Round In The Chamber

[jimh406]

You won't shoot anyone if you have correct muzzle discipline. If you don't want to do that, can't count on it, or don't trust yourself, by all means don't carry one in the chamber.

I know of two guns that fired unexpectedly. One was pointing straight up and was due to a jar stepping over a fence. The other went off when the safety was turned off to reload. So, I agree unexpected firing can happen.

That being said, I rarely have even one person near me while hunting.

I've also heard of "unloaded" guns firing, so I think you aren't eliminating the possibility by not "having one" in the chamber.

 

[NDGuy]

Hunting no, carrying a handgun yes

 

[Forkyfinder]

Do any of you “No, never” guys hunt with a muzzleloader?

This is a great question. And if the answer is yes to that - after a failed stalk do you blast the loaded round into the dirt?

 

[brymoore]

Do any of you “No, never” guys hunt with a muzzleloader?

No cap.

 

[BrentD]

Some simplistic questions are not worthy of answering with simplistic answers.

 

[BrentD]

This is a great question. And if the answer is yes to that - after a failed stock do you blast the loaded round into the dirt?

No, usually I glue and pin the stock.

 

[KingOfTagSoup]

Depends on the circumstances for me. If my rifle is in my hands such as when still hunting or tracking, especially in bear country, I always have one in the pipe. If it's slung or strapped to my pack or Im crossing a difficult obstacle I usually have the chamber empty.

 

[Dougfirtree]

I've said this before, but when you're hunting upland birds with a group, everyone has a fully loaded shotgun perfectly capable of killing their partners. No one says, "no one load your gun until a bird flushes." You watch the muzzle, watch your footing and use your head. I don't see a big difference with a rifle. If it's unsafe, I unload. But if I'm on a stand, I likely have a round chambered. If I'm tracking a hot track and expect to see a buck within a few yards, I have a round chambered. If I'm glassing for pronghorn and crawling through the cactus, the chamber is empty until it's time to shoot. If it's dark or if I'm with a partner or if the ground is slick, the chamber is empty. It just depends.

This is how I feel about it as well, though I'd add that I think that it's hard to ignore the regional bias on this forum. I have a round in the chamber most of the time around here (east) and very rarely do when hunting out west in open country. That's just adapting to the realities of hunting in two different environments. In the west, more often than not I'm spot and stalk hunting. In the east, more often than not, I'm tracking, still hunting high percentage areas, or sitting.

 

[Wildabeest]

If I’m still hunting timber by myself, I have one in the chamber. If traversing to/from glassing positions, then no.

 

[BAKPAKR]

No cap.

It seems like it rains or snows a lot when I go muzzleloader hunting. As part of my weatherproofing ritual, I run fingernail polish around the cap and the nipple before I leave the truck. I don’t think running around without a cap until I am ready to shoot would work for me on those weather days. Had it been dry and had I been without a cap, I am sure there are a few of these animals that would not have stuck around while I tried to cap the rifle.

With a few differences, I pretty much follow the philosophy of @Ben Long. One notable difference is that I definitely have a round in when it is dark. There are creepy things in the woods at night.

 

[3855WIN]

I do most of my big game hunting in the Southeast. I have a round in the chamber on stand. Out West, it depends on the terrain and conditions.
As was posted above, a gun is always loaded. Even when you think it’s unloaded. Safeties don’t always work correctly. Being safe is about pointing the muzzle away from people.
Probably a bigger danger than having one in the hole, is rifle scopes being used in place of binos and spotting scopes.

 

[np307]

Depends on where I am and what I'm doing. Here in NC, rifle gets loaded the second I start the walk in. I'm usually hunting by myself, so that contributes to my decision some. I've killed several animals while walking in during the afternoon, including my biggest buck. Most of these areas are "top pin territory" for a bow.

When I'm out west, it doesn't really make sense to keep one chambered all the time. A lot more hiking and a lot more ability to adjust to sighting game. I'm also usually hunting with someone else so it becomes more of a concern.

 

[Rie Bread]

I’d like to know who bird hunts with nothing in the chamber

Edit/
406 answers part of that with an over under. Of which I can relate with a lever action with the hammer lowered

 

[TOGIE]

Do any of you “No, never” guys hunt with a muzzleloader?

No, never.

 

[BAKPAKR]

No, never.

Ding, ding, ding — that was the answer I was waiting for!

 

[TOGIE]

Ding, ding, ding — that was the answer I was waiting for!

So like what, do you keep the primer in all day?

The rules would still apply to me. I’m not hiking around all day with a gun that would go bang if the trigger got pulled. Muzzleloader or otherwise.

 

[BAKPAKR]

So like what, do you keep the primer in all day?

Usually from before daylight to after dark.

 

[El Jason]

Do any of you “No, never” guys hunt with a muzzleloader?

No

 

[cgasner1]

Do any of you “No, never” guys hunt with a muzzleloader?

Mine stays empty till I see an animal I wanna harvest. So I’ve yet to load it in Montana

 

[TOGIE]

Usually from before daylight to after dark.

Yeah I don’t get that. Basically the same amount of time to load your primer as it would be to rack a round.

If animals are getting away because of that the stalk was blown to begin with. But that’s just me