Home defense shotgun question

[tomc]

A bit late, but I'll chime in anyway. I've heard from a lot of people that you should always keep the chamber empty because nothing says "get out of my house" better than the sound of a shotgun racking. Which reminds me, I need to go buy one. Thanks for the reminder folks!

 

[CountryBoy19]

My position on this subject has changed over the last few years I think.

Mine is generally mag loaded, chamber loaded, safety on.

I can see mag loaded, chamber empty with a shell beside the shotgun for dropping into the action for silent "load".

I personally don't see the benefit out weighing the negatives on "racking the slide for effect" so I choose to keep mine loaded/loaded safety on.

+1

The very, very small benefit to having empty chamber is nothing compared to the advantage of having gun ready to go and an extra round to fire if needed.

 

[iChokePeople]

Full tube, full chamber, safety on.

 

[spencer rifle]

I am concerned, with children in the house, about keeping the chamber loaded. Until I get some kind of locker, if I can get to it, they can get to it. I'm not so worried about my kids (they know never to approach a firearm, that it is always loaded, to inform an adult if they find one) - it's their friends who visit that concern me. If I leave the chamber empty, that's one more step noisy step they have to take. As it is now, I keep it in the gun locker in the basement. No quick access, but also no chance of kid accidents. Gotta get that bedroom locker ASAP...

 

[USMC_0311]

I am concerned, with children in the house, about keeping the chamber loaded. Until I get some kind of locker, if I can get to it, they can get to it. I'm not so worried about my kids (the know never to approach a firearm, that it is always loaded, to inform an adult if they find one) - it's their friends who visit that concern me. If I leave the chamber empty, that's one more step noisy step they have to take. As it is now, I keep it in the gun locker in the basement. No quick access, but also no chance of kid accidents. Gotta get that bedroom locker ASAP...

You have to have discipline. If you don’t have a safe, get some trigger locks (unload gun before using trigger lock). When you are home unlock and load. Before you leave unload and lock.

 

[Sylvain]

You have to have discipline. If you don’t have a safe, get some trigger locks (unload gun before using trigger lock). When you are home unlock and load. Before you leave unload and lock.

You could use a cable lock that goes through the action of the gun too.
You can keep the magazine tube loaded and the chamber empty and lock it like that.
This way you wont have to load and unload it everyday or mutliple times a day.
Unlock it when you are home or going to sleep.
Lock it in the morning when you have to leave.

 

[USMC_0311]

You could use a cable lock that goes through the action of the gun too.
You can keep the magazine tube loaded and the chamber empty and lock it like that.
This way you wont have to load and unload it everyday or mutliple times a day.
Unlock it when you are home or going to sleep.
Lock it in the morning when you have to leave.

Good point on the cable lock

 

[dbeattie]

Keep mine with chamber full, tube full and safety on.

 

[Sylvain]

Good point on the cable lock

Thanks, that made me feel smart for a second.

 

[Fastmover]

Saiga 12 with bolt open, safety off and full mag. Just needs a tug on the charging handle to send it to battery.
Used to keep the bolt closed, but it deforms the first shell.

 

[JohnP82]

Mine is a pump action. Mag loaded, chamber empty, safety on.

 

[tobi]

After years of hunting and target shooting, I'm accustomed to grabbing my firearm and manipulating the safety. In both hunting and target/competitive shooting the constant is that my weapon is loaded fully with safety on.

My trained response to any target/threat is to grab weapon, ready my weapon and disengage the safety. Yours seems to be grab weapon, load the weapon, ready the weapon.