fishinfoo
Member
what are the "Big 4" gun/range rules? i was wondering because i heard this term in another post. thanks
The Four Rules were not engraved on stone tablets and carried down from a mountain by a crazy old dude. They were quantified and popularized in the writings of Jeff Cooper.
The everlasting problem for the shooter remains gunhandling. Of the three elements of shooting skill - marksmanship, gunhandling, and mind-set - it is gunhandling which gives us the most trouble. The way people handled their weapons at the SHOT Show was enough to make one's blood run cold, and many of these people are presumably "experts" in the firearms field. It would seem that while a great many shooters understand the four basic rules of safe gunhandling, they seem to think that the rules only apply on the range when under supervision. I have tried for decades to impress upon people the fact that the four rules are immutable and ever present. They apply at all times and in all circumstances. Somebody asked me what they were the other day (somewhat to my dismay), so for the purposes of those who came in late let me put them forth again now.
RULE 1
ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED
The only exception to this occurs when one has a weapon in his hands and he has personally unloaded it for checking. As soon as he puts it down, Rule 1 applies again.
RULE 2
NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY
You may not wish to destroy it, but you must be clear in your mind that you are quite ready to if you let that muzzle cover the target. To allow a firearm to point at another human being is a deadly threat, and should always be treated as such.
RULE 3
KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER TIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET
This we call the Golden Rule because its violation is responsible for about 80 percent of the firearms disasters we read about.
RULE 4
BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET
You never shoot at anything until you have positively identified it. You never fire at a shadow, or a sound, or a suspected presence. You shoot only when you know absolutely what you are shooting at and what is beyond it.
Also:
A) Always keep your muzzle pointed down range. Period. You'll make me nervous if you start swinging your firearm around. I will say something to you .
B) Keep the actions open on the firearms you aren't shooting. Yes, keep them on the bench with the muzzle pointed down range.
C) Step back, away from the bench, when the Range Master says to do so. It doesn't mean "when it's convenient" (unless he tells you to finish, etc), it means "now."
The Range Master is in complete control: listen and obey all commands.
Oh, and remember the Big 4!!! Maybe a little redundancy in here, but it's worth it.
Thanks,
DFW1911
Absolutely right, but A is already covered by Rule Two, B by Rule One, and B and C only apply to a specific situation, i.e., shooting on a formal range.DFW1911 said:A) Always keep your muzzle pointed down range. Period. You'll make me nervous if you start swinging your firearm around. I will say something to you .
B) Keep the actions open on the firearms you aren't shooting. Yes, keep them on the bench with the muzzle pointed down range.
C) Step back, away from the bench, when the Range Master says to do so. It doesn't mean "when it's convenient" (unless he tells you to finish, etc), it means "now."
The Range Master is in complete control: listen and obey all commands.