To be or not to be locked and loaded.

[tommyp]

My fiance isn't fond of the idea w/one in the chamber in the nightstand. Full mag inserted, not racked. Full spare sitting right next to it. I don't see an issue w/racking it - takes practically no time at all.

Kerby - surprised no one mentioned for you - there's a bit of a risk with one chambered on your shotgun. Most, if not all, are not "drop safe" like most semi-auto's now'days are. It's best to have a full mag, not chambered, and (imo), safety off. I have an 870 that sits "cruiser ready" - with a cleared gun, close the chamber, pull the trigger, then load the mag tube. Now all you have to do is pump (and not manipulate the little lever to open the action) and go. Just my .02.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Bubbiesdad]

I do not think I am the one stop expert however carry or bed side I have one in the pipe at all times.......... I also have a loaded 12 ga in home with one in the chamber and the safety on 24/7.....

My fiance isn't fond of the idea w/one in the chamber in the nightstand. Full mag inserted, not racked. Full spare sitting right next to it. I don't see an issue w/racking it - takes practically no time at all.

Kerby - surprised no one mentioned for you - there's a bit of a risk with one chambered on your shotgun. Most, if not all, are not "drop safe" like most semi-auto's now'days are. It's best to have a full mag, not chambered, and (imo), safety off. I have an 870 that sits "cruiser ready" - with a cleared gun, close the chamber, pull the trigger, then load the mag tube. Now all you have to do is pump (and not manipulate the little lever to open the action) and go. Just my .02.

I have an 870 set up this way. I also heard from a retired police officer from CA talking in the LGS one day. It involved a tragedy as to the need for "cruiser ready", an 870 will fire with the safety on if the receiver is struck hard enough in the right spot.

[widowmaker1]

I am a NRA LE firearms instructor in handgun / shotgun, patrol rifle and tact shotgun. I'm also an instructor at my own academy along
with my agency, a DHS federal security contractor. Here is how we instruct all officers AND civilians to set up their defensive shotguns
whether they are for patrol duties of home defensive purposes. I strongly suggest you have your scattergun in what's called cruiser safe / carrier safe mode.

For a pump scattergun first of all check and recheck the chamber is empty by both visually and physically checking it. Next rack the
slide and set the hammer down by pulling the trigger so it is ready to rack again when needed to deploy, now charge your mag tube all
the way to max number of rnds with the safety OFF. At this point the weapon is in cruiser or carrier safe mode. The reason we do this
with the safety off is that I have had recruits or students try this under stress with the weapon in condition 1 and hit the trigger and
have a ND on the range, this will happen especially with the 870 system since the safety is in front of the trigger guard close to the
trigger, not so much with the Mossberg system with the safety on top of the receiver.

Now with a semi auto scattergun the steps are the same except you rack the bolt and drop the trigger so the hammer is down (after
checking and rechecking for an empty chamber) on an empty chamber with safety off. At this point upon deployment of the weapon
it is ready to rack a rnd into the chamber. One of the biggest reasons I like the carrier safe mode is the psychological affect it has
on a knucklehead upon hearing that universal "language" this sound has, he or she deff knows there is a world of hurt coming down if
they continue their activity or refuse to retreat. Some instructors will say this will give your position away but if this in a civilian
setting with a home invasion you really should NOT be doing any type of room clearing or hunting down the suspect unless you need
to retrieve a family member and get them to your safe area or room, let the Calvary do this since they are trained and have the
experience to do so.

[Chevyguy85]

every gun outside the safe has one in the chamber or loaded to max of 6 rounds in the cylinder. Even some guns in the safe are fully loaded. You don't know if you'll have the time/ability to rack the slide and it doesn't hurt anything being loaded, guns were made to be loaded.

[ArkhmAsylm]

-
Round in the chamber (G17), & full mag plus a spare, all locked in a GunVault MV500 standard & ready to go at bedside - with a flashlight at hand, of course.

Why in the vault? I figure if I can't awaken enough to punch in my finger code, I may not be ready to handle a firearm in the dark & will have to come up with plan B - my EDC/BUG secreted away near the foot of the bed, holstered with a round chambered & a spare mag.