Safely carrying a shotgun with cartridges in chambers

[melanie]

Hi guys,

Total newbie here.

Carrying a rifle I see the common practices for safety when expecting to take a shot is to have one in the chamber but have the bolt open so it can't fire, and you're not relying on the safety to stop it shooting.

Is there such a thing with a normal under/over or side by side shotgun? Is there a way to have it loaded but be safer than relying on just the mechanical safety holding?

I hope that makes sense? Thanks.

[Odo]

Loaded but broken?

[melanie]

Yep I know you can have them broken open of course.

Maybe that's the only option, that's what I'm asking.

Is there a safe 'closed' option? I guess not?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, I have no experience with these at all.

[cavok]

If you have no experience with these types of rifle or shotgun, unloaded for rifle, magazine inserted. Once you see something to shoot at it is very quick to action the bolt. Comes with more experience. Shoguns carry empty, broken, as you gain experience and then some look at the question again. Safety is paramount, for you and those near in your group when you walk, if in doubt, load when a target appears. You will get there. Also wear bright clothing in the field, animals are colour blind, but other shooters can see you.

[Gregg]

Having a shotty broken is the equivalent of having the bolt open on a rifle.

[Old Fart]

With shotguns with external hammers you can typically 'half-cock' them.

While you could leave them uncocked the hammer would still be resting on a live cartridge.

Firearms which can be half-cocked (not exclusive to shotguns) have a notch cut in the hammer which lifts is off the cartridge and won't let it fire. Arguably better than having it cocked and on safe, but it's still reliant on a mechanism that could potential fail or be faulty.

I think I understand what you're looking for - a flick of a finger option to go from being unable to fire (as opposed to just having the safety on) to ready, rather than closing the action which is a larger movement, but there's not such a thing in "a normal under/over or side by side shotgun".

[melanie]

Ok.

Thanks everyone.