[Tactical]

What is the proper etiquette when handing over a pistol to another person for what ever reason. This differs so much between people. How do you like a pistol handed to you?

Example) magazine out, hand over grip towards the person? , safety on only, toss it to him? Cocked locked and ready to rock?

[Marko Kloos]

When I hand a sidearm to someone else for inspection, I drop the magazine, clear the chamber (or empty the cylinder), and hand it to them grip first, with the action locked open (or the cylinder out.)

[CZ 75 BD]

and hold on until the other says "thank you" or similar acknowledgement the weapon is in hand.

[10-Ring]

I used to drop the mag & check the chamber to make sure it's empty before I would hand a pistol to someone. Now, I drop the mag & lock the slide open then hand it over.

[Black Snowman]

I do the opposite of whatever the salesman in the store does :uhoh:
They're not all bad but almost none of them are as respectful as I'd like.

I drop the magazine and confirm the chamber is clear and hand it grip first but not always with the action open. Depends on how well I know who I'm handing it too. If I can trust them to safely handle the weapon I'll leave the action close but will usually engage any manual safety.

[Standing Wolf]

Marko Kloos has nailed it. Empty, locked open, obviously empty, and butt first: that's the only way to hand someone a hand gun.

[Tactical]

I also only check the chamber but slide it shut before handing it over grip to the person. Maybe I will change, locking the slide open. Majority rules.

Hey CZ, I like your idea. That is a good thought.

[Penforhire]

Yep, cleared, mag out, and action locked open (or cylinder swung out). Sharing a lane at the range, and letting the other person shoot it, I might leave my weapon on the platform loaded and pointed downrange.

[gulogulo1970]

When they pry it from my cold dead fingers. ;)

[mdsteele]

Marko got it.

[rappa]

Marko is right on!

[Kamicosmos]

Depends alot on the who/what/where. At the gun store, I usually hand it back the way I got it, unless it wasn't cleared first.

Gun range: general unloaded, action/cylinder open. I generally leave the gun on the bench and not actually hand it to the individual.

[TonyB]

Yeah, now I always empty the gun before I hand it over.......a while back a buddy asked to see my Snubby mod38......as I haned it to him I said"it's loaded".....apparently he didn't hear me....he pulled the trigger:what:
luckily he at least had it pointed in a safe direction(down range).....after we kind of froze for a second(with ringing in our ears)we regrouped and made a vow to always hand someone a clear gun,AND have the guy who gets the gun clear it too...................:(

[HankB]

Depends on the skill level of the person I'm handing it to. Most cases, I'll drop the mag and lock the slide back, then hand it to them butt first . . . if it's a revolver, I'll open the cylinder.

If it's a person less familiar with firearms, I clear it, and explain WHAT I'm doing as I'm doing it - drop the magazine, CHECK THE CHAMBER, and then maybe ease the slide forward so the person can try the trigger action. (In cases like this, I stay with the person.)

If the gun is still in a box or case and I hand it to someone, THEY will then immediately proceed to clear it. (I try to choose my friends carefully!)

Sometimes - while on the range - I'll hand a loaded gun to the person, if he or she is going to shoot it. Then I make it VERY clear that it's loaded, the muzzle is kept downrange, etc.

[Ankeny]

I clear the gun, show the other person it is clear, then close the cylinder or lower the slide and dry fire. I don't want someone spinning the cylinder on my IPSC revolver and flipping it shut ala Elliot Ness nor do I want the the slide hammering home on a $3000.00 race gun.

[Mike Irwin]

Point it directly at him so he can see that there's not a round in the chamber by looking down the barrel, then pull the trigger to show that the action is uncocked?

No?



I've always endeavored to open the action and then had the gun to the person butt first.

[spacemanspiff]

i'm terrible at this, and i kick myself every time i do it. i INTEND to drop mag and lock slide, but twice my brain froze and i handed my pistol to a person without doing that, though i did say 'its loaded and the safety is on'.

sure, i've only done that two or maybe three times out of the couple dozen times i've handed my weapon to another person, but it still bugs me that i hand a hot weapon to someone else when i know better.

[MJRW]

"I clear the gun, show the other person it is clear, then close the cylinder or lower the slide and dry fire. I don't want someone spinning the cylinder on my IPSC revolver and flipping it shut ala Elliot Ness nor do I want the the slide hammering home on a $3000.00 race gun."

Good god I hate it when people snap my revolvers closed and look and smile at you like they just did some freaking Barnum & Bailey worthy act. Guess what, chunderhead, I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT BUT I DON'T DO IT BECAUSE IT IS BAD FOR MY PISTOL.

And when they see your zippo then do some **** opening that I've seen 300 HUNDRED OTHER PEOPLE DO WITH MY ZIPPO EVERY TIME THEY SEE "OMG ITS A ZIPPO I BET HE HASN'T SEEN THIS TRICK BEFORE!"

Or when they drop the slide on a 1911 because it makes a cool noise. A noise they know you haven't heard before and you can tell by the way they act like an attention starved dog nearly sticking their muzzle under your hand seeking approval.

Oh, I also love it when people want to see the surefire then proceed to blind people on my battery power. Thanks, chief! Now give me 4$ for that power you just used up. Oh, what's this? OH WOW IT'S FUNNY WHEN YOU SHINE MY OWN FLASHLIGHT IN MY EYES, HERE TAKE MY POCKET KNIFE AND REMOVE MY KIDNEY THAT'D BE JUST AS FUNNY!

Summary: whenever I hand a weapon to anyone, they get instructions first.

[squibload]

Theoretically I would do as Marko said, with the added CZ “wait until a thank you is given.” (Ever see a fumbled handgun handoff? Not pretty.)

My problem is that I tend to buy almost everything I pick up, so I don’t usually have to hand it back! :evil:

[Balog]

What is the proper procedure for an auto w/out a slide lock? Just hand it over after clearing w/ the slide down on an empty chamber, safety off, and hammer back?

[MJRW]

Balog, in that situation, safety on, hammer down, and show them the empty chamber.

[Sean Smith]

In general...

Revolver: cylinder out, unloaded, hand butt-first.

Autoloader: drop mag, lock back slide, hand butt-first.

Autoloader w/o slide lock: drop mag, hold slide open and show clear to the recipient. Hand butt-first.

Notes:

1. Butt of gun, not my butt. :D
2. Keep my body away from the muzzle as I had it over.
3. Keep fingers away from trigger.

On a range, if I'm handing a loaded weapon to somebody so they can shoot it (e.g. a newbie shooter trying one of my guns), I'll put the safety on (if any) and tell them it is loaded before handing it over, butt (of gun :D ) toward them, fingers away from trigger.

[chaim]

As for the proper etiquette, probably Marko has it correct (though I have no idea if there really is an etiquette to it). I tend not to hand people guns myself. When at the range I'm letting someone try mine, or at the store when giving one back I had been looking at, I usually put it down on the counter top and let the other person pick it up. The few times I've actually handed one to someone, I'm not sure what I did. My guess is that I probably looked odd because I probably did something like hold it barrel pointed straight down at the ground and when I handed it over I probably was holding onto the barrel if a revolver or slide if not. Back in my pre-owning days when I only rented I know I tried very hard to hold it with the barrel pointing at the ground when carrying it (there is no downrange in this situation) because the first person that really taught me handguns was insistent I do so. I think I still would do this (but I haven't had many opportunities to see). How do I want it given to me? I prefer it to be how I turn it over to others (and some gunstores do put it down on the counter after clearing/checking it instead of handing it to you in a way in which they are either pointing it at themselves or you).

[Jammer Six]

I do one of two things.

I drop the mag and lock the slide back, and then hand it to them with the butt up, the open slide facing them, and the muzzle pointed at the floor between us,

or

I drop the mag, lock the slide open and set the weapon on a flat surface with the open slide up and the muzzle pointed downrange or at some point that isn't one of us.

I don't hand a weapon to anyone with the muzzle pointed at myself. Ever.

But then again, I believe in the Bullet Fairy, and how she can load empty guns magically and silently.

YMMV.

[CZ52GUY]

For informal display/handling:

Racked/locked inspected, empty, butt-first (expect them to inspect empty chamber...if newbie...I show them empty chamber and make sure they acknowledge as such).


For range sharing/ya' gotta try this:

Racked/locked inspected, empty, muzzle down range, loaded mag next to piece (if experienced, no further instruction...if newbie...I'll talk them through the load and firing sequence...usually with snap cap prior to loaded mag'). I back away with from my experienced buddy's...stay with a newbie.


CZ52'

[Waitone]

>Slide guns---empty, cleared, checked, butt first
>Revolvers--empty, cleared, checked, butt first

Then I ask them to check it again.

Any newbie I instruct gets a free lesson on proper manners. That includes double checking any gun handed to them even if they were standing there when the other party cleared and checked it. I explain to them that if the horrible happen and they are holding the gun, it is their problem, not the problem of the guy who handed it to them.

[Serpico]

pinky out....

[oldman]

We always carried where I used to work and my rule is that I NEVER hand over my firearm even to my fellow employees. If they want to see it, fine as long as it's before I punch in on the clock. Once I'm working, forget it. If I'm helping a customer who's wants to see a firearm on the shelves, I'll rack back the slide, lock it, look down to check it's empty, drop the mag., and hand him the firearm with barrel pointed up and with the open slide facing him. I also don't let go until he has a firm grip on it. I never leave a mag inserted since I've seen how many times they've been dropped to the floor by inexperienced (and experienced) individuals. This is the same procedure that I also go by when I clear a shooters jam except that I leave in on the bench top for them to pick up and re-load.

[Quartus]

I usually hand it back the way I got it


Doesn't matter how I GOT it - someone else's ignorance is no excuse for MY actions. I hand it back the right way - like Marko said.

[Sunray]

There is only one way. Action open, mag, if there is one, out and visible to the other guy. This is from every hunter's safety course anywhere. What a store clerk does or doesn't do is irrelevant. If he tries to hand you a closed firearm, either refuse to take it or clear it immediately upon taking it. And, politely, point out to the minumum wage part time plug the error of his ways.

[Okiecruffler]

We never hands it to anyones, do we precious? They will takes it away, nasty hobbitses!:scrutiny:

[ReadyontheRight]

Magazine removed, chamber locked open.

This should be the 5th rule. Of course, it doesn't apply in a combat or gunfight situation, so that's probably why.

[ReadyontheRight]

We never hands it to anyones, do we precious? They will takes it away, nasty hobbitses!

:D

[cidirkona]

With the ammunition in MY pocket!
-Colin

[Skunkabilly]

Same as Marko but not grip first, too easy for them to point it at me :banghead:

I grip it by the muzzle-ish so the muzzle is pointing towards the ground and the butt is facing up. Like a bunch of flowers :D

Some of my friends (esp Duke of Lawnchair) have phenominally good muzzle control and situational awareness, but not everyone I meet is as careful.

[CAPTAIN MIKE]

It's wise to assume the other person will do EXACTLY what most un-trained people will do: they will feel the weight of handgun in their hand, put their finger on the trigger and pull it -- just to see what it feels like.

SO.....It is ALWAYS best to drop the mag, clear the chamber, lock the slide back, hand it to him butt first with the muzzle pointing away and HANG ON to it until he acknolwdges receipt of the weapon by saying something like "Thanks".

Experienced gun handlers will keep themselves check the weapon before doing anything with it, and they will keep their fingers off the trigger and outside the trigger guard. Those who aren't WON'T -- so be aware of that.

For me, I like being one of those people who "converts" middle-of-the-road types...and I often do so by offering to take them shooting and to teach them some "basic firearm safety", Since I'm a certified instructor and range safety officer, I make that known to them, and I encourage them to learn and practice safe firearms skills.

[c_yeager]

I agree with and have witnessed everything that MJRW talks about.

To that i will add how much i really hate it when some doofus decides to do a REALLY agressive flip opening on one of my REALLY nice knives. Yeah its fine on YOUR POS "smith and wesson" folder. But keep your hands of my benchmades please. Collecting things like knives and guns has showed me more than anything else that a lot of the people around me are complete morons. I damn near beat up a "friend" of mine for snapping the cyllinder on my SP-101 AND cowboying it at the same time. I could just FEEL it going out of time when he did it. ANd ive always wondered, what is it with NONSMOKERS that makes them learn every stupid Zippo trick in the book? I cant for the life of me figure out the point of that. Is it just so they can mess up MY lighter or what?

[Marcus]

I don`t hand guns over to unskilled people unless I`ve given them a good amount of instruction on proper gun handling first. In general though I unload the gun,visibly and obviously to the individual I`m handing it to check both the chamber and mag well to be 110% certain it`s unloaded,then close the action and apply the safety if it has one. This way *I* know it`s unloaded,they saw me clearly unload it and they`re less likely to mess with it. If I`m absolutely sure the individual is a skilled one or I`m looking at a new gun in a gunshop I`ll leave the action open so they can look for themselves also. I hand the gun over with the muzzle toward the ground (or in the air if it`s a long gun) and off to the side so it`s not pointed at either of us. Marcus

[Peetmoss]

I always hand a firearm to someone with the mag removed(or empty in case of a rifle) and slide locked back or the cylinder empty and open. The muzzel is also always pointed in a safe direction during the exchange. Also if the person isn't familiar with the firearm being handed to them they get instructions on it before they recieve the firearm from me.

[dairycreek]

it was run by the local county police and the DA's office. The DA was an excellent pistol shooter, carried concealed, and really added to the training program. His advice was that, no matter to whom you were giving YOUR gun, no matter for what reason, hand it over unloaded with the slide open or the cylinder out if possible. Never, never hand it over loaded. Has always worked for me. Good shooting;)

[marklbucla]

I wonder how this procedure will change for careless people once the new CA law takes over (Mag disconnect and Loaded Chamber Indicator). :eek:

[Edward429451]

I agree with Marko also, but here's a spin for ya'

How bout when an officer asks for temporary possession of your weapon? Most have CWP's, and once in awhile they ask for it. Do you clear it for them first?

Rules are rules, but I must admit a little trepidation in clearing before a nervous cop...I've never cleared it before handing it to a cop. I do give instructions as I declare it's whereabouts etc, though.

Am I breaking the rule or not?:scrutiny:

Are cops above the rule?

Hmmm.

[Black Snowman]

If I'm ever in a situation where I was asked to relinquish my weapon I'd ask "Should I unload it first, or would you like to retrieve it?"

It's curtious, it's polite, it shows that you have their safety in mind, and it lets him know there are two options. You either handle the gun properly, or it's his responsability.

[jungleman]

On a revolver I open the cylinder and check to make sure it is unloaded while they are watching. I close the cylinder and tell them not to fling the cylinder shut.

On a automatic I drop the magazine, pull the slide back and check to see if there is a round in the chamber and let the slide go back shut. I do this in front of the person. If you leave the slide open someone is going to push the slide release and let the slide slam shut on the empty cylinder.

I have told my sons that I expect them to double check the weapon that I just handed them, never take my word that the weapon is empty.

[labgrade]

I'd present a firearm the same way I'd present a sharp-edge cuttin'-thing =
the thing completely "dis-armed" as could be = sharp edge away from receiving hand & point towards me.

Firearm should be bolt/slide (mag prev'd dropped, etc.)/cylinder open (& oviously cleared) to present & if you have faith that you delivered a cleared weapon, you should presnt it with the muzzle pointed at your own chest - no?