When do you chamber a round while hunting?

[mfk]

(This is the eyerolling emoji) Easy big guy...Lol. I was just curious what everybody does - this wasn't an "I need help, please educate me" post. I was listening to the meateater podcast and they posed the question to steve and he said he hunts with one in the chamber and the safety on when he is by himself and an empty chamber when with the cameras etc.

I love the meat eater series on Netflix.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Did we beat the "C" out of this post yet?

Nope, mob-rule only works for Democrats, socialists, and communists. So, I wouldn't count on that...

 

[FIGJAM]

I love the meat eater series on Netflix.

Me too - his podcast is really good too.

 

[bigngreen]

I am honestly a little disappointed in the support you provided for your argument - especially with what you do for a living. I am 100% ok to be wrong here, but I need more than your opinion and contradicting statements. So far all I have heard from you is because the safety is out of play it isn't safe. Is this your professional opinion or your personal one? What kind of force would it take for a disengaged firing pin to fire a round in the chamber? You obviously don't know. It would be a lot more than dropping a rifle or banging it againts something. I know that because I have tried it.

I have not done an exhaustive study on what it takes to fire a rifle with the firing pin down, why would I, I have more than once had a firing pin drop when not expected or in ways unexpected while trying to figure out an issue, I've seen very minor stuff cause issues that would result in bigger problems with a live round. If you work on enough guns you'll see ones that you can't figure out how someone didn't die using it and others that look perfect in every way and still have issues.

 

[FIGJAM]

Hunting with a live round in the chamber and the safety off doesn't ensure an accident must or will occur. Just increases the odds and risk.

What's the goal? Identification of the least safe method that might not result in harm?

Why do you feel like it increases the odds and risk? Because other have said so, or do you have some personal experience, or do you just not like the idea of it?

 

[FIGJAM]

I have not done an exhaustive study on what it takes to fire a rifle with the firing pin down, why would I, I have more than once had a firing pin drop when not expected or in ways unexpected while trying to figure out an issue, I've seen very minor stuff cause issues that would result in bigger problems with a live round. If you work on enough guns you'll see ones that you can't figure out how someone didn't die using it and others that look perfect in every way and still have issues.

I get it - but having a cocked firing pin drop unexpectedly is different than an intentionally decocked firing pin setting off a round. I am guessing you have never seen that happen? Neither have I. So why jump to the conclusion that it is less safe than than one in the pipe With a safety engaged? You don't know that.

 

[Barrelnut]

I am saying I have seen rifles dropped and smacked around like that and never seen an accidental discharge. I have however seen safeties bumped off, or guys think there gun was on safety and it wasn't. I am curious if anybody has actually seen an accidental discharge with C?

It only takes one time to ruin your life.

 

[MudRunner2005]

It only takes one time to ruin your life.

That could be said about a lot of things in life...

 

[FIGJAM]

It only takes one time to ruin your life.

You are right - but I am thinking a disengaged firing pin is no less safe than a safety. Also, if my firing pin is disengaged and somebody pulls the trigger or something hits it accidentally, nothing happens. If your safety is off, well....

 

[Barrelnut]

When you have one "in the chamber" with the rifle uncocked, the firing pin is exposed at the bolt face and is touching the primer. It is kinda pushing the cartridge forward a bit. IF the rifle is dropped on its butt hard, The cartridge acts like a person in a car without a seat belt. The rifle and pin suddenly stop, but the cartridge keeps moving until an outside force stops it. The outside force is firing pin. It is possible for the primer to detonate at that point. Lots of things have to be right BUT that is why some six shooters have a bar that comes up and rest between the hammer and the cartridge when the hammer is down and the pistol is not cocked. If the hammer strikes the ground at the right angle the gun could go off.

 

[therifleman556]

I can't believe we're almost a dozen pages in and nobody's uttered the word creedmoor...

Not that it's relevant, but what thread here goes so far without it's mention?

 

[FIGJAM]

When you have one "in the chamber" with the rifle uncocked, the firing pin is exposed at the bolt face and is touching the primer. It is kinda pushing the cartridge forward a bit. IF the rifle is dropped on its butt hard, The cartridge acts like a person in a car without a seat belt. The rifle and pin suddenly stop, but the cartridge keeps moving until an outside force stops it. The outside force is firing pin. It is possible for the primer to detonate at that point. Lots of things have to be right BUT that is why some six shooters have a bar that comes up and rest between the hammer and the cartridge when the hammer is down and the pistol is not cocked. If the hammer strikes the ground at the right angle the gun could go off.

I have tried that, banged it hard against the ground on its buttpad and got nothing. Believe me, I wanted it to go off because my bro in law can be an arrogant sob and I love to prove him wrong once in a while...nothing. Also, @bigngreen said it would have to be a muzzle first impact to cause it to fire.

I don't think impact from a fall can cause enough force for a round to be discharged by a decocked firing pin. I think the force would have to be more significant than is realistically possible from regular use or misuse.

 

[FIGJAM]

I can't believe we're almost a dozen pages in and nobody's uttered the word creedmoor...

Not that it's relevant, but what thread here goes so far without it's mention?

Well, you screwed it up man...that was my goal!!

 

[FEENIX]

It only takes one time to ruin your life.

Agreed!