When do you chamber a round while hunting?

dfanonymous said:

So I just mortar stomped two Remington 700s hard as ---- a few times, and it didn't go off with a just empty case and primer. One with the factory x mark and the other with a timney. Safety's work. And the biggest safety is keep that finger out of the trigger guard. So, I'll just do that

Click to expand...

If you did this with C, I did the same thing and got the same results...I tried like hell to make it go off. I couldn't do it. Once again, I am not trying to sell anybody on carrying their gun this way...but don't knock it until you have tested it either....

Rogue said:

My dad taught me method A. That's what I taught my boys. Have never been in such a rush to shoot that I didn't have a second to run the bolt and load a round.

That said, when hunting coyotes with the gas gun, method B is used.

Click to expand...

I know spot and stalking in the west, A is the way I do it...I only have been using C recently when sneaking through heavy timber. A is also the way I have taught my son. Re coyote hunting - We always chamber a round and put it on safety once we set up and start calling.

TG-5150 said:

Don't pick on me, I just can't believe this is a featured thread. FFS
You made an asswagon post and are getting three different answers.
1. Does not agree
2. Wont say, cause it's stupid in the first place; but is a democrat so don't want to offend.
3. Has no idea, just skimming the forum and wants to be included.

But on the brighter side, most of your threads end up in debate. Heated is good.
So when I say " ---- off" . It's more like, you get to buy the next pitcher.
Lmfao

Click to expand...

There is nothing wrong with some healthy debate is there? I am 100% ok with being wrong with C - in fact even though this wasn't the intent of the post, at some point I am going to have to decide what to do with my son. Right now it is always option A - for both of us when we are hunting together. He is 11, option A just makes sense. Are there situations when B makes sense? Sure, I used B in different scenarios for 23 years. 2 years ago I was introduced to C - thought it was complete BS, Instead of completely dismissing it, I tried everything I could think of to cause the gun to discharge and it wouldn't.

So I bounce back and forth between B and C and have been leaning towards C. If C really is more dangerous than B I want to know...so when I say I understand somebody being against it, I have been there, so I really do understand. But after my own testing I am not convinced it is any more dangerous than B.

phorwath said:

Your example is good enough proof for most.

I'll let Figgy explain the deficiencies.

Here it comes now... "but did your Uncle have his finger on the trigger when he slammed the bolt home?"

Remember, it has to measure up to Figgy's proof level. Something he demands. But hasn't articulated.

Click to expand...

That is a trigger issue isn't it? Isn't that why remington had all the legal issues and the recall? Unless his uncle was intentionally trying to decock the weapon or it when off while it was decocked I am not sure how this is proof that C isn't safe.

phorwath said:

Congratulations Figgy. You've collected 3 votes for your safe gun handling preference # "C".

Don't get me wrong. Your opinion is 100% correct for you. But worthless to 97%. 98% if I were to cast my vote. Seems like my opinion is thought of quite highly by most everyone, EXCEPT you. BTW, that makes yours insignificant.

You must have got an in-law to vote.

Click to expand...

What is interesting about the number of people who selected C is that it has gone up, then down, meaning that people are voting for C, then changing it. I am guessing after they saw the backlash they didn't want any part of it. Which is sad, because instead of fighting about this, it could be a productive conversation with people sharing actual experience to back up opinions they hold instead of lashing out and spewing incorrect facts.

Paul, I don't know @MudRunner2005 , never met him. But I did go back and read that bumpstock thread that you referenced and what you are claiming on here is just factually inaccurate. There is nothing wrong with a healthy debate brother, but when someone is willing to lie to prove a point, it is no longer a healthy debate.

I don't live world where I can take somebody's word or opinion at face value - in my profession it is cautiously trust but always verify. So when I ask for an experience or why somebody feels that way, I am not trying to start a fight, I genuinely want to know why you have that opinion. If there it merit and you have some experience to support your stance, great, its valuable to me, but if you can't provide any substance to back it up, then the opinion is of no use to me. I am guessing I am not the only one on here who feels that way.

Does everybody really value your opinion except for me? Maybe, but I am guessing that is a pretty big stretch.

Just to reiterate, the firing pin one makes guys uneasy since:

1. You have to slowly ride the bolt or hammer down on a loaded round. If you slip or do it too fast it can possible fire.

2. Not proven, but still a valid concern, the firing pin resting on a primer, any type of intertia can potentially detonate it. I'll take bigngreen word for it. I Don't have enough experience.

Safeties, are just that, a way to stop the rifle from firing so guys are more comfortable using them. But the vast majority of hunters and shooters I've met always say never trust a safety. So that is where muzzle awareness and keeping your finger outside the trigger mitigates the possible mechanical failure of a safety.

For me and my girls it is totally dependent on the situation. When stand hunting, we go to the stand with the mag full and chamber empty. Climb into the stand, quietly chamber a round, put the safety on, and set the rifle in a corner. Unload before climbing down. Out West, we always hunted with an empty chamber. If we stalked an animal, we chambered a round when we were starting to get close, but left the bolt up, fingers around stock under bolt, and thumb on the bolt shroud. Sounds cumbersome, but it is not, and very quiet to put the rifle into play when it is needed, and safer than a loaded gun with the safety on, I think. An old western guide taught me this method nearly 40 years ago and I still use it today. Not a fan of a round chambered on an uncocked gun. Too many things can go wrong, especially with cold, stiff fingers. YMMV, but that's the way we were taught, and have neither ever had an accident, or an issue with any guide. But things might have changed out West lately, havn't been out there since I broke my foot several years ago.

I use c only on my model 94 lever action because that is designed for their safety .l go with b for my bolt actions.

When I'm on target.

I trust C over a safety all day everyday. In grizzly country backpacking I rock C. Ever looked backed to see bolt open and cartridge absent action full of crap, rem 700 style action? Bolt lock with safety on helps prevent this but not what I run. C for me most the time. Still hunting and sitting when I know it's close to powder burning time then there's one in the hole, bolt engaged, rifle shouldered safety on.

I use A unless I am coming up to an animal I have taken or closing in on a close stalk.

Orange Dust said:

For me and my girls it is totally dependent on the situation. When stand hunting, we go to the stand with the mag full and chamber empty. Climb into the stand, quietly chamber a round, put the safety on, and set the rifle in a corner. Unload before climbing down. Out West, we always hunted with an empty chamber. If we stalked an animal, we chambered a round when we were starting to get close, but left the bolt up, fingers around stock under bolt, and thumb on the bolt shroud. Sounds cumbersome, but it is not, and very quiet to put the rifle into play when it is needed, and safer than a loaded gun with the safety on, I think. An old western guide taught me this method nearly 40 years ago and I still use it today. Not a fan of a round chambered on an uncocked gun. Too many things can go wrong, especially with cold, stiff fingers. YMMV, but that's the way we were taught, and have neither ever had an accident, or an issue with any guide. But things might have changed out West lately, havn't been out there since I broke my foot several years ago.

Click to expand...

When hunting pigs in dense bush in New Zealand, I used this method on my old sporterised 303 - no I bought it that way.
Cock on close can be a bit noisy, but when you've got a very angry boar charging you, noise don't matter, he's got lined up before he starts his run.
Another one with this rifle - closing the bolt with trigger depressed and limiting the cocking piece travel to 1/2 cock.
Under stress, pulling the trigger didn't work and I was reduced to replicating our ape forebears - running away and climbing the nearest sturdy tree. Rifle occasionally didn't make it with me on the climb, but being ex-military, a quick clean and it was good to go again. After the nerves settled

codyadams said:

Depends on hunting style, as you stated. On my high country hunts here in Wyoming, on a hillside glassing for elk/deer, or open plain pronghorn hunts, empty chamber with magazine in/loaded, however my 44 revolver or 10mm glock sidearm is always ready to go if I hunt in bear/wolf country, anywhere in the mountains. Pretty much if I am moving in the mountains with my rifle in my hands, chamber is loaded saftey on, again, I'm often in bear/wolf country, and I would rather have one shot from my rifle to try to stop one than maybe two or three from my handgun. If I'm packing in, rifle strapped on my back, of course empty chamber, but I always have a loaded sidearm. If I have new youth hunters with me, I generally have them do the same that I do, and I'm just always conscious of trigger finger and mizzle orientation with newer hunters. The reason I have them loaded, again, is not to make a quick shot on a game animal, but to protect themself from a ****ed off bear.

Click to expand...

GOOD ADVICE

Grew up hunting in the thick woods of Klamath Falls,Oregon - always ready with a round chambered. More concerned with where one pointed the rifle - and for sure - NOT at my Dad. Also - don't try any tricky maneuvers while carrying a firearm. With the lever action -Model 94 Winchester - had the hammer in the safety position - Bolt Action - safety on - but again - CAREFUL WHERE YOU POINT THE RIFLE.