Gun Storage Procedures

[JMod45]

I was putting up a couple guns after going out this weekend, and I started thinking about something.

When I am putting a gun up, I typically remove the magazine, rack the slide a couple times, dry fire into the ground, put the magazine back in, then put it away. I've never had any issues, or close calls, but if somehow a round did get left in before firing into the ground, I'm likely going to have a hole in my carpet, and a chunk of concrete missing, depending on the weapon. Which is still better than it going through the roof, or wall and potentially hitting someone.

I realize that having a hammer, or bolt action, things are managed differently, so I guess my method is specific to semi automatic weapons.

What is your procedure for storing a firearm?

[LSUTiger]

I was putting up a couple guns after going out this weekend, and I started thinking about something.

When I am putting a gun up, I typically remove the magazine, rack the slide a couple times, dry fire into the ground, put the magazine back in, then put it away. I've never had any issues, or close calls, but if somehow a round did get left in before firing into the ground, I'm likely going to have a hole in my carpet, and a chunk of concrete missing, depending on the weapon. Which is still better than it going through the roof, or wall and potentially hitting someone.

I realize that having a hammer, or bolt action, things are managed differently, so I guess my method is specific to semi automatic weapons.

What is your procedure for storing a firearm?

You could get a clearing station, dry fire into a bucket of sand, as an extra precaution.

Edit: Dry fire is necessary for Glocks and Springfield XD and some others for take down prior to disassembly.

[dlh]

After I double-rack the action I check the chamber with a flashlight to make sure there are no "stuck" rounds in the chamber. However, I never dry-fire a handgun or long gun right before I put it back in the gunsafe. Just my procedure.

I like to take a rag or chamois and wipe off any prints. Both Hoppe and Remington make small "wipes" coated with oil that you can use for a final wipe-down on the metal parts before putting the firearm back in the safe.

[twomillenium]

When putting a fire arm in a safe for storage I remove the mag, rack the slide a couple of times and look at the chamber. If you do that and the firearm is still not safe then consider not having a firearm.

When removing a firearm from the safe the same actions apply as well. Know who has access to the safe and firearms.

Always treat all firearms as if they were loaded, even the ones in the safe.

[ELB]

You can buy ballistic pads made for dry-fire and clearing purposes, like the ones these guys sell. http://www.safedirection.com/safedirection.html

They make separate pads and ones integrated with a pistol bag. I have one at home, rated for rifle rounds, I keep on the floor. I don't like to store a firearm cocked but empty, and like others pointed out some have to have the trigger pulled for take down anyway.

Definitely don't store a firearm with a round in the chamber -- if you house burns, unchambered ammo won't be a problem, but one confined in the chamber can cook off and fire just like pulling the trigger. That's not good.

[Pariah3j]

If you are looking for a solution for safely discharging a cleared weapon but want that extra 'just in case' protection, a 7 gal bucket with about 6 gallons of water would work, just make sure you are pointing straight down when firing just in case for the 'what if'.

Personally, I remove the magazine, rack the gun 3-4 times, lock the slide back and then visually inspect before releasing the slide and then pulling the trigger. I still point it in a safe direction for my 'just in case' factor but I've never had a ND/AD or even a close call. But I've seen some safety "nazis" online who recommend a clearing bucket.

[JMod45]

I am not concerned at all with a round getting stuck in the chamber and shooting the floor, I just think about "what if" scenarios all the time. Though I am curious how much damage different firearms would actually do to a concrete foundation.

I guess my question was more about do you leave your gun cocked in the safe, or dry fire first. I grew up with bolt action rifles that you aren't supposed to dry fire. We always de-cocked them by lowering the bolt with the trigger held. Being able to dry fire most of the guns I now have, has been different for me. So I wonder if it is necessary on a SA. From a mechanical standpoint, the only real difference is the striker spring is under pressure. So is this more of a personal preference, or are there other reasons?

[TreyHouston]

[quote="ELB"]You can buy ballistic pads made for dry-fire and clearing purposes, like the ones these guys sell. http://www.safedirection.com/safedirection.html


VERY impressive videos! looks like it works well! Once concern about the bag that costs $180!!!!!! Be a lot better at 1/3 the price. When I clear, I aim at a pained glass window with dirt behind it. IF it fires it will cost $5, 30 minutes to repair and probably 2 days of the wife yelling. $180 vs $5-$20 bucks? not a hard choice. You know however, I will get the ear full from the wife regardless

[allisji]

I was putting up a couple guns after going out this weekend, and I started thinking about something.

When I am putting a gun up, I typically remove the magazine, rack the slide a couple times, dry fire into the ground, put the magazine back in, then put it away. I've never had any issues, or close calls, but if somehow a round did get left in before firing into the ground, I'm likely going to have a hole in my carpet, and a chunk of concrete missing, depending on the weapon. Which is still better than it going through the roof, or wall and potentially hitting someone.

I realize that having a hammer, or bolt action, things are managed differently, so I guess my method is specific to semi automatic weapons.

What is your procedure for storing a firearm?

You could get a clearing station, dry fire into a bucket of sand, as an extra precaution.

Edit: Dry fire is necessary for Glocks and Springfield XD and some others for take down prior to disassembly.

I second the recommendation of dry firing into a bucket of sand. I don't do this personally, but have/am considering it. Right now I do my gun cleaning in the backyard shed, and have my gun safe in my upstairs bedroom. My wife wouldn't mind a bucket of sand in the shed (not sure if she's ever actually been inside my shed since I built it and put a door on it), but I don't think she'd like me to keep a bucket of sand in the bedroom.

[JerryK]

I have 2 types of guns, those that ARE LOADED and those that have chamber flags in them. If it has a chamber flag in it, it has been checked and verified there is nothing in the pipe. If there is no visible chamber flag IT IS LOADED!!!

Now my LOADED GUNS are kept in a holster that has the trigger covered and is safe to handle for myself. I will never hand someone a loaded gun at the house. If they are that interested in guns they probably have their own guns to fondle!!!

[Take Down Sicko]

I didnt know you could decock a bolt action rifle by pulling the trigger while sliding the bolt home. Smooth

[srothstein]

I have to admit that I like JerryK's use of a chamber flag, and my method is similar but a little different. I bought a collection of rubber/plastic dummy rounds in various calibers. When I am unloading a pistol for storage, I always put one of the dummy rounds in and dry fire it to release the hammer/striker. If I put the dummy round in, I know it is safe to pull the trigger since it could not chamber it if there was a live round there. I also do this with my revolvers, putting dummy rounds in every chamber in the cylinder.

[C-dub]

I do not store guns with a magazine in them it if is detachable. I check each gun before storing it in the safe and do not leave the actions open. If I have a magazine in a gun it is loaded. I've always liked the idea of chamber flags, but for whatever reason haven't gone there yet. That would require me to change and begin leaving the actions open or close them onto the flags. Which would be better? I also like the idea of chamber flags for use at the range when leaving an empty gun on the bench. However, I still haven't purchased anything for this type of use as a flag.

One thing that I've never understood was storing a gun with an empty mag inserted. Am I missing something? Gun shops do this and it bugs me a little. What if you, somehow, don't completely unload a magazine and then manage to load a round thinking that the gun is unloaded?

[flechero]

Part of clearing a weapon is to visually confirm. If you drop mag, rack a few times and then slidelock open and visually inspect it's empty, you won't have a hole in your carpet. I see lots of people skipping this step when unloading semi auto handguns, and have seen people do it out of order and rechamber a round from the mag as they "clear" it.

The reverse is also true- even if I just cleared a weapon and set it down, if I pick it back up it gets re-verified. SOP.

Never assume anything... As we all know, the "unloaded" guns are often the ones that hurt people.

[flechero]

One thing that I've never understood was storing a gun with an empty mag inserted. Am I missing something? Gun shops do this and it bugs me a little. What if you, somehow, don't completely unload a magazine and then manage to load a round thinking that the gun is unloaded?

I think gun stores do it so they don't lose or mix up mags... they usually pull mags out and press check or lock open when they hand one to a customer... Although good timing on this- just yesterday I had a salesman hand me a 1911 w/o pulling the mag or checking it. I dropped mag and cleared visually before proceeding to admire.