Transporting Ammo to the Range

[Dark Skies]

A rifle with a magazine on is considered to be loaded whether the magazine is empty or full.

How can this possibly be correct? For instance: how would firearms with integral magazines be operated under this assumption?

I was wondering the same thing - my Winchester, Marlin, and Mosins all have non-removeable magazines.

[Rockhopper]

There is usually no way to tell if a rifle with a magazine on has rounds in it or not, hence its always treated as if it's loaded even if the bolt is open. You need to do your weapon specific make safe drills and if necessary prove the weapon safe again before you hand it to someone else.

[Dark Skies]

There is usually no way to tell if a rifle with a magazine on has rounds in it or not, hence its always treated as if it's loaded even if the bolt is open. You need to do your weapon specific make safe drills and if necessary prove the weapon safe again before you hand it to someone else.

Yes, but the context is regarding travelling to and from the range as in transporting in a vehicle.

[Chuck]

Why would you want to load a magazine and then insert it into the firearm before transporting it?

Rounds in a magaine = rounds in a box. Well so the police said when they left a loaded magaizine lying about in Glasgow one time.

[bigfathairybiker]

As usual firearms users are our own worst enemy when it comes to making up rules.

A magazine is not a firearm.

Mark

[Blackstuff]

As above, where do people come up with this silliness?

Transporting ammunition in DETACHABLE, detached magazines = fine*
Transporting a rifle with an empty magazine inserted = fine**

*You may want to have the magazines in a separate bag to your rifle so that in the event of it being stolen there wouldn't be a 'ready to go' gun in the thiefs possession, however I am unaware of any legislation that requires this.

**Not sure why you'd want to, and while I know of no legislation that prevents this, depending on the clubs/shooting positions set up, other shooters/the RCO (if present) might get a bit twitchy if its a gun that you can't easily tell if its unloaded/nothing in the chamber.

[joe]

Under the firearms act, it doesn't matter if the weapon is loaded or not, as you need resonable excause or lawfull authority to carry it. It also appears under section 19, that the offence can only be committed if there is ammunition suitable for that firearm

[Blackstuff]

While that may be true I'd expect your 'reasonable excuse' would have to be pretty robust in practical terms as to why you were carrying/transporting a loaded firearm as opposed to just having the ammunition either in boxes or magazines with it.

FYI for the OP - As I didn't mention it before 9/10 the magazines for my guns are loaded, whether at home, being transported or at the range. It takes up less storage space and the type of shooting I do requires numerous 10-30 round magazines, the time I save loading magazines can be spend getting my head in the right place for the competition. It also gives me a chance to examine the magazines without pressure so I can make sure they are in good working order.

[hobbesy]

SimG is the guy to ask about law, but as far as I know you can load your clips or magizines and transport them to the range. You can even hold them in your ammo cabinet after a day on the range and haven't shot them all.

[JammyGuns]

It's a shame that there's no way of doing this safely with cylinders on muzzle loaders (uncapped/no ball). Powder and wad is the one thing I would like prepared at home so that I don't hold up other shooters too much down the club.