Buying first gun - gun shop etiquette.

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jlbraun

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I went into a gun shop recommended by some members here, and I was checking out a Glock 19, a CZ75BD, and two Sigs (a 226 and a 220). Granted, I've never worked a pistol with a decocker, but after I was shown how it worked I was OK.

When handing the pistols to me, the shop guys would work the slide, check the chamber, and then hand the pistol to me. I have two questions:

1. Is it bad etiquette to check the chamber again as it's handed to me? I did so both times, but I was wondering.

2. I kept my finger off the trigger at all times when checking sight alignment, but twice the shop guys just walked right in front of me (I was pointing the pistol off to the side of the shop, well away from them). This was severely freaking me out, but they didn't seem to mind. How should I handle this?

3. How long does it take to complete a 4473 (is that the right form?), complete a background check, etc. - ie. how much time should I allow to buy a pistol once I've decided on one? 1 hour? 2?

Thanks!
 
No reason to obcess about it. Its considered polite to check the chamber and lock the slide back when handing a gun to someone, even if it was handed to you a few minutes prior. Just a good habit to be in anyway.

Pointing a gun standing at the counter isn't a problem, but to be polite just simply ask if you can try the trigger. The answer should always be yes, but you know, its better than just hopping on the trigger and pointing it everywhere. If there isn't any live ammo around, and you've seen the empty chamber, don't sweat it.

An hour for the paperwork and NICS should be sufficient at a decent shop.
 
I just discovered today that my Taurus 92SS has a decocker. Who knew. As for the rest of your questions 10 ring was on the money except I have nevet taken more than 10 minutes on paperwork and background check before...I guess it depends on where you are buying (which state).
 
1. No, it's not bad etiquette. Rather, it's good safety habits. I do it, too. Sometimes the salesperson just press checks and hands me the weapon with the mag in and slide forward. I drop the mag, lock the slide back, then inspect the pistol. ;)

2. No need to freak out. There are four overlapping rules for a reason. Sometimes it's practically impossible not to cover someone with the muzzle of a weapon when at a shop or a show. Doesn't mean you shouldn't be diligent with where you point the business end, but so long as you observe the other rules (namely, finger off the trigger), it's not the end of the world. That you're so acutely aware of where the muzzle's pointing is a good thing, for certain. What really freaks me at shops/shows is when the muzzle's pointing at me. :what:

3. Depends. At Turner's (a fishing/hunting shop in Kali), it takes about an hour for all the paperwork. They're freakin' slow. At my local shop, however, it took me about 15 minutes to fill out the DROS and pay.

Nice taste in pistols, BTW. I have all the pistols you listed, and I like every one of them! So which did you end up going with?
 
Always check. When I brought my Springfield to the local shop for a holster, the owner checked the chamber at least a dozen times during the course of finding the holster.

I'd rather see obsessive safety than none at all. At my CCW class, it seemed I was the only student practicing muzzle control when empty firearms were being passed around as part of the NRA basic pistol portion.

-Jeff
 
doggscube said:
I'd rather see obsessive safety than none at all. At my CCW class, it seemed I was the only student practicing muzzle control when empty firearms were being passed around as part of the NRA basic pistol portion.
Click to expand...

Seconded on the safety. Though at the CCW class I was at, the instructor caught two birds with one stone - 'check these pistols out, but without pointing them at anyone, and everyone else, tell them if you see them pointing it at someone.'
 
Safety is job #1! Never feel bad for double checking a chamber!

Doing paperwork depends on your state. I bet the longest part of the equation will be the NCIS check, unless you are exempt by being CCW holder in the states that allow this.

I think people who aim handguns should aim at the floor! Never point a gun, any gun, at anything you are not willing to destroy! I hate being swept by guns, unloaded or not! I see that and I leave the area!
 
P08 is right! Always be safe! And be extra-super emphatic about it, too! Exclamation points make right!

Seriously, though, you're doing everything right, other than buying guns that will put you to sleep. A revolver, 1911, or some other gun with heart, soul and character is recommended.
 
You did fine.

It's common courtesy to lock the action back before handing a pistol over. It's fair to receive the gun and close the action in the process of inspecting it. Traditionally, you lock the action back over before returning it.

In some places, it's traditional to never directly hand someone a firearm, it's placed on a mat to be picked up. Some places do that, some don't.

When handing a handgun to someone else, I usually hold it by the locked open slide, muzzle downwards, so the other person can take it by the grips. This way, you avoid pointing the muzzle at yourself in the process.


The only points I would add are

-Paperwork should only take 10-15 minutes.
-When checking the sights, I usually select nearest high corner of the room where people are least likely to be, or the floor in front of me.
 
No doubt, don't sweat checking and rechecking. At the shop I frequent it goes like this: I ask to see it, he takes out of the case and checks it, I check it when he hands it to me, I molest, drool and do what ever, I check it when I hand it back and he checks again as soon as he gets it from me.

No one shold be offended by safe gun handling.

As for the 4473, well, I have a CWP so as long as it takes me to fill it out and the gun shop guy to fill his end out, 10 min tops.

Without, you are at the mercy of the NICS folks, 30 min to 4 days.
 
I always check any gun I pick up every time I pick it up.

I worked a gun shop/counter (mostly sporting goods with a gun counter). I was actually surprised by the people who would take the gun from me and just start playing with it. I guess they took my word for it or thought that my checking the chamber was sufficient.
You did exactly as you should have.
I too have had people walk in front of the gun I was inspecting. You just need to keep aware of your surroundings and if someone is walking toward your line of site move the gun to the floor or to the ceiling. Keep any eye out for other people in the shop who are inspecting a gun too, and don’t walk in front of them. Don’t be shy about safety. I have had to physically push peoples hand to the side to keep them from pointing a gun at me. I played it off cool with a smile but they also knew they violated one of the rules.
ID Shooting had it exactly right. That is the way to do it. If you see people behaving just like that you know your dealing with proficient/responsible people.
NEVER take someone else’s word for your safety! If the gun is in your hand it's your responsibility.
P.S. If anyone ever got even the slightest bit testy with me because I recheck the chamber of a gun they handed me. That shop would be the last place I want to be.
In Colorado gun purchase takes about an hour on the outside. Paper work should take 10 minutes, longer for first time buyer do to the butterflies and making sure you do everything just right. Nics check is always a toss up. Could be 5 minutes could be an hour. Congratulations and stay safe. You’re well on your way.
 
I consider it polite to clear and hand the weapon to the customer in a chamber open condition.
If the customer doesn't know how to operate the firearm I will be more than happy to show them.

It is generally considered poor form to cross a muzzle regardless of what you are doing, or where you need to be.
It is just as rude when customers use the shop personnel as sighter targets.
Muzzle up when a live person crosses your path is good form and leave it at that.

If you have never done a 4473 take the time to read the first one and fill it out correctly.
30 minutes is about right if you read everything and dot your eyes and cross all your tees.
Do enough of them and you will be able to fill one out in less than three minutes, start to finish.
Background check is anybodies guess.
Those things can take anything from three minutes to three months.
 
Always check the firearm when you pick one up, or are handled one. It's a good safety-conscious habit. Remember, YOU and you alone are responsible if the firearm was loaded, and you had a negligent discharge.
 
Not to beat a dead horse, but you ALWAYS check a firearm when it's handed to you...ALWAYS.

When I hand it back to the person, I again recheck that it's empty, lock the slide back, and hand it back to them grip first (with the muzzle pointing down and away from me).

I bought a S&W Model 60 today in Georgia and the paperwork and NICS check took less than 5 minutes for me to have it all filled out and cleared.
 
It takes about 25 minutes to buy a gun. But a transfer from a receiving FFL usually takes me eight minutes if I subtract the B.S. session.

I'd avoid [read: never] releasing the slide and letting it slam home on the receiver. Sure, it is a satisfying experience, but I wouldn't do it to a gun that was not mine. But some shops will say "Go ahead, hit the slide stop".

The feed ramp is the first thing I look at, and I do a chamber check at the same time.

I avoid drooling on the glass cases or leaning into/across them.
 
Regarding the handling of guns that one is unfamiliar with, I'm an engineer - that means that if someone hands me something I'm not familiar with, I'm going to try to take it apart, and hit all the buttons to see what they do ("frobbing"). Works with oscilliscopes, but not with firearms.

With firearms, I have to suppress this instinct and listen to directions - ie. don't hit the slide release and let the slide slam forward, work the decocker like this, etc.

If I didn't do this, this is how a gunshop experience with me would go:

Shop dude: (click-clack) "Here you go."

Me: (click-clack-click-click-snap-click) (slide slams home, magazine released and falls out, slide comes off, recoil spring goes flying)

"Sorry." (hands pile of gun parts back to shop dude)
 
Just walk in and say "Listen here yall!! Get me one of them there _______"

(insert weapon of choice on the line)

That will establish a good rapport with the employees. :D






I kid.
 
Last time I was at a particular pawn & gun shop as soon as I walked in and was asked if I could be helped I replied "yeh... I need a cheep gun real quick." After a moment of silence I smiled and the guys behind the counter laughed. I must not look much like the thuggish type. :evil:

As for re-checking the chamber this isn't just a safety thing but also a functional test like kicking a car tire. You are essentially working the action to see how you like the way it functions (e.g. crispness, travel distance, pull weight, etc.) and looking down the chamber is checking the bore. Especially usefull when looking at a used gun.
 
If YOU pointed the gun and he walked in front of it, It is still YOUR responsiblity to safe the muzzle. I know some clerks get lazy and say "its safe" but it is not, ever, safe to walk in front of a muzzle of a in battery gun?> WHY ? Because RULE 1 states EVERY GUN IS LOADED. treat it that way. Muzzle up or muzzle down, but be aware of your surroundings in a shop.

I will not pull the trigger on any striker fired gun without asking permission from the clerk. I will try single action or hammer DAO's by getting my thumb in front of the hammer and just trying letoff. but this does not allow for a pin strike and even so, I aim it at the floor or into the corner, because even though I just checked it, every gun is loaded, and I obsess about this.

It is far better etiquitte to ask for assistance rather than doing something stupid.
 
He did walk in front of it, I safed it by pointing it down. I did ask permission before dryfiring it.
 
It is considered good form to check a weapon when its been handed to you regardless of wether someone else checked it first, its a good habit and anyone that gives you a hard time for it isnt a person you want to do business with anyways. The only comments I have recieved from shop owners are compliments for this behavior.

I dont like it when people walk in front of me when I am sighting a pistol. Generally the way that I avoid it is by pointing at something high up on the wall, that way if anyone chooses to walk in front of me I am still not painting them with the muzzle. Usually there is a rack of rifles or paraphenalia hanging on a wall somewhere that is appropriate, also dont point accross the shop, point at the nearest wall.

I always ask permission before dry-firing. Its debatable wether or not it is harmfull to centerfire pistols, but since it isnt my gun yet I like to ask.

Once you decide to buy a gun it shouldnt take more than 30 minutes to fill out the forms and complete the instant check. Sometimes the "instant check" is less instant than it should be, this isnt the shop's fault.
 
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