When it comes to owning a handgun, great power comes with great responsibility. A firearm is a serious tool that if handled improperly or falls into the wrong hands can end in a fatal disaster. Any marksman worth their salt knows that firearm skill and knowledge isn’t just about your accuracy or speed but about how you care for your firearms, the handgun safety training courses you take, and the other preventative measures you follow. Here, we want to discuss some handgun safety tips that every handgun owner should practice to keep themselves and those around them safe from harm.
Balancing Readiness and Safety: Responsible Storage for Loaded Handguns
If you keep a gun for self-defense, storing it loaded can make sense—as long as it’s done responsibly. For many recreational shooters, having a loaded firearm isn’t usually necessary, but those who rely on firearms for protection might prefer having one ready for emergencies. The key is making sure that if you’re storing a loaded gun, it’s secure. A quick-access safe is a great option, as it keeps the firearm both protected and accessible, reducing the risk of unauthorized use or accidents.
Remember, though: never assume a firearm is unloaded, even if you think it is. Always check by opening the action and visually confirming. Being prepared while prioritizing responsible storage is all about balance—it helps you stay safe and ready without compromising the security of your home.
Clear The Barrel Before Shooting
Regardless of whether you keep your handguns clean and stored in a controlled environment, checking that the barrel is clear of obstructions before firing can save your life. Even small obstructions in the barrel, such as dirt, grime, dust, and snow present in the barrel when first firing can increase the pressure of the weapon to dangerous levels. Anyone with handgun safety knowledge knows that if the pressure inside the barrel reaches maximum capacity, it can cause the barrel to bulge or even explode, potentially causing serious injury to yourself and any bystanders.
Service Your Weapon Regularly
As taught in handgun safety training, guns are extremely complex mechanisms made of numerous working parts to properly function. Therefore, after regular use, it is always recommended to have your weapon serviced by a professional to ensure that all parts are in safe and working order. Even if you consider yourself to be a knowledgeable gunsmith with extensive experience, when it comes to your handgun being in tip-top shape, having your weapon examined, cleaned, and tuned up by a professional should not be overlooked when it comes to handgun safety. The last thing anyone wants is for their handgun to have a catastrophic malfunction that could harm themselves or others.
Mind The Muzzle
Whether you’re on the range, in your home, or out in the field, basic handgun safety training teaches that when holding a gun, always make sure that the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction. Loaded or not, the muzzle should always be pointed away from yourself or anyone else in the vicinity in the event of an unintentional discharge. Even if the gun isn’t loaded, it is best handgun safety practice to never have the muzzle pointed at anything you don’t want to shoot to train your muscle memory for how to handle a handgun when it is loaded and you’re ready to shoot.
Keep Your Finger Off The Trigger
Loaded or unloaded, your finger should ONlY be on the trigger when you are aimed down your sights and prepared to fire. If your finger is off the trigger, the chances of a weapon misfire decrease dramatically. Even if you think you’re a handgun safety pro, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Much like not pointing the muzzle at anything other than a target, leaving your finger off the trigger is a surefire way to prevent an accident once the gun is ready to shoot.
Never Trust Your Handgun’s “Safety” Feature
While the safety features on handguns are designed to prevent the trigger from being pulled and the weapon from firing, unfortunately, it isn’t a foolproof mechanism. Your gun's safety is meant to be the final line of defense from an accident occurring and keeping yourself and those around you safe. By no means should you ever test your handgun’s safety, keep a loaded weapon, or point it at anything but a target just because the safety is on. Nevertheless, even the most basic handgun safety should always be toggled on when not in use and until the moment of firing.
Store Ammunition Separately
If you’re planning to store a firearm long-term—even if you’ve got it locked up in a gun safe—it’s a good idea to lock the ammo away in a separate container. This way, if someone ever does manage to get to the firearm, they still won’t have access to the ammunition right away. It might feel like an extra step, but little precautions like these can make a real difference in keeping everyone safe.
Now, if you’re keeping a loaded gun for self-defense, this advice is more for firearms that are stored rather than those you want quick access to. Either way, finding that balance between accessibility and safety is what responsible gun ownership is all about.
When you are the owner of a handgun or any firearm, you have a civic responsibility to keep yourself and others in proximity safe when handling your weapon. Thankfully, marksmen and gun enthusiasts have developed handgun safety training resources and other strategies and practices to help avoid accident accidents entirely. By following these handgun safety techniques and turning them into unbreakable habits, you can rest easy knowing you and others will not be the victim of an accident on your watch. So, if you’re considering buying a handgun or already own one, make sure you have what you need to stay safe and shop our selection of handgun gear at Wing Tactical today.