Safe Move?

roy reali · October 21, 2007, 04:38 PM

Most of us know the correct and safe way to cross fences with guns. With two hunters, the guns are unloaded and one of the hunters holds them. The other fellow crosses the fence. The unloaded guns are then given to him. Now, that person crosses the fence.

Today we got into an interesting agruement about this. It involves break-open shotguns like side-by-sides.

If a double barrel shotgun is opened, but the shells are left in, can it then be safely passed to another when crossing a fence? I realize that technically, and I suppose legally, the gun is still loaded. But, I also contend that when it is opened, a break open shotgun is rendered innert.

What is your opinion on this? Is a opened, hinged action shotgun, with ammo in the chambers, safe to pass to someone across a fence?

bswiv · October 21, 2007, 04:52 PM

We pull ours out and lay the gun on the ground on the other side of the fence.

With my pump I unload the chamber and shake out the round that pops out of the magazine when I unload the chamber. Then I leave it open and usually lay it on the ground on the other side of the fence.

In either instance it's only a few seconds to reload and go on our way. This may be overkill for safety, and I do realize that a lot of folks have guns that are nice enough to where they WILL NOT lay them on the ground, but it will keep anyone from getting shot.

And when it comes to gun safety in the field, anywhere for that matter, it's better to safe than not safe enough.................

roy reali · October 21, 2007, 06:35 PM

I agree with you that removing a couple of rounds from a double-barrel shotgun would take seconds. To replace them would be just as fast. I also realize that opening a shotgun and leaving the shells in the chamber is technically leaving the gun loaded.

On the other hand let us say you are bird hunting. Nature calls. You open your side-by-side, lay on the ground, and go visit a bush. You did not remove the ammo, but left them in the opened shotgun.

I contend that is a safe move. There is no way an opened shotgun will go off. I don't think so.

If anyway here has heard of an opened shotgun, with rounds in the chambers, going off, please let me know.

Art Eatman · October 21, 2007, 08:04 PM

I'll never fuss at somebody who takes the shells out, but I've noticed that if any break-open gun is broken open, it can't go Bang!

Same sort of thing for my bolt-actions: If the bolt handle is up, nothing bad can happen. That's my preferred carry, as I've just never really trusted a safety...

Art

CmpsdNoMore · October 21, 2007, 10:03 PM

Even if you have rounds in the chambers, isn't the action considered open when you break it?

Like someone else said, like having the bolt open on a bolt-action.

humanoid · October 27, 2007, 06:07 PM

What happens if the gun is dropped? Isnt it likely to close creating a loaded gun? I would take the shells out. It would only take a few seconds.

October 21, 2007, 04:38 PM	#1
roy reali Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2005 Posts: 3,248	Safe Move? Most of us know the correct and safe way to cross fences with guns. With two hunters, the guns are unloaded and one of the hunters holds them. The other fellow crosses the fence. The unloaded guns are then given to him. Now, that person crosses the fence. Today we got into an interesting agruement about this. It involves break-open shotguns like side-by-sides. If a double barrel shotgun is opened, but the shells are left in, can it then be safely passed to another when crossing a fence? I realize that technically, and I suppose legally, the gun is still loaded. But, I also contend that when it is opened, a break open shotgun is rendered innert. What is your opinion on this? Is a opened, hinged action shotgun, with ammo in the chambers, safe to pass to someone across a fence?

October 21, 2007, 06:35 PM	#3
roy reali Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2005 Posts: 3,248	Re:Bswiv I agree with you that removing a couple of rounds from a double-barrel shotgun would take seconds. To replace them would be just as fast. I also realize that opening a shotgun and leaving the shells in the chamber is technically leaving the gun loaded. On the other hand let us say you are bird hunting. Nature calls. You open your side-by-side, lay on the ground, and go visit a bush. You did not remove the ammo, but left them in the opened shotgun. I contend that is a safe move. There is no way an opened shotgun will go off. I don't think so. If anyway here has heard of an opened shotgun, with rounds in the chambers, going off, please let me know.

October 21, 2007, 04:52 PM	#2
bswiv Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: NE FL....... Posts: 1,081	We pull ours out and lay the gun on the ground on the other side of the fence. With my pump I unload the chamber and shake out the round that pops out of the magazine when I unload the chamber. Then I leave it open and usually lay it on the ground on the other side of the fence. In either instance it's only a few seconds to reload and go on our way. This may be overkill for safety, and I do realize that a lot of folks have guns that are nice enough to where they WILL NOT lay them on the ground, but it will keep anyone from getting shot. And when it comes to gun safety in the field, anywhere for that matter, it's better to safe than not safe enough.................

October 21, 2007, 08:04 PM	#4
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I'll never fuss at somebody who takes the shells out, but I've noticed that if any break-open gun is broken open, it can't go Bang! Same sort of thing for my bolt-actions: If the bolt handle is up, nothing bad can happen. That's my preferred carry, as I've just never really trusted a safety... Art

October 21, 2007, 10:03 PM	#5
CmpsdNoMore Member Join Date: October 15, 2007 Posts: 80	Even if you have rounds in the chambers, isn't the action considered open when you break it? Like someone else said, like having the bolt open on a bolt-action.

October 27, 2007, 06:07 PM	#6
humanoid Member Join Date: September 29, 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 27	What happens if the gun is dropped? Isnt it likely to close creating a loaded gun? I would take the shells out. It would only take a few seconds.