I have been reading to ride,shoot straight, and speak the truth and have read the shotgun section very closely. I seem puzzled and believe I am not looking at the forest for one tree. He says the best way to store the weapon, a pump shotgun is hammer down, empty chamber, one round of #6 in mag tube to prevent setting of spring( I assume this means weakening) and an assortment of buck and slug in a butt cuff. So what is he saying? Keep your defensive weapon with only one round ready? I understand his alertness color system but we also live in the same world where wild bill was shot in the back so surprises just seem to happen whether we like them or not.