Training & Tidbits
My personal opinions based on a lot of trigger time and observations of others.
Automatic Safeties.
Ringneck I am not sure, still many two barrel guns come with Automatic Safeties. Meaning once the gun is broken open, and then closed, the safety is put on. Whether the gun is loaded, or not , the safety is put on.
Training Issues are serious. We train for Safe Gun use amongst and in conjuntion with other training. Be it clay games, hunting, or serious firearm use.
I like simple, when stress or excitement hits, the human body and brain do odd things. It may be the pressure of a clay game, the flush of a bird, or a bump in the night.
~~
The Four Rules of Gun Safety
These are, as far as I can tell, the official Col. Jeff Cooper Four Rules:
1. All guns are always loaded (until you establish whether they are or not).
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. Keep your gun pointed in a safe direction at all times: on the range, at home, loading, or unloading.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target (and you are ready to shoot).
4. Be sure of your target. Know what it is, what is in line with it and what is behind it. Never shoot at anything that you haven't positively identified.
~~
Anything Mechanical
can and
will fail , therefore
never depend on a mechanical safety to work.
Human beings
can and
will make mistakes , therefore
never depend , take for granted or be complacent.
Four Rules are to
always be used, that way being human, these rules provide some measure of safety if one is not followed.
--
Personal Responsiblity is that of each shooter, Not me, Not TFL.
Four Rules of Safety, Range / Club/ Instructor Rules -always apply. Individual levels of training and skill levels must always be considered
Pump guns and Semi auto shotguns do NOT automatically put themselves on, they do not automatically go to "unsafe/ "fire" either.
These Two Barrel guns , be it SxS or O/U , many times have the auto safety feature disengaged. I always did.
1. Clay shooters, often leave the safety on and miss targets, so with the Four Rules of Gun safety and Club Rules, one does NOT load the gun until on the pad, station, or stage. Still no matter what action type, pump , semi, SxS, O/U , even single shot, All rules followed and gun not loaded until ready to shoot, when done, all rules observed and actions are checked, left open for shooter and others to SEE and know the safety steps have been and are being observed.
---I have seen too many shooters, "take for granted" an "automatic safety" put itself on a Pump Gun and Semi-Auto Shotgun and thankfully Rule 2 was applied when the gun discharged. --
Yep a training issue.
Gets back to simple, repetition becomes faith and then habit, add being human and getting complacent, compound with pressure, excitement , stress, and the human being be
so used to a O/U or SxS putting on the safety - they messed up.
This is where If EVERY gun operates the same way, or as close as possible, the chances of mistakes are lessened. Even folk that shoot a whole bunch, and are more likely due to handling the "not if - but when" a ND will occur is lessened in my opinion.
In assisting new shooters, even kids with a PVC pipe with a cut out, so much time is "administrative", loading , unloading , 4 rules [ little kids doing this with foam rubber orange "ammo" , and poking fingers in "chambers"]
I have fired a few shotgun shells in my day, and if a Four year old wants to "see" the empty chamber(s) after I fire, wants to see me poke my finger in a chamber9s) , heck even poke thier little fingers in the chambers...I do it.
It may take a bit of time, slow the shooting some, even be a bit distracting to me or others - but distracting it is NOT.
I need to be reminded always and a Four year old reminding me is Good, always welcomed. The Four year old is seeing these lessons , being passed forward to them , actually in practice, and being "instilled" by repetition.
Get 8 kids doing this...well...umm..."each of you gets to take turns at a station, okay?"
Now we got kids "figuring out" which station they want. Station 1 is always picked last,[over too quick] and it is a long wait until station 8 . Stations where doubles are shot are favorite ..."you get to poke chambers 4 times"
Just my take on automatic safeties.
- Reloading.
http://www.mecreloaders.com/
http://www.mecreloaders.com/ProductLine/600JrMark5.asp
I read what you shared in Original Post. I am 51 , and hard-headed and suffer from
selective deafness and reading disorders
After Reading Brister's Book, you will want to reload. Hanging out at the club will add to this 'want'.
One does not "save money" as much as they "shoot better quality loads" for the money.
You will be able to tailor loads for tasks, appreciate the
Art & Science , and even when you choose a factory loading - be better educated about the loadings and performance for task.
Beats watching TV, I don't own a TV, one can listen to good tunes and reload.
Non-Toxic areas - Forgot about checking that out on the Ringneck.
Bismuth - if your jurisdictions allow, means instead of "having to use" Steel shot at a club or hunting area....you can reload a Bismuth loading, that YOUR gun shoots great! Bismuth is a lot like lead in characteritics, how behaves, and allows one to shoot this in non steel proofed gun 99% of the time.
Well there is that spilling shot on floor the rest of have done, or all them kids wanting to "help" reload off the tailgate of the truck [ bring gloves for little hands...] and sometimes it is not about getting to shoot yourself.
It is about a kid, shooting the same darn .410 shell, from a single shot, bringing back, "we-woad " it again, and the single mom , other ladies are not helping [kidding] they just let the kids wear you out.
I would not want you to miss out on this *grin*
Seriously - you find a used single stage at the club, for a great price because someone is upgrading to a 9000, get it.
Find one at a yard sale, get it. MEC has GREAT customer service.
Now, being real serious. Being a Responsible Firearm Owner means a whole lot more that having guns and shooting them - to me.
A new shooter, male or female, even a kid. I most times deal with ladies and kids, and some have been traumatized by guns. Meaning abused and battered and a firearm was sometimes "displayed" .
We get to the Personal Responsiblity part, restraining orders did not work, and 911 was not fast enough.
I got a lady scared to death, but willing, and I have earned her [ and kids] trust. I have to do this introduction just right.
I start with BB Guns and ping pong balls. Real guns get taken apart and I do not care how many questions, or how long, or how many times...whatever the lady [kids too] want - they get.
Now time to actually use a real gun. Four Rules of Safety is important, also the fact they [lady/ kid] has to know I am going to keep them safe and keep their concerns at the priority level.
MEC single stage reloader allows me to de- prime a hull, and put only a primer in that hull - nothing else.
I often do this with a single shot shotgun , I want this as simple as possible.
How the gun loads, how it works, what it "sounds" like when going off, and how to unload.
Double ear protection lessens felt recoil.
We may go to a O/U or SXS, a Pump gun, Semis won't cycle , still seeing, feeling understanding how everything works and a "bang" is important.
I do not care if I use up 25 primers this way - and I have. Heck I have had 500 rds of nothing but primer only hulls "loaded up " for teaching.
Not a waste - an investment.
Popcorn Kernals my next step. Just enough powder to get the wad out of the barrel and something to bust a balloon , even a stationary clay .
Self esteem soars - they broke a target, worked the gun, all safety rules observed and they broke a target! Repeat as need.
Shooter is gaining confidence, that negative in their life is going away.
Now real light target loads, and repeat. Then low 7 , all they want and now hitting a moving target.
Don't rule out the MEC single stage - yet.
If you do get into reloading, and get a progressive, such as the MEC 9000 I recommend still keep the single stage.
Single stage is great for working up a new recipe...great for the new shooters, our future.
Best of Luck,
Steve
