Is it impolite to point a gun with your hand over the muzzle?

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As with most, my local gun shop is pretty small and gettting more and more crowded. It's hard to really look a firearm over well without accidently pointing it at someone. So, generally, if I'm looking at a revolver, I keep my hand over the muzzle.

Would you be offended if I accidently pointed that at you?
 
if you are standing at the counter in a gun shop, rather than step back and point at the floor, or at the cieling, I typically point it at the showcase... if possible, never point at someone, with or without your hand on the muzzle.. just not a good practice...
 
i think the op is saying, when you look at a gun to buy, you don't buy the back of the gun, sometimes you want to inspect the side, and the front, and extractor and chamber and so on.....

he's saying in very crowded conditions, it is his gesture of politeness to cover it with his hand, saying, nonverbally, "my intention is not to point this at you, but the operation I am performing prohibits otherwise." unless you want to dangle it downward over your head, or go through the very awkward motions of inspecting while pointed up.

I wouldn't be offended unless your finger were on the trigger.
But I usually inspect with the slide back and the mag out....
 
muzzle awareness

One simply NEVER points the muzzle of a weapon in the direction of another human being ever. Ones finger over the muzzle changes nothing. Yes, I would be upset and ask you to point it in another direction. Either at the floor or ceiling, while still not covering anybody..!!
 
i think the op is saying, when you look at a gun to buy, you don't buy the back of the gun, sometimes you want to inspect the side, and the front, and extractor and chamber and so on.....

he's saying in very crowded conditions, it is his gesture of politeness to cover it with his hand, saying, nonverbally, "my intention is not to point this at you, but the operation I am performing prohibits otherwise." unless you want to dangle it downward over your head, or go through the very awkward motions of inspecting while pointed up.
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Exactly. In a small room packed with fat mall ninjas, it is not possible to fully inspect a revolver without it going in somebody's direction. We aren't talking Cabelas here.

For that matter, pointing at the gun wall, as most people do, is pointing their weapons at the specialty meats store next door. I don't think they have steel walls.
 
I will agree that there are times when it is difficult to examine a gun without pointing it in someones direction. but as was previously stated, if you would at least eject the mag and lock the slide back on a semi-outo or remove the cylinder (as in loading) on a revolver along with covering the muzzle, I doubt there would be any objection.
 
Rules of gun safety: 1. LOADED 2. TRIGGER 3. DESTROY 4. TARGET

1. Treat every gun as if it were loaded. Would you point a loaded pistol at your hand or someone behind your hand? No.

3. Never point a gun at anything you are not willing to destroy. This includes your hand and the people behind your hand.

Sometimes safety is inconvenient. Too bad. Safety is everyone's responsibility.
 
I guess some of you have never checked out the bore of a revolver....:scrutiny:

"you'll shoot your eye out kid":evil:
 
1. Treat every gun as if it were loaded. Would you point a loaded pistol at your hand or someone behind your hand? No.
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Zak,

Sometimes my loaded pistol is pointing all day at something a hell of a lot more than just my hand.

:neener:
 
I'm surprised at some of the opinions of this thread. Judging by them I'm surprised the contributors to the Revolver Checkout sticky didn't get banned...

From the Revolver Checkout sticky:
With the gun STILL held in full lockup, trigger back after lowering the hammer by thumb, you want to shine a light right into the area at the rear of the cylinder near the firing pin. You then look down the barrel . You're looking to make sure the cylinder bore lines up with the barrel. Check every cylinder - that means putting the gun in full lockup for each cylinder before lighting it up.
Click to expand...
 
Would you be offended if I accidently pointed that at you?
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Yes

Since your hand isn't "bullet proof" you'd be violating a safety rule.

On the other hand you could simply have the action open and avoid the concern.
 
I have been known to actually catch other peoples eye at the counter and ask them to step back while I examine a weapon. I then offer to do the same for them and make smalltalk about the guns we're examining.

I've never had a bad reaction, and most folk are more than willing to put a priority on safety if you make a point of it yourself.
 
Ever been to a gun show? The spaces are so oversold that I doubt that a moment goes by when 50 guns are not in your direction. Kinda validates the cable ties and gun checks at entrance.
 
if its been checked and double checked ppl have no true reason to be offended... to me its a pain how far some ppl take the treat the gun as it loaded even when u know its not... that may be a good rule, and probaly is... my rule is check it.. check it everytime u pick it up if its empty treat it like its empty
 
Rules of gun safety: 1. LOADED 2. TRIGGER 3. DESTROY 4. TARGET

1. Treat every gun as if it were loaded. Would you point a loaded pistol at your hand or someone behind your hand? No.

3. Never point a gun at anything you are not willing to destroy. This includes your hand and the people behind your hand.

Sometimes safety is inconvenient. Too bad. Safety is everyone's responsibility.
Click to expand...
Do you own any guns? Have you ever cleaned them? Have you ever checked the inside of your gun barrel? Do you examine a gun before buying? If not you have no place being a moderator here, and if you have, you have broken the "rule".


Some of you are taking this way too far and acting as if I were pointing it directly at someone and pulling the trigger with my hand in the way. That is NOT what I am talking about. :rolleyes:
 
Do you own any guns? Have you ever cleaned them? Have you ever checked the inside of your gun barrel? Do you examine a gun before buying? If not you have no place being a moderator here....
Click to expand...
That's it- I am a complete n00b with no firearms experience. In fact, I am 13 years old and live with my parents. :scrutiny:

There is no good reason to sweep another person with a pistol.

There should be no apologists for gun-safety violations.
 
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