How To Load And Unload A Pump-Action Shotgun

Shotguns come in different styles. The two most common are pump-action (pump) and semi-automatic. We’re going to look at how to load and unload a pump shotgun.

The first step in handling a shotgun is practicing the rules of firearm safety to make sure you keep the gun pointed in a safe direction while you determine it’s unloaded and the chamber is clear.

To open the action of the gun, you will need to depress the disconnector release button and slide the forearm back to open the action. You will be able to see the chamber and ensure it is empty before you begin to handle the firearm.

For an SXP, you can find the diagram online on the Winchester Repeating Arms’ website. For a pump shotgun that is not the SXP, you will want to consult your owner’s manual for how the action opens. 

There are two methods to load any tube-fed shotgun. One involves keeping the chamber empty until you are ready to shoot by only loading rounds into the magazine tube. The other involves loading the chamber and the magazine tube.

Method 1 - empty chamber

If you are loading the shotgun and want to keep the chamber empty, start by:

1 - Ensure the safety is engaged and the gun is pointed in a safe direction; 

2 - Depress the disconnector release button and open the action to make sure the chamber is empty;

3 - Close the action;

4 - Next, load shells into the magazine tube. You do this by depressing the lifter and sliding shells in past the shell stop that retains them in the magazine tube;

You can generally load 3 shells in a factory shotgun with a stock magazine tube. This means 2 in the tube, one in the chamber. If your magazine tube has an after-market extension, you might be able to load more rounds. This is what many people do to increase magazine tube capacity when they own a gun for home defense or competition.

NOTE: Be sure you are following hunting regulations if you’re hunting! For most bird hunting, you are limited on the number of rounds in your shotgun (not just in the tube, but in the gun itself). So, check your state hunting regulations to make sure you’re following them

5 - When you are ready to shoot, reach your blind or stand, or want a round chambered, you will depress the disconnector release button and then cycle or “pump” the forearm to load a round into the chamber. You can then add a round to the tube. For stock magazine tubes, this is often the only way you can get 3 rounds in the gun: one in the chamber, two in the tube.

Method 2 - Gun fully loaded with one in the chamber

If you are loading your shotgun and want to be “hot” or have a round in the chamber ready to shoot:

1 - Ensure the safety is engaged and the gun is pointed in a safe direction;

2 - Depress the disconnector release button and open the action to make sure the chamber is empty;

3 - Keep the action open;

4 - Next, drop a shell into the open action and cycle the forearm forward to close the action and load the round into the chamber;

5 - You can then load shells into the magazine tube. You do this by depressing the lifter and sliding shells past the shell stop that retains the shells in your magazine tube;

6 - Your gun is now fully loaded and you are ready to shoot.

Unloading

Just like loading, unloading the shotgun can be done two ways.  No matter which way you unload it, you will need to first ensure the safety is engaged and keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.

Unloading by cycling the gun

The simplest way to unload is to hand-cycle rounds out of the gun. This means you:

1 - Ensure the safety is engaged and the gun is pointed in a safe direction;  

2 -  Depress the disconnector release and cycle the action. Repeat the process of cycling the action until all rounds are out of the gun. Pay attention your safety is engaged and your finger is outside of the trigger guard when you do this;

3 - Inspect the magazine tube and make sure you do not see any rounds in it. Look for the follower - the piece at the end of the mag tube spring the rounds compress against. You want to be certain you see the follower and not the rim/base of another shell.   

Unloading by removing rounds from the magazine tube

You can also unload by removing rounds through the magazine tube. This means you:

1 - Ensure the safety is engaged and the gun is pointed in a safe direction;

2 - Turn the gun so you can access the loading port (I find it easiest to do this by resting the buttstock on a table or against my thigh). Depress the lifter down against the top of the action. Then, push the shell stop and depress it to move it out of the way so the shells can slide past in and out of the gun. Repeat until the magazine tube is empty;

3 – Next, depress the disconnector release button and cycle the forearm to open the action and eject the shell from the chamber;

4 - Inspect the magazine tube and make sure you do not see any rounds in it. Look for the follower - the piece at the end of the mag tube spring that the rounds compress against. You want to be certain you see the follower and not the rim/base of another shell. 

Unloading by hand-cycling is probably the simplest method, but it’s noisy. If you want to be quiet while hunting, it’s good to know how to empty the gun from the magazine tube. You will still have to open the action and cycle the gun to remove the round from the chamber, but only one time.

We hope this helps simplify the process of loading and unloading a pump-action shotgun. Make sure you are following Winchester’s social media channels for more tips!