Chamber flags…am I overthinking this?

[A&S Conversions]

Not sure if it’s allowed where you’re at but Ive used brass spent casing as my chamber flag / block

I would like to ask how that would work? My understanding is that the point of a “flag” is that there is something between the bolt and the surfaces that the bolt would lock into such that it is easy to tell that there is not a live round in the chamber and there is something in the way of the bolt going fully into battery. Whether a spent shell casing or a dummy round is used, the bolt could still be put into battery. Yes a spent shell casing could be placed sideways in front of the bolt. But the shell or the charging handle could be bumped, allowing the tension of the bolt face to be lessened, allowing the empty shell to fall out. Bringing into question whether there is or is not a live round in the chamber with the bolt closed and locked. That is why most chamber safety flags have one leg in the chamber and another leg at 90 degrees that sticks out of the ejection port.

I personally have found that a brightly colored zip tie that goes through the ejection port and down through the magwell has worked well to show that there is no live round in the chamber and that the bolt is not in battery.

Scott

 

[Jtm35a2]

My hornady rapid racks are scheduled for delivery. I will post results

 

[Offmarksman]

I would like to ask how that would work? My understanding is that the point of a “flag” is that there is something between the bolt and the surfaces that the bolt would lock into such that it is easy to tell that there is not a live round in the chamber and there is something in the way of the bolt going fully into battery. Whether a spent shell casing or a dummy round is used, the bolt could still be put into battery. Yes a spent shell casing could be placed sideways in front of the bolt. But the shell or the charging handle could be bumped, allowing the tension of the bolt face to be lessened, allowing the empty shell to fall out. Bringing into question whether there is or is not a live round in the chamber with the bolt closed and locked. That is why most chamber safety flags have one leg in the chamber and another leg at 90 degrees that sticks out of the ejection port.

I personally have found that a brightly colored zip tie that goes through the ejection port and down through the magwell has worked well to show that there is no live round in the chamber and that the bolt is not in battery.

Scott

What I think he was referring to is putting a piece of brass in sideways between the bolt and the barrel. I’ve done the same when I forgot a chamber flag in the past.

 

[Jtm35a2]

What I think he was referring to is putting a piece of brass in sideways between the bolt and the barrel. I’ve done the same when I forgot a chamber flag in the past.

My only issue with that in a smg competition scenario is other shooters or RO’s having to wonder is the shell casing intentionally placed or a jam

 

[Offmarksman]

Most smg competitions would require a flag. The brass works on some ranges in a pinch, but it is suboptimal, and may not be acceptable on some ranges. I was shooting.22s with my sons a while back, and my chamber flags were too big to fit. I put 45 brass as my chamber flag.

 

[A&S Conversions]

My only issue with that in a smg competition scenario is other shooters or RO’s having to wonder is the shell casing intentionally placed or a jam

I agree, but even more so, any accidental tension on the charging system takes the recoil spring tension off the bolt face and the empty shell falls out, then the bolt closes. So without something there, is there a live round in the chamber?

If you don’t have something that can actually be wedged into the magwell/chamber, at most matches I have been to the RO or the time keeper has something (wooden dowels, zip ties, or a chamber flags that you can use for the match. Whether it be at a big match or a local monthly match, I have never seen any RO at any match allow spent brass as an empty chamber indicator. There have been some matches that allowed the shooter to show clear, while the RO supervised, the shooter placed their gun into a case and closed it.

Scott

 

[Deerhurst]

I've used a spent casing a lot too. Generally for airflow to cool things. if the brass gets knocked out, you should only be handling the firearm on the firing line unless you run a hot range or have everyone slung, put another in.

Don't be messing with things and the brass won't fall out.

Most matches I go to we rack rifles and shotguns, on a closed bolt with the hammer down, and carry pistols in holsters. Quite a few I've been to allow brass as a chamber flag and NONE of them allowed screwing with your firearm UNLESS at a safety table or the firing line.

The matches I host I require mag out, bolt closed and hammer down or a chamber flag of some sort and it's either on a rack or on a sling. Only reason you are touching it is you are at the safety table with an RSO, at the firing line.

 

[dalbert]

I just ordered a Hornady Rapid Rack based on this thread. Thanks!

David