Do you REALLY clear the chamber @ every fence crossing / gate opening??

[Readyrod]

How would you cross a fence with a lever action. Can you empty the chamber without emptying the whole magazine?

 

[ArmedBear]

Yes. Push in on the loading gate to hold the rounds in the magazine.

That said, it takes a bit of finesse, it's a two-handed job and a bit of a PITA.

Same thing works for an 1100. Also a two-handed PITA.

 

[Mossberg535]

Would not take many dove that way; fly overs take maybe 1/2 second at times?

Are you on the move dove hunting ?
I might have to change something if thats the case...and if I wanted to hunt dove (never have tried it or found any interest, but one never knows) but honestly, it doesnt take but half a second to chamber a shell with the pump anyway.
probably wouldnt hunt dove with anyone else, Id think, because I wouldnt want to get other hunters bent out of shape.
I'll probably just stick to squirrel and maybe grouse, which in both cases I actually see more of them to shoot at when Im on the move and making some noise. Still have groused hunted yet, but I certain have come across a lot of them in the brush walking thru the thick stuff when squirrel hunting. There was one that waited till I was practically standing on it before it flew off...about scared the crap out of me

 

[ArmedBear]

probably wouldnt hunt dove with anyone else

Good luck with that.

one that waited till I was practically standing on it before it flew off...about scared the crap out of me

That's about typical. Chances of hitting it before it gets behind another tree, if you start without a round in your chamber?

Somewhere between zero and less-than-zero.

 

[Mossberg535]

For the intensively paranoid, there's always the single shot H&R, in both rifle and shotgun. Has a transfer bar like a ruger revolver and breaks open with an ejector.

When I bought the first 12 gauge a few years back I got an old used single shot at first. Very happy with it, for sure, but we were having some bear sightings up in NY state at one of the places I hunt. Im certainly not interested in running into a ticked off black bear and having only one shot, so I bought the pumps and kept a couple 000 bucks the tube 'just in case'.
We never ended up running into one, but there were signs posted during the season to be careful because someone had seen a big one and it didnt seem to run off like everyone tells me they will.
Here in OH I might be more inclined to buy another single shot. My old SS 410 was my favorite shotgun when I was younger. Didnt take as much with it as I did my bolt action 20 and 16s, but it was a lot of fun.

 

[Mossberg535]

That's about typical. Chances of hitting it before it gets behind another tree, if you start without a round in your chamber?

Somewhere between zero and less-than-zero.

Considering where it was and where it flew to I could have gotten two shots off before it was out of range with that particular one. He flew out over a patch of undergrowth that didnt have a tree in it for at least 200 feet...wide open. I dont know enough about grouse to know if that was normal or not, however. there were trees to both sides so one would think hed have headed immediately back for cover.
Im not sure how slow some here think a pump is, but I assure you I can get two shots off pretty fast
I spent a lot of time practicing doing just that.

 

[ArmedBear]

I dont know enough about grouse to know if that was normal or not

It's normal for them to do that if you're not hunting them.

When you're hunting grouse, they fly behind the nearest tree.

Im not sure how slow some here think a pump is

Slower than a loaded O/U with a tang safety and an equal amount of practice, when shooting with no warning at a wild flush.

 

[MCgunner]

I'll probably just stick to squirrel and maybe grouse, which in both cases I actually see more of them to shoot at when Im on the move and making some noise.

Squirrel hunting, and I've been doing it for close to 50 years, started when I was about 9, I sit still. I walk out into the woods, sit by and lean against a nice, comfy tree with no ants around it, and wait for light. Sun comes up, the squirrel get active. If they're not active right where I'm at, I can hear 'em moving on trees nearby and I can move to 'em....slowly. If you're out there stomping around, you'll pass by a hundred of 'em and never know they're there. They'll instinctively put the tree between them and you, a natural defensive instinct. It's how they avoid avian predators, too. Oh, you'll stumble into one now and then, but sitting and listening and stealth works a lot better.

When the squirrel aren't active or hole up after sun up, I'll still hunt, which means I'll move very slowly through the woods stopping often and watching and listening. The idea that you'll see more squirrel if you're making noise is pretty comical. Noise, just as with deer, is to be avoided.

Now, I can see why you prefer shotguns, though. Stomping through the woods making noise, when you do see a squirrel, it'll likely be moving.

 

[MCgunner]

Oh, dove hunting, you are sitting. You COULD load the gun, one in the chamber, then move the slide back enough to move it out of battery. It's not going off that way. Then, all you'd have to do is close the slide to shoot. I'll keep using my safety, though.

 

[Mossberg535]

When you're hunting grouse, they fly behind the nearest tree.

Of course.
Sort of like when Im not hunting squirrel I cant throw a rock without hitting 3 of the little rats. Bring a shotgun along and suddenly its a ghost town

 

[Mossberg535]

Oh, dove hunting, you are sitting. You COULD load the gun, one in the chamber, then move the slide back enough to move it out of battery. It's not going off that way.

Sounds good.
As long as Im not on the move I dont mind keeping a shell chambered.
Thing is Im not a beer hunter/fisher. I dont like sitting too much which is one more reason I like to use a shotgun over a 22 for squirrel. The rats hear me coming and run for cover and thats when they give their position away and with the 12 gauge I can get them without having to try to sit and pick them off sniper style.

When I hunted with a rimfire it was always having to sit still, be real quite and hope they didnt move too fast. If their hopping from one tree to the next and running down branches its not too easy to snipe one off with a 22 LR shot
With the 12ga I can keep on the move and blast them out of the trees while theyre on the run.
Not so much range, however, so its a tradeoff.

 

[Mossberg535]

If you're out there stomping around, you'll pass by a hundred of 'em and never know they're there.

Well, thats unless you cheat and bring a squirrel call along.
I got one that was hiding two seasons ago.
I was on the move, as usual, and hit the call for about 30 seconds and stop. within 5 seconds he started barking back at me so I see him sitting there looking right at me. Pretty easy shot. Felt sort of bad because the call apparently got him to stop and look around instead of running up the tree like he looked like he was about to.

another trick Ive learned, which I guess isnt fair either, is to step...wait....step, step....wait....step....wait.....trying to mimic their own jumping thru the leaves. Seems to throw them off most of the time, especially if the wind isnt blowing, which if it is I generally just dont even bother going out since they seem to be spooked by it most of the time.

 

[Mossberg535]

Oh, dove hunting, you are sitting. You COULD load the gun, one in the chamber, then move the slide back enough to move it out of battery. It's not going off that way. Then, all you'd have to do is close the slide to shoot.

Ive actually tried that a few times and it seems to be fine. Maybe try it more often and see what happens.

I'll keep using my safety, though.

I'll take mine off the gun entirely before using it and trusting it.
We had a guy we knew 20 years or so ago who was showing a 12ga to a friend who didnt know it was loaded (neither of them did, idiots). So one of them sat the gun down, of course it falls over and went off and shot the guy right in the face. Bird shot, thank God. Did a lot of damage and he had to have reconstructive surgery...well, a few of them...but he lived, at least.
I just dont trust safeties at all. Its why I'll only carry (for concealed) a revolver with and that only with a transfer bar (unlike my old S&W 357). Im even half tempted to keep the hammer on an empty chamber even tho I know it doesnt make any difference with my Ruger since it cant go off even if I drop it since theres no contact with the firing pin possible unless the transfer bar is in place.
Call it paranoid, but if I ever have an accidental discharge it'll be an act of God, not anything I did or didnt do

 

[Mossberg535]

The idea that you'll see more squirrel if you're making noise is pretty comical.

eh, I dont know. I have an uncle who hunts like youre talking about and I know we both go out and on a given day we can both bring in the same 2-3 squirrel. Im generally happy with one or two and I typically take those within the first 30 minutes on many days. Maybe because Im covering more ground ?
Just different preferences, I guess.

 

[MCgunner]

I have a loaded coach gun, hammerless, safety on, in the bedroom. I'm bright enough to have it in a position where it can't fall toward the room, for one. It's on the floor, under the bed, within reach if I need it. Your friend did SO many things wrong, well, I won't start.

Do you carry? I carry concealed daily and, yep, one up the spout, ready to go. I ain't gonna expect the bad guy to give me enough time to load up. Is it dangerous? Like the ol' Texas Ranger told the lady when she asked about his cocked and locked 1911, "Yep, wouldn't do me much good if'n it wasn't." If you were standing here talking to me now, I have a loaded .380 in my pocket as we speak.

Don't know why, just felt like carrying the .380 today. Givin' the 9mm a break.

 

[AKElroy]

and if I wanted to hunt dove (never have tried it or found any interest, but one never knows) but honestly, it doesnt take but half a second to chamber a shell with the pump anyway.

Well, since a 40+ MPH dove fly-over at, say, 20 ft takes that or less, then you would get that round chambered just in time to not see it anymore, much less establish lead & display decent follow through for a shot. You mention not hunting dove yet--Reckon you might should give it a shot & then re-post. You have a fairly firm opinion for something you have yet to attempt.

If you want to test this theory, shoot 50 rounds of 5 stand with a chamber empty for each bird. I reckon that would score about ZERO, and that's knowing where the birds are going to come from, with open shooting lanes.

 

[AKElroy]

of course it falls over and went off and shot the guy right in the face.

Do you know what kind of shotgun this was? Virtualy ANY modern shotgun, rifle, hangun made in the last 50 years WILL NOT fire unless the safety is off & the trigger pulled. Simply dropping a gun won't do it.

I lost an uncle 30 years ago to a 12 gage w/ bird shot, but in that case he pulled the gun, loaded, towards himself by the barrel across the front seat of his truck; trigger snagged on something & fired, gut shot he died in minutes.

 

[MCgunner]

My uncle by marriage's brother died crossing a fence. He came to mind, but he was an alcoholic. He was squirrel hunting, oddly enough, at the time. They found enough alcohol in his blood I don't think they had to pickle him before burial. I didn't mention him because, well, it ain't the gun OR his lack of safety skills (he was a NRA certified gun safety instructor when he was sober) didn't have a lot to do with it. They found him face down, hole through his back and out his chest, and the shotgun's trigger hung on a barb in the wire where he drug it through.

My uncle was an alcoholic, too, and died of heart failure at 47 years of age, so neither one of 'em would have had a long life. Being shot while anesthetized likely beats the heck out of dying of cirrhosis of the liver. I've heard that's a painful, horrible death.

 

[Mossberg535]

You have a fairly firm opinion for something you have yet to attempt.

And uh....didnt I say I had no desire to hunt dove ?
The topic is irrelevant as far as Im concerned because I dont hunt dove and wont be anytime soon.
For what I DO hunt, squirrel, Ive yet to lose one because of not keeping a shell chambered

 

[Mossberg535]

Do you know what kind of shotgun this was? Virtualy ANY modern shotgun, rifle, hangun made in the last 50 years WILL NOT fire unless the safety is off & the trigger pulled. Simply dropping a gun won't do it.

No clue except that it was a shotgun.
Based on the guy and what I know about him Id guess either a 12 or 16 gauge.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

I definitely clear the chamber when doing any crossing, climbing, jumping, etc. I don't see why I would not do that.

You must climb some pretty sturdy fences to trust a gun not to fall.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Do you know what kind of shotgun this was? Virtualy ANY modern shotgun, rifle, hangun made in the last 50 years WILL NOT fire unless the safety is off & the trigger pulled.

And no gun ever built will fire if the shell is out of the chamber.

Regardless of words, I do NOT trust safeties. Taking the shell out of the chamber is pretty darn easy. Easier than cleaning up brain matter.

 

[AKElroy]

And uh....didnt I say I had no desire to hunt dove ?
The topic is irrelevant as far as Im concerned because I dont hunt dove and wont be anytime soon.

And yet, you clearly advocate something that just does not work based on your assumptions of something you have not attempted.

It's all good--no need to argue it further. You really should try dove hunting sometime; it is a serious rush when the birds start flying.

 

[CajunBass]

Odd, I helped my buddy run an electric fence, two strands, and couldn't keep in his goats.

Works fine on these goats. Three strands though. There is one little nanny who can slip through the wire, and follows me around in the woods like a dog sometimes. She doesn't seem to bother the squirrels and the 22 doesn't bother her.

My landlord tried the same kind of fence when got his first pig. My dad used to raise pigs, and he always had a pretty strong, sawmill slat, fence for them, but I didn't have much experience with pigs and electric fences. Maybe it works for them too, so I didn't say anything.

Well, he gets the fence up, and puts the pig inside. Pig weighs about 40 lbs or so at this point. The pig roots around a bit and finally hits that electric fence, lets out a squeal, and takes off...Right through the fence on the other side, leaving a vapor trail that looked like a space shuttle launch. Right on over the hill and out of sight.

His wife managed to catch the pig a couple days later, but that's another story.

Sorry to get off topic.

 

[caribou]

Fence's???

*** is a Fence???

My game Unit is larger than Indiana, and we havent found any good use a Fence can do. 1/2 a million caribou cant be wrong, or fenced....

...aint see no Fence, dont want no Fence, aint Got NO Fence's areound here.

Man, put up a fence...next thing you know, someone will start growing crops, "no tresspassing" signs, telling me I can't hunt there, or worse trying to charge me to hunt..... and well run out of habitate for our animals...


We dont need NO Stinking Fences!!!

Man, we'd even have to unload to cross them ??? Geeeezzzzzzzzzzzz........