Loaded/unloaded in Vehicle

hm1996

hm1996

Moderator
Staff member
The recent thread "Safety ON or OFF broached a very interesting safety issue which I'd like to take it one step farther.

I'm sure opinions will vary on carrying loaded firearm in a vehicle, as well, but would ask that you share your preference and any comments supporting your choice.

I'll kick it off. First off, both my vehicles are equipped with gun racks which hold the firearms, muzzle pointed to the front of vehicle and elevated.

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Both racks are designed to enable me and my passenger to place the rifle in the rack, butt first w/muzzle elevated over shoulder and swing muzzle into front rest.

Muzzle control is extremely important at all times, but especially when putting firearm in or taking out of vehicle, due to the ease of sweeping someone w/muzzle.

1) I seldom carry shotguns in a vehicle, but when I do, they are bolt open, unloaded and cased (They are too long to fit in my racks).

2) All of my bolt guns are equipped with three position safeties. Before placing in vehicle, I check safety and raise bolt as double insurance against negligent discharge.

3) AR's were a bit of concern to me, but after lots of research, I was unable to find any mention of accidental discharge w/an AR which was on "safe". Due to the noise associated with proper loading of an AR, between stands, I have reluctantly transported loaded and on safe.

Interested in learning what others do.

Regards,
hm
 
I'm pretty much the same as you.

Bolt guns - safety in middle position (if possible), bolt handle lifted, rifle on the console.

Semi-auto shotgun - chamber cleared and cased.

Pump shotgun - pump slid back half-way (like the lifted bolt) and cased.

AR - chambered, on safe, laying on the console. It's tricky getting it in and out with good muzzle control, but the trickiness leads to constant awareness.
 
Here in WA. loaded firearms are a NO NO in a vehicle. My rifle rides in between the seat and center console muzzle down. 95% of our hunting is done 1/4 mile or more from the road/truck so loading it quietly doesnt make much more noise than the noise of the door when I push it closed.
 
Originally Posted By: tripod3I have mine loaded with the window over half down so I can stick the barrel out quietly and get a shot off quick.

I hope you stop and put it i in park first!!

Daytime - Magazine is in the rifle with the action open

Nighttime- Gun is completely empty of magazine and chamber
 
You guys don't know how good you have it. Here it Maryland you can't even lean a loaded gun up against a vehicle let alone have a loaded weapon in a vehicle.
 
I strap our guns vertically behind our seats, loaded, safeties on. This allows for safe loading and unloading from the vehicle without flagging each other and without putting others around us at risk. But we are allowed to travel with loaded firearms here.
 
I don’t have guns with a bullet in the chamber in my vehicle. If you spend enough time around firearms it is just a matter of time before you have an unintended discharge. About 20 years ago I had 2 unintended discharges within a couple years of each other. One was with a 22 revolver and the other was with a shotgun. I always try to keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and fortunately in both instances no harm was done. However, it did scare me enough to respect the danger of firearms. I provide anesthesia in a trauma hospital and see police offices, military and civilians that are victims of unintended discharged firearms on a regular basis. I learned when I was young to never point a firearm at something you don’t intend to shoot. As long as it is legal and the gun isn’t ever pointed in a direction that will harm someone then it is your choice to risk a bullet in your vehicle. I guess I’ve seen too many freak accidents that require surgery at my work so I’m just a lot more cautious than I was as a teenager.
Even if you are careful, freak accidents happen. For example last week while walking back to my vehicle after calling in a coyote I broke my leg. I’m only 37 and in good physical health(I ran a marathon in December). Instead of paying attention to my path, I was looking for any coyotes that I didn’t see come in and slipped and fell and broke my fibula. I ended up crawling 500 yards through the NM desert to get back to my vehicle. Fortunately I’m going to likely heal without any long term consequences and much quicker than many of gunshots victims that I take care of.
 
No rounds in chambers in my vehicles. Ever. Period. Not open for discussion.

Know two dead guys, both killed by hunting partners getting loaded guns out of vehicles, that are my main two reasons. The main two. I have other reasons besides.

No rounds in chambers in my vehicles. Ever. Period. Not open for discussion.

- DAA
 
I go a step further, If someone is hunting with me, my rules are empty chamber until we get to the stand, and after the stand we unload the chamber. Magazine can be full, but empty chamber.

If I hunt in your vehicle, your rules.

I personally leave the safety on until I am ready to fire. I have had dogs jump up on me, and IMO it doesn't take much to flip the safety off. Plus I never forget to flip the safety off, because I always have it on.

I was at a "rondy" years ago when a guy had a AD while I was putting the caller in place. Same guy was hunting with another group a day later and shot a hole in the roof of the the other guys rented truck.
 
What DAA said is my thoughts exactly. You’re asking for trouble with a loaded gun in the truck. I don’t even chamber a round until I’m sitting on a stand either. Then safety is on until I’m ready to shoot. Who the [beeep] cares if flipping the safety “might” spook a Coyote. There will always be more Coyotes. It only takes one accident to change yours and somebody else’s life forever. To me it’s a no brainer..... And I wouldn’t even hunt with someone that did have those bad habits.

Good Hunting Chad
 
Same as DAA no loaded gun in the vehicle tried it a couple times and I felt uncomfortable. I grew up in a state that the gun had to be unloaded and in a case secure shut either zipped completely or tied, guns could be broke down or wrapped in a blanket but they had to be in the trunk.
 
I never put a loaded firearm into a vehicle, whether in the chamber or magazine. I lost a nephew several years ago, who reached into a boat and pulled his 300 Win. mag out by the barrel, and it discharged. The bullet hit in the thigh, and he bled out while his young son and brother-in-law held his hand. Yeah, it was a stupid thing to do, but totally preventable.

It's a sickening thing to have happen. You cannot be too careful, and no animal is worth taking even the slightest risk.

Please be careful out there.
 
Originally Posted By: DAANo rounds in chambers in my vehicles. Ever. Period. Not open for discussion.

Know two dead guys, both killed by hunting partners getting loaded guns out of vehicles, that are my main two reasons. The main two. I have other reasons besides.

No rounds in chambers in my vehicles. Ever. Period. Not open for discussion.

- DAA

Those are two [beeep] good reasons Dave, and worth thinking about. Thanks for sharing, and I'm sorry to hear about your friends. I'm curious though, what are your thoughts on handguns? I'm thinking primarily of self defense arms, holstered. Same rules?

Also, when hunting with ARs, do you note any significant difference in your call-in success rates? There's probably not enough data available to determine if the noise of loading an AR influences response rate, but I'm curious if you have any anecdotes. Perhaps your experience would help put to rest our potentially unfounded notion that excessive noise negatively impacts success. I know that factors in to the decision to leave an AR chambered.
 
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Originally Posted By: DAA

No rounds in chambers in my vehicles. Ever. Period. Not open for discussion.

- DAA

Absolutely 100% agree, and the safety never goes to the off position until it’s time to squeeze the trigger.

No exceptions.

*
 
For me, I ease the bolt down and use forward assist. Still more noise than I like. And I do think it matters. But if I want to use my AR, it is what it is. On still mornings it makes me wince and scowl every time though.

- DAA
 
Originally Posted By: Mr. PoppadopalisOriginally Posted By: tripod3I have mine loaded with the window over half down so I can stick the barrel out quietly and get a shot off quick.

I hope you stop and put it i in park first!!

Daytime - Magazine is in the rifle with the action open

Nighttime- Gun is completely empty of magazine and chamber

Yes I have a wheelchair permit that requires the vehicle to be shut off.
Otherwise it is even illegal to have a loaded firearm touching or inside the vehicle. Concealed weapons are different rules generally.
 
The four safety rules have unfortunately been developed at the expense of others yet people continue to violate them regardless of the situation and their experience.

The same type of negligence that takes lives and causes injuries while going to and from a hunting or range session, whether it be in your vehicle or home, can and will happen while engaged in said activity when your attention falls off and you violate one or more of the ever so basic and non-complex safety rules. To me this is more important than deciding if a loaded firearm in a vehicle is "proper" or if it should even be of concern.

The four rules apply the split second you put your hands on your firearm(s) to go afield and continue throughout until you close the door on the safe or zipper up the case... regardless if there is one in the chamber or not.

I can't recall ever hunting with someone who was unsafe or did a no-no as I usually go alone... it won't take but one time and I'll never hunt with them again, if I survive. I have removed a member from our SWAT Team (was personally hard to do) and have kicked officers out of training on the range for violating one or more of the four rules... made no difference to me if the firearm was loaded or not... they got the safety briefing from the start and there are no second chances.

Live by the four rules, insist your friends and hunting partners do as well... this will do more to prevent injuries and deaths vs. deciding when it's ok to load a round.

My respects and condolences to anyone who has lost someone due to a firearm related incident.
 
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