"cruiser ready" question

jb26 · August 15, 2001, 10:57 AM

I just got my 870 express. My first shotgun and haven't gotten to take it out yet.

I've heard of guns being 'cruiser ready' I think that means that the magazine is fully loaded, but no shell in chamber.

My question is: Is there a 'trick' to loading the first shell into the chamber from the magazine without having to press the Action Bar Lock, or do you have to press up on the ACTION BAR LOCK and rack the slide?

Kindof a goofy question, but I am curious since it will probably be the way I keep it loaded in the house.

Thanks

Beowulf · August 15, 2001, 11:28 AM

jb26,

If you dry fire the shotgun making sure its chamber is unloaded, then you do not need to press the slide release to chamber a round from the magazine tube. You only have to press the slide release if the weapon is "cocked".

B.

Coronach · August 15, 2001, 12:29 PM

Here is the offical police dept drill for making an 870 cruiser ready.

1. Empty the gun- no shells in the chamber, nothing in the tube. Action is open so you can visually inspect the chamber and see the follower in the tube.

2. Make damn sure you did step #1.

3. Close the action, aim in safe direction, pull the trigger (if you hear a BOOM, you failed to do steps #1 and #2 correctly).

4. Engage Safety.

5. load tube magazine to capacity.

6. Disengage safety.

7. Store.

Obviously, steps #4 and #6 are optional- none of the manipulations for step #5 involve chambering a round, but better safe than sorry.

So now, in order to get the gun into action all that is required is racking the slide.

Dave McC · August 15, 2001, 12:56 PM

The official Md Dept of Public Safety method of making it "Cruiser Ready" varies a bit form the above.

Make sure it's empty,engage the safety,and close the action.

Load 4 shells into the magazine.

That's it.

To make ready to fire....

Disengage the safety and press the slide release,AKA Action Bar Release.

Rack it hard.

You're now ready to fire.

Meanwhile, the shotgun has been kept in a high condition of readiness, but with several manipulations that the untrained(Kids, drunks, irresponsible family members,etc,) would have trouble with.

HTH....

Kevlarman · August 15, 2001, 03:49 PM

I pretty much do what Dave says... I check to see if it's empty, engage the safety, rack the slide (thus locking the action), and load 4 shells in the tube (2 #6 followed by 2 00 buck). The sidesaddle also contains 6 rounds of 00 buck. I'm counting on the fact that your run-of-the-mill BG will count on his "movie experience" to try and use the shotgun. Not many people I know who don't own shotguns know what (or where) an action lock button is.

Shawn Dodson · August 15, 2001, 06:18 PM

Pulling the trigger to deactivate the action bar lock unlocks the fore-end, which means if the shotgun is stored in the vertical position the unlocked fore-end could be affected by gravity. This condition could allow the fore-end to partially cycle the action and produce a dangerous situation.

Handling a shotgun with an unlocked fore-end can also partially cycle the action.

I believe it's best to keep the fore-end locked into position.

Coronach · August 16, 2001, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Pulling the trigger to deactivate the action bar lock unlocks the fore-end, which means if the shotgun is stored in the vertical position the unlocked fore-end could be affected by gravity. This condition could allow the fore-end to partially cycle the action and produce a dangerous situation.

Handling a shotgun with an unlocked fore-end can also partially cycle the action.

I believe it's best to keep the fore-end locked into position.

I used to believe the same, but our PD drill is to dryfire, then load, so you can simply rack and go. Since being assimilated by the Borg I have had no problems with the action partially cycling, though I admit it could happen.

Mike

August 15, 2001, 12:29 PM	#3
Coronach Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 1999 Posts: 3,147	Here is the offical police dept drill for making an 870 cruiser ready. 1. Empty the gun- no shells in the chamber, nothing in the tube. Action is open so you can visually inspect the chamber and see the follower in the tube. 2. Make damn sure you did step #1. 3. Close the action, aim in safe direction, pull the trigger (if you hear a BOOM, you failed to do steps #1 and #2 correctly). 4. Engage Safety. 5. load tube magazine to capacity. 6. Disengage safety. 7. Store. Obviously, steps #4 and #6 are optional- none of the manipulations for step #5 involve chambering a round, but better safe than sorry. So now, in order to get the gun into action all that is required is racking the slide. __________________ The axe bites into the door, ripping a hole in one panel. The maniac puts his face into the hole, cackling gleefully, "Here's Johnny...erk." "And here's Smith and Wesson," murmurs Coronach, Mozambiquing six rounds of .357 into the critter at a range of three feet. -Lawdog "True pacifism is the finest form of manliness. But if a man comes up to you and cuts your hand off, you don't just offer him the other one. Not if you want to go on playing the piano, you don't." -Sam Peckinpah "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein

August 15, 2001, 10:57 AM	#1
jb26 Senior Member Join Date: October 5, 2000 Location: NE Illinois Posts: 109	"cruiser ready" question I just got my 870 express. My first shotgun and haven't gotten to take it out yet. I've heard of guns being 'cruiser ready' I think that means that the magazine is fully loaded, but no shell in chamber. My question is: Is there a 'trick' to loading the first shell into the chamber from the magazine without having to press the Action Bar Lock, or do you have to press up on the ACTION BAR LOCK and rack the slide? Kindof a goofy question, but I am curious since it will probably be the way I keep it loaded in the house. Thanks __________________ -Joe The P6 by any other name is just as sweet. -jb26 (in an obscure reference to the sig 225) ex libertatum et iusticia, pax

August 15, 2001, 11:28 AM	#2
Beowulf Member Join Date: February 2, 2001 Posts: 39	jb26, If you dry fire the shotgun making sure its chamber is unloaded, then you do not need to press the slide release to chamber a round from the magazine tube. You only have to press the slide release if the weapon is "cocked". B.

August 15, 2001, 12:56 PM	#4
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	The official Md Dept of Public Safety method of making it "Cruiser Ready" varies a bit form the above. Make sure it's empty,engage the safety,and close the action. Load 4 shells into the magazine. That's it. To make ready to fire.... Disengage the safety and press the slide release,AKA Action Bar Release. Rack it hard. You're now ready to fire. Meanwhile, the shotgun has been kept in a high condition of readiness, but with several manipulations that the untrained(Kids, drunks, irresponsible family members,etc,) would have trouble with. HTH....

August 15, 2001, 03:49 PM	#5
Kevlarman Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 1999 Posts: 131	I pretty much do what Dave says... I check to see if it's empty, engage the safety, rack the slide (thus locking the action), and load 4 shells in the tube (2 #6 followed by 2 00 buck). The sidesaddle also contains 6 rounds of 00 buck. I'm counting on the fact that your run-of-the-mill BG will count on his "movie experience" to try and use the shotgun. Not many people I know who don't own shotguns know what (or where) an action lock button is. __________________ Si vis pacem, parabellum. MOLON LABE!

August 15, 2001, 06:18 PM	#6
Shawn Dodson Junior member Join Date: December 16, 1998 Location: Titusville, FL, USA Posts: 1,030	Pulling the trigger to deactivate the action bar lock unlocks the fore-end, which means if the shotgun is stored in the vertical position the unlocked fore-end could be affected by gravity. This condition could allow the fore-end to partially cycle the action and produce a dangerous situation. Handling a shotgun with an unlocked fore-end can also partially cycle the action. I believe it's best to keep the fore-end locked into position.