You can chamber with it, it's just a terrifyingly small area that they have to hit YOU on. If they swung at say, your left side , your legs, hit anywhere not your right arm... it won't chamber.
Also, I'm like 90% sure the throwing animation chambers arrows(and other ranged), again only if they hit that area with perfect timing. have Had quite a few lucky *clinks* and arrows disappear that should've killed me, over the years. Rare but funny. Still not sure of it, should test.