Hunting Cruiser Ready

[fivefeezy]

Does anyone else hunt cruiser ready with a pump action shotgun? I prefer it over carrying with one in the chamber on safety. I don't like having to adjust my grip when switching the safety off. The problem is with my new Benelli Supernova. When its not cocked the slide moves down about a half an inch because the action is so light.

[PoorRichRichard]

I don't like having to adjust my grip when switching the safety off. The problem is with my new Benelli Supernova. When its not cocked the slide moves down about a half an inch because the action is so light.

Close it on an empty chamber and do not pull the trigger. When you are drawing up on a bird or a rabbit, you will have to remember to pull the trigger (dry fire) so you can actuate the pump for your first shot. Probably not the safest practice, but it solves the problem you are asking about.

The position of the safety in front of the trigger is one of the few things I do not like about my Supernova (solid gun- I will never sell mine). Not a big deal for me, because my it is primarily use is as a trap, and back up duck blind gun.

I much prefer the safety behind the trigger, or better yet on the tang like my old Mossy 500 and O/U guns. But hell, any shotgun is good in the hands of a capable hunter

[deckhandmike]

I don’t use a safety when I hunt. Don’t point your gun at anything you’re not willing to shoot. The only time I engage the safety is when I’m climbing over a fence or something like that.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Yeah, learn how to do it right with the gun loaded and on safe.

What you are wanting to do will scare off any animals that you want to shoot and is a lot harder to do than simply pressing a button on the trigger guard.

As far as carrying a gun in the field RTF with the Safety Off is not a good Idea. Too many things can happen that lead to a Negligent Discharge. step in a hole, trip and fall, get excited and pull the trigger? Your imagination is the only limit on how wrong this is.

I can attest to just about shooting my Wife's Boss during a Pheasant Hunt on a Private Ranch. I was walking around with the Safety Off on my A5 and I got excited when a bird flushed and he was right in front of me, and I ND'd right past his head. I didn't even have the gun mounted, it just went off. He didn't know that it was accidental and thought I was just fast on the bird. When I finally told him what happened I was never invited to hunt with him again. and I would have reacted the same way. That was 30 years ago and I got some more training since then.

Just learn to carry the gun safely with the safety on until you are ready to fire. What I do as I am mounting the gun is say to myself,,, "Safety First!" so it don't forget to take it off.

I personally think that the A5 safety is positioned better than any other in the back of the trigger guard and when you put your finger on the trigger your second pad is on the safety and automatically releases it as you put pressure on your finger..

Next to that Tang Mounted Safeties are the best. All my O/U's and Mbergs have them set up that way.

Randy

[fivefeezy]

I'm only bird hunting so I'm not worried about scaring any animals off with the sound of working the slide action. I've always hunted this way with my Mossberg 500. However its not as easy to do with the Benelli Supernova because of how loose the slide is when its not locked. I guess I'm the only one that bird hunts like this.

[G-forceJunkie]

Time for an over/under?

[MJB]

Some people need a hunter safety course refresher

[deckhandmike]

You should ask this question in the hunting forum. You’ll get a better answer. Speed racking your gun is also inherently dangerous as you rush. You’d be better off just keeping your finger off the trigger.

[RandyD]

It's a free country; you can do whatever you want. Just be safe about it.

I grew up hunting with a .22 pump. I carried it in the field in a variety of ways. Empty chamber, hammer down, safety off. Round chambered, safety on and/or off. I never had an accident. Whenever I crossed a fence or ditch or encountered difficult terrain, I had an empty chamber. I now hunt with a semi-auto shotgun, and I carry it with a round chambered and the safety on. The same rules apply about fences, ditches or difficult terrain, I have an empty chamber.

[NapalmCheese]

I carry with a round chambered, safety on, and muzzle in a safe direction.

If I'm walking chances are my dominant hand isn't anywhere near the trigger and I'm going to have to "adjust my grip" just to get into a shooting position (which I do, while taking the safety off and shouldering the shotgun). If I'm in a blind, chances are the gun is leaning up against the blind requiring the same "adjusting the grip" as I shoulder the gun. Either way, I don't find pushing the safety that difficult.

As for safety on or off, what might look like easy terrain can conceal hidden hazards.

[MJB]

I hunt behind dogs so they are constantly down range with loaded guns pointed in their direction. That safety better be on if it's loaded.

My finger is constantly on the safety, when the bird flushes I push the button behind the trigger and slide my finger onto the trigger guard. Then I bring it back onto the trigger as the shot lines up.

[deckhandmike]

With dogs or a group of buddies I get it. I’d still recommend a safety vs a empty chamber though.