A GUIDE TO FIREARM SAFETY

A GUIDE TO FIREARM SAFETY

SAFETY FIRST!

When handling, using, or storing any type of firearm, safety must be your first concern. Gun safety rules must be understood and applied in all situations involving firearms.

The three fundamental rules of gun safety must always be applied simultaneously when handling or using a gun:Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.The following gun safety rules should also be observed when using or storing a gun:Be sure the gun is safe to operate.Know how to use the gun safely.Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.Know your target and what is beyond.Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate.Never use alcohol or drugs before or while shooting.Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.Be aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities require additional safety precautions.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) provides a variety of courses in its Basic Firearm Training Program. These courses are conducted by NRA Certified Instructors and are available in the following subject areas: home firearm safety, personal protection, pistol, rifle, shotgun and muzzle loading. Contact NRA’s Training Department for a list of instructors in your area.

TYPES OF GUNS AND GUN ACTIONS

The two basic types of firearms are pistols (handguns) and long guns. The most common types of pistols in use today are revolvers and semi-automatics. The most common types of long guns are rifles and shotguns.To understand how a firearm works, it is first necessary to understand the firearm’s action. The action is a group of moving parts used to load, fire, and unload a gun. A gun is usually identified by its type of action. Various gun actions and unloading techniques are described in this brochure. When unloading a gun, always eject the cartridges into your hand or onto a soft, clean surface.CAUTION: This brochure provides only general information about firearms. Due to the large variety of mechanical designs available, some guns will differ from the descriptions in this brochure. Some guns also require different handling and unloading techniques. For this reason, always be sure to get proper training from a competent instructor. Also read and understand the gun’s instruction manual. If you have any questions or problems, consult a knowledgeable person.

LONG GUNS & PISTOLS

Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.

A typical bolt-action long gun is shown above with the names of some of its parts. Various types of long gun actions are shown on the following pages of this brochure.

MAGAZINESSome long guns use a magazine. A magazine is a storage device designed to hold cartridges ready for insertion into the firing chamber. The location of the magazine may vary depending upon the action, model, and make of the gun. Various types of magazines also exist. Two of these magazine types are described on the following pages

A box magazine is usually found in the location shown above. Some box magazines are detachable and can be removed by depressing a button, latch, or similar release device. Other types of box magazines are not detachable. Some have a hinged floorplate, and are unloaded by pressing a release device that allows the floorplate to open and the cartridges to drop out of the magazine. Other types of non-detachable magazines do not have a releasable floorplate, and the cartridges are usually ejected by carefully opening and partially closing the action.

A tubular magazine is usually found in one of the locations shown above. Some tubular magazines have an inside tube which must be removed in order to let the cartridges drop out of the magazine. The action must also be opened and partially closed several times in order to be sure that no cartridges are left in the magazine. Other types of tubular magazines do not have a removable inside tube, and the cartridges are usually removed by carefully operating the action of the gun. Because a cartridge can become stuck in a magazine tube, the gun may still contain a cartridge after the above steps have been taken. Therefore, leave the action open to prevent a cartridge from being moved into the chamber.

NOTE: Read the manufacturer’s instructions for unloading your type of gun. However, whenever possible: (1) avoid handling the gun when a cartridge is in the chamber; and (2) avoid working the action in such a way that a cartridge is fully inserted into the chamber.

BOLT ACTIONBolt actions are opened using a lift and pull motion similar to that used to open a door bolt or gate bolt

To Unload:If the gun has a detachable box magazine, remove it. If the magazine is tubular or non-detachable, see “Magazines” above.Open and partially close the action several times by operating the bolt to be sure that all cartridges are ejected.Inspect the chamber (plus the action and any tubular or non-detachable magazine) to be sure that the gun is empty.LEVER ACTIONLever actions are opened by pulling the lever down and away from the stock, and are closed by returning the lever to its original position. Most lever-action guns have tubular magazines, but some models may use box-type magazines.

To Unload:If the gun has a detachable box magazine, remove it. If the magazine is tubular or non-detachable, see “Magazines” above.Open and partially close the action several times by operating the lever to be sure that all cartridges are ejected.Inspect the chamber (plus the action and any tubular or non-detachable magazine) to be sure that the gun is empty.PUMP ACTIONPump actions are operated with a pumping motion. The action is opened by pulling the fore-end of the gun to the rear, and closed by pushing the fore-end back to its original position. Some pump action guns have tubular magazines, while other models use box-type magazines.

SEMI-AUTOMATIC ACTIONSemi-automatic actions are opened by pulling the bolt handle straight to the rear. Some semi-automatics have tubular magazines, while other models use box-type magazines.

HINGE ACTIONHinge actions are opened by moving a release lever to one side, and then moving the hinged barrel(s) downward. Hinge-action guns do not have magazines.

To Unload:Activate the release lever and move the hinged barrel(s) downward.Opening the action may cause the cartridges to be ejected from the firing chamber(s). If the cartridges are not ejected, remove them from the chamber(s) with your fingers.Inspect the chamber(s) carefully to be sure that the gun is empty.

REVOLVERSA revolver is a pistol with a revolving cylinder that holds cartridges in individual chambers. Each time the hammer moves to the rear, the cylinder turns and brings a chamber in line with the barrel and the firing pin. When the hammer falls, it causes the firing pin to strike and fire the cartridge. In single-action revolvers, the trigger performs only one action - releasing the hammer. The trigger does not cock the hammer. The hammer must be cocked with the thumb, and will stay in a cocked position until it is released by pulling the trigger. In a double-action revolver, the trigger performs two tasks. When it is pulled, it will cock and release the hammer. Most double-action revolvers can also be fired in a single-action mode by manually cocking the hammer with the thumb

To Unload Single Actions:Hold pistol in left hand; use right thumb to pull the hammer back one or two clicks to allow the cylinder to turn freely.With right thumb, open loading gate to reveal loading port area; align a loaded chamber with loading port by turning cylinder with left hand.Elevate muzzle in safe direction; using left hand, push cartridge out of chamber with ejector rod. Continue process until all chambers are empty.Rotate cylinder with left hand while inspecting all chambers to be sure that all cartridges have been removed.Close loading gate with right hand. Place right thumb on spur on hammer. While controlling hammer with right thumb, pull trigger with right index finger to release hammer, using right thumb to gently lower the hammer completely

.To Unload Double Actions:Use right hand to place pistol in palm of left hand. Operate cylinder release latch with right thumb; push cylinder out with the two middle fingers of left hand.Place left thumb on ejector rod and elevate muzzle in safe direction. Use left thumb to push ejector rod completely to rear, removing cartridges from chambers. Inspect all chambers to be sure that they are empty.SEMI-AUTOMATICSA semi-automatic is a pistol that has only one chamber located at the rear of the barrel. Cartridges are held in a storage device called a magazine. When the pistol is fired, the slide moves to the rear, ejects the empty case, and usually cocks the pistol. On its return movement, the slide picks up a cartridge from the magazine and pushes it into the chamber

To Unload Semi-Automatics:Hold pistol in right hand. Activate magazine release with left hand, and remove magazine from gun. (Magazine release locations vary - consult instruction manual or knowledgeable individual.)Grasp rear portion of slide with left hand, and move slide completely to the rear, ejecting the cartridge from the chamber. If the pistol has a slide stop, use it to keep the slide open.Inspect chamber to be sure that it is empty.