What do you believe is a loaded firearm?

[Tisto]

Loaded means that there is ammunition in the gun, whether it be in a cylinder, a magazine, or the chamber. An unloaded gun has no ammunition in it anywhere.

The condition of being ready to fire ( chambered round ) is a subset of being loaded.

There are numerous laws in NYS that cover whether a gun is considered loaded or not, and some of them consider a gun to be loaded if there is ammunition in a magazine even if the magazine is NOT in the gun. In my opinion, that is an incorrect determination, but as the rule is part of DEC regulations, the object of the law is to prevent people from road hunting by driving around with a gun that is technically empty, but need only a magazine be inserted and the action closed in order to fire.

 

[Uninformed and Compliant]

AFTER, you`ve pulled the first shot, then yes, a semi, auto loads the next round into the chamber.


View attachment 192467

Yes! Ergo, "chambered" is loaded. QED.

 

[JunkBoxFull]

Wow, the OP`s poll is just about dead even. I would have never guessed it would be that close.

 

[ManualF150]

I can add another barrel twist on this... I was cleaning (full field strip) one of my guns this morning on one bench, and the magazine was on another bench (about 10ft away) loaded with ammo. (For safety reasons) Can I say the gun was "loaded" when it requires no tools and 30-45 seconds to fully reassemble the gun back into functioning order? So within 1 minute, I could technically have a gun that is read to fire.

Again, to me (and what looks like 50% of folks) a loaded gun is a round in the chamber.

It should be unconstitutional to call a gun "loaded" when there's no round in the chamber, but the magazine is full.

Would I legally want to test this thought process out in a court room? Umm... no.

 

[GOPerfect]

This is inconsistent. You say that a semi has to have a magazine inserted and one in the chamber and a revolver "a round(s)" in the cylinder. That means the revolver would be loaded even if only 1 round was in the cylinder (I agree). Even if that round wasn't in line with the barrel with the hammer cocked or next in line with the cylinders rotation for the hammer to drop on it? If I loaded every other chamber with a round would that mean that the revolver was unloaded every other trigger pull? We are conflating loaded with ready to fire, aka chambered.

ETA is a single action only gun like a 1911 unloaded with one in the pipe and the hammer down?

I agree with the rock statement

No, not inconsistent. Say you have a revolver, holds six rounds, you shoot one or more off, rounds still in the cylinder, gun is still loaded.

 

[GOPerfect]

This discussion makes me wonder how many people carry a gun without one in the chamber, ie. unloaded.

 

[Slacker43]

This discussion makes me wonder how many people carry a gun without one in the chamber, ie. unloaded.

Might as well carry a brick then.

 

[Tisto]

This discussion makes me wonder how many people carry a gun without one in the chamber, ie. unloaded.

That is a very different designation in my opinion. If the (in this case semi auto pistol) has ammo in the magazine and the magazine is inserted into the pistol, the gun is still loaded, even though it is not in a condition ready to fire.

Yes, I agree that carrying a sidearm that isn't ready to fire is worthless, but that doesn't mean it's not loaded.

 

[Varmint]

If you have a loaded uninstalled magazine in your vehicle with your rifle out popping woodchucks? I’m not sure what you call it other than screwed. My shooting buddy <Sheriff > said not as screwed as that woodchuck he just shot.

22-250 launching 50 grain Sierra blitz with a 1in14 twist. The Delta Elite with a round in the chamber is good to go though

 

[Xae289]

After thinking about it, I realize my opinions and separating it into "unloaded", "loaded", and "ready" come from the firearms conditions I learned in the Marine Corps.

There are 4 firearms conditions by the USMC manual. Condition 2 doesn't apply to the M16/M4/M27, but applies to handguns with hammers. Condition 4 (what I call UNLOADED) is weapon on safe, no magazine inserted, no round in chamber. Condition 3 (what I call LOADED) is weapon on safe, magazine inserted, no round in chamber. Condition 2 is the weapon on safe, magazine inserted, round in the chamber, hammer down (I would consider this READY with a double-action pistol, but only LOADED with a single-action). Condition 1 (what I call READY) is weapon on safe, magazine inserted, a round in the chamber, (the hammer cocked).

To me, UNLOADED means I have confirmed cleared and ready for any manipulation and mantenance. LOADED is any weapon that hasn't been confirmed clear or any weapon that I have loaded, but does not have a round on deck. READY means a weapon that will discharge if the safety is removed (if applicable) and the trigger is pressed.

For specific examples:
The 4 weapons safety rules no longer apply TO ME once I have confirmed a weapon as UNLOADED. I.e., I can point the barrel at myself to check for a squib or shine a flashlight in to check, muzzle first, for copper or lead fouling. I can point it at a wall and dry-fire for practice. A weapon I have confirmed UNLOADED is still LOADED to everyone else around, so I still can't point it at anyone, and if I hand it to someone, I will hand it over ready to be inspected and expect them to also clear it to confirm for themselves that it's UNLOADED before manipulating it. If I'm handed that same firearm back from someone, it is LOADED again and I need to clear it again before I can consider it UNLOADED. If I'm leaving the house with a concealed firearm, I have to check to make sure that it's both LOADED and READY so if I need to deploy it, it doesn't go "click" instead of "bang". When hunting, the moment I'm ready to step off from my staging area to go afield, I make my weapon READY (unless it's a single action revolver or muzzleloader. In that specific case, I only cock the hammer when lining up a shot).

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

No, not inconsistent. Say you have a revolver, holds six rounds, you shoot one or more off, rounds still in the cylinder, gun is still loaded.

Exactly. You just proved my point. When you shoot the round in a revolver it no longer contains a projectile. So for all intents and purposes the chamber is empty. However the remaining unfired rounds in the cylinder designate the revolver as being loaded. It would be the same as if an auto failed to strip the next round. The pistol is still loaded. You have to rechamber another round to fire. They are 2 separate things.

There are only 2 states. Loaded and unloaded. If there are rounds anywhere in the gun it's loaded. Going back to my previous post, loaded can mean rounds in the magazine but nothing in the pipe. 1 in the pipe but nothing in the magazine or rounds in the magazine AND one in the pipe. The original questions are asking if a gun is considered loaded ONLY when there is one in the pipe.

again

 

[GOPerfect]

Exactly. You just proved my point. When you shoot the round in a revolver it no longer contains a projectile. So for all intents and purposes the chamber is empty. However the remaining unfired rounds in the cylinder designate the revolver as being loaded. It would be the same as if an auto failed to strip the next round. The pistol is still loaded. You have to rechamber another round to fire. They are 2 separate things.

There are only 2 states. Loaded and unloaded. If there are rounds anywhere in the gun it's loaded. Going back to my previous post, loaded can mean rounds in the magazine but nothing in the pipe. 1 in the pipe but nothing in the magazine or rounds in the magazine AND one in the pipe. The original questions are asking if a gun is considered loaded ONLY when there is one in the pipe.

again

View attachment 192479

And this is where I disagree, I truly do not believe a gun is loaded unless there is a round in the chamber.

 

[lrick]

The meaning of loaded has changed with the evolution of firearms. That's why I like to consider thinking about it terms of condition instead.

I also think in terms of "loaded and locked", in which loaded means I have rounds in my weapon, and locked means chambered, ready to fire, safety or no. "Locked and loaded" means I have +1 capacity and of course, ready to fire.

If I hand my weapon to someone, I remove the magazine, clear the chamber and lock the slide open, not until then do I consider the weapon unloaded. I would never hand a weapon to someone and tell them it's unloaded with the meaning being just an empty chamber. That just sounds like a good way to get shot with your own gun.

As far as the state is concerned it will be whatever definition fits to call you a criminal.

lock and load — Wordorigins.org

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

This is fun. Single shot guns excluded. Can you load a gun and make it ready to fire at the same time or are they 2 separate actions? In other words, if I tell someone to load a semi auto pistol am I telling them to insert the magazine or am I telling them to take a single round and put it in the chamber, release the slide and then insert the magazine?

Also, take the gun out of the equation. How do I load a magazine?

 

[GOPerfect]

This is fun. Single shot guns excluded. Can you load a gun and make it ready to fire at the same time or are they 2 separate actions? In other words, if I tell someone to load a semi auto pistol am I telling them to insert the magazine or am I telling them to take a single round and put it in the chamber, release the slide and then insert the magazine?

Also, take the gun out of the equation. How do I load a magazine?

Most semi auto guns do not need a magazine to be loaded.

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

Most semi auto guns do not need a magazine to be loaded.

Agreed. But how would you answer the questions I posed?

 

[GOPerfect]

Agreed. But how would you answer the questions I posed?

"Can you load a gun and make it ready to fire at the same time or are they 2 separate actions".

Yes. A gun can be made ready and loaded in one action. Load a round into the chamber.

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

"Load a round into the chamber."

And then?

 

[GOPerfect]

And then?

So, now you are going to technical?

To properly load a gun would take many more than the two steps that you originally asked. I am not sure exactly what you are getting at.

To load a firearm, such as a semi auto:

Go to the safe and get a gun.

Rack the slide open and hold it in the open position.

Insert a magazine and allow the slide to go forward. Now you have a gun that is loaded with a round a magazine with ammo in it. Or,


Go to the safe and get a gun.

Rack the slide to an open position, drop in a round and allow the slide to go forward. You now have a loaded firearm, one that does not have a magazine inserted.

 

[GOPerfect]

I was at the gun show yesterday. While waiting in line to buy my ticket, I watched two different guys that entered before me, checking in their carry guns, (Lemmings).

Bot of them drew their guns safely, removed the mags and hand the guns to the security guys. Neither of them had rounds in the chambers. Both were carrying unloaded guns as far as I could tell. Sure, their mags had rounds, but the guns were not chambered, ie, empty guns.

 

[Uninformed and Compliant]

but the guns were not chambered, ie, empty guns

"rocks"

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

So, now you are going to technical?

To properly load a gun would take many more than the two steps that you originally asked. I am not sure exactly what you are getting at.

To load a firearm, such as a semi auto:

Go to the safe and get a gun.

Rack the slide open and hold it in the open position.

Insert a magazine and allow the slide to go forward. Now you have a gun that is loaded with a round a magazine with ammo in it. Or,


Go to the safe and get a gun.

Rack the slide to an open position, drop in a round and allow the slide to go forward. You now have a loaded firearm, one that does not have a magazine inserted.

Not being technical. I'm contending that a gun is loaded simply by putting ammunition in it. It doesn't matter if there is one in the chamber or not. Ammo in the magazine or not. Simply having at least one round in it (anywhere). With the slide back if I put a round in the barrel it's loaded. If I put a magazine with ammo in the magwell it's loaded. Dropping the slide with either will do the same exact thing. Make it ready to fire. Two separate things. I can have a gun that's loaded but not ready to fire but cannot have a gun that's ready to fire but not loaded.

I'll use the car analogy again and after that we'll just have to agree to disagree. Of course there are many steps to fill (load) my cars tank with gas. I have to drive to the gas station. Put the card in the machine to pay for it. Pick up the nozzle. Pull the handle. Now my car has gas in it. Do I have to do anything else now for the car to be considered full of gas (loaded)? Do I have to put the gas cap back on? Put the nozzle back? Put the key in the ignition. Hell does the car even need to have the ability to start (ready to fire)? No. The tank has gas in it (loaded).

 

[GOPerfect]

Not being technical. I'm contending that a gun is loaded simply by putting ammunition in it. It doesn't matter if there is one in the chamber or not. Ammo in the magazine or not. Simply having at least one round in it (anywhere). With the slide back if I put a round in the barrel it's loaded. If I put a magazine with ammo in the magwell it's loaded. Dropping the slide with either will do the same exact thing. Make it ready to fire. Two separate things. I can have a gun that's loaded but not ready to fire but cannot have a gun that's ready to fire but not loaded.

I'll use the car analogy again and after that we'll just have to agree to disagree. Of course there are many steps to fill (load) my cars tank with gas. I have to drive to the gas station. Put the card in the machine to pay for it. Pick up the nozzle. Pull the handle. Now my car has gas in it. Do I have to do anything else now for the car to be considered full of gas (loaded)? Do I have to put the gas cap back on? Put the nozzle back? Put the key in the ignition. Hell does the car even need to have the ability to start (ready to fire)? No. The tank has gas in it (loaded).

Yes, the tank is full, does not mean the car is loaded. If the fuel lines and the fuel pump were completely drained when you ran out of gas, those lines would need to be primed with fuel prior to the car starting. The tank(Magazine) can be loaded, but if the lines contain no gas,(empty chamber of the gun) the car is not loaded.

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

Yes, the tank is full, does not mean the car is loaded. The tank(Magazine) can be loaded, but if the lines contain no gas,(empty chamber of the gun) the car is not loaded.

What's in green is extra. If not, this is not consistent and confusing. Is there gas in the car or not?

 

[GOPerfect]

What's in green is extra. If not, this is not consistent and confusing. Is there gas in the car or not?

There is gas in the gas tank. Does not mean the car is fully loaded with gas though. No fuel in the lines, car is going nowhere. A rock in the road.

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

There is gas in the gas tank. Does not mean the car is fully loaded with gas though. No fuel in the lines, car is going nowhere. A rock in the road.

Well. At least you're now admitting that it is in fact loaded. Even if there is no gas in the fuel lines (chamber). Nowhere in the questions did it ask about fully loaded or ready to fire (car going nowhere) or any other type of functionality. We made some headway. I think...

 

[GOPerfect]

Well. At least you're now admitting that it is in fact loaded. Even if there is no gas in the fuel lines (chamber). Nowhere in the questions did it ask about fully loaded or ready to fire (car going nowhere) or any other type of functionality. We made some headway. I think...

No. The tank is loaded with gas. Not the car. The car is loaded when the fuel pump is operating and their is fuel in the lines. Fully loaded, just a term.

Loaded vs unloaded. Again, I do not think a gun is loaded until there is round in the chamber, or in a position for that round to be fired.

I know that many here carry empty guns, mags filled only, I am fine with that. I just would never think of carrying an empty firearm.

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

No. The tank is loaded with gas. Not the car. The car is loaded when the fuel pump is operating and their is fuel in the lines. Fully loaded, just a term.

Loaded vs unloaded. Again, I do not think a gun is loaded until there is round in the chamber, or in a position for that round to be fired.

I know that many here carry empty guns, mags filled only, I am fine with that. I just would never think of carrying an empty firearm.

Huh? The tank is part of the car. Anyway. What's the reasoning for their needing to be gas in the lines for the car to have gas in it as a whole? I still don't understand that part. Besides you not liking carrying a gun without it chambered (which I agree with) what's the logic that says there is no ammo in the gun? I'm going by the dictionary definition of loaded which is the gun contains ammo. Period. Finito. Fin. If we don't go by that then there are as many definitions of loaded as there are people. AKA opinions.

 

[GOPerfect]

This entire thread was created to share opinions.

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

This entire thread was created to share opinions.

Cool. IMO this back and forth is fruitless now so I'll agree to disagree. Now I'm genuinely curious why Jchris made the pole.