Posted on 08/06/2008 9:55:22 AM PDT by Manly Warrior
Wednesday Edition
By Manly Warrior; NRA certified Rifle and Pistol Instructor, MO CCW Instructor, Avid NRA HP Competitor, Army Combat Infantryman and Engineer officer (retired).
While many of us use firearms frequently and have learned (sometimes the hard way) to deliberately review our weapons safety/handling procedures each and every time we handle firearms, many firearms owners and particularly handgun owners, do not live so close to their weapons.
In this article, I will attempt to review the basic rules of firearms safety, using the NRA rules as a basis as well as reviewing the basic steps in gun handling. For this exercise, assume handguns, both revolver and pistol are the object of the discussion. While many of the procedures are similar to those for long guns, no attempt is made to address them.
Also, while some revolvers and pistols have proprietary and unique characteristics along with unique operating procedures, this article makes no attempt to cover all handguns; rather the focus is on generic double action revolvers and SA, SA/DA and DAO/safe-action pistols, in other words, practical combat handguns commonly found in the hands of every Americans..
Please insure you refer to the owner’s manual for your specific firearm for any unique requirements!
NRA Rules of Gun Safety.
(bulleted comments added by the author for clarification & extension)
1. Never point a firearm at anything you are not willing to destroy.
-Always control the muzzle of your firearm, ALWAYS!
2. Treat All Firearms as if they were loaded.
-Always assume every firearm you see/handle or are aware of, is LOADED, ALWAYS!
-Perform a safety check on all firearms handed to you or that you pick up; regardless of whether or not you just saw another person do the same!
-If you are not familiar with a specific firearms’ operation, do not attempt to clear it, ask the other person to show you how, then do it yourself under observation, carefully paying attention to observing and physically checking to insure no ammunition is in the action or chamber
3. Keep you finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
-Modern Firearms will NOT “go off” by themselves; they require human actuation or at least mishandling, ALWAYS!
-When drawing, ALWAYS place your trigger finger alongside the frame of the firearm and only place it inside the trigger guard when presenting at a target you intend to shoot, not before, ALWAYS!
Basic Firearms Handling and Marksmanship
Clearing/Unloading and Loading and applying Immediate Action (IA) in case of a stoppage.
Pistols.
-Clearing/unloading:
Point pistol in a safe direction and keep it that way.
Keep your finger off the trigger (out of the trigger guard) at all times.
The Following Steps MUST be executed in sequence!!!
Step One-attempt to place firearm on safe if so equipped.
Step Two-remove magazine by depressing the magazine release.
Step Three-move slide backwards to open the mechanism, depress (or lift) the slide lock mechanism to lock the slide open.
Step Four- Observe the chamber as you retract the slide rearward to see if a round is extracted/ejected from the pistol.
Step Five- Look carefully into the chamber/breech area of the pistol to check to see if a round of ammunition is in the chamber/breech area, (DO NOT ASSUME THERE IS NOT) During limited visibility, examine the chamber/breech with a flashlight or insert your little finger into the mechanism and feel to insure there is not a round of ammunition present anywhere in the mechanism.
Step Six-Retract the slide slightly to disengage the slide lock and manually allow the slide to return to its closed position.
-Loading:
Point pistol in a safe direction and keep it that way
Keep your finger off the trigger (out of the trigger guard) at all times.
The Following Steps MUST be executed in sequence!!!
Step One-attempt to place firearm on safe if so equipped.
Step Two- Retract and lock back the slide by drawing the slide rearwards with your support hand while depressing (of lifting) the slide lock.
Step Three-Insert a loaded magazine with your support hand, guiding the magazine into the well with your support hand index finger; firmly seat the magazine by slapping or pressing upwards on the bottom of the magazine with the heel of your support hand.
Step Four depress the slide lock with your firing hand thumb or trigger finger (left-handed firers) or tug rearwards on the rear of the slide to release the slide lock and let the slide shut under its own spring power-do not “ride” the slide forward; doing so may induce a stoppage by not fully allowing the first round of ammunition to be properly stripped from the magazine and chambered.
-Performing Immediate Action:
Point pistol in a safe direction and keep it that way
Keep your finger off the trigger (out of the trigger guard) at all times.
The Following Steps MUST be executed in sequence!!!
(In a combat situation you will always want to seek cover (something that will stop bullets) while fighting, and especially when you have a stoppage)
Step One-Slap upward on the bottom of the magazine with the heel of your support hand to insure it is fully seated in the well and locked into the pistol.
Step Two-Grasp the serrated portion of the slide with your support hand (reach over the top of the slide) so the thumb/heel is on the inside (closest to your chest, thumb pointed at your body) and your fingers are facing outwards and down, firmly grasping the slide.
Step Three-Pull firmly and fully rearwards with your support hand, while observing for any jammed cartridges in the breech area; release your support hand and allow the slide to close under its own spring power.
Step Four-reacquire your target and fire.
This is also called “TAP, RACK, BANG”
Keep your pistol fairly high and your head erect so you can see your surroundings while you execute this task without losing complete situational awareness and tactical control.
If this does not work; you must do “Remedial Action” to get back into the fight.
Remedial Action:
Point pistol in a safe direction and keep it that way
Keep your finger off the trigger (out of the trigger guard) at all times.
The Following Steps MUST be executed in sequence!!!
(In a combat situation you will always want to seek cover (something that will stop bullets) while fighting, and especially when you have a stoppage)
Step One-remove magazine by depressing the magazine release and deliberately ripping the magazine from the pistol.
Step Two-Observe the chamber/breech of the pistol and briskly move slide backwards and forwards several times in rapid succession to insure any malfunctioning rounds or expended cartridge cases are extracted/ejected from the pistol.
Step Three – Secure a fresh magazine and insert it into the magazine well as in loading, however, the slide will be forward, so insure you seat and lock the new magazine into the pistol
Step Four- Grasp the slide and actuate it briskly to the rear, letting it close under its own spring power, reacquire your target and continue to defend yourself.
Revolvers:
-Clearing/unloading:
Point revolver in a safe direction and keep it that way
Keep your finger off the trigger (out of the trigger guard) at all times.
The Following Steps MUST be executed in sequence!!!
Step One-depress the cylinder lock with your firing hand thumb and open the cylinder by grasping the cylinder with your support hand from underneath, the tips of your finger pushing the cylinder towards the left, while your support hand thumb controls the cylinder from the left side.
Step Two-release the revolver from your firing hand and turn the revolver muzzle-up with your support hand.
Step Three-using the knife-edge of your firing hand, strike the ejector rod firmly and full to eject fired cartridge cases or loaded rounds from the chambers.
Step Four-Look carefully into the chamber/breech area of the revolver to check to see if a round of ammunition is in the chamber/breech area, (DO NOT ASSUME THERE IS NOT) During limited visibility, either examine the chamber/breech with a flashlight or insert your little finger into the mechanism and feel tht there is not a round of ammunition present anywhere in the mechanism.
-Loading:
Point the revolver in a safe direction and keep it that way
Keep your finger off the trigger (out of the trigger guard) at all times.
The Following Steps MUST be executed in sequence!!!
Step One-clear your revolver as described above.
Step Two- invert the revolver so that the muzzle is pointed at the ground, gravity helps load a revolver.
Step Three-Secure a loaded speed loader by grasping the release knob between your firing hands ring and index fingers and thumb. (If using loose rounds, insert each round into the chambers of the cylinder one at a time, then continue to step six).
Step Four Insert the bullet tips of a loaded speed loader into the magazine with your support hand and twist the release knob to allow the cartridges to drop into the chambers.
Step Five- let go of the speed loader (do not try to pull it away from the cylinder-allow gravity to let if fall to the ground) and close the cylinder with your support hand as you grasp the grip frame with your firing hand.
Step Six-re-grasp the revolver with your support hand and prepare to fire.
-Performing Immediate Action:
If your revolver fails to fire and you are not out of ammunition, then you may have a disabled revolver. Attempt to clear the revolver and reload; usually if your revolver is disabled, you will not be able to clear and or reload without assistance of a tool (dejammer) and more time than you probably have…. Many Revolver shooters carry a back-up gun (BUG) just in case-this is sometimes called a “NY reload”
(In a combat situation you will always want to seek cover (something that will stop bullets) while fighting, and especially when you have a stoppage)
Remember, muzzle awareness and practicing the requisite steps for your particular handgun is paramount in being safe. We owe it to ourselves as well as the general public to be the epitome of safety and professionalism. The “antis” are always lurking, waiting for a gun owner to make a mistake and beat the drum of gun control. Don’t let it be you!
God Bless and MOLON LABE!
I hope you enjoy and find it profitable.
Absolutely correct-we’ll get there in time!
God Bless & MOLON LABE
In Canada we use the acronym ‘P.R.O.V.E’ when teaching people firearms safety:
1) Point the firearm in the safest available direction;
2) Remove all ammunition;
3) Observe the chamber;
4) Verify the feeding path;
5) Examine the bore for obstructions.
>-Performing Immediate Action:
If your revolver fails to fire and you are not out of ammunition, then you may have a disabled revolver. Attempt to clear the revolver and reload; usually if your revolver is disabled, you will not be able to clear and or reload without assistance of a tool (dejammer) and more time than you probably have…. Many Revolver shooters carry a back-up gun (BUG) just in case-this is sometimes called a “NY reload”<
Is the writer prejudiced against revolvers?
If your revolver fails to fire and you are not out of ammunition, fire again!
I’ve personally quite happy and proud to confess that I remembered all of this from my training in childhood from the NRA (and some family members who were former shooters in VTN).
But, the truest part is still: If you are in a gunfight, you need to have a gun.
Bump for later
Are there any revolvers where the cylinder swings out on the right side? It would make it easier for a lefty to unload/reload.
Thanks for posting. There was someone here just the other day saying that it was OK to point a loaded weapon toward yourself. He also didn’t think that anyone could be an expert at handling firearms. Yeesh!
I tried to catch my 13 year old son on the 'always check it yourself' rule. I handed him his rifle and told him 'it's empty'.
He just looked at me and said "Yea, right Dad." and checked it himself.
That bought him 2 extra boxes of ammo....
L
The point was intended to make clear that if you are not out of ammo and your weapon fails to fire, it may be more than a bad primer or weak hammer strike-I have had occasion to revert to my BUG due to a jammed cylinder (factory loaded bullet backed out of the case under recoil and locked up the action, after the first shot). Good thing it was training. Also had a snubby get a fired cartridge stuck under the ejector star and disable the gun as well. A dejammer is a good tool to have aboard if carrying a revolver, not many do though.
On the other hand, never had a pistol lock itself up past IA/RA....
I will edit my syllabus and attempt to make it more clear. Probably will add "attempt to fire the next chamber...". I usually carry a pistol. But again, no anti-revolver attitude from me.
God Bless & MOLON LABE
[Bad, bad sound in background. Silence. Sirens...]
Thanks fot posting this, Manly Warrior. It is great timing, as I just purchased my first firearm last weekend—a Remington 770 center fire rifle. I have also signed up for a women’s firearms course at a shooting range in my area. I am really looking forward to learning how to shoot and to take care of the rifle, as well as handle it safely.
Thank you. This is great! I have a new shooter/visitor from Scotland who I am teaching all about our responsibilities under the 2nd Amendment (they have nothing of the sort over there). His eyes have opened.
I had a customer in the shop apologize because he actually checcked the weapon I was showing him right after I checked it before handing it to him
He was very sincre in his apology for being insulting.
My response? "I would have been MORE insulted if you DIDN'T check the weapon yourself."
He wound up buying it.
bump fer tommory
I have carried various S&W Models 36, 38, 40, 60, for right at 40 years now. I am so impressed with the J frame that I refuse to carry anything else. I have never had a failure to fire despite training in every type weather.
I do maintain them myself and keep a close eye on cylinder gaps and timing.
Years ago I tried carrying a .357 but my performance dropped below my acceptable standards. I found that I was flinching in anticipation of the noise. So back to the .38’s I went. A close miss isn’t what I want.
I heard a story about my dad, who has much experience with guns, forgetting to check for himself one time, shortly before I was born. He pointed a .22 rifle that had been cleared by others several times at my mom's head. When she gave him grief for it, he moved it to the nearby window, and pulled the trigger. Blew a hole in the window. Then dropped his chin...
He was very, VERY adamant with us to always, ALWAYS!! check for yourself, no matter how many people had checked before you got your hands on it. Also, to not point at anything or anyone you don't intend to kill/destroy.
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