Unchamber at night or not?

cmdrdredd · October 19th, 2009, 06:47 PM

My neighbor and I often get into various interesting discussions about firearms and carrying etc. Today was no different. Here's the scenario.

You carry your gun with one in the chamber and a topped off magazine. You come home after running errands for the day etc. Assume the gun you carry is not necessarily the one you rely on for home defense.

Do you unholster it and unchamber the gun making it "safe"?
Do you leave it chambered in the holster and put it away?

Lets assume you unchamber the gun. What do you do with the chambered round that ejects when you rack the slide to empty the gun?

I usually mark the round with a sharpie, empty the magazine and put that round at the bottom. Then when my magazine cycles all the way to that round with the mark I shoot them off at the range. That's quite a long time since I don't unchamber often at all.

JD · October 19th, 2009, 06:55 PM

If the gun is to be SECURED and not back in regular rotation, sure I'll clear it. But if it's going right back on my hip the next day I leave it loaded...

Rugergirl · October 19th, 2009, 06:58 PM

Unchamber the round once a week, for a quick cleaning if it's been carried regularly, otherwise, leave it alone.

Sportsterguy · October 19th, 2009, 07:01 PM

I always leave my Springer 1911 (bedside weapon) ready to go. That way I don't have to think about anything except swiping the safety off as I make my way to pulling out my 870 riot.

My 19-4 which is my CCW goes into a discreet place in my living room loaded when I get home. My 36 is always on me, loaded and sleeps under my mattress ready to get up with me the next morning. BTW I have no small children.

roalho · October 19th, 2009, 07:04 PM

condition 3.

But I don't empty the mag, and cycle thru the lineup like you do. I bet there's a good reason you do that, huh?

cmdrdredd · October 19th, 2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roalho

condition 3.

But I don't empty the mag, and cycle thru the lineup like you do. I bet there's a good reason you do that, huh?

Well, yes but as I said I don't regularly unload my CCW piece. Here's what I do. Come home, remove holster and put away with the gun loaded ready to go. I strap it on the next time I'm out. Bi-Weekly I unchamber the gun to go over it quickly with a cloth and get the dirt and any dust particles out, and make sure it's oiled up. Then I mark the ejected round and put it at the very bottom of the magazine and load it up again and top her off.

The reason I do that is because after a round is chambered there is a force on the bullet that can push it slightly into the casing. Too many times and the pressure gets dangerous. I'd say 2-3 times is about the max I'd do with any one round. But using the method above, I only go through the full 13+1 rounds of my G23 every 7 months. Takes quite a long time. If I were to go 2 chamberings with a round it'd be a year to go through the mag.

It's an interesting topic for me, I like hearing the methodology people use for their EDC.

jbum · October 19th, 2009, 07:26 PM

Always 1 in the pipe on all of mine.

j21blackjack · October 19th, 2009, 07:36 PM

Any gun that stays in the safe stays chambered. I don't leave chambered guns around the house since I have a six year old.

roalho · October 19th, 2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmdrdredd

snip

The reason I do that is because after a round is chambered there is a force on the bullet that can push it slightly into the casing. Too many times and the pressure gets dangerous.

Thanks for that info, sorry to temporarily derail your thread. Sounds like I do a lot of unnecessary unchambering, AND I should pay more attention to who's been chambered. Very educational thread, thanks!

First Sgt · October 19th, 2009, 07:44 PM

Mine stays chambered.

October 19th, 2009, 06:47 PM	#1
cmdrdredd Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 698	Unchamber at night or not? My neighbor and I often get into various interesting discussions about firearms and carrying etc. Today was no different. Here's the scenario. You carry your gun with one in the chamber and a topped off magazine. You come home after running errands for the day etc. Assume the gun you carry is not necessarily the one you rely on for home defense. Do you unholster it and unchamber the gun making it "safe"? Do you leave it chambered in the holster and put it away? Lets assume you unchamber the gun. What do you do with the chambered round that ejects when you rack the slide to empty the gun? I usually mark the round with a sharpie, empty the magazine and put that round at the bottom. Then when my magazine cycles all the way to that round with the mark I shoot them off at the range. That's quite a long time since I don't unchamber often at all. __________________ No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. -Thomas Jefferson You can trust to luck or fate if you want but as for me, I carry a Glock.

October 19th, 2009, 06:55 PM	#2
JD Senior Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Central Iowa Posts: 11,639	If the gun is to be SECURED and not back in regular rotation, sure I'll clear it. But if it's going right back on my hip the next day I leave it loaded... __________________ Some Things Need to be Addressed... Iowa Carry.ORG: Promoting Weapons Carry Reform in Iowa Forum Customs & Courtesies

October 19th, 2009, 06:58 PM	#3
Rugergirl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,193	Unchamber the round once a week, for a quick cleaning if it's been carried regularly, otherwise, leave it alone. __________________ Disclaimer: The posts made by this member are only the members opinion, not a reflection on anyone else, nor the group, and should not be cause for anyone to get their undergarments wedged in an uncomfortable position.

October 19th, 2009, 07:01 PM	#4
Sportsterguy Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: On the River Posts: 976	I always leave my Springer 1911 (bedside weapon) ready to go. That way I don't have to think about anything except swiping the safety off as I make my way to pulling out my 870 riot. My 19-4 which is my CCW goes into a discreet place in my living room loaded when I get home. My 36 is always on me, loaded and sleeps under my mattress ready to get up with me the next morning. BTW I have no small children. __________________ Sportsterguy Molon Labe! Join the NRA today, or don't complain when your guns are taken away!

October 19th, 2009, 07:26 PM	#7
jbum Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dandridge Tennessee Posts: 500	Always 1 in the pipe on all of mine. __________________ PT145 MIL PRO MOSSBERG 500 CRUISER S&W 638 THUNDER .380 NRA MEMBER

October 19th, 2009, 07:04 PM	#5
roalho Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: CT Posts: 63	condition 3. But I don't empty the mag, and cycle thru the lineup like you do. I bet there's a good reason you do that, huh?

October 19th, 2009, 07:36 PM	#8
j21blackjack Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Kingsland, Georgia Posts: 334	Any gun that stays in the safe stays chambered. I don't leave chambered guns around the house since I have a six year old.

October 19th, 2009, 07:44 PM	#10
First Sgt Distinguished Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Florence, SC Posts: 1,845	Mine stays chambered. __________________ Sometimes in life you have to stand your ground. It's a hard lesson to learn and even most adults don't get it, but in the end only I can be responsible for my life. If faced with any type of adversity, only I can overcome it. Waiting for someone else to take responsibility is a long fruitless wait.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode