Shotgun ammo question

[Concrete Helmet]

I bought a Remington 870 Express Tactical shotgun a while back to use for home protection. I keep it between my bed and night table concealed by the decorative fabric that hangs down from our bedpost so it's out of sight. Every night I load it with 5 rounds of double 00 buckshot in the tube, then I rack one of the 5 rounds into the chamber with the safety on.

When I leave the house the next day I unload the gun by ejecting the chambered shell first by cycling the action(pump) and then push up on the shell feed to activate the spring latch to drop the other 4 shells out the bottom. Since the shells came in boxes of 5 I know when the box is full and I see the orange spring return plus slide the action once or twice more for good measure the gun is unloaded..

My question is if this is in any way bad for the shells. Most indoor ranges don't allow you to shoot buckshot around here and the only other place I can shoot it is a friends property that I only visit once or twice a year. Is this OK or will it cause problems with the ammo or gun in any way?

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I bought a Remington 870 Express Tactical shotgun a while back to use for home protection. I keep it between my bed and night table concealed by the decorative fabric that hangs down from our bedpost so it's out of sight. Every night I load it with 5 rounds of double 00 buckshot in the tube, then I rack one of the 5 rounds into the chamber with the safety on.

The shells will have no trouble. I've seen shells that have been loaded and unloaded for years do ok so long as the temp doesn't get too stupid (in the trunk) and perhaps the plastic starts deteriorating.

That being said, just get a gun safe.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

The shells will have no trouble. I don't think you can ruin the plastic shells that way. I've seen shells that have been loaded and unloaded for years do ok so long as the temp doesn't get too stupid (in the trunk) and perhaps the plastic starts altering.

That being said, your hide it in the fabric scheme is terrible on many counts.

One--it isn't safe for drops or falls. You can't leave a shotgun loaded like that. If it takes enough of a jar, even a ground level fall, it may go off. Long arms aren't like pistols, designed to be carried and possessing inertial firing pins, firing pin blocks or whatever to make them drop safe.

Two--inevitably.... INEVITABLY... you will forget. You will get up late for work or whatever and forget. Maybe often. Kids in the house? Ever? Neighbors or grandchildren visit.

Three--you're asleep. Who has control over that shotgun while you are asleep? Again, kids?

It's a terrible idea.

Just get a gun safe, put it in the closet. Or even under the bed. Some have finger scanner, or you could make a fairly simple combination on one of those phone pad type things. It will take a few seconds for you to collect your thoughts if you wake to a bump in the night anyway. Keep one of those little button lights nearby (maybe red filter?) to give you light if needed.

If you are somehow in a very high risk situation, one of the smaller gun safes on the table within arms reach if you don't feel comfortable with making your way to whatever closet has your gun.

Thanks for the info but I think you may have misunderstood about the fabric and a few other things I may have not mentioned. It's a poster bed with thin silky fabric that drapes to the floor, the shotgun is leaning against the wall I simply pull the fabric over a couple inches to conceal the weapon in the case that I slept through a break in(highly unlikely because of alarm) so that an intruder wouldn't know my weapon is there and possibly get to it before me.

Also I almost can't forget to unload the shotgun before I leave because I put the box it came in on my dresser where I keep my wallet, keys and phone....kinda hard to leave without those items. The shotgun once unloaded goes back into the box and is stashed away.....the shells are stashed in a different area to lessen the chance an intruder would find both the gun and ammo in the event of a break in when I'm not home.

Yes, children are always a concern. My son leaves with me in the morning and by that time the gun is already unloaded and stashed. He also comes home with me in the afternoon and the gun is reloaded when he goes to bed around 8.30-9.00PM. On weekends I use the same procedure and I am normally the first one awake so again the gun is unloaded and stashed before anyone is awake.

Here's the problem with me......I don't sleep very long at night, typically from about 10.30 to about 4.30-5.00AM.....BUT I sleep like a log!! I don't trust myself to wake at the slightest sound and be able to find a key, load the gun and be ready to deal with a threat.That is my reasoning for being loaded with safety on of course, and having the gun less than 2 feet from my hands. If anyone has a better suggestion I'm all ears.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

There are many safes with fingerscanning capabilities. Get one. Or even the phone pad type.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

Appreciate the advise and yes, loading and unloading are conducted only after a safety check by pushing it off(hot) to see the red and then to the on position. I cycle the gun once to eject the chambered round ONLY.....I do not chamber every round by pumping the gun. I use the spring latch to release the other 4 rounds.....safer IMO.

I'm 53 and wear glasses at night, on the night table next to my light which takes another couple of seconds to find along with being woken and gaining your senses, then finding a key to a safe then readying oneself to access a possible threat.......No way in my book especially if you have multiple intruders......Have someone wake you up and try going through that drill and see if you're happy with the results.....I wasn't considering my families life could be on the line.....

 

[Concrete Helmet]

your loaded shotgun sitting in the corner is also a huge threat to them.

For the love of God, how many times do I have to say that I don't leave the god damned thing laying around loaded.....I load it after everyone goes to bed.....I then unload it in the morning when I wake up which is before the other 4 adults and my 10 year old son who live in the house wake up......
I do agree that a safe may be a better storage plan for times when I am not home or have the grand kids over though. But then I would have to rely on having another handgun in the house to be accessible in the event something went down during the times when the pump gun was locked away....So by that logic I would rather the kids find my unloaded shotgun which scares the sh!t out of my 10 year old son btw, then find a "smaller toy" of a handgun which is probably 100X more proven in accidental household shootings....There are already 2 handguns in the house which are locked away in other parts of the house because as I just explained they represent a much higher risk of accidental shooting.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

Does it cause you concern at all that you cant find any other firearms instructors that recommend loading it and sticking it in the corner?

Actually it was because of someone who brought to my attention that newer 870's actually have a pretty high misfeed rate....they are not the same as the Police issue guns. There is also the higher likelihood that an untrained person under severe duress when confronted by a threat could very well short shuck the gun causing a jam or have to pump the gun again.....and last but not least most intruders these days are going to be armed, not that I give a damned if you're in my house uninvited either way, so by racking the slide you give away your location-tactical advantage of knowing your surroundings better than they do....

BUT,......since you're point makes some sense I will be forced to buy a pistol safe and of course a new handgun to go in it..... when I go to get the long gun safe.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Actually it was because of someone who brought to my attention that newer 870's actually have a pretty high misfeed rate...

Rack it like you are trying to break it.

 

[Detroitgator]

They all have a pretty high rate. On police ranges where you commonly see pistols, smgs, rifles and shotguns, the shotgun is by far the most common to jam. Almost always operator error. Rack it like you are trying to break it.

Ironic that semi-auto’s get the rap for this

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Ironic that semi-auto’s get the rap for this

Well, they are a problem too if you are switching loads, gas op more than recoil operated ones.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

I'm not sure why anyone in a home defense situation(5-40 feet) would switch up or mag different rounds unless they planned on chasing them down the street, although in LEO situations you may want more range with a slug or buck&ball...I'm actually thinking of going to #4 buckshot because of the over penetration factor of 00 in close quarters.....then again my MIL's room is directly across the living room from mine soooo...I kid....

 

[Swamp Donkey]

#4 buck is fine... or even the large birdshot (say #2, #1, BB etc).

 

[Concrete Helmet]

#4 buck is fine... or even the large birdshot (say #2, #1, BB etc).

Yeah, I have not shot a lot recently and other than popping off a handful of shells here and there over the years not really that experienced with shotguns or handguns for that matter...From what I've seen of testing that larger birdshot stays tighter than I would have thought at even 30 or 40 feet and although it certainly wouldn't have as much penetrating power as buckshot it may keep a novices follow up shots from going higher due to the recoil of the buckshot rounds forcing the muzzle up.....Damn, I need to go shoot this thing.

 

[URGatorBait]

I can't see the blast forcing it up with it being a problem , pump it should put it back on target . You sound dangerous . ;)

 

[Concrete Helmet]

I can't see the blast forcing it up being a problem , pumping it should put it back on target . You sound dangerous . ;)

Slug and Buck rounds recoil harder in guns that aren't gas operated-semi auto-. Recoil pushes the muzzle up on just about any gun but yes it can be adjusted for by pulling the stock into your pectoral while pushing forward on the fore grip (pump).....Boat traffic was light today so I grabbed the gun and a few ice cold beers and practiced a few rounds out into the lake....you don't think those pellets could carry all the across, do you?

 

[ChiefGator]

Practicing perfection makes perfect, or at least improves things. My friends who have guns always indicate that using your weapon before you have to use it is essential. Just input for what little it is really worth, guns and me really don't go too well.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

I

Practicing perfection makes perfect, or at least improves things. My friends who have guns always indicate that using your weapon before you have to use it is essential. Just input for what little it is really worth, guns and me really don't go too well.

I've owned several guns over the years but I'm not really what you'd consider a "gun nut". I do know enough about them to realize I am much better off with something that will hurl multiple projectiles than trying to hit what most likely will be a moving target in a high stress situation....I do get a kick out of some of the so called "range warriors" who shoot a nice head or chest area pattern from 10 or 15 yards away with their 9mm and pat themselves on the back.....guarantee 9 times out of 10 you won't be shooting a stationary target when the sh!t hits the fan.....Yes you still have to aim a shotgun in close quarters but it's still a huge advantage IMO....

 

[Concrete Helmet]

At optimum muzzle elevation the maximum range of 00 is around 800- 900 yards. Slugs, around 1200...

(https://www.frfrogspad.com/extbal2.htm#Shotgun)

You do realize I'm joking.....right?

 

[Detroitgator]

I

I've owned several guns over the years but I'm not really what you'd consider a "gun nut". I do know enough about them to realize I am much better off with something that will hurl multiple projectiles than trying to hit what most likely will be a moving target in a high stress situation....I do get a kick out of some of the so called "range warriors" who shoot a nice head or chest area pattern from 10 or 15 yards away with their 9mm and pat themselves on the back.....guarantee 9 times out of 10 you won't be shooting a stationary target when the sh!t hits the fan.....Yes you still have to aim a shotgun in close quarters but it's still a huge advantage IMO....

While the axiom with 00 shot “every pull of the trigger sends nine, 9mm rounds down range” is technically correct, and even with his 18.5” barrel (which allows the shot to spread faster than a longer barrel), like Law said, he needs to go practice AFTER patterning the spread of his shotgun. At home defense range (which is well under 5 yards 99% of the time) there is practically no spread relatively speaking. Yes, if you hit what you’re shooting at, it will be far more devastating than 1-3 9mm rounds, but you still need to hit. Also, it’s not as easy to corner in your house with a shotgun pulled into your chest (even an 18.5” one) than 99.99% of people think, and good luck with it if not shouldered.

Drills are your friend.

 

[jeeping8r]

I prefer my .40 shield. Have 3 shotguns and a black rifle in safe but shield is right there, Matter of fact it's on my side right now. Shotgun is easier to snatch away from you (If they get that close shame on you) and can limit mobility in close quarters, Without lots of situational practice a pump gun may be useless after the 1st shot as you may forget to rack it again.
As with any gun practice practice practice
There are headboards out that have a hidden compartment that you can hide a long gun in, Reach up and it's in your hand.... Check out gunbed.net