Loading/unloading during hunting

[gkieser92]

When hunting, I get into and out of the truck multiple times each day. This requires clearing the rifle. In the past I have used bolt actions, and since rounds are loaded by hand I didn't worry about bullet setback or dinging up the rounds. As I patiently wait for my AA Incursion upper to arrive, I'm thinking about this process with an AR-15. I've shot ARs for years, but just as range toy so it got fired as soon as it was loaded and I just slammed the bolt forward at full force. Do you guys worry about clambering rounds multiple times and how do you manage multiple loading and unloading?

[NugginFutz]

I use a "stealth load" technique when I hunt coyotes. This assumes your upper has a forward assist, rather than a slick side. When I am ready to chamber the round, I'll ease the bolt forward with the charging handle and seat the bolt into battery with the forward assist. When returning to the truck, I simply extract with the charging handle and recover the round.

This particular method inflicts very little wear and virtually no setback on chambered rounds. Some guys don't prefer this method, though, because it seats the first round differently than any subsequent round. It has been speculated that it may cause a shift in POI. I've been lucky in this regard and don't see this phenomenon.

[pkee]

When i am at the deer lease weather i am hunting or just working on feeders , I lock and load at the gate . The Grendel and Glock 23 stays that way untill i leave the lease . I live on the border with Mexico and have drug/human traffickers pop up out of no where . Its not all the time but it happens 5 to 10 year .
I also like to keep it loaded because the hogs pop out when you least expect it . Chambering a round would take to long and scar the animals away to boot .

[rabiddawg]

I lightly crimp all my reloads and have never noticed a problem with how I charge my guns. That said, maybe I need to do a comparison the next time I go to the range just to see if charging method makes a difference.

[LR1955]

When hunting, I get into and out of the truck multiple times each day. This requires clearing the rifle. In the past I have used bolt actions, and since rounds are loaded by hand I didn't worry about bullet setback or dinging up the rounds. As I patiently wait for my AA Incursion upper to arrive, I'm thinking about this process with an AR-15. I've shot ARs for years, but just as range toy so it got fired as soon as it was loaded and I just slammed the bolt forward at full force. Do you guys worry about clambering rounds multiple times and how do you manage multiple loading and unloading?

gk:

Load and unload as you would any other AR-15. Inspect the cartridge and if it appears fine to you, put it back in the magazine and load it again when you want. If it doesn't look fine to you, bring it to the range next time you are at the range and shoot it.

You can ride the bolt forward and use the forward assist to put the bolt into battery but just letting the bolt go and allowing it to do its job is fine too.

Bottom line. Inspect the cartridge when you eject it and if it looks serviceable keep using it.

LR55

[Klem]

Depends on your definition of safety and also what sort of window (time) you are likely to have. Also whether you can guarantee where the barrel points as you bash around in the vehicle (do you have a solid cradle or just hang on to it?)

Loading and unloading shouldn't push the bullet around otherwise you might need more neck tension.

[Lightning8]

This discussion reminds me of why I continue to use ARs with a forward assist. I have thought of going slick side but was concerned about not being able to chamber "quietly".