Sitka, I'm not baiting. Please don't try to make this something it's not. You are the one saying you have bears dying at your boots without any further explanation; don't flame on me for trying to understand what's happening there.
If you are alone, why not have a round in the chamber? Is the astronomically small chance of hurting someone, somehow, far away with your chambered round (which would require BOTH poor gun handling AND your mechanical safety to fail)- is that minute chance worth slowing down your ability to stop a wounded bear in the brush while hunting alone? Especially considering that- ta da! poor gun handling or a mechanical failure of your rifle STILL PROVIDE that astronomically small chance for Mr. Murphy to sneak in once you chamber your round?
Seems if you have bears dying at your boots you are cutting things pretty fine.
