Cruiser Ready Status - How to Properly Store A Shotgun for Home Defense

In this video we talk about how to properly store shotguns for a defensive role.
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[@mark__whitfield]

I keep mine cruiser ready but safe off. My research says that during high-stress, high-adrenaline situations you lose fine-motor control and something as simple as flipping a safety can become problematic. Just my two cents.

[@phillpauley6672]

I love my Maverick 88! Cheapest most upgradeable, most useful, multipurpose fire arm I have. You can take down just about anything with the right choice of barrel and ammo.

[@ra8640]

This was an Awesome video! We learn from Each Other. Nobody is born with knowledge. Better a Warrior in a garden, than a Gardener in a War. Be ready My friends.

[@mustangpilot6786]

Hey, just wanted to say thank you for this video. Just bought my 870 and i thought it was very informative and to the point. I used inert training rounds from Amazon to practice.

[@texasbassfreak3549]

Great video!!! Straight to the point with valuable information!!! Cruiser Ready Status is TRULY the way to go with a Defensive shotgun!!!

[@GeneralJameson]

You don't load to full capacity not because of spring tension but because plastic shells can deform over time and unless you plan to regulary check/change ammo you may be better off in long term storage doing -1 of full capacity. That is what I had heard at least, but always to each is own and not every shell is made the same.

[@jastew1971]

Agree with the cruiser-ready status as far as shotguns not being drop safe. Someone in another video said if you have time to grab the gun you have time to rack it. Then it's ready. Just put a Maverick 88 on layaway. Will be my 1st shotgun. Thanks for the video!

[@JaredJacobsonLaw]

GOOD FOR U man correcting misstatements previously made AND teaching correct way 👍👍👍 thx

[@siciliancapeverde4646]

Awesome video brother. Great information given here.

[@daveblevins3322]

I have a Maverick 88 12 gauge. Nice machine 👍🇺🇸

[@charles2675]

Safety always

[@badmonks]

Properly storing my home defense Maverick 88 is a loaded tube minus one with one chambered and safety engaged. If I'm reaching for my gun, I already know there are many unknowns for me and them. No need to announce my position and available fire power. If you wait to pump the action until you think you must then it may be too late. Nah, I'll do it my way. Thanks.

[@kurtgally526]

Thanks for the video. I went to the store yesterday to get Maverick 88 but they said they couldn't get their hands on any. Only had the 500 available, so I had to get it.

[@Dino2GunZ]

I know a lot of guys don't agree with this but I never keep One in the Chamber of any of my firearms I keep all of my mags loaded I keep my tubes loaded but I never ever put one in the chamber until I'm ready to fire the weapon I know there's a lot of guys that like to keep One in the Chamber personally I think that is stupid I know when to put one in the chamber and until then I keep my Chambers clear

[@MarksmanshipPastandPresent]

I am not the type of person that is going to belittle another for how they carry their gun. Everyone has different experiences that lead to different conclusions. If that’s what works for you then keep doing it. My biggest recommendation is to train that way and make sure that the training is consistent. All I can do is share why I do what I do based on my own experiences. I myself keep my carry pistol chambered for one major reason. The biggest reason is time. The majority of the time, criminals will have the jump on their victims. Now whether you are the target or in the same room as the target will set the pace of when you can get your gun in the fight. If they are focused on someone else (ie a clerk at a register) then you probably have the time to draw and chamber a round. And there are videos to prove that people have won gun fights with chambering a round. But on the flip side… say you are the intended target (ie car jacking, ATM robbery), if you have the chance to draw, your window of opportunity is generally already short. That extra half a second to second and half can mean you getting rounds on target and stopping that threat from harming you. For me…I’m not willing to gamble that small amount of time if can mean me going home to my wife and daughter. I make sure that the pistol I use is safe, serviced properly, and is carried in a good quality holster. But that’s me and why I made the decision to train with a round in the chamber. I appreciate the comment!

[@tkarlmann]

Really good video. Coupla points. I will now fire ALL my shotguns -- to keep the firing pin uncocked -- excellent point. For you: you have ONE shotgun in ONE location in your home? Are you dragging it with you to whichever room you are currently in, or do you need more shotguns?

[@Mythic2827]

Brilliant vid man! :DDDDDD

[@charles2675]

The 88. Is a dam good gun 🎉❤

[@dediden]

House rules from birth to death....”treat all guns as Loaded” at all times.

[@joesmith2959]

Are there any states where you can legally carry a loaded shotgun in a vehicle? Here in NY state we can’t have loaded long guns in our vehicles.

[@MarksmanshipPastandPresent]

I’m in Texas and I’m tracking that you can, I will have to do a little more research. I know Kansas was as well, I’m not sure if they still are.

[@maptinkler]

Thanks for the video and clarifying your previous video on now "NOT" keeping a shell in the chamber. I have small grandkids and you never know when curiosity overcomes them. Like you said load up the gun... just not in the chamber!

[@AtomicGarden68]

How about a bullpup shotgun for keeping ready for home defense?

[@MarksmanshipPastandPresent]

I think that they are a good choice. Compact and good ammo capacity is a win.

[@AtomicGarden68]

@@MarksmanshipPastandPresent I mean how would you keep it stored at home.

[@MarksmanshipPastandPresent]

Oh I gotcha! It ultimately depends on if the shotgun has a drop safety mechanism. Most traditional shotguns don’t, which is why many people keep them in a “cruiser ready” status. If the gun has the drop safety, you could in theory keep it loaded and on safe. If your not sure if it has the drop safety or the gun doesn’t have that feature, I would keep it in a cruiser ready status. But that is me… hope that helps!!!

[@davidshaffer4664]

I have 3 n the tube and none n the chamber

[@muskwa7686]

Hey how do your store away a dido?

[@smokesgtp]

Good vid. Constructive criticism? A full demonstration with some snap caps would have been helpful. Going through the whole process physically

[@MarksmanshipPastandPresent]

smokesgtp ... that is a good point! I will have to do a part two!

[@brandonpharis1480]

Is that a moss berg 88 and if so where did you get the mag extension ? Thanks

[@MarksmanshipPastandPresent]

It is the Maverick 88 by mossberg. I bought it with the tube and barrel. Brownells has the barrel and magtube at one point, but I have no idea if they still carry them. It’s been over a year since I checked. Thanks for the comment.

[@tkarlmann]

@@MarksmanshipPastandPresent It looks like you have the 20" bbl with 8-shot capacity, right? That's standard model for the Maverick line, presently.

[@peterb9568]

tkarlmann my maverick 88 is 5+1..6 shot capacity

[@southernviking8644]

My shotguns are ready....buckshot, uh huh.

[@AvoidingHumanSociety]

I keep it loaded, no round in the chamber but slide locked… feels safest and only takes a millisecond to hit that button when you chamber a round.

[@randomgamer-st1ie]

"That is how to properly keep a home defense shotgun". That is your opinion. Mine is loaded and chambered. Hard to randomly fire on it's own while stored in a dresser drawer or above a headboard. The right way to store a home defense shotgun is the way that works for you. And for me, I don't want to give away my position with the loud racking of a shotgun pump.

[@guitaristguy20]

That loud racking will likely be a way to send that burglar running also. No guarantee tho. I hear that sound and I'm not gonna go looking for it.

[@randomgamer-st1ie]

@@guitaristguy20 That's the same advice Joe Biden gave us.😁

[@guitaristguy20]

@@randomgamer-st1ie Wrong. That is not what I said. Keep politics out of this.

[@benitosalazar3749]

Handled shotguns for 20 years in "patrol ready." If you have ever really pointed one at someone after racking a round into the chamber you know there is often an immediate "oh $hit" reaction in whomever is down range. ARs and handguns, not so much. Yes, you might give away your position in the bedroom, but the chance of having an intruder flee your home instead of having to stand over his bleeding out body might be worth it. Blood stains carpets pretty badly. Just saying...

[@randomgamer-st1ie]

@@benitosalazar3749 ya, since my original post last year, I have since changed to keeping it unchambered. Also helps not ever having to worry about the safety, just rack it and go.

[@CALVINLNIKONT]

How do you store a semi-auto shotgun for home defense?

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

Back when my only shotgun was my 1100 years ago, when it wasn’t being used it wore a cylinder-bore defense/deer-style barrel for home defense. I kept it in the same condition as I now keep my house-only 500/590s- fully loaded magazine (fully loaded minus one if you believe the spring may weaken or the shells deform when left full, of which I’ve seen zero evidence, ever), chamber empty, safety off, action unlocked. Just as described in the video.

[@jaymasterscrapper301]

All I have is my Dads double barrel any advice?

[@MarksmanshipPastandPresent]

Fat Chance it’s better than throwing rocks. I would still recommend something that held more ammo.

[@chaburchak]

@@MarksmanshipPastandPresent Seriously? You describe a double barrel shotgun as "better than throwing rocks"?!? Okaaaay...

[@charles2675]

12 gauge nothing in chamber

[@sergiotenorio4990]

Why would you keep your safety ON with an empty chamber??