Even if you have been handling guns for years, it is still important to practice good safety precautions. When you are dealing with firearms you can never be too safe, especially when there is ammunition in the environment.
So here is a refresher for you on what to always do when you are dealing with firearms.
The 4 Rules for Firearm Safety
There are four major rules when it comes to handling firearms and they build off of each other in order to add multiple layers to your safety plans. Training these rules into your behavior is important so they become second nature.
1. Keep the Firearm Pointed in a Safe Direction
First on our list of the four firearm safety rules is keeping the firearm pointed in a safe direction. This ensures that if a round is discharged for any reason, it will not accidentally hit someone. If you are at a range, this will be down range or at the berm.
A safe direction is any direction that will not result in injury if the gun goes off. This also considers a bullet’s ability to ricochet, going through barriers, etc.
Not every negligent discharge is the result of poor firearms handling. Parts wear, manufacturing mistakes, and other things can circumvent a modern firearm’s safety features. Other times it could be a failure of the gun’s design, especially with antique firearms.
Some designs, like 870 and 590 shotguns, are not drop-safe. Others, like a “true to form” Colt single-action revolver, are known for the possibility of the gun accidentally firing because the firing pin does not have a safety block.
Of the 4 main firearm safety rules, keeping the barrel pointed in a safe direction is one of the most important.
2. Treat All Guns Like They’re Loaded
Treating every firearm like it is loaded allows you to handle it carefully whenever you interact with or around it. Forgetfulness or someone else interacting with the firearm adds too many variables for the gun to be accidentally full of ammunition.
For this reason, you should always assume the gun is loaded until proven otherwise. This is also the reason to check and clear firearms whenever you can. Be sure to use the correct clearing method for the firearm you’re dealing with to avoid accidentally chambering a round or shell and thinking the gun is clear when it isn’t.
3. Finger Off the Trigger Until You Are Ready to Fire
Keeping your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire is one of the most active rules for firearms safety. This is because you are deciding what factors or requirements need to be met for you to shoot. Stress, excitement, or movement can cause you to accidentally pull the trigger if you are resting your finger on it.
A gun going off when you didn’t want it to is never good. This includes on a range but even more when you are outside of a range. Practicing basic firearm safety can prevent a lot of issues
4. Always Know Your Target and What is Behind It
The 4th rule for firearm safety is simple: you should not fire your gun if you do not know what is behind your target. This is for two major reasons. The first reason is that projectiles go a lot farther than most people realize. If you miss your target, that projectile is going to travel a few hundred feet up to multiple miles depending on the type of projectile and the angle of travel.
The second reason is that projectiles can go through targets and hit things you didn’t mean to hit. This can apply to self-defense situations or range scenarios. Things like drywall, plywood, and other materials do not stop bullets effectively.
Of the four firearm safety rules this one tends to be overlooked, but it creates some of the biggest issues if it gets ignored. The risk is too high to not know what is behind your target.
Closing Thoughts
Here at Wing Tactical, we recognize that the best way to grow the shooting sports is to create a safe environment for everyone. This is the easiest to achieve when using basic firearm safety rules at all times.
This way, everyone avoids any potential injuries, ensuring a good time at the range or in the field for whatever you are doing.