What do you believe is a loaded firearm?

[fresch]

To see our reactions.
Some would say having a loaded magazine in the spare mag. well in my rifle stock equals a loaded weapon.
I have a bow and quiver full of arrows, is the bow loaded or only when I nock an arrow? Asking for a friend

 

[Far king]

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

A gun with a round chambered is loaded.
A gun with an empty chamber but with rounds in its magazine ( inserted in the gun) is also loaded.
The difference is in their state of readiness.

 

[GOPerfect]

A gun with a round chambered is loaded.
A gun with an empty chamber but with rounds in its magazine ( inserted in the gun) is also loaded.
The difference is in their state of readiness.

Of course, I disagree. One of the great things about this forum is the openness of opinions.

 

[dwa12479]

I know it sounds clique, but I consider all firearms loaded all the time. It doesn't need a round in the chamber, it doesn't need a magazine in the well.

 

[GOPerfect]

I know it sounds clique, but I consider all firearms loaded all the time. It doesn't need a round in the chamber, it doesn't need a magazine in the well.

As do I. If I come across a gun and see that there is a full magazine inserted, and nothing in the chamber, I think to myself; why would someone carry an unloaded firearm????

 

[Jchrisls]

For all following. Once the poll closes I will reveal the reason for the question( next-Saturday). As this has garnered more interest than I had anticipated and the opinions and voting results as so close yet so varied I believe I would derail the balance of the poll by posting why sooner.

I guess the best questions are the simplest.

 

[tirwin1]

I know it sounds clique, but I consider all firearms loaded all the time. It doesn't need a round in the chamber, it doesn't need a magazine in the well.

Perhaps not the answer the OP was looking for but I was taught all guns are always loaded all the time.

 

[spat]

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

How about a gun that has a round in the chamber, but no magazine inserted ? Is that loaded ?

What if that model has a magazine safety that will prevent it from firing without a mag inserted, like the Ruger EC9s and similar ?

Or how about a revolver that has some cylinders loaded, but not the next one ?

 

[spat]

Perhaps not the answer the OP was looking for but I was taught all guns are always loaded all the time.

You treat them as if they are loaded. That doesn't make them loaded. Only being actually loaded makes them loaded. Although this thread makes it apparent that there is some discussion to be had about what that means.

Also, the "all the time" doesn't really work either. If I have the bolt out of my AR and the upper is separated from the lower, no, I'm not treating it as if it were loaded.

 

[GOPerfect]

How about a gun that has a round in the chamber, but no magazine inserted ? Is that loaded ?

What if that model has a magazine safety that will prevent it from firing without a mag inserted, like the Ruger EC9s and similar ?

Or how about a revolver that has some cylinders loaded, but not the next one ?

Answered already. Hence the "most" in my reply

 

[fresch]

The revolving part of a revolver are chambers.
In full semiautomatic the mag stores ammo to be chambered.
In open bolt function an auto would be loaded with only the mag loaded, but are we talking machine guns.
The term loaded as others prefer condition of; loaded is too generic of a term.

 

[spat]

The revolving part of a revolver are chambers.
In full semiautomatic the mag stores ammo to be chambered.
In open bolt function an auto would be loaded with only the mag loaded, but are we talking machine guns.
The term loaded as others prefer condition of; loaded is too generic of a term.

It is context dependent.

In a context where it needs to *not* be loaded, then the most all encompassing version should be used.

In the context where it needs to *be* loaded, then you use the least encompassing version.

That leads to a hysteresis where there are some conditions where is gun is both loaded and not loaded depending on the context.

"It is loaded when we are talking about a safety perspective, but unloaded when in a self defense context".

So holstered gun that was considered "loaded" at the range with a full mag inserted but a round not yet chambered is "unloaded" the minute you leave the range go for lunch.

 

[tony]

NYS DEC might be able to shed some light on this topic...

 

[JunkBoxFull]

NYS DEC might be able to shed some light on this topic...

 

[dwa12479]

You treat them as if they are loaded. That doesn't make them loaded. Only being actually loaded makes them loaded. Although this thread makes it apparent that there is some discussion to be had about what that means.

Also, the "all the time" doesn't really work either. If I have the bolt out of my AR and the upper is separated from the lower, no, I'm not treating it as if it were loaded.

In that state of disassembly though ypu no longer have an operable firearm. Just a bunch of parts.

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

I bet this thread is heavily influenced by who are hunters and non hunters.

The DEC has their own laws and regulations that hunters have likely grown up following and has shaped their opinions.

 

[spat]

In that state of disassembly though ypu no longer have an operable firearm. Just a bunch of parts.

Without a round in the chamber it isn't an operable firearm either then....

 

[dwa12479]

Without a round in the chamber it isn't an operable firearm either then....

Id consider that to be operable but not ready to be operated.

My truck is out in the parking lot right now, it's operable but I have the keys in my pocket. If I pulled the engine out of it, then its inoperable, and just a bunch of parts laying around.

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

Monkey wrench time.

What are these?

 

[Jchrisls]

Monkey wrench time.

What are these?

View attachment 192579

In thier current form a project

 

[lrick]

Monkey wrench time.

What are these?

View attachment 192579

Condition # WTF

 

[spat]

Id consider that to be operable but not ready to be operated.

My truck is out in the parking lot right now, it's operable but I have the keys in my pocket. If I pulled the engine out of it, then its inoperable, and just a bunch of parts laying around.

A closer analogy would be "my truck is in the parking lot with an empty gas tank, but there is a full 5 gal can in the bed". Is that "operable" ? Is it less operable if the can is sitting on the ground next to it ?

 

[Willyone]

Full tank is like a full magazine. But ya generally need the keys or the fob to load it and make the vehicle go "bang".

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

A closer analogy would be "my truck is in the parking lot with an empty gas tank, but there is a full 5 gal can in the bed". Is that "operable" ? Is it less operable if the can is sitting on the ground next to it ?

Is there any gas in the lines?

 

[spat]

Full tank is like a full magazine. But ya generally need the keys or the fob to load it and make the vehicle go "bang".

Keys are like the safety. They can be in the ignition or out, if they're in but not turned, then the safety is off.

 

[Willyone]

Keys are like the safety. They can be in the ignition or out, if they're in but not turned, then the safety is off.

And if the keys are not in, is the car "loaded"?

 

[spat]

And if the keys are not in, is the car "loaded"?

If you need to drive somewhere ? No. But if the keys are in your pocket, maybe ?

If you locked your keys in the house, is it loaded even with a full tank ?

 

[Willyone]

If you need to drive somewhere ? No. But if the keys are in your pocket, maybe ?

If you locked your keys in the house, is it loaded even with a full tank ?

Is it loaded if your keys are locked in the house, hmmm. Well, I have spare house key hanging on an out of sight nail under the front entry stairs, so it seems your question thickens the plot.

 

[thughes]

All firearms are loaded.


(apologies if someone beat me to it)

 

[spat]

All firearms are loaded.


(apologies if someone beat me to it)

You will quickly find out that isn't the case when you get a click instead of a bang and that big buck just wanders off.

You *treat* them as if they are loaded for safety reasons. But when you *need* them to be loaded, you better make sure they really are.