Looking down the barrel when examining revolver

[CraigC]

You are really creating an argument here from thin air. I don't know where you see that I've been insulting. I will point out that your implication that I am an unsafe shooter IS an insult. I would LOVE for you to explain how one would inspect the bore of any firearm in which you cannot see from the breech end, without placing your eyeball directly in front of the muzzle. Please. Then explain how one loads a muzzleloader or cleans any firearm that does not have a readily removable bolt without doing the same. I NEVER said the safety rules were unimportant or that they should be completely disregarded. It's beyond silly to say that I even implied it.

Are you anal retentive about where your holstered handgun points? Because not only does it point anywhere and everywhere, it's actually loaded!!! Perhaps you are the exact type of person the above Emerson quote applies to?

I look down the bore in a gunshop, with a flashlight, to check for wear, corrosion, and leading. I look down the bore at the range if I've heard an off-sounding round, to make sure I don't have a bore obstruction.

If this is your position, then why are you arguing with me????????????????? Did you change your mind since the 16th?

 

[Loosedhorse]

You are really creating an argument here from thin air.

Actually, I can't do that. But if I have another person who just wants to argue, anything can happen.

I would LOVE for you to explain how one would inspect the bore of any firearm in which you cannot see from the breech end, without placing your eyeball directly in front of the muzzle. Please.

Sure. Mirrors, videocamera, or flexible fiber optic scope. That pretty much explains it.

Oh: not that I do any of that. I'm happy just to make the gun inoperable (disassembled or action opened) and then take a look. Pretty obvious, I would have thought, and in fact I said that already--but you did ask.

As to muzzleloaders, I've already explained: I don't load them. My choice. Oh, and I'm pretty squeamish about tubular mags that get loaded from the front, too, but I manage to keep my fingers away from the muzzle.

If this is your position, then why are you arguing with me?????????????????

As above, I'm not arguing with you. You do what you do, I do what I do--which I've explained at least twice now.

You're apparently intent on starting an argument; I'm intent on explaining.

Are you anal retentive about where your holstered handgun points? Because not only does it point anywhere and everywhere, it's actually loaded!!! Perhaps you are the exact type of person the above Emerson quote applies to?

My goodness. You've certainly got yourself worked up! Does it make you feel better to "suppose" strange things about me?

Curious.

 

[Jaymo]

I only look down the bore and pull the trigger when the gun is loaded.
But then, I can catch bullets with my teeth.

I'm going to stay out of this urinating competition. IF I can resist, that is.

 

[Lost Sheep]

So, you mean: when you're curious about the workings of a gun, your "instinct" is to look down the barrel as you pull the trigger--but reason saves you from your instinct, so you don't do that ever?

If so, then I'm a Gom Jabbar fan. If the Gom Jabber is instead telling me to ignore Rules 1 and 2 because they don't apply in "special" circumstances to "experts" like me? Well, then I haven't much use for it.

No, the opposite. My instinct (or the instinct that I have adopted through training) is NOT to look down the barrel of any firearm.

My higher reasoning informs my decision as to whether or not it is safe to do so on a case-by-case basis. My default decision is still not to point a gun at my head.

Lost Sheep

 

[Lost Sheep]

LoosedHorse,

I apologize for shortening the quote of your neighbor, Emerson. I do believe I captured the essence of his thought, which I believe to be, "Simple rules, applied even when the conditions underpinning the creation of the rules don't apply may have exceptions." I am not as eloquent as Emerson, but I think you have the ability to discern my meaning.

I might suggest you "lighten up", but I agree with you that "lightening up" with regard to safety is bad advice (understatement). Lightening up with regard to personal sensitivity is a personality trait that, since I don't know you very well, is beyond my ability to advise, but I will advise that, in my experience, trading barbs is potentially counter-productive.

However, "Consistency is a virtue only to the extent that it does not exclude reason."

I have another friend who is uncomfortable when anyone handles ammunition or magazines while the range's firing line is cold. I can see the logic in that. I can also see the fallacy. I wonder where you draw that line? (That question is not rhetorical.)

Back to the O.P's original question: "Does anyone else have a hangup about this?", Obviously, you do. As I have stated before, I do, too. I have the ability and willingness to relieve my hangup by making the conditions safe.

Thanks for your thoughts. I do appreciate reading them.

Lost Sheep

 

[BigN]

Unless you're going to pistol whip someone with it, an unloaded gun is useless. If you checked it and it's unloaded, then it's unloaded. An integral part of gun inspection, cleaning, is looking down the barrel.

 

[Brian Williams]

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"Thank you Mr Chekov,"
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