Which Ready Condition for HD Semi-Auto Shotgun?

[rudigan]

Will be getting a Mossberg 930 SPX PG autoloader soon for the new HD shotgun. Will replace the old 870 express pump. No young ones around so will be stored very close and quickly accessible.

My handguns are always kept condition 0 and ready to go, just pull trigger. I'm thinking maybe not so for the the 930.
Loaded/chambered with safety on, just have to hit safety...
Loaded and not chambered with safety off, just have to rack...

Looking for experienced shotgun guys' input on what condition (state of readiness) they use for semi-auto HD shotgun and why.


Edit: Added semi-auto specific to last sentence.

[SkyHawk]

Mine (Benelli M1 Super 90) is cruiser ready: Safety off, not chamber loaded, hammer down (so the spring don’t take a set!). Ghost loaded, one on the shell carrier and a full mag tube. Very quick to get into action (cycle charging handle) and don’t care if it makes noise doing it.

[-hanko]

Will be getting a Mossberg 930 SPX PG autoloader soon for the new HD shotgun. Will replace the old 870 express pump. No young ones around so will be stored very close and quickly accessible.

My handguns are always kept condition 0 and ready to go, just pull trigger. I'm thinking maybe not so for the the 930.
Loaded/chambered with safety on, just have to hit safety...
Loaded and not chambered with safety off, just have to rack...

Looking for experienced shotgun guys' input on what condition (state of readiness) they use for HD and why.

Condition 0 is how mine are stored, both handguns, shotguns, and rifles.

If you're used to keeping your handguns in condition 0, why complicate things with a different manual of arms for your shotgun.

[golfrj]

Chamber loaded, bolt back, safety off, just drop the bolt....

[unusedusername]

Most agencies keep their shotguns in "cruiser ready" status due to most shotguns not being drop safe.

The Mossberg 590, Remington 870, Benelli Nova, and more use a free floating firing pin that has enough weight on the pin that it will fire if dropped, even if the safety is on.

You would want to contact the manufacturer of your specific shotgun to determine if it was made to be drop safe before keeping it in condition 1 (loaded, chambered, safety on).

[003]

Never a loaded chamber. Full magazine, action closed, trigger pulled and safety off. Simply rack the slide and chamber a round and it is ready to go.

This is the standard law enforcement patrol car carry.

[rudigan]

Chamber loaded, bolt back, safety off, just drop the bolt....

Interesting, did not think of this option.

[RandyD]

I am not familiar with the phrase, "Ghost Loaded", what does it mean.

[SkyHawk]

Interesting, did not think of this option.

This will keep the hammer back and tension on the hammer spring. Leave it that way for years (like most HD guns) and you may find it doesn’t go bang. My HD guns have hammers at rest, period. They sit like that for decades and I never worry about it.

Paul Harrell has a video where he talks about hammer cocked HD shotguns that he has seen fail because of it (leaving the chamber loaded with hammer cocked). Leaving the bolt back is the same as leaving the hammer cocked.

To each his own though.

[rudigan]

I am not familiar with the phrase, "Ghost Loaded", what does it mean.

[rudigan]

This will keep the hammer back and tension on the hammer spring. Leave it that way for years (like most HD guns) My HD guns have hammers at rest, period. They sit like that for decades and I never worry about it.

Paul Harrell has a video where he talks about hammer cocked HD shotguns that he has seen fail because of it (leaving the chamber loaded with hammer cocked). Leaving the bolt back is the same as leaving the hammer cocked.

To each his own though.

Hmmm, Paul H. is usually a pretty straight shooter..pun intended. Thanks.

[L84CABO]

I am not familiar with the phrase, "Ghost Loaded", what does it mean.

It's a way of squeezing an extra round into some shotguns. So your mag tube will be topped off, you'll have one round in the chamber, and one round...the ghost round...sitting on the carrier. Here's a video of the process for the Benelli m4 (which I have). I'm not familiar with Mossberg 930 but I suspect the process is similar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8QeiMOlN0Q

[hambam105]

I am not familiar with the phrase, "Ghost Loaded", what does it mean.

In California where no one is responsible for what they do,
Ghost Loaded means:

In Southern Cal it means, "I didn't know it was loaded"
In Northern Cal it means, "How was I supposed to know?"

[SkyHawk]

Hmmm, Paul H. is usually a pretty straight shooter..pun intended. Thanks.

Paul’s solution is a "best of both world’s" solution. He uses a Win 1897, exposed hammer shotgun. So he can keep the chamber loaded and avoid any potential failures (usually human caused) trying to chamber a round, while also keeping the hammer at rest (by gently lowering the hammer after chambering a round).

The Win 1897 has some interesting design elements though, like dual extractors and if only one breaks (and they do) you will have a problem. The ejector is also not what you’d call ideal. So not sure it is the perfect setup. But one in good condition will run and can be run hard and fast from what I have seen.

I ghost load my Benelli as in the video above, but rather than also chamber a round I let the bolt close on an empty chamber then pull the trigger to drop the hammer. The extra round on the carrier/lifter is just a bonus round. Then the gun is ready to use after pulling and releasing the charging handle should I need it.

[heidad01]

In California where no one is responsible for what they do,
Ghost Loaded means:

In Southern Cal it means, "I didn't know it was loaded"
In Northern Cal it means, "How was I supposed to know?"

Well said and accurate description. ..