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Bob Wright

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The thread about flipping a DA cylinder closed caused me to do some thinking. Maybe a few simple rules of gun handling ought to be stated:

(1) When someone hands you a gun, any type, first ask if it is O.K. to check for ammunition. If not, don't take the firearm; take your leave and depart. If permission is given, remove the magazine first, if an auto loader. Then open the action, using only enough force to perform the job. LOOK into the chamber!

(2) For a Single Action revolver, open the loading gate, draw the hammer to half cock (if required) and rotate the cylinder with the thumb and fingers. NEVER roll the cylinder down the sleeve! When verified the gun is indeed empty, draw the hammer to full cocked position, then gently lower it down by pressing the trigger while maintaining control of the fall with the thumb. Gently close the loading gate. NEVER slap it shut.

(3) On double action revolvers, KNOW how to open the cylinder, and do so gently, cradling it in your hand as you open and close it. With the cylinder open, it is obvious whether the gun is loaded or not. There is no need to work the extractor rod.

(4) On double rifles or shotguns, close the action by lifting the stock up to close the action. NEVER snap it shut. And don't pull the triggers without snap caps in place.

(5) As far as is possible, handle the gun only by the wood stock and forearm, never handle bare steel if possible to avoid it.

(6) NEVER ASK HOW MUCH THE GUN COST!

These few rules provide safe gun handling, and courtesy that will get you invited back.

Bob Wright
 
Very good rules but I fear one more is in order, the one I see most often violated. Watch the muzzle direction do not allow it to point at or sweep anyone.
 
Maybe it's just me, but it's just common sense.

Contrary to what others might think, it is all that and a bag of chips. ;)
 
I am not sure which rule this belongs under, but I once saw a man in a tee at a gun shop, on a hot summer day, examine a new blued revolver, then proceed to "wipe it off" by swiping it under his armpit before handing it back to the clerk. I could see the clerk wince as he felt all that rust-inducing salt and grunge on the gun.

Jim
 
If I handle a gun that I'm looking at, and I inevitably touch any metal, I don't worry about it, and let the clerk handle the clean-up.

He or she is much better equipped than I am at the moment.
 
I just automatically check to see if the gun's loaded. At home, at gun stores, at friend's houses.

I don't ask first. It was sorta taken for granted the way I was raised that anybody would do that when handed a gun.
 
I just automatically check to see if the gun's loaded. At home, at gun stores, at friend's houses.

I don't ask first. It was sorta taken for granted the way I was raised that anybody would do that when handed a gun.
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+1

When you're handed a gun, you safety check it - period.
 
I always check to see if it's loaded....................learned that sixty-five years ago from my dear old Dad. Also if I hand someone a gun to look at, it's with the action open..................regardless of what type of firearm.
*Just make good common since. ;)
 
When someone hands you a gun, any type, first ask if it is O.K. to check for ammunition.
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All well and good, but I was raised a bit differently.

I always hand a gun over with the action locked open (or the equivalent), and I ask that anyone handing me a gun do the same.

They're welcome to check it again. In fact, I take it as a sign of good habits.
 
I always hand a gun over with the action locked open (or the equivalent


I do the same. Or, I check it in front of them, before handing them the gun.
 
All excellent advice and handling points that were drilled into me at a very young age.
And also when at your LGS...keep your paws off the glass counter..and never sit a firearm on the counter without a "rug" under it.
It's just common courtesy.
 
I always hand off a gun with the action/cylinder open and when a gun is handed to me, regardless if the action is opened or not, I do a full check myself. If someone gets mad at me for safety checking a firearm handed to me, then it probably someone I don't want to be shooting around anyway.

With the cylinder open, it is obvious whether the gun is loaded or not. There is no need to work the extractor rod.
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I was taught to always work the extractor rod when safety checking a revolver. Eyes first, then double check anyway with the rod. This way you don't overlook anything. So, that is how I do it. You say it should be obvious... But, it is usually overlooking the obvious that causes mistakes/accidents in life.
 
Always clear a gun when handed to you. If someone hands you a gun permission is implied to clear it, you don't need to ask.
 
I would never obey rule #1,,,

Someone hands me a firearm,,,
I am going to check to see if it's loaded.

These rules are all good practice,,,
But "we don't needs no steenkin' rules."

Dang, we have enough "rules" as it is.

If people do this to your guns,,,
Stop handing guns to them. :rolleyes:

Aarond

.
 
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Unless I am on the firing line and about to commence live fire and am working hands-on with a very new shooter...

...I can't think of any normal time I'm ever going to hand someone a firearm that doesn't have the action open.

It has nothing to do with manners.
It's much more like handing someone a knife or a pair of scissors properly.
There's a right way to do it... and all the other ways are -NOT- the right way to do it. :o

Gun show?
Gun store?
Living room?

Unless it's in a hard box or a zippered case, it's completely and totally abnormal to hand a firearm to someone without the action open.

And I don't fear the redundancy of it being expressed in this thread.
Much like the redundancy of clearing a firearm and checking it to ensure that it's clear, "feelings", "manners" and all of that takes a far back seat to what matters.

And don't ever for a minute forget that your very measured actions can and will often make an impression on the people around you. If you're a quality gun handler, that's an important impression to make, share, and spread. For so much good that it can't be accurately measured.
 
Bob Wright said:
(1) When someone hands you a gun, any type, first ask if it is O.K. to check for ammunition.
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I'm not going to ask.

I expect that any firearm will be handed to me with the action/breech open and that the hander will have checked it in front of me before handing it to me -- and I then repeat the check. IMHO this is what's expected.

If someone hands me a firearm that is NOT open and checked, it's all the more important that I check it.
 
You people are correct, the rules being talked about are just common sense rules. However common sense seems to be becoming much harder to find so live it teach it and stay safe.
 
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