Loaded or Unloaded In The Safe

[Beck]

Well, that's a good question. I keep all my guns in my main safe unloaded, but it's not because I'm against the idea of loaded guns in a safe. My loaded guns are not in a safe. On this topic my opinion truly is humble for a change. I certainly wouldn't yell at anyone for having loaded guns in the safe. Nor would I ask people why their guns in the safe aren't loaded.

I say do what seems right to you and what you're accustomed to. You wouldn't want to add the extra process of trying to remember if certain guns are loaded or not. I was a certified firearms and hunter safety instructor for many years. This topic never came up, so my answer here is purely flying by the seat of my pants. My gut says IMHO keep doing it the way you've been doing it.

 

[MEHavey]

some guns that stay loaded all the time

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ THIS ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Either that, or have social services on speed dial...
(when those seconds count)

 

[The Night Rider]

I'd have a slight issue with even a close friend saying something like that to me.

Just assume they said it because they care about you and they're concerned for your safety and take it as a compliment

 

[Ironicaintit]

In my safe they are loaded, but with an empty chamber.
Only because in the event of a fire, a chambered round is more dangerous than ones that are sitting there unsupported

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I have a separate safe in which I keep my CCW pistols loaded, each in its own tray.

I have a Sentry Home Defense Center in which I keep a loaded shotgun in for home defense.

All my other pistols, shotguns, and rifles are unloaded in other safes.

 

[herrwalther]

Everything in my safe is unloaded. Not for any uber safety reason. I just know that everything in there is unloaded because I put it there. If I am pulling something out of the safe, it is to work on it or clean it. Having it loaded would just add an extra step before getting to work.

 

[alfsauve]

I put a sign on the door of my safe,

All Guns Are Always Loaded.

Whomever takes a gun out of the safe is warned to treat it as loaded, always. Whether it is or isn’t, is irrelevant.

 

[Buzznrose]

your safe, your rules. Totally respect that!

My house, my wife is CEO, Queen, Keeper of the big stick, and all around boss. We keep all easily accessible handguns (in safe or hidden elsewhere ) stored in condition 3 (loaded mag, empty chamber). We both know this, so it works for us.

All fighting rifles are unloaded but have loaded mags readily available.

YMMV

 

[Hillbilly Hydrographics]

My HD guns being my edc 357 revolver and my ria vrpf14 12 gauge aren't in a safe and they stay loaded. Only gun I keep in the safe loaded is my ar15 and that would be my 3rd HD gun if I need it and want it to be ready for action.

 

[Charlie98]

I have a few in there that have loaded magazines in them, but they are not chambered. The safe would be a complete last line of defense (or other purpose...) about 5 down on the list, after the loaded AR, the loaded carry piece, the loaded backup carry piece, the loaded piece in the desk drawer, the loaded piece in the gun room upstairs. I can reach any of those quicker than I can spin the dial of the safe under duress. But. I like to prepare for most any eventuality... so there's a few in the safe, too.

 

[shafter]

I don't really care for loaded guns in the safe unless its a firearm specifically staged there for quick access. I take them out from time to time for cleaning etc and want to avoid loading and unloading as much as possible. I don't think it makes much sense to keep guns loaded that aren't in a defensive role.

 

[9x56MS]

My Dad taught me and I have taught my children to treat every gun as if it were loaded. You’re safe your rules. Any one who is freaking out about loaded guns in safe storage needs to go back to the basics of safe gun handling.

 

[DoubleMag]

Could be a problem if there is a fire. Might cook off a round. But at that point. I believe you will have more problems then a few dents in the safe.

I certainly hope ppl didn't just skim over this.

#1 problem at home isn't bad guys, it's FIRE.

When the firemen show up, I will say ''this and this (problem areas, gas cans , propane etc) gunsafe is in room X and chambers are empty''

Cooking off cartridge is just a popper sound.

A chamber cartridge will FIRE a.k.a. send the bullet flying, be kind to your firemen folks!! CHAMBERS EMPTY, at a minimum!!

 

[dh1633pm]

Every firearm I own is always loaded at all times. In the safe or out. Pistols, rifles, shotguns, cross bow, pellet guns, and rubber bands. At least I think they are. I always look, sometimes I forget to load them or chamber a round.

 

[Oldelkhunter]

My Guns are loaded sitting on the night stand, my wife and I are the only ones in the house other then our Dogs.

 

[FL-NC]

I see no up side in keeping a gun loaded that isn't accessible for immediate use. It is a safety risk with little or no tactical benefit. If you need to open a safe to get to the thing, why not keep a loaded mag in the safe to get that thing into action if it comes to that?

 

[Coyote3855]

No loaded guns in my safe. No kids in the house, no random people either. My EDC, nightstand gun, defensive shotgun all loaded. I endorse the comment about unnecessary loading/unloading. So those guns stay loaded.

 

[mgmorden]

In the safe you can store them however you want. What other way would you store a loaded weapon if you have kids in the house?

Personally in my big safe downstairs the vast majority of the guns are stored unloaded, but there's two handguns on the door that are loaded in case I need them (either to carry or in an emergency). I have a bedside safe with another loaded gun and a small wall safe in my home office that has another.

 

[bearcreek]

Recently a friend came over who's not been to my home since I got my new safe. He said let's see what you have in there.
He wanted to hold my H&K .45 tactical, that was in the door-side pocket. I removed it from the pocket it was in, dropped the magazine and removed
the round from the chamber. At that point he freaked out (just a lil) and said NEVER EVER keep a gun loaded in the safe with a round in the chamber.
I'm a RSO and you should not do that. My point is that MY guns are secured in a safe which only I and my wife have the combination and what benefit
is an unloaded gun. Now I understand it's in a locked safe and it would take time to open the safe, however, I always have my EDC loaded and available to me when I'm in the house.
I want to make sure that if I have to grab another gun on the fly, it's ready to go. What say you?

Sounds like someone you shouldn't be opening your safe for. Him being an RSO isn't relevant. Did you ask why he thought that it was?

That said, I don't see the point in keeping guns in a safe loaded. If you need one of them, you should be dropping the mag and checking the chamber anyway to confirm status. Might as well just have a full mag sitting next to it.

 

[kidneyboy]

Rule 1 - Never let anyone look in your safe(s). Ever. Don't even let them watch you open it.
Rule 2 - Your safe, your rules

 

[Cemo]

At least your friend does have good taste in firearms wanting to look at your HK, as do you.

 

[lightman]

The guns in my safe are not loaded, although they are treated like they are loaded until they are cleared. I have no problem with those who keep theirs loaded.

 

[.308 Norma]

Any one who is freaking out about loaded guns in safe storage needs to go back to the basics of safe gun handling.

Yep.

 

[dodo bird]

Carry guns stay loaded for me. Unloading a carry gun makes little sense to me.

4 Primary Rules of Firearm Safety

• Always Keep Firearm Pointed in a Safe direction. Never point your gun at anything you do not intend to shoot. ...
• Treat All Guns as Though They are Loaded. ...
• Keep Your Finger Off the Trigger until You are Ready to Shoot. ...
• Always Be Sure of Your Target and What's Beyond It.

 

[EIB0879]

Everything that isn't in the safe or a gun case is unloaded. Firearms in gun cases are going with me on a hunting trip tomorrow. I have several loaded firearms in different places round the house. No small kids anymore so I'm GTG.