Safe HD storage?

[GettoPhilosopher]

What advice do you guys have about safe storage of HD weapons? I'm specifically wondering about hammer up/down and chamber loaded/empty.

My primary is a Sig P226, chamber loaded but hammer down. What I'm not sure about is shotguns and carbines. Is it safe to keep a shotgun or carbine with one in the pipe and the weapon on "Safe", or should you keep the chamber empty?

[Cyc Wid It]

For me, always one in the chamber.

1911 in condition 1 "cocked and locked."

[CHS]

If you're keeping a firearm around for self-defense purposes, there should ALWAYS be a round in the chamber.

1911 - Round in the chamber, safety on.
Sig - Round in the chamber, gun de-cocked.
Shotgun - Round in the chamber, safety on.
AR - Round in the chamber, safety on.
Revolver - Cylinder full, hammer down.

[socal033]

How about if your primary were a Glock? Still one in the chAmber?

[plan-b]

Even Glock. if it's your HD gun, there should be one in the chamber. Buy an inexpensive nylon holster for it.

[GettoPhilosopher]

I don't know why, but I've just got some sort of holdover airsoft distrust of firing mechanisms on springs spontaneously firing. I.e. a Sig decocked is fine, but a loaded chamber on a shotgun or a carbine is an AD waiting to happen randomly.

Yeah. Thanks for confirming what I already thought...that it was bullcrap.

[Cyc Wid It]

I don't know why, but I've just got some sort of holdover airsoft distrust of firing mechanisms on springs spontaneously firing. I.e. a Sig decocked is fine, but a loaded chamber on a shotgun or a carbine is an AD waiting to happen randomly.

Yeah. Thanks for confirming what I already thought...that it was bullcrap.

So what happens if you reach for your shotgun and you don't have time to pump it?

[GettoPhilosopher]

That's why I'd reach for my Sig first. I didn't think much about it until I sold my Sig (I have 9 days left till I can take my new P226 home! :P)...made me think about how I'd rely on my 870 for HD if necessary, and that made me ask exactly what you did. What happens if I don't have time? :P

[Reductio]

So what happens if you reach for your shotgun and you don't have time to pump it?

Never took me that long, it's part of the action of picking it up for me: adds no time whatsoever in bringing it up to my shoulder.

Shotgun: full tube, empty chamber, hammer down, safety off.

[GettoPhilosopher]

Never took me that long, it's part of the action of picking it up for me: adds no time whatsoever in bringing it up to my shoulder.

Shotgun: full tube, empty chamber, hammer down, safety off.

My concern was more the extra ammo. I know I can pump it rather fast, but it'd be nice to have 1 more.

[Gem1950]

Never took me that long, it's part of the action of picking it up for me: adds no time whatsoever in bringing it up to my shoulder.

Shotgun: full tube, empty chamber, hammer down, safety off.

^^^ That one.

My concern was more the extra ammo. I know I can pump it rather fast, but it'd be nice to have 1 more.

^^^ Expecting a riot in your house?

[johnny_22]

Fire concerns?

I don't have a round chambered, since that is a danger in case of fire. I rely on my dog to give me a heads-up on a break in.

[Casual_Shooter]

I keep my HD gun in a gunvault type safe by the bed (I have kids). Magazine loaded but I do not keep a round in the chamber.

The way I look at it is, in the event my young children (5 and 7) got into my gunvault I want to keep the risk of an accident as small a possible while still giving me access to the gun. I doubt either one of them could rack the slide, but pulling the DA trigger *could* happen.

Also, I figure if the situation is such that I don't have time to get my gun out of my gunvault and rack the slide, it was probably too late to do anything with the gun even if a round was chambered.

[GettoPhilosopher]

^^^ Expecting a riot in your house?

Actually, I live in fear of Red Dawn happening. Danged Russian paratrooping stealth commandos. </sarcasm>

I don't have a round chambered, since that is a danger in case of fire.

Is it any more or less of a danger to have rounds in the tube? I'd think a 6rd magazine exploding everywhere would be much more dangerous than one round firing into the air.

I keep my HD gun in a gunvault type safe by the bed (I have kids).

Right. Obviously, my habits will change as soon as I have kids. For now, it's just my wife and I.

Also, I figure if the situation is such that I don't have time to get my gun out of my gunvault and rack the slide, it was probably too late to do anything with the gun even if a round was chambered.

I get that, but it's not quite true for my home. Long, skinny condo....if someone were to break in, I'd hear them (thick exterior windows/doors) and even were they to make a beeline for my bedroom door (ignoring the PC and TV :P) I'd still have about 10 sec or so to wake up and grab my weapon.

That being said, I rather doubt I'll ever get my home broken into, let alone be placed in a situation where my life and my wife's life hangs on whether I have 6 rounds or 6 +1 rounds in my shotgun. It *is* a kinda crummy neighborhood, but our complex is pretty safe. I just want to cultivate good and effective habits, even if we all know I'll probably--God willing--never need to use them.

[Casual_Shooter]

Is it any more or less of a danger to have rounds in the tube? I'd think a 6rd magazine exploding everywhere would be much more dangerous than one round firing into the air.

If a round is in the chamber during a fire and explodes, the round comes out of the barrel with more energy (and directed energy) than if sitting in a magazine or ammo box etc. (thanks Mythbusters. )

I get that, but it's not quite true for my home. Long, skinny condo....if someone were to break in, I'd hear them (thick exterior windows/doors) and even were they to make a beeline for my bedroom door (ignoring the PC and TV :P) I'd still have about 10 sec or so to wake up and grab my weapon.

I think we are on the same page there.