Let's make an extensive firearms safety list...

[boredelmo]

So we all know the 4 golden rules:

Jeff Cooper's Rules of Gun Safety

RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED

RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY

RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET

RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

(borrowed from TFL)

Most safety rules to us seem like common sense now. We extensively know how a gun works and what is dangerous or not. But the new gun owner or minimalist (only firearm for SD, etc) are not as well trained. What rules can you add from your own learning experiences or you feel all gun owners should be aware of?


Now, with the recent article of the gun dropping incident. I had never thought about what i would do if i dropped a gun. I usually catch anything i drop in mid air. This got me thinking and worried, I really might instinctively catch a firearm:

5. Always wear eye/ear protection.
6. Never try to catch a falling firearm.

Let's make this as helpful as possible. If this thread turns out good, I'll compile them together and maybe we can make a sticky or add it to FAQ section. I know I will make sure all my firearm owning friends read this because they are relatively new. I will also start all introduction to firearms with this list (I encourage you to as well).

-L

 

[bluestarlizzard]

theres one in the front of janes gun recognition guide that i always like:
"5. do not be overawed by experts who decry these rules; you will out live them."

 

[jlpskydive]

Never drink while handeling firearms no matter how UNloaded they are, one will eventually go off.

 

[Bitmap]

#4 needs a slight update.

"Always be sure of your target, and be aware of what is beyond it, and what may come between you and it."


I was at an informal range and someone else's kid (about 9 or 10) ran out directly in front of me as I raised a handgun to shoot. Untrained children and dogs are bad offenders of this.

I think Cooper wrote about adding awareness of what is beyond your target.

 

[AZ_Rebel]

Let's make an extensive firearms safety list...

Jeff Cooper said there were 4 safety rules because 3 did not cover it and 5 was too many to remember. The beauty is that most of us can remember and recite the 4... if we add to the list I doubt that we will remember them all to quote. The 4 suffice in that all 4 have to be violated at one time in order for an incident to occur.

Make a list if you want... there are some good suggestions out there but call them Range Rules or Gun Rules. But leave THE BIG FOUR alone.

 

[nplant]

Or there's the THR Library (see link at the upper right-hand corner of this page).

 

[Microlon]

Rule One: Brain. Don't leave home without it.

No other rules seem necessary.

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

I was at an informal range and someone else's kid (about 9 or 10) ran out directly in front of me as I raised a handgun to shoot. Untrained children and dogs are bad offenders of this.

WOW

I'd be hard pressed to keep my cool if something like this happened to me.

Either they were not watching their child closely or they were watching their kid, and the kid was too immature to be there. Either way, the parent was in the wrong and just about lost a kid over their own stupidity.

Bitmap,

At least someone was obeying the 4 rules.

Let's make an extensive firearms safety list

The 4 rules are for keeping lead out of your/other's system...We need an entirely different safety list for everything else.

 

[Noxx]

Never drink while handeling firearms no matter how UNloaded they are, one will eventually go off.

Amen to that.

I have many friends out of state whom I visit frequently, who are for lack of a better term, "fellow gun nuts". Once several beers are consumed, someone invariably says "hey, did I show you the XXXXXX I got the other week?".

I've known these guys all my life, I *know* that they know better than to handle a loaded gun with some beers in them... and it doesn't make me any more comfortable about it at all. I don't mind being the local killjoy when I demand that the boomsticks don't go with the booze.

 

[Majic]

The longer you make the list the less will be remembered and there will be some confusion.

 

[TX1911fan]

Don't be too cool/macho/shy/intimidated to ASK questions about range rules and safety or related to the loading, use and unloading of a weapon. No one will ridicule you if you ask anything that tends to keep everyone safe.

 

[boredelmo]

So you guys think that instead of reading more rules we would potentiallyforget, we should just ignore them altogether?

I know the 4. I ready to learn more.

 

[El Tejon]

The phone book of rule is clumsy and dangerous.

Make the Four Rules part of your character. The Four Rules are life.

 

[Geronimo45]

6. Never try to catch a falling firearm.

Well... I understand that many long guns have lousy/no firing pin safeties. Drop one hard and it very well may go off, while the majority of handguns (it would seem) are safe to drop from normal heights.

I'd add that you need to clean and lubricate or at least inspect any firearms you keep for HD/SD use at least once a month. Some gun models are more tolerant of oil deprivation than others - but oil deprivation will never improve performance.

 

[bluestarlizzard]

the four rules are important, and we should all know them.
however a good talk about gun saftey is never a bad thing. there is no reason we can enumerate and specify upon these rules. the more we talk about all the aspects of gun saftey, the more safe we will be with guns.
another one.
always demenstraight that the action is clear before handing the gun over to another person. if hand a loaded gun over, be very clear and direct "this gun is loaded with a round in the chamber."

 

[AZ_Rebel]

So you guys think that instead of reading more rules we would potentiallyforget, we should just ignore them altogether?

I don't think any responsible gun person would suggest ignoring safety/range rules.

The 4 rules are for keeping lead out of your/other's system...We need an entirely different safety list for everything else.

That's exactly the point - eloquently put! Most ranges I have seen have lists of do's and don'ts - some general and some range specific. But the "BIG 4" are universal and generally accepted in most quarters. To mess with them or to include them with a list of good ideas is to dilute their importance and take away from the effectiveness. "5. Always wear eye/ear protection." is an excellent measure and should be pointed out as a "must do" - but it is just not in the same league as "#1. All guns are always loaded."

But again... a list of safety measures is a good idea... it is especially helpfull when teaching new people about firearms.

 

[boredelmo]

Alright, the long list of "do's and don't" include the 4 rules at my range.

If this makes everyone feel better, I'll exclude the 4 rules in my extensive list of safety.

We'll call it "Extra rules that don't include the 4".

Does it really make a difference? Seriously I doubt I would have the time to turn and ask the gun next to me "Should can try and catch this?" while gravity is sucking it down.

I just don't get why everyone seems so opposed to the idea of discussing safety past the 4 rules?

 

[SDC]

I'd add two; unload every firearm that you are not in the process of immediately using, and always unload a firearm before you get into/out of a boat or vehicle or crossing an obstacle. These two account for a large proportion of hunting "accidents".

 

[esq_stu]

Stephen P. Wenger added a "rule 5" to his training: maintain control of your weapon. Either carry it, keep it locked up, or take other measures to be sure no unauthorized person gets control of it.

I have been using that rule in both my thinking and in training of others.

 

[Anteater1717]

Trust your ammo. This one I can’t stress enough.

Don't shoot straight up in the air; it's a good one to remember come New-Years and the Forth of July. Though that could fall under be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

Don’t climb a fence with a loaded firearm.

For milsurp guys make sure all the cosmolene has been removed before firing.

Be sure there are no obstructions in your barrel.

 

[bluestarlizzard]

so basically we can think of this as proper gun etiquette. hmmmm.. do you think we can get ms. manners on board? *grin*

 

[Crunker1337]

Never discharge a firearm into the air.

 

[bluestarlizzard]

another one, don't carry a loaded gun pointed down if your walking on concrete/pavement.

 

[AZ_Rebel]

We'll call it "Extra rules that don't include the 4".

Hey... that's a great title! Has that Monty Python ring to it!

I just don't get why everyone seems so opposed to the idea of discussing safety past the 4 rules?

I don't see where people are opposed to the idea... I agreed with it in both my previous posts. What concerns some is that the 4 RULES will be buried in a long list of other rules.

It is always ammusing when someone posts an idea looking for comments and then gets annoyed when people offer suggestions that may not conform to the OP's initial thought.

Never discharge a firearm into the air.

Uh, Oh.... the Trap & Skeet people will be miffed now!

another one, don't carry a loaded gun pointed down if your walking on concrete/pavement.

Sooooo.... Let me get this straight.... its OK to carry a loaded gun pointed down if you're walking on something beside concrete/pavement???? :banghead: (Col. Cooper called that "Dangling" and it would get you sent off his range.)

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Never discharge a firearm into the air.

How do you suppose those of us who hunt birds or shoot clays abide by this rule?