What do you believe is a loaded firearm?

[thughes]

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.

I'll take "big buck wanders off" over "I thought it was unloaded" any day. Carry gun gets double triple checked that there's one in the chamber before it goes in the holster. YMMV.

 

[GOPerfect]

All firearms are loaded.


(apologies if someone beat me to it)

I have a few in my safe that are not loaded.

 

[JunkBoxFull]

LOL,
i smell a new thread coming; "How many guns are in your safe that are loaded"

I think i`ll go ahead and get in front of the new thread right now.

I`m looking at them right now, YUP, all loaded!

 

[GOPerfect]

LOL,
i smell a new thread coming; "How many guns are in your safe that are loaded"

I think i`ll go ahead and get in front of the new thread right now.

I`m looking at them right now, YUP, all loaded!

View attachment 192671

Okay, now I feel like I should explain.

My sons first 22 was a Henry lever action rifle. He received that gun when he was 7. He is now 18 and has not fired it since he was a round 15.

I have one of my AR's unloaded due to some upgrades and deep cleaning that I started and have not yet finished. The third unloaded gun is a Muzzle loader, not even sure why I own that rifle. I have never used it.

 

[spat]

I'll take "big buck wanders off" over "I thought it was unloaded" any day. Carry gun gets double triple checked that there's one in the chamber before it goes in the holster. YMMV.

Well, 99.99% of the time a click instead of a bang is an annoyance. That 0.01% could get you dead.

A bang instead of a click should be a "fresh underwear" moment, but without any other serious consequences, again there is the 0.01% that's very bad.

But neither condition is 100% safe, and you should always know which you are really on, and then even if it's unloaded, treat it as if it was *for purposes of safety*.

Basically, always assume the bang vs click will go the opposite way you want it to. Even in a carry gun, you should be well prepared to quickly remedy the situation if you get the click. There should be no hesitation clearing the malfunction, it should be as smooth *as if you expected it*.

So, I do not advocate treating them as if they are always loaded (except when teaching new shooters). I advocate treating then as if they are the opposite of what you want them to be. Don't count on the carry gun going bang any more than you count on the one you're cleaning to go click.

 

[fresch]

I have a bottle of scotch sitting (any brand) on my table with a glass full; am I loaded?

 

[Cleck]

After doing a month of grand jury duty, I believe (forgot already) that the state considers your firearm loaded if 1) the firearm is capable of firing, and 2) you have ammo for that firearm on your person.

I consider a firearm useless if it doesn't contain one in the chamber, but that's just my opinion

 

[Jchrisls]

After doing a month of grand jury duty, I believe (forgot already) that the state considers your firearm loaded if 1) the firearm is capable of firing, and 2) you have ammo for that firearm on your person.

I consider a firearm useless if it doesn't contain one in the chamber, but that's just my opinion

That could be, as are so many laws in NYS, interpreted in so many different ways

 

[GOPerfect]

I have a bottle of scotch sitting (any brand) on my table with a glass full; am I loaded?

How full was the bottle when you began and how empty is it now?

 

[fresch]

It was lost in a boating accident.

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

Guys we're all way off here.

We need to consider the difference in what is "loaded" for 9mm and .45acp.

Which loaded is better

 

[Uninformed and Compliant]

Guys we're all way off here.

We need to consider the difference in what is "loaded" for 9mm and .45acp.

Which loaded is better

 

[Jchrisls]

The inmates have taken over the asylum...

 

[Acer-m14]

After doing a month of grand jury duty, I believe (forgot already) that the state considers your firearm loaded if 1) the firearm is capable of firing, and 2) you have ammo for that firearm on your person.

I consider a firearm useless if it doesn't contain one in the chamber, but that's just my opinion

i think in NYS .. if you have a unloaded firearm in the house and the ammo is out in the truck wile your getting the fork tuck to unload the pallet of ammo from the truck ..

its loaded

 

[Acer-m14]

It was lost in a boating accident.

if you lived in Suffolk County .. no problem on reporting ..

 

[Jchrisls]

Well, the poll is almost closed and due to potential time constraints tomorrow I would like to wrap up a few things before then.

First, i am really surprised by how close the votes were, nearly 50-50 with a slight edge going to the no side. I consider many if not all here having quite a bit of experience in firearms and take thier opinions seriously, yet with that experience there still being such a massive split in opinions. Taking out the 4 well repeated rules of firearm safety for a second ( treat every firearm as if it's loaded) the opinion of what is and what isn't was kind of shocking honestly.


Now for what may have been a big lead up to a disappointing reason for the poll. Please remember I never anticipated this much of a response, so the reason will be most likely disappointing. I am generally surrounded by family ( not mine) that are anti gun. They were informed ( again, not by me) that I had recieved my permit and intended to carry ( obviously). I have since been asked to not carry around them or thier family. I have worked to try and establish some guidance to help understand thier wishes and be a good guy to not upset them. One of those compromises was to at least " not carry a loaded firearm around them".

therein lies the reason for the poll.

Looking for a technicality. I know "concealed is concealed " but not disturbing the peace is an important reality in this also, hence the poll.

Clear as mud in my mind now

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

Well, the poll is almost closed and due to potential time constraints tomorrow I would like to wrap up a few things before then.

First, i am really surprised by how close the votes were, nearly 50-50 with a slight edge going to the no side. I consider many if not all here having quite a bit of experience in firearms and take thier opinions seriously, yet with that experience there still being such a massive split in opinions. Taking out the 4 well repeated rules of firearm safety for a second ( treat every firearm as if it's loaded) the opinion of what is and what isn't was kind of shocking honestly.


Now for what may have been a big lead up to a disappointing reason for the poll. Please remember I never anticipated this much of a response, so the reason will be most likely disappointing. I am generally surrounded by family ( not mine) that are anti gun. They were informed ( again, not by me) that I had recieved my permit and intended to carry ( obviously). I have since been asked to not carry around them or thier family. I have worked to try and establish some guidance to help understand thier wishes and be a good guy to not upset them. One of those compromises was to at least " not carry a loaded firearm around them".

therein lies the reason for the poll.

Looking for a technicality. I know "concealed is concealed " but not disturbing the peace is an important reality in this also, hence the poll.

Clear as mud in my mind now

Fair enough and appreciate the background.


Look I get it life is complicated and you have to make your own decisions. Life is full of choices, compromises, and refusals.

If it matters to you and your integrity and your word to conduct yourself in a manner you hold in high esteem and if you give someone your word that you won't carry a loaded firearm in their house... ( All further discourse aside about you needing to do what you need to protect yourself etc..blah blah blah)

If you are seeking some sort of compromise, I suggest carry your gun with a loaded mag and an empty chamber. That should assuage their concerns you can look them in the eye and say it's not loaded and mean it, and you have 0.0% chance of an unintended discharge on their property without one in the chamber. Now you are essentially carry a life raft. Your gun isn't immediately available and it will require 2 hands to make ready. So if you find yourself in a situation where you are ambushed by ninjas you are SOL. If you suffer a home invasion and you're in the bathroom and not immediately noticed you will have an opportunity to chamber a round to defend yourself. Its better than nothing and you lose a lot of capability and usefulness but if that is important to you then that is a decision you will have to consider. That's the thing about life is you have to make your own decisions.

 

[GOPerfect]

I am sorry to hear that you are in this tough spot with your family. Best I can is, better you than me. I am not sure how I would respond to these "demands". I guess if you are at their home, their rules need to be followed for you to be welcome.

Tough when family gets in between you and your ideals of life.

 

[JunkBoxFull]

Fair enough and appreciate the background.


Look I get it life is complicated and you have to make your own decisions. Life is full of choices, compromises, and refusals.

If it matters to you and your integrity and your word to conduct yourself in a manner you hold in high esteem and if you give someone your word that you won't carry a loaded firearm in their house... ( All further discourse aside about you needing to do what you need to protect yourself etc..blah blah blah)

If you are seeking some sort of compromise, I suggest carry your gun with a loaded mag and an empty chamber. That should assuage their concerns you can look them in the eye and say it's not loaded and mean it, and you have 0.0% chance of an unintended discharge on their property without one in the chamber. Now you are essentially carry a life raft. Your gun isn't immediately available and it will require 2 hands to make ready. So if you find yourself in a situation where you are ambushed by ninjas you are SOL. If you suffer a home invasion and you're in the bathroom and not immediately noticed you will have an opportunity to chamber a round to defend yourself. Its better than nothing and you lose a lot of capability and usefulness but if that is important to you then that is a decision you will have to consider. That's the thing about life is you have to make your own decisions.

@Drinkthekoolaid gave some damn good thoughts and guidance of his own opinion on it.

I`ll right outwardly say, THAT, is probably the best case scenario right there. But that is just my own opinion. I`m sure someone somewhere will disagree with it. And thats ok. People need to do their own thing.

One thing about the OP, for putting this all out there to ask others, is pretty damn decent for wanting to know others opinions on the matter. Seems it helps him actually decide what he should do.

OP, thank you for this thread. It was an eye opener for me too.

 

[fresch]

Ok what are you going to do?
Pistol, full mag none in the chamber.
Pistol, no ammo. Ammo in your pocket.
Pistol, Loaded.
Revolver, loaded.
Revolver, one unloaded chamber.
Revolver, no ammo. Ammo in your pocket.
?

 

[Jchrisls]

Ok what are you going to do?
Pistol, full mag none in the chamber.
Pistol, no ammo. Ammo in your pocket.
Pistol, Loaded.
Revolver, loaded.
Revolver, one unloaded chamber.
Revolver, no ammo. Ammo in your pocket.
?

I'm unsure at this time, but certainly NOT option 2 or 6.

 

[Xae289]

That's rough. I have some friends that don't welcome carrying in their homes. I respect their wishes because their homes are their castles. Anywhere else, it's not their business whether or not I'm carrying.

 

[spat]

I'm unsure at this time, but certainly NOT option 2 or 6.

Only if you change your name to Barney and wear a Mayberry PD uniform.