Quantum Singularity
New member
Is it safe to holster a Ruger MK II .22 LR with a round in the chamber and safety on?
Safety Question
- Thread starter Quantum Singularity
- Start date
I've be having fun for about 15 years with a Ruger MK II Target. Almost shot myself in the leg once but that's cause I got real stupid. But I never had any problems with accidental discharges with a round chambered and the safe on. I now have a bushnell holosight on it. Makes it rather bulky but it makes it fun to shot at small or distant targets.
Quantum Singularity
New member
I asked because I was told that the only safe design that that allowed safety on and chamber loaded was the 1911, H&W, and certain Taurus models. Since the trigger is stopped by the Mk II safety, I would assume that it would be safe, though people tell me its not.
I traded my Browning Buck Mark because it had a really light trigger and I was afraid I might forget to engage the safety and have a negligent discharge holstering it with a round in the chamber. This may sound stupid, but we are all capable of making mistakes. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the Buck Mark. I just no longer felt comfortable with it, so I traded it off. I had bought it to use for practice for my carry guns, and I always ended up laying it on the bench instead of reholstering it, because I just wasn't comfortable holstering it cocked and locked. A better choice for me would have been a Beretta Cheetah in .22LR, because its operation is, I believe, closer to the centerfire DA autos. I just didn't have the change for a Cheetah, though.
I had a Ruger Mark II standard once, and as I recall it has a harder trigger than the Browning, so it might be more forgiving if you were to forget to engage the safety and then holster it.
Also, and this is very important, I cannot recall (middle age setting in) if the safety on the Mark II stops the firing pin from falling, or just the trigger from being pulled. If it only stops the trigger, then cocked and locked carry would be counterindicated, because the hammer could fall if the gun were dropped or struck sharply, even with the manual safety engaged. It is a moot point for me, because I never carried mine that way. Can you check your manual, or can someone help my recall on this tech question?
My opinion would be, if you are uncomfortable carrying the Mark II cocked and locked, then don't carry it that way. Clear the chamber and holster it on an empty chamber. It is mainly a recreational gun, right, so instant deployment would not be such an issue as it would be with a CCW gun.
I am not stupid or complacent around guns. I just think we all have our limitations, and we need to know those limitations. If you are uncomfortable with something, it needs to be addressed, either by eliminating, modifying, or practicing a technique (in a safe manner, with an unloaded weapon) until you can execute it with absolute safety, or by making an equipment change to something with which you are comfortable. JMHO/FWIW. That and .25 cents won't even get you a cup of javascript
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Always keep your finger out of the trigger guard until you are on target and ready to fire. Be safe. Enjoy the sport.
-10CFR
[This message has been edited by 10CFR (edited September 27, 2000).]
I had a Ruger Mark II standard once, and as I recall it has a harder trigger than the Browning, so it might be more forgiving if you were to forget to engage the safety and then holster it.
Also, and this is very important, I cannot recall (middle age setting in) if the safety on the Mark II stops the firing pin from falling, or just the trigger from being pulled. If it only stops the trigger, then cocked and locked carry would be counterindicated, because the hammer could fall if the gun were dropped or struck sharply, even with the manual safety engaged. It is a moot point for me, because I never carried mine that way. Can you check your manual, or can someone help my recall on this tech question?
My opinion would be, if you are uncomfortable carrying the Mark II cocked and locked, then don't carry it that way. Clear the chamber and holster it on an empty chamber. It is mainly a recreational gun, right, so instant deployment would not be such an issue as it would be with a CCW gun.
I am not stupid or complacent around guns. I just think we all have our limitations, and we need to know those limitations. If you are uncomfortable with something, it needs to be addressed, either by eliminating, modifying, or practicing a technique (in a safe manner, with an unloaded weapon) until you can execute it with absolute safety, or by making an equipment change to something with which you are comfortable. JMHO/FWIW. That and .25 cents won't even get you a cup of javascript
.Always keep your finger out of the trigger guard until you are on target and ready to fire. Be safe. Enjoy the sport.
-10CFR
[This message has been edited by 10CFR (edited September 27, 2000).]
For people in Law Enforcement who had been well trained and felt at ease with their handguns, safety feature isn't necessary. Their lives depend on every second they can afford and safety feature only take this precious second away. That's the reason why most Law Enforcement Officers or Agents preferred handguns such as Glock with only trigger guard as safety.
If you use your handgun for a family business such as a liquor store or stop & go grocery store, you don't want to have to many safety features on your gun. Your life too, might depend on how fast you can draw and shoot. Use safety when you're at home and when you handle gun around your loved ones.
Rules of thumb:
1) Practice, practice, practice.
2) Only put your finger on the trigger when you intended to shoot.
3) Always look for the bullet in the chamber when you clean, service or remove magazine from your gun.
4) Always point your gun, even empty, away from people & pets.
5) Keep it away from kids. No matter how good you hide it, they will find it.
To answer your question, ofcourse it is safe if you know and do all of the above.
[This message has been edited by jyn (edited September 28, 2000).]
If you use your handgun for a family business such as a liquor store or stop & go grocery store, you don't want to have to many safety features on your gun. Your life too, might depend on how fast you can draw and shoot. Use safety when you're at home and when you handle gun around your loved ones.
Rules of thumb:
1) Practice, practice, practice.
2) Only put your finger on the trigger when you intended to shoot.
3) Always look for the bullet in the chamber when you clean, service or remove magazine from your gun.
4) Always point your gun, even empty, away from people & pets.
5) Keep it away from kids. No matter how good you hide it, they will find it.
To answer your question, ofcourse it is safe if you know and do all of the above.
[This message has been edited by jyn (edited September 28, 2000).]