put that round in another pocket. I always tell them it’s a safety thing.
Several people went all weird and wiggly with, “…what? Why? Do YOU think I’M gonna shoot YOU!?”
“…no, and with that pistol sans bullets, you won’t shoot ANYONE else either! If it’s not loaded at all…you can’t shoot anyone at all, on purpose or ‘on accident’ either. Besides, even if YOU are holding the gun when it goes off, on purpose or ‘on accident’, it’s still MY gun, and MY permit they’ll go after! And IF someone gets shot it’ll be ME they sue first for handing you a loaded gun.”
That’s one reason I’ve been partial to revolvers — clearing a wheelgun is a one-step process.
Also, no brass left at the scene.
“I generally carry with one in the chamber.”
I have two words for you . . . Plaxico . . . Burress.
“Before I hand it to them I remove the magazine”
Maybe this is only for the police, but in their training, you never hand over your weapon . . . to anybody . . . ever.
“I have two words for you . . . Plaxico . . . Burress.”
I have four words for you: “Out of your lane”
I carry a loaded weapon almost every day. It literally isn’t rocket science.
People who carry without one in the pipe need to either quit or become better trained. It is simply stupid to carry an unloaded weapon for defensive purposes.
The way to carry a loaded gun is simple: Load it, put it in the holster and don’t fuck with it. Holstered guns don’t discharge. It is that simple. Follow the four rules on top of that.
Plaxco didnt have a clue what he was doing.
…and MP you left out the part where the grand majority of those of us who are daily carriers DON’T carry in clubs, and / or while drinking. I’m betting both those mentioned were not completely sober.
Where I live it’s illegal to carry into a place that serves alcohol.
(this is hopefully about to change. they are going to allow CCH holders to carry into restaurants IF WE don’t drink good idea I think)
As previously stated I don’t give my guns to strangers. But I’ve seen LEO’s hand an unloaded pistol to both adults and even kids. Again in the family and friend category. I guess I should have said I don’t hand ANYTHING that could be a weapon to a stranger. But guns were the topic here and now.
Paul Milenkovic,
Why would you voluntarily turn your hand gun into a handSgun?
My favorite comment:
One of the many things the Army drummed into our heads during Basic and Infantry training was firearms safety. After all, when you’re issuing fully automatic weapons and ammo to a bunch of teenagers, well, the training has to be rigorous.
Each morning, we’d draw our weapon from the armory. The first thing we did was check the chamber. Once we got to the range and were issued our ammo, we’d do our day’s live firing. Throughout the day, we checked the chamber repeatedly.
When we finished firing, we’d hold the weapon above our shoulders with the magazine out, bolt carrier back, and barrel downrange. The DIs would run a rod down the barrel to make sure there wasn’t a round stuck in the chamber. We’d then close the bolt carrier, put the weapon on semi and pull the trigger while still pointing downrange. When we returned to our armory, we’d once again check the chamber before returning our weapon for storage.
If there’s anything that Army training does (besides warp young minds, but that’s another story), it teaches a profound respect for weapon safety. I left the Army over 30 years ago, but to this day, the first thing I do upon touching any firearm is to check the chamber. Some things, you never forget.
That’s one reason I’ve been partial to revolvers — clearing a wheelgun is a one-step process.
“That’s one reason I’ve been partial to revolvers — clearing a wheelgun is a one-step process.”
Yeah, what about a break-down shotgun?
I generally carry with one in the chamber. I don’t want to have to take the time to chamber a round if I need my gun. Who knows IF I’d have that time.
Having said that, I’ve had several people question WHY I UNLOAD my pistol before I hand it to them. (these are friends and family, I’d never give it to a stranger) Before I hand it to them I remove the magazine, pocket it, pull the slide, and put that round in another pocket. I always tell them it’s a safety thing.
Several people went all weird and wiggly with, “…what? Why? Do YOU think I’M gonna shoot YOU!?”
“…no, and with that pistol sans bullets, you won’t shoot ANYONE else either! If it’s not loaded at all…you can’t shoot anyone at all, on purpose or ‘on accident’ either. Besides, even if YOU are holding the gun when it goes off, on purpose or ‘on accident’, it’s still MY gun, and MY permit they’ll go after! And IF someone gets shot it’ll be ME they sue first for handing you a loaded gun.”
Also, no brass left at the scene.
“I generally carry with one in the chamber.”
I have two words for you . . . Plaxico . . . Burress.
“Before I hand it to them I remove the magazine”
Maybe this is only for the police, but in their training, you never hand over your weapon . . . to anybody . . . ever.
“I have two words for you . . . Plaxico . . . Burress.”
I have four words for you: “Out of your lane”
I carry a loaded weapon almost every day. It literally isn’t rocket science.
People who carry without one in the pipe need to either quit or become better trained. It is simply stupid to carry an unloaded weapon for defensive purposes.
The way to carry a loaded gun is simple: Load it, put it in the holster and don’t fuck with it. Holstered guns don’t discharge. It is that simple. Follow the four rules on top of that.
Plaxco didnt have a clue what he was doing.
…and MP you left out the part where the grand majority of those of us who are daily carriers DON’T carry in clubs, and / or while drinking. I’m betting both those mentioned were not completely sober.
Where I live it’s illegal to carry into a place that serves alcohol.
(this is hopefully about to change. they are going to allow CCH holders to carry into restaurants IF WE don’t drink good idea I think)
As previously stated I don’t give my guns to strangers. But I’ve seen LEO’s hand an unloaded pistol to both adults and even kids. Again in the family and friend category. I guess I should have said I don’t hand ANYTHING that could be a weapon to a stranger. But guns were the topic here and now.
Paul Milenkovic,
Why would you voluntarily turn your hand gun into a handSgun?