When do you chamber a round while hunting?

[codyadams]

How can it go off? The firing pin doesn't magically re-engage when it gets bumped.

The firing pin doesn't have to be engaged, the thought is the weight of the fireing pin falling forward could have enough force to set off the cartridge if the firearm is dropped. When the fireing pin is put down, it is now free floating and theoretically this could happen.

 

[RegionRat]

Nothing in the chamber until I am on game with the rifle. I have learned to chamber very quietly and quickly during a stalk when close to a shot on game.

Nothing in the chamber of the shotgun when moving around until we are on game with folks I don't trust. I will chamber in a blind with other seasoned hunters and trusted dogs, but not with rookies or ill behaved dogs.

If with a guide, I do what they tell me.

I've seen too many safety failures over a lifetime of my own hunting and military experience, and unless it is a two way target range, it isn't worth the risks to me. YMMV

 

[Pdvdh]

Depends on whether I'm alone or with a hunting partner. Depends on whether I'm spot and stalk open country hunting or hunting woods/brush. Depends on bear density. Depends on backpack on versus backpack off. Depends...

 

[FIGJAM]

Right. But imagine for a second that your rifle in such a position were to drop from a stand and strike the back of the bolt on a branch or foot peg...

Unlikely? Maybe, but when working with firearms we're all taught to leave nothing to chance.

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?

 

[Idaho Lefty]

OMG,. Pin resting on, a LIVE, Primer !!
NO Way are you guys are EVER,.. huntin' with,.. me !
There was a REASON WHY, the ole' Cowboys loaded 5 Cartridges, in their 6 shooters !
ONE "sensitive" Primer or, a DROPPED, Rifle,.. kiss Somebody's aszz,.. goodbye !
As a former Gunsmith for 30 years,.. AFTER doing a "Trigger Job", I ALWAYS, "dropped" the butt stocks on Carpeted/ Bench, to see IF they would discharge and they DID,.. up to a certain Poundage ( every Rifle was, different !). Be very CAREFUL what, you are "Preaching Here" guys !!! SAFETY,.. FIRST,.. ALWAYS !
A and B ARE,.. the ONLY "correct" ANSWERS !

 

[codyadams]

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?

I have with a revolver, and it didnt fall on the hammer, it fell on the muzzle. It was an old style without a saftey bar, so the same as a rifle would be, fell onto concrete and discharged. In my opinion if you want a rifle to be 100% safe, just have an empty chamber, that is the ONLY way you can gaurantee it can't discharge. it is not much harder to just run the bolt vs open and closing it to get ready for a shot.

 

[therifleman556]

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?

Lefty (and Cody) just covered it. If the scenario were impossible, every revolver made today would have the firing pin mounted rigid to a non-rebounding hammer. I won't discount your first hand experience, but nobody in my proximity is going to carry a firearm in that manner.

 

[Possum Cop]

I've hunted all over the world with different people of every walk of life and everyone in my hunting circles chamber a round and put the rifle on safe.

 

[FIGJAM]

Lefty (and Cody) just covered it. If the scenario were impossible, every revolver made today would have the firing pin mounted rigid to a non-rebounding hammer. I won't discount your first hand experience, but nobody in my proximity is going to carry a firearm in that manner.

I get it man - my sisters husband is the one who introduced me to this - made me nervous as hell the first several years and I thought it was stupid. Then I saw some rifles go through some stuff with C that blows my mind and have never seen an accidental discharge. His whole family claimed it was safer than being on safety and I haven't seen anything that led me to believe otherwise.

 

[memtb]

I answered "round in, on safety"....another reason I like a 3 position safety! I also, repeatedly check the safety position, while hunting! There are times when, hunting without a round chambered....but not often where we hunt. Usually, only my wife and I, occasionally in timber where shots can come very quick, and then there's the occasional grizzly! memtb

 

[Guy M]

Usually while I'm hiking, spot & stalk hunting, I've got a full magazine and an empty chamber.

I clearly remember deciding to chamber a round when we were stalking a grizzly, and had gotten into thick willows - severely limiting visibility. Seemed prudent to have a round chambered and the safety on. Sure enough, within minutes we were on the grizz, at less than 50 yards. Ended up working the bolt a few times, quickly.

Guy

 

[therifleman556]

I get it man - my sisters husband is the one who introduced me to this - made me nervous as hell the first several years and I thought it was stupid. Then I saw some rifles go through some stuff with C that blows my mind and have never seen an accidental discharge. His whole family claimed it was safer than being on safety and I haven't seen anything that led me to believe otherwise.

I respect your take on the matter, but personally I won't even consider it. Just to much unknown for my liking.

 

[MudRunner2005]

I trust a floating firing pin with no spring pressure on it, than trusting a safety on a gun with a sear holding back all that spring pressure aimed at a live primer. Just food for thought. Also, never had a problem with "C". Had rifles get bumped-around, and such, never had an issue. About the only way it could cause an issue, is if a stick happened to land in that less-than-1/2" hole where the rear of the firing pin sits in the bolt. Weird stuff happens, but to me, that seems a lot less likely, than a safety failing or a trigger getting pushed with a stick, and the safety failing, and the sear dropping and a round going off... Just my way of thinking.

Also, almost all modern revolvers have block-off plates to prevent an AD. Only the old-school fixed-pin revolvers were dangerous having them sitting on a live primer. Load 5, skip 1, rest the hammer on the empty cylinder...That's called the "cowboy load".

 

[Deleted member 103481]

I do a decent amount of tree stand hunting and if I'm sitting still I have a round chambered, safety on.

Stalking with anyone always empty chamber.

I will walk to some stands chambered on safe in areas I know I may bust deer or come across something walking in.