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Is there a way to check the long guns like AK-47, shotguns, bolt actions, or M-16s etc, etc are chambered without expelling the round if in there?
On pistols, you can pull the slide back just a little. Can you do that with long guns? How do you check the shotguns? I guess it depends on the gun too.
I have shot long guns before, but never had the need/chance to actually do that kind of check.
The way I do is bring bolt all the way back but ejects round. I never "half ****" it. Is that how normally done in order to save round?
Why not?
Pull back the charging handle just enough to see brass, or empty space through the ejection port. Some handguns and rifles have cartridge indicators too, that tell you if there's a cartridge in the chamber, but never rely on them to check for an empty chamber.
It exactly the same principle as with a handgun you yourself describe using.
Depends on action type, easiest of all are break-opens, where you just break it open and the round or empty chamber is staring right at you. Most lever, bolt, pump, other manually operated repeaters you just unlock the action and sneak the bolt back enough to see, but not enough to eject the round if it's there. Autoloaders are the most difficult, you have to pull against spring pressure, but the principle is the same.
Pull back the charging handle just enough to see brass, or empty space through the ejection port. Some handguns and rifles have cartridge indicators too, that tell you if there's a cartridge in the chamber, but never rely on them to check for an empty chamber.
It exactly the same principle as with a handgun you yourself describe using.
Quote:
Originally Posted by M3 Mitch
Depends on action type, easiest of all are break-opens, where you just break it open and the round or empty chamber is staring right at you. Most lever, bolt, pump, other manually operated repeaters you just unlock the action and sneak the bolt back enough to see, but not enough to eject the round if it's there. Autoloaders are the most difficult, you have to pull against spring pressure, but the principle is the same.
ok great. I live in NYC so dont have access to gun to try myself. I check on internet/youtube but none of the methods keeps round in chamber.
Incidentally IIRC both also cover the crossover check for double stacks by dropping the magazine and checking the top round is now on the other side (meaning the former top round is in the chamber, unless it vanished into thin air).
On a muzzleloader it is difficult to discern. Put in the ramrod and see how far it drops. If only a half inch is showing, then the gun is empty. Otherwise, you probably have a charge in the barrel.
On a muzzleloader it is difficult to discern. Put in the ramrod and see how far it drops. If only a half inch is showing, then the gun is empty. Otherwise, you probably have a charge in the barrel.
Well, if it's your own personal weapon, you can try the ramrod on an empty barrel/chamber and see where it ends up, maybe mark it if you are that worried about it.
A note - if you find an old muzzle loader, I am thinking most of them have been found already, but if you somehow lay hands on a really old one - while according to Rule One all guns are always loaded anyway, you have every reason it's loaded and "on standby" for whatever shooting task might come up suddenly - while competitive shooters can do better, I would figure at least a minute to load a muzzleloader, and for a gun "on standby" that's way too long. So you can bet great-great grandpa put that thing away loaded when he put it away for the last time, years ago.
Rule One: All guns are always loaded. (Only when you have just unloaded it yourself or checked it unloaded can you have any confidence it is not loaded. Put it on the table and turn away, it's loaded again. )
Rule Two: Never point a gun at anything or anyone you are unwilling to destroy.
Rule Three: Keep your finger outside of the trigger guard till the sights are on target.
Rule Four: Be certain of your target and the backstop.
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