Barrels Up Or Down?

[Gunner1985]

I was on a shoot on Saturday and noticed that every gun was carrying their gun barrel down!
This obviously wasn’t the first time I’ve seen this but have noticed more and more carrying guns barrel down.
I have always carried my shot guns and rifles barrel up reason being when I did a lot of mud pugging (wildfowling) it was easier to carry the gun barrel up because when you are in and out of reel ways and creeks through mud carrying it barrel up the gun is higher out of the mud.
I carry my rifles barrel up when I can because I’m paranoid about the muzzle getting blocked.

What do you guys do & why?

 

[tarponhead]

In a slip if on a shoot between drives, broken and barrels down at clays, rifles barrel down when stalking unless waiting, or out with my 22" plus mod rifle, then barrel up, barrel down in a highseat. I hate the thought of a negligent discharge upwards - I need to know its hit the ground safely!

 

[FISH BOY]

Do you mean shotguns barrels down in the slip on a game day moving from one drive to another? as the only time mine is out is when I am on peg.

Rifle always barrel up when stalking - spoke to an AW a couple of weeks ago who failed a DSC2 candidate for plugging his mod when looking at slots.

 

[Woodsmoke]

I carry my shotgun muzzle-up at all times when loaded, broken when empty. Rifle muzzle-up and without a round chambered when slung. And pointed in a safe area always when loaded

 

[McKenzie]

It does seem to be the convention & I agree that it feels counter-intuitive.

What really puzzles me is that whilst a rifle slip has the sling fitted to what would be the underside of the rifle making it a better fit to the body when carried covered, a shotgun sleeve usually has the sling fitted to what would be the top of the shotgun, making the sleeve inherently more uncomfortable to carry as the gun doesn't fit around your body.

 

[Gunner1985]

In a slip if on a shoot between drives, broken and barrels down at clays, rifles barrel down when stalking unless waiting, or out with my 22" plus mod rifle, then barrel up, barrel down in a highseat. I hate the thought of a negligent discharge upwards - I need to know its hit the ground safely!

Im talking about shot guns in a slip.
Rifles in or out of a slip I NEVER chamber a round until I’m in the seat or if I’m stalking on foot I have my quarry in sight.

 

[Woodsmoke]

Im talking about shot guns in a slip

In that case, muzzle-down as the risk of the gun falling out of the slip is too great otherwise, I feel

 

[FISH BOY]

In that case, muzzle-down as the risk of the gun falling out of the slip is too great otherwise, I feel

+ 1 and as mentioned before - seems to be the way leather slips are designed.

 

[Tim.243]

In that case, muzzle-down as the risk of the gun falling out of the slip is too great otherwise, I feel

+1 A zip or buckle not fixed correctly with muzzle up then the clatter of a butt on the yard concrete is not nice....

On the marsh mine is in the slip until I am tucked in as you often need both arms for the event of mud lol

Tim.243

 

[Heym SR20]

I carry my rifle muzzle down when loaded if its on the sling with the barrel pointing forward and down with one hand on the the forend controlling where it points. I prefer to have it in hand though, but you do need to use binoculars etc. My preference is to carry an unloaded rifle, but it some cases in woodland, this is not a practical.

If you have a mod that is in danger of getting plugged your barrel is too long, or sling needs moving out onto the barrel. If you are carrying a moded rifle with a long barrel and sling on foreend I do not to walk behind you as the rifle tends to roll back and whoever is behind will constantly look down your muzzle.

If your barrels are long then tape over the end of the barrel to keep out the *****, but equally having the muzzle under control stops the risk.

If guns are in a slip - muzzle down.

Shotgun - when loaded barrels up - I hate seeing people swing a loaded gun up through the line. Even worse is the practice from clay grounds where you load and then keep hold of the stock and bring barrels up to the stock with hand still near trigger. Its just a matter of time before a gun goes off as you close and the shot goes off straight toward the beaters.

When loading a shotgun bring stok to the barrels with barrels pointing towards the ground. Then bring barrels into the air before putting trigger hand any where near the triggers.

 

[David Field]

Even worse is the practice from clay grounds where you load and then keep hold of the stock and bring barrels up to the stock with hand still near trigger. Its just a matter of time before a gun goes off as you close and the shot goes off straight toward the beaters.

I was taught, at the clay ground, to load while keeping stock almost vertical so when closing gun the barrels are pointing up. So if the gun goes off it will be pointing up and away from anyone.

 

[Alantoo]

I carry my rifle muzzle down when loaded if its on the sling with the barrel pointing forward and down with one hand on the the forend controlling where it points. I prefer to have it in hand though, but you do need to use binoculars etc. My preference is to carry an unloaded rifle, but it some cases in woodland, this is not a practical.

If you have a mod that is in danger of getting plugged your barrel is too long, or sling needs moving out onto the barrel. If you are carrying a moded rifle with a long barrel and sling on foreend I do not to walk behind you as the rifle tends to roll back and whoever is behind will constantly look down your muzzle.

If your barrels are long then tape over the end of the barrel to keep out the *****, but equally having the muzzle under control stops the risk.

If guns are in a slip - muzzle down.

Shotgun - when loaded barrels up - I hate seeing people swing a loaded gun up through the line. Even worse is the practice from clay grounds where you load and then keep hold of the stock and bring barrels up to the stock with hand still near trigger. Its just a matter of time before a gun goes off as you close and the shot goes off straight toward the beaters.

When loading a shotgun bring stok to the barrels with barrels pointing towards the ground. Then bring barrels into the air before putting trigger hand any where near the triggers.

Rifle barrel down with tape over muzzle and shotgun lift stock to downward pointing barrels and then barrels up ensuring they don't arc past anyone for me too. I am amazed at the number of guns on the shoots I beat that are holding their guns unbroken and horizontal...especially when I am tapping/flagging between them and the flushing point. I stop and gesture but some just don't seem to want to take the hint from a mere beater.

I was taught, at the clay ground, to load while keeping stock almost vertical so when closing gun the barrels are pointing up. So if the gun goes off it will be pointing up and away from anyone.

What stops the cartridges from falling out?

Alan

 

[David Field]

What stops the cartridges from falling out?

The barrels aren't vertical till closed and the cartridges stay put till then. Never had one fall out.

 

[David Field]

When loading a shotgun bring stok to the barrels with barrels pointing towards the ground. Then bring barrels into the air before putting trigger hand any where near the triggers.

Surely if you do it this way, are you not bringing a loaded gun up past the beaters?

I'm only a beginner so welcome any tips.

 

[willowbank]

I carry my rifle muzzle down when loaded if its on the sling with the barrel pointing forward and down with one hand on the the forend controlling where it points. I prefer to have it in hand though, but you do need to use binoculars etc. My preference is to carry an unloaded rifle, but it some cases in woodland, this is not a practical.

If you have a mod that is in danger of getting plugged your barrel is too long, or sling needs moving out onto the barrel. If you are carrying a moded rifle with a long barrel and sling on foreend I do not to walk behind you as the rifle tends to roll back and whoever is behind will constantly look down your muzzle.

If your barrels are long then tape over the end of the barrel to keep out the *****, but equally having the muzzle under control stops the risk.

If guns are in a slip - muzzle down.

Shotgun - when loaded barrels up - I hate seeing people swing a loaded gun up through the line. Even worse is the practice from clay grounds where you load and then keep hold of the stock and bring barrels up to the stock with hand still near trigger. Its just a matter of time before a gun goes off as you close and the shot goes off straight toward the beaters.

When loading a shotgun bring stok to the barrels with barrels pointing towards the ground. Then bring barrels into the air before putting trigger hand any where near the triggers.

Spot on...... wondered if anyone would mention this important safety point when loading a shotgun the barrels should remain pointing to the ground, cartridges inserted and the stock brought smartly up with the barrels unmoved. Hence the old boys saying “Stock to Lock” probably comes from the days when shotguns were used on massive days and actually wore to a point of being dangerous and if snapped shut hard actually discharged, you can imagine the consequences of snapping the barrels up and the gun firing.

Willowbank

 

[awmc]

Can’t speak for Shotgun carriage but with a rifle I’d suggest letting circumstances (terrain, cover, weather) dictate carrying muzzle up, down or rifle at the trail as suits. Bit like shagging really, there’s no one set way of doing it all the time. In close cover or even heavy rain you may prefer to carry the rifle slung, muzzle down but walking up steep hillside you may prefer to carry it slung, muzzle up. What doesn’t appear to have been said is you may find it easier to use a range of methods
Good luck

 

[David Field]

you can imagine the consequences of snapping the barrels up and the gun firing.
Willowbank

Is it not safer to discharge in the air when it would be pointed away from anyone or anything? Just trying to get my head around safety.

 

[McKenzie]

Is it not safer to discharge in the air when it would be pointed away from anyone or anything? Just trying to get my head around safety.

Probably with a shotgun (not rifle) but make sure wherever it's pointing when you close it is safe. The first shotgun I bought when I was about 15 had a firing pin sitting proud of the face, the consequence being that the first time I went out with it & a pheasant got up it discharged as I snapped it shut. Blew a hole in the ground about 9" from my foot. The moral being, always handle & point a loaded firearm as if it might spontaneously discharge & you will be fine.

 

[Woodsmoke]

make sure wherever it's pointing when you close it is safe

I had a very similar experience when I was not much older than you were then, but with a broken firing pin that had jammed proud of the striker face. When I closed the gun it fired. The muzzles were pointing to the ground, but it scared seven shades out of me at the time. I've been paranoid about muzzle awareness ever since

 

[JTO]

I was taught, at the clay ground, to load while keeping stock almost vertical so when closing gun the barrels are pointing up. So if the gun goes off it will be pointing up and away from anyone.

I see people, after clay ground tuition, doing the exact opposite, barrels pointing at the ground and the stock lifted until the action is closed.