To chamber, or not to chamber? That is the question.

[Deleted member 28227]

I haven't had an instance yet where it cost me a shot that I wanted.

Well put.

 

[Zach]

I trust myself not to shot myself, I don't trust you :hump:

but the question was do you have one chambered, not if you let your buddy have one chambered.

 

[PrairieHunter]

Do any of you who carry hot use Remington 700's?

 

[Fire_9]

Just chambered a primed case in one of my rifles that sits in an aluminum chassis, took the scope off, and gave the buttstock some pretty good thumps against the concrete. Primer never fired and had a tiny mark on the primer similar to a primer cycled in an ar-15. Not a scientific study by any means but I fell pretty comfortable with my decision to carry with my bolt decocked.

 

[MJE2083]

Yes I'm always chambered except when climbing a fence or other obstacle.

Hunting in PA

 

[mtmuley]

Do any of you who carry hot use Remington 700's?

Yep. mtmuley

 

[Idahoarcheryhunter]

Do any of you who carry hot use Remington 700's?

Sure do.

 

[Idahoarcheryhunter]

Always have a round chambered, southern Idaho.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Do any of you who carry hot use Remington 700's?

Yes I shoot nothing but Remington 700's.
I hunt in the southwest.
After I leave the vehicle or camp, yes I have a live round in the chamber when I'm hunting.
When I'm hiking and glassing I'm hunting. I do unload when climbing a fence or jumping a creek though.

 

[HighDesertSage]

Just chambered a primed case in one of my rifles that sits in an aluminum chassis, took the scope off, and gave the buttstock some pretty good thumps against the concrete. Primer never fired and had a tiny mark on the primer similar to a primer cycled in an ar-15. Not a scientific study by any means but I fell pretty comfortable with my decision to carry with my bolt decocked.

I'm telling ya don't do that. Drop the bolt faster and see what happens.

 

[Laelkhunter]

I'm telling ya don't do that. Drop the bolt faster and see what happens.

We tried to tell him, but he has other ideas. I spent 30 years as a Police Officer with the New Orleans PD, 15 of which were on the SWAT Team. I have seen many, many victims of gunshot wounds- some from rifles. A close range contact wound with a high powered rifle is devastating, if not fatal, especially with soft point/hunting ammo. I hope he reconsiders, but if not, I hope he hunts alone.

 

[Rancho Loco]

No
MT

 

[belly-deep]

I’d guess the odds of getting accidentally shot in MT each fall are about equal to getting mauled by a griz. So I assume everyone worried about getting shot doesn’t hunt griz country?

 

[haiku_rodney]

I hunt with a round in the chamber. There are many animals I would not have shot if I had to chamber a round then shoot. I often hunt in thick forest (especially pigs) where your only opportunity are quick shots.

Maui, Hawaii

 

[Deleted member 16014]

Nope

WY and MT

 

[std7mag]

Yes. Cocked and locked. I hunt alone.
PA

2 years ago i spotted a guy through my binos. He was spotting with his binos. We both waved our hats in acknowledgement.
He then proceeded to unsling his rifle, lever action, jack one in the chamber and fire towards me.
We'll just say he scampered off in a big hurry.

 

[Fire_9]

I'm telling ya don't do that. Drop the bolt faster and see what happens.

Yeah no kidding. The action of decocking was not what I was worried about. It is a slow methodical process ever time I do it. I’m never scared that I’m going to lose the bolt and drop it on the live round. It’s not an action that I get complacent about

 

[Callen]

Yes
North Eastern MT

 

[Gut Shot]

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

Birds, deer, small game, varmints=usually chambered.

Bear, antelope=usually not.

Midwest, WY, CO, WV, AK

 

[Callen]

And people wonder why others don’t appreciate being glassed through a rifle scope.

Even if I know the gun is unloaded I don't want to be glassed through a rifle scope