What do you believe is a loaded firearm?
- Thread starter Jchrisls
- Start date
ManualF150
.308 Win
No, the firearm isn't loaded as there's no round in the chamber
Cause even if you have a mag full of rounds, the gun isn't going to go off by itself by pulling the trigger. The mag is only a storage container.
Jsmegs77
.308 Win
Loaded implies ready to fire, to me. A gun without a round chambered is effectively inert without further action, namely chambering a round. It cannot be used as anything other than a bludgeon without said action. Ergo, unloaded chamber is unloaded.
spat
.950 JDJ
Legally, in NY ?
NY considers it loaded if you possess ammo at the same time.
Got an old cap and ball revolver locked in a safe, with some caps, powder and shot in a different safe in another room ? Then it's "loaded" as far as they are concerned.
Carlos Hathcock
.450/400 Nitro Ex
I treat EVERY firearm as loaded, even those proven to be unloaded. Loaded means round in the chamber ready to fire when trigger is pulled.
spat
.950 JDJ
What about a gun with a manual safety on then ?
What's the qualitative difference between racking a slide and flipping off a safety ?
The only one I can think of is "2 hands vs 1", but that seems to be a bit minor for such a significant change.
I think the answer is "it depends on context". The context that the question "is it loaded" is asked in will affect the answer.
The gun in your nightstand is loaded if there is a loaded mag inserted, regardless of the condition of the chamber.
The one holstered on your hip needs one in the pipe.
ManualF150
.308 Win
Lowes sells blanks, which in that same store sells pipe, springs, nails and ball bearings. Which in that case it's a gun store. Right?
pjzwtl
.308 Win
NY law if there is a loaded magazine In the firearm it is loaded. Unless the law has again changed ammo or a loaded detached mag are ok. But to be honest I stopped giving a shit what the state has to say so 
Jsmegs77
.308 Win
To my way of thinking, the presence or absence of a safety, engaged or not, does not alter the fact that there is (loaded) or is not (unloaded) a round in front of the firing pin. Loaded is the status of the chamber, not any ancillary feeding mechanism whatever that may consist of.
I’m sure my view is simplistic and may or may not reflect legal definition, but it is what makes sense to me.
Jsmegs77
.308 Win
Loaded if there is a live round in any chamber. Unloaded if all chambers are empty or contain spent casings.
gun_slinger_boy
.338 Win Mag
Loaded is containing a magazine whether there is a round chambered or not. Chambered is chambered. So there is loaded and there is ready to fire. Of course the magazine must contain at least one round, the chamber can contain one round with nothing in the magazine or both at the same time.
Is a car full of gas only if the key is in the ignition? Seems pretty common sense to me.
and the actual definition(s)
Is a car full of gas only if the key is in the ignition? Seems pretty common sense to me.
and the actual definition(s)
Dr. Evil
20×102mm Vulcan
In NY, your gun is loaded if it is on your dresser in your bedroom and you have ammo in the basement somewhere. Just ask any politician.
Far king
.357 mag
A firearm is without question loaded when it contains 1 or more rounds of ammunition whether or not a round is in the chamber .
Uninformed and Compliant
.450/400 Nitro Ex
If it is your weapon on your person,
Loaded means chambered.
If it is someone else holding a weapon,
Loaded means it does not a chamber flag inserted, because they are probably stupid and do not know if something is chambered.
Loaded means chambered.
If it is someone else holding a weapon,
Loaded means it does not a chamber flag inserted, because they are probably stupid and do not know if something is chambered.
Xae289
.223 Rem
Legally it's a question that varies by jurisdiction and even circumstance. What's considered "loaded" varies depending on which specific law you're talking about. It could be anything from a magazine with ammo inserted in the weapon (NY hunting regs) to simply possessing the components that would allow you to load the weapon (antique firearm becoming a loaded firearm per NY law).
Practically, I would consider a firearm to be loaded if there's a loaded magazine inserted and/or there is a round anywhere in the chamber, cylinder, internal mag, or tube.
I draw a distinction between a ready, loaded, or clear firearm. A firearm is clear for me if there is no ammunition anywhere in it. Once a firearm is confirmed clear, I can now stop treating it like it's loaded and do things like disassembly, cleaning, inspecting the barrel, or dry-firing. I consider any firearm loaded until I clear it. If it leaves my positive control, I again consider it loaded if I pick it up again or load it myself. A ready firearm is a loaded one that specifically has a round in the chamber or the next cylinder in the sequence if it's a revolver.
Practically, I would consider a firearm to be loaded if there's a loaded magazine inserted and/or there is a round anywhere in the chamber, cylinder, internal mag, or tube.
I draw a distinction between a ready, loaded, or clear firearm. A firearm is clear for me if there is no ammunition anywhere in it. Once a firearm is confirmed clear, I can now stop treating it like it's loaded and do things like disassembly, cleaning, inspecting the barrel, or dry-firing. I consider any firearm loaded until I clear it. If it leaves my positive control, I again consider it loaded if I pick it up again or load it myself. A ready firearm is a loaded one that specifically has a round in the chamber or the next cylinder in the sequence if it's a revolver.
Acer-m14
20×102mm Vulcan
will also depend on how much alcohol the firearm has been drinking .
1/2 loaded .. also could be called 1/2 cocked .. or fully loaded ..
1/2 loaded .. also could be called 1/2 cocked .. or fully loaded ..
Saltwater60
20×102mm Vulcan
I would say obviously a live round in the chamber is a loaded firearm but I would also say if the magazine in the gun and the magazine has live rounds in it then yes I would say it’s loaded. Simply an empty mag in a gun is not loaded to me. A mag with rounds in it because of the bolt is accidentally closed a live round is then in the chamber.
Acer-m14
20×102mm Vulcan
that's called Russian Roulette LOL..
This is more interesting than I thought it would be, and the results are proving it.
To be fair, I believe a firearm is loaded when it hs a round in the chamber ( both semi and revolver).
Safety being considered, I take the precautions as stated above, as every firearm is considered loaded with each handling or change of possession regardless of its actual status.
To be fair, I believe a firearm is loaded when it hs a round in the chamber ( both semi and revolver).
Safety being considered, I take the precautions as stated above, as every firearm is considered loaded with each handling or change of possession regardless of its actual status.
Jmac00
.475 A&M Magnum
so if you have a firearm in your home in Buffalo, and ammo in Pennsylvania, you have a loaded firearm ?????
Phazer
.450/400 Nitro Ex
You must get loaded before trying to understand Leftist firearms regulations.
Dr. Evil
20×102mm Vulcan
With NY scumbag politicians... nothing would surprise me anymore.
easyspeak
9mm
Any firearm that I have not personally safety checked.
Certainly part of the standard rules for safety, but which is it? Chambered or unchambered round?
spat
.950 JDJ
I agree with you about that.
I was just pointing out that if it's loaded with the safety on, the it's probably loaded with a round in the mag as well, even if the chamber is empty.
Uninformed and Compliant
.450/400 Nitro Ex
I'd suggest the unintended flick of a safety or crossbolt is a bit different from the unintentional racking of a slide or cycle of a bolt.
I mean, I can run my '73 almost as fast as an AR15, and my old neighbor could run a break open shotgun as fast as any pumper. But when it comes to the concept of "could accidentally go off", it has to be chambered.
And more so if you need the thing to go off, on purpose. "Please wait while I rack my slide" becomes the appropriate discussion, at this point.
Justincase
.308 Win
I chose loaded. If someone could, as the gun sits (i.e. with a magazine inserted with at least one round in it), get it to fire a round, it is loaded. If someone got ahold of it, and somehow either by dumb luck or knowledge, was able to chamber a round and shoot it, you’d be VERY hard pressed to convince anybody that the gun was unloaded.