Gun Storage Procedures

[C-dub]

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.

That may be, but so far for me whenever they do that they also reinsert the mag and then hand it to me or set it down on the pad for me to pick up.

[Pariah3j]

I think gun stores are operating under the premise that the guns aren't loaded and never have been loaded so they probably aren't as anal-retentive about clearing the guns or keeping the magazines separate. Some stores even remove firing pins and other such things for their display models, so there might be a bit of knowledge that even with a chambered round, it couldn't fire.

[WinoVeritas]

I made a clearing / bullet trap from 5 gal. bucket with layers of sand and pea gravel. I mainly use it for chambering a round on my carry (use to point at guestroom bed) condition 1. It sits next to my home office workbench. Cost me <$20 to build and much cheaper than blowing hole in guest mattress. I made this as I had an old Llama that would sometimes discharge when chambering a round, so I don't trust any pistol. Thankfully, the Llama was stolen many years ago - always hoped whomever stole it shot himself in the foot.

[Jusme]

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?

Same for me if my gun has a magazine in it, it's loaded. Mags are on the shelf in the safe, actions closed, triple checked. I always clean my guns before returning them to the safe, and I never reload, if it's going in the safe. But I check it again anyway.

[Jusme]

I made a clearing / bullet trap from 5 gal. bucket with layers of sand and pea gravel. I mainly use it for chambering a round on my carry (use to point at guestroom bed) condition 1. It sits next to my home office workbench. Cost me <$20 to build and much cheaper than blowing hole in guest mattress. I made this as I had an old Llama that would sometimes discharge when chambering a round, so I don't trust any pistol. Thankfully, the Llama was stolen many years ago - always hoped whomever stole it shot himself in the foot.

I don't think I would have waited for it be stolen, but it would be poetic justice.

[MechAg94]

IMO, rack 3 times. If a bullet pops out, take out the magazine you forgot to remove. Rack 3 more times. If a bullet pops out, remove the magazine you forgot to remove. Visually check the chamber for a loaded round and check again to make you removed the magazine before you close the action. I don't like deliberately pulling the trigger on a gun unless I have already gone through all the steps to be absolutely sure it is empty.

I like the idea of chamber flags a lot. I don't have any. I will have to correct that. chamber flags slip into the chamber so you can't put one in on a loaded chamber I think.

I am not sure I like the dummy round idea. I would be afraid I would check the chamber and see what I thought was a dummy round.

[cyphur]

Handgun procedure: Drop mag, unload chamber. Rack slide 3-4 additional times. Lock slide back, inspect chamber. Drop slide forward, check extractor position. For 1911 I keep the hammer cocked and slide safety engaged.

AR-15s - drop the mag, clear the chamber. Rack BCG several times. Lock BCG back, inspect chamber. Pop open the upper receiver and visually inspect chamber/barrel. Re-assemble and store. I prefer AR-1x's to be stored with dropped hammer personally.

Bolt actions - empty mag/drop mag, remove mag, inspect chamber/barrel.


I dry fire in the house all the time, but it's after I am 1000% sure the weapon is empty. Knowing your trigger is key, it should be like breathing, no thought required. I can't afford to shoot 10k rounds a month but I can pull the trigger that often.

[Kenneth77]

All mine are loaded and ready to go because a unloaded gun is of no use to me

[Jketchum]

All mine are loaded and ready to go because a unloaded gun is of no use to me

I thought I was the only one who stored loaded guns (hand guns) All my long guns are empty.

[carlson1]

All mine are loaded and ready to go because a unloaded gun is of no use to me

I thought I was the only one who stored loaded guns (hand guns) All my long guns are empty.

I have been reading this thread. I guess I am missing something and need educated. ALL of my firearms are ALWAYS loaded and that includes the ones in the safe.

What am I missing here?

[casp625]

All mine are loaded and ready to go because a unloaded gun is of no use to me

I thought I was the only one who stored loaded guns (hand guns) All my long guns are empty.

I have been reading this thread. I guess I am missing something and need educated. ALL of my firearms are ALWAYS loaded and that includes the ones in the safe.

What am I missing here?

All my guns are stored loaded with external safety engaged.

[twomillenium]

All mine are loaded and ready to go because a unloaded gun is of no use to me

I thought I was the only one who stored loaded guns (hand guns) All my long guns are empty.

I have been reading this thread. I guess I am missing something and need educated. ALL of my firearms are ALWAYS loaded and that includes the ones in the safe.

What am I missing here?

You are not missing anything. You are welcome to your choosing, but that does not dictate another's choice for storage.

[C-dub]

All mine are loaded and ready to go because a unloaded gun is of no use to me

I thought I was the only one who stored loaded guns (hand guns) All my long guns are empty.

I have been reading this thread. I guess I am missing something and need educated. ALL of my firearms are ALWAYS loaded and that includes the ones in the safe.

What am I missing here?

Nothing. I fully recognize that storing firearms in my safe unloaded is my own choice and for no particular reason other than that.

[WTR]

I just assume every firearm I pick up is loaded. I don't care if I just saw a person clear a weapon then hand it to me. I point the muzzle in a safe direction and clear the firearm.