Big Mat Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Ok here is one for all you safety fanatics. Say I walk across the marsh with my auto on a sling. Empty chamber, bolt close, two in the mag and the safety off. Is that gun safe? The answer is yes. As for the op. From a bad picture how can we tell? I certainly won't put a flag in my gun, but if the bolt is open how is it any less safe than a broken over under. It's another case of snobbery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Ok here is one for all you safety fanatics. Say I walk across the marsh with my auto on a sling. Empty chamber, bolt close, two in the mag and the safety off. Is that gun safe? The answer is yes. As for the op. From a bad picture how can we tell? I certainly won't put a flag in my gun, but if the bolt is open how is it any less safe than a broken over under. It's another case of snobbery I'd agree with your scenario being safe, being made ready to fire by ripping the bolt back allowing it to go forward under its own steam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 I'd agree with your scenario being safe, being made ready to fire by ripping the bolt back allowing it to go forward under its own steam Also some autos require you to press the bolt release. I usually have the safety on though, or the gun is slipped! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g fletch Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 No,doesnt look right to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRYAN3 Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 The guys not walking anywhere, he's stood at the stand, I'd imagine waiting to take his turn, there's nowt wrong with the way he's holding the gun and there's nowt wrong with the gun, this topic is however showing up those people who are anti semiauto! Paul. I know he is only standing there,but how did he get there? When I go on game or rough shoots with up to possibly twenty guns we have to walk rough ground and obstacles between drives. Haha,you think I am anti semi-auto,you make I larf. My most used gun is a 5shot 1187. ATB Bryan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 No not at all!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inderraj Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 the way I see it is, would you feel safe around him? I don't think I would, the only time id hold any firearm in such a manner is if I was in a vehicle, otherwise I wouldn't, even if it was clear. If I was traveling in a helicopter id have the barrel facing downwards. I always have the breach open and the barrel resting on my toes or at least pointing down, it helps others around you feel safe, and you know nothing will happen to anyone else. just my 0.02 cents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 I certainly won't put a flag in my gun, but if the bolt is open how is it any less safe than a broken over under. It's another case of snobbery A flag is brightly coloured and used on a clay range so it can be seen from a distance the beech is open. A break open action OU or Sbs don't need a flag as you can see the breech is open from a distance as the stock and barrels don't line up. Barrel awareness is still needed as neither is proofing the chamber is empty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Paul. I know he is only standing there,but how did he get there? When I go on game or rough shoots with up to possibly twenty guns we have to walk rough ground and obstacles between drives. Haha,you think I am anti semi-auto,you make I larf. My most used gun is a 5shot 1187. ATB Bryan. Do you really expect him to keep it slipped until he is stood in the cage?And how does having it slipped make it any more safe? The picture is poor but to me it does not look like it's pointing at anyone, the angle of the picture doesn't help that either! My pet hate is snap caps going in any gun as the shooter comes off a stand, gun going in slip and being pointed in all directions whilst doing so! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRYAN3 Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 I didn't say he should keep it slipped. I said if he or anyone slipped or tripped. Bryan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSS Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 If the chamber is empty, I can't see a problem. It's no worse than the guy on the right, resting his o/u on his foot. Holding it the way he is would make me feel fairly comfortable that the gun is not loaded, after all, who would be dumb enough to hold a loaded shotgun like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 It seems to me that a few people perceive semi auto users as being less safe somehow than o/u users? When I used to use a semi-auto on clays I would check the gun was clear before shooting, then 2 shells loaded in the stand...bang bang, bolt was back and gun was empty. Depending on the distance to the next stand I may or may not have slipped the gun, purely for ease of carrying. I never felt the need to prove my gun was empty to all and sundry. A cursory glance at the action would tell anyone it was safe. I'm not saying flags are a bad idea, just that they're not really a necessity, as some seem to think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSS Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 It seems to me that a few people perceive semi auto users as being less safe somehow than o/u users? When I used to use a semi-auto on clays I would check the gun was clear before shooting, then 2 shells loaded in the stand...bang bang, bolt was back and gun was empty. Depending on the distance to the next stand I may or may not have slipped the gun, purely for ease of carrying. I never felt the need to prove my gun was empty to all and sundry. A cursory glance at the action would tell anyone it was safe. I'm not saying flags are a bad idea, just that they're not really a necessity, as some seem to think. Couldn't agree more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snipers eye Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 if the gun is not loaded,makes no difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 But the question is --- is it unsafe or not , appearing unsafe is completely different to being unsafe , to be fair the only person who can give 100% definitive answer is the shooter . It's neither, we just don't know from that picture whether the chamber is open but he appears to be covering the end of the barrel with his gripped hand, that IS poor practice regardless. For the record I prefer being in close proximity to slick, experienced shooters who don't routinely use a flag insert than newbies who fumble around with them at the start and finish of every stand, the latter seem to be the type who use flags. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 the way I see it is, would you feel safe around him? I don't think I would, the only time id hold any firearm in such a manner is if I was in a vehicle, otherwise I wouldn't, even if it was clear. If I was traveling in a helicopter id have the barrel facing downwards. I always have the breach open and the barrel resting on my toes or at least pointing down, it helps others around you feel safe, and you know nothing will happen to anyone else. just my 0.02 cents I imagine most pigeon shooters (as I do) will hold their gun pointing upright - and loaded - in the hide at some point. This is not dangerous, as long as I don't have any part of my body above the muzzle. The shooter in the picture is totally safe, in my opinion, as long as the gun is unloaded with the bolt back. A flag is brightly coloured and used on a clay range so it can be seen from a distance the beech is open. A break open action OU or Sbs don't need a flag as you can see the breech is open from a distance as the stock and barrels don't line up. Barrel awareness is still needed as neither is proofing the chamber is empty. Why do you need to see at a distance that the gun is safe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 It's neither, we just don't know from that picture whether the chamber is open but he appears to be covering the end of the barrel with his gripped hand, that IS poor practice regardless. For the record I prefer being in close proximity to slick, experienced shooters who don't routinely use a flag insert than newbies who fumble around with them at the start and finish of every stand, the latter seem to be the type who use flags. By that logic, then screwing in a choke is dangerous. I believe to change a choke, your hand usually covers the muzzle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 I imagine most pigeon shooters (as I do) will hold their gun pointing upright - and loaded - in the hide at some point. This is not dangerous, as long as I don't have any part of my body above the muzzle. The shooter in the picture is totally safe, in my opinion, as long as the gun is unloaded with the bolt back. Why do you need to see at a distance that the gun is safe? It is VERY hard to see properly but the bolt looks closed to me as it is so shiny ..... A void would be darker..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 (edited) Hi Very good idea this post Good to see how aware shooters are and safe or not it shows the safety awareness of members I wonder what our views would have been if it had been a young teenager in the picture Or a muzzle loader Anyway have enjoyed the post and learned a lot from it All the best Of Edited March 23, 2014 by Old farrier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Why do you need to see at a distance that the gun is safe? Why shoud I have to second guess every semi-auto shooter on a clay ground, or scrutinise every breech. If I see a big red flag - it is an instant visual signal that a semi auto breech is empty. Same with a broken sbs or OU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Why shoud I have to second guess every semi-auto shooter on a clay ground, or scrutinise every breech. If I see a big red flag - it is an instant visual signal that a semi auto breech is empty. Same with a broken sbs or OU. Are you the gun safety police? Is the flag the first thing you look for if you see a semi auto on a clay ground? If you can't see a flag because it may be obscured, do you go up the user to get a closer look? I don't see a need for a flag. Surely all that does is draw the attention to the flag so you can see that it is there. That doesn't mean that anyone else using a semi or otherwise is acting unsafely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 By that logic, then screwing in a choke is dangerous. I believe to change a choke, your hand usually covers the muzzle. I know what you're saying but when changing chokes you do make a point of ensuring the gun is empty, here he is just standing there, what I'm saying is that it is poor practice to be covering the end of the barrel with your hand not that it is necessarily dangerous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangford wildfowler Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Unsafe for me should be bolt locked backed and pointing at the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 (edited) Unsafe for me should be bolt locked backed and pointing at the ground. Why is it better if it's pointing at the ground? Edited March 23, 2014 by motty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.