If you are visiting a shooting range or practicing on your own property, you should always pay attention to firearm safety. It is no secret that gun safety should always be a priority, especially if you live with loved ones or have friends around you during practice.
Many households avoid keeping an unloaded firearm, which is extremely dangerous for families with young children. According to UC Davis Health, 31% of households in the United States have firearms. Approximately 22% of adults own more than one firearm.
Therefore, you should always pay close attention to gun safety. Here is a very helpful checklist to ensure that you remember all the rules to use and store your firearm safely.
Gun Pointing
This is one of the most basic firearm safety rules because many people rarely pay attention to where they are pointing their guns. Always think about where you are pointing the muzzle. Only face it towards the things you intend to shoot.
This is a surefire way to reduce firearm accidents, but people are often careless. While gun pointing, you should check your surroundings and ensure that there is no one close enough to get hurt. Your muzzle should always point in a safe direction.
It is best to practice rounds of shots in a safe space where a bullet will not strike someone. In some cases, you may also need to point your firearm up or down, depending on what you think would be a safe direction. Otherwise, someone else may become a target.
Even if you shoot blanks for fun with an unloaded gun, you should still avoid pointing it at yourself or others. You should always know where your muzzle is. Then you can carry and operate it safely because you are in better control of the firearm.
Unloaded Firearm
You should only keep an unloaded firearm. Your firearms should never be loaded unless you are at a safe location where you plan to shoot. Unless you are about to aim at a target, your firearm should remain unloaded. Your ammunition should also be kept separate from the firearm.
This is necessary because children can often get into their parents’ gun cabinets. As a gun owner, it is your responsibility to protect yourself and those around you. Keeping the firearm unloaded and away from the bullets in a separate area can effectively prevent unauthorized access.
After firing a few shots, you should always unload your gun when you are finished for the day. Never carry a loaded weapon to your car or back home. This should also be done before you pass the firearm to someone else.
Ensure that you check the chamber, magazine, and receiver. Keep actions open when you are not using the firearm. You should also never assume that a gun is unloaded unless you check it yourself to make sure.
Finally, never run, jump over fences, or climb anything while holding a firearm. If your weapon is loaded, any slight mishap can cause a fatal accident.
Gun Safety
No matter how much extensive research you do on gun safety, you should never rely on it completely. It is necessary to treat every firearm as though it can go off at any moment. This is because even the safety and trigger lock on your weapon may not be perfect.
These are mechanical devices that can randomly jam or stop working when you least expect it. At times, people also get confused and think that their safety is on when it is not. Although these safety features are lifesaving, one should always use their common sense.
You should always do all the checks properly before and after handling a firearm. Never handle your gun carelessly. Even if you are sure that the safety is on. You should also never touch the trigger unless you are ready to shoot.
Be careful not to accidentally release the safety because the gun can fire at any time. Do not rest your gun against another object. This is to prevent it from sliding or falling, especially if you have not already double-checked the position of your firearm’s safety.
Choosing Targets
Once you shoot a bullet, you can never take it back. All your control disappears from the moment a shot is fired. Then you have no say over where the shot travels or strikes.
This is why you should always ensure that your bullet will not hurt someone else in the line of fire. Before firing a shot, check your surroundings carefully. Maintain a lot of distance from others and check behind your target as well.
This way, you can keep everyone safe by taking your time to do safety checks first. You should also take note of the type of bullet you are using and how far it will travel. This can consistently help ensure that no one will accidentally get in the line of fire.
Correct Ammunition
You should always use the right ammunition for your specific firearm. When you buy a gun, never ignore the warnings on the instruction manual and ammunition boxes. This is because using the wrong ammo can ruin your weapon and cause injury.
If you use a cartridge that is not meant for your firearm, it can irreparably damage your gun. Besides the wrong cartridges, you should also avoid using substandard ammo. Even if you save money, it is not worth it because you will put your and other people’s lives in danger.
It is never worth buying firearms or ammunition that you do not trust completely. If you are going to invest in a firearm or two, you should opt for the best quality weapons that come with all the right safety features. For more on gun safety and top-quality firearms, check out Cooper Riffles.
Firearm Safety Saves Lives
It is vital to remember these firearm safety tips the next time you grab your gun and go out for a hunt or practice round. Always check to see that your weapon is firing the correct ammunition and only point the muzzle when you confirm your target.
Only keep an unloaded firearm at home and lock it away from the ammo. If you enjoyed reading these firearm tips, check out some of our other posts for more information.