Round In The Chamber

[Forkyfinder]

Is it really that different from running the bolt on a bolt action? Little tougher to be discreet about it but you’re pulling a bolt back and pushing or letting it move forward either way.

The concealed carry arguments are silly. Pistol in holster=safer than gun in hand.

I thought so?

The difference to me - the release on an AR is easily bumped and a live round chambered.

 

[Kauaihunter]

I always hit the bolt release on an AR and let it slam to get one in the pipe. Trying to hold the BCG back is not a good practice IMO because it’s designed to slam closed and I have encountered the bolt not going fully into battery by babying it. While you’re at it, give the mags a little bump too because a mag that’s not seated properly is another issue.

 

[Kauaihunter]

I thought so?

The difference to me - the release on an AR is easily bumped and a live round chambered.

You can have a full mag in with the BCG and dust cover closed. You can also pull and release the charging handle and get one in the chamber, no bolt release required. All your deer, even the deaf ones will running away though.

 

[Forkyfinder]

You can have a full mag in with the BCG and dust cover closed. You can also pull and release the charging handle and get one in the chamber, no bolt release required. All your deer, even the deaf ones will running away though.

Fair...

Just dont see that as practical, relative to a bolt i guess.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I thought so?

The difference to me - the release on an AR is easily bumped and a live round chambered.

Dont leave the bolt open.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I always hit the bolt release on an AR and let it slam to get one in the pipe. Trying to hold the BCG back is not a good practice IMO because it’s designed to slam closed and I have encountered the bolt not going fully into battery by babying it. While you’re at it, give the mags a little bump too because a mag that’s not seated properly is another issue.

Seems like forward assist would handle concerns with bolt not getting fully into battery?

 

[Nick87]

I am going out with the musket in the morning and will have one in the pipe so you guys might just want to stay indoors.

I scared the hell out of a bull last year with the sound of pulling the hammer back. He was about 50 feet away and I was looking at another bull and couldn't see the close one.

Maybe we could acknowledge that not everyone is hunting the same way.

Or maybe not.

Almost always when it happens.

 

[Kauaihunter]

Seems like forward assist would handle concerns with bolt not getting fully into battery?

Yes you can but some of the more “modern” versions I guess you could call them don’t come with a forward assist.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

It depends on the situation. If I’m hunting in open country and glassing, then no. If I’m sneaking through the timber tracking elk or whitetails, then yes. If I’m concerned about grizzlies I usually keep a round in the chamber as well.

you are much safer from grizzlies if you have bear spray in your hand. About 97 percent of the time a hunter goes away unhurt using bear spray in a close grizzly encounter, and if a rifle in used as defense the hunter only goes away unhurt about 65% of the time

 

[Mustangs Rule]

w

Since Michael called those of us that carry one in the chamber "dumb" on IG I thought the subject might deserve a more civil discussion here over the comment section there. I have always carried one in the chamber and never felt un-safe about it. I would actually go as far as to say with the level of muzzle control I force myself to have I would feel confident that I could carry with no safety on without incident.

PS: I NEVER do the latter. Just emphasizing that I feel I have enough safety protocol built into how I carry a gun that I deem not having a round chambered as unnecessary.

What about having one in the chamber of a bolt gun, not having it cocked. Need to raise the bolt before firing,

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

 

[MTLabrador]

you are much safer from grizzlies if you have bear spray in your hand. About 97 percent of the time a hunter goes away unhurt using bear spray in a close grizzly encounter, and if a rifle in used as defense the hunter only goes away unhurt about 65% of the time

I’m aware of the statistics, and aware that those studies were done on bears with a much different temperament than GYE grizzlies and that there’s no way of knowing how many of those times spray was used on a bluff charge.

If a grizzly comes at me and I have a rifle in my hands I am not dropping it to grab bear spray.

 

[Nuts]

I’m aware of the statistics, and aware that those studies were done on bears with a much different temperament than GYE grizzlies and that there’s no way of knowing how many of those times spray was used on a bluff charge.

If a grizzly comes at me and I have a rifle in my hands I am not dropping it to grab bear spray.

So how does this work then?
I spray the bear with pepper spray.
Then I rack a round.
Then I shoot it.
Then I tag it.

And this increases my chance of being unhurt?? I feel like pepper spray only would make it tough to get the tag on and skin him.

 

[howl]

depends on when and where

 

[Nuts]

"Not sure where the rule your referring to comes from??" Nuts

It comes from Hunters Safety instruction as a student myself, then with my kids and grandkids as I attended with them. To be clear, all in Montana and primarily focused on big game hunting and firearm safety. Each and every instructor brought experience and expertise to the instruction based on their own personal perspectives and attitudes regarding firearms safety, but pretty much consistent and in line with what I expressed.

For whatever worth, my Hunter Safety Course certification dates back to 1957 and I have been hunting, mentoring, and studying firearms safety since. I'm headed to the mountains today for a couple days of safe hunting.
View attachment 398066

Straight Arrow:

I was serious when I said I wanted to learn. So I actually downloaded the 1957 book you have shown here. I admit it is choppy in the download and not as clean as your actual physical version. It was an interesting read with the way things were back then and the detail they went into. I will say that I did not see what you are surmising. Quite the opposite. There is referencing to unloading the firearm to cross a fence or climb. (I think something everyone here agrees on) Can you point me to that rule you spoke of? Perhaps the choppiness of the download is muddying what I am reading. I did not retype this. It is copied and pasted



Guns should be unloaded before being put in a car. It
better to case them as well. Guns being put into a boat
also be unloaded and the actions opened as an additior
caution. Hunters stopping for any purpose should unlo
open their guns. Loaded guns should never be taken into
or dwelling. Guns should be unloaded before trying to
log or any time the footing is very bad. No safe hunt
runs with a loaded gun, пог does he ever use his gun to Низ]
or club game.
The gun should be unloaded before attempting to climb :
fence. After it is unloaded it should be placed on the other sid
of the fence with the muzzle pointed away from the point wher
the hunter will climb over.

 

[Lota lota]

I’ve been eagerly awaiting @Lota lota Bullchit’s season recap of jump shooting elk in the heavy timber, and his mass of 2025 “punched tags”

You've got to be the biggest blow hard on here next to BuzzH. I did kill an elk, but out of spite I'm not posting it. Call me whatever you want. Sorry you don't have the ability to do it apparently.

 

[Straight Arrow]

Can you point me to that rule you spoke of?

You obviously have difficulty understanding my wording. It is NOT a rule in that handbook. As I qualified it previously it is a "univerally accepted" rule. I further explained that it was derived from "Each and every instructor brought experience and expertise to the instruction based on their own personal perspectives and attitudes regarding firearms safety, but pretty much consistent and in line with what I expressed."
Your consistently contentious dialogue of argument is tiring. Load up, carry one in the chamber, hunt your derriere off ... just stay away from western Montana please!

 

[Straight Arrow]

Not trying to be a SA but how does one rub off a safety? I have been hunting for 60 years and have never had my weapons safety rub off unless I took it off to shoot.

One does not intentionally "rub off a safety", but if you fasten your rifle to your backpack, the jostling and rubbing against the pack can "rub off" safety. I also have hunted that long and have had the safety rub off on my pack. That is another reason not to carry a round in the chamber.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

w

What about having one in the chamber of a bolt gun, not having it cocked. Need to raise the bolt before firing,

How would you go about closing a bolt on a round without having the firing pin cocked? Is the firing pin not protruding from the bolt face if it's not cocked?

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

You've got to be the biggest blow hard on here next to BuzzH. I did kill an elk, but out of spite I'm not posting it. Call me whatever you want. Sorry you don't have the ability to do it apparently.

Lota lota bullchit..