Proper etiquitte when showing a firearm.

[H1500308]

What's the proper way to show clear and hand a firearm to someone if they want to see it? The firearm is not loaded/chambered although we always assume and act as it was loaded at all times.

By type:

Autoloading Pistol

Revolver

Bolt Action Rifle

Autoloading Rifle

?

 

[Treo]

I'm not sure of the proper etiquette but what I do is lock the action open ( W/in the mechanics of the platform) show the person the chamber and say " We're both satisfied that this weapon is unloaded right? " then I close the action and hand it to them.

 

[rhartwell]

for a auto loader I remove the mag and lock the barrel back so that they can see it is empty. For a revolver bullets removed and the cylinder open. The bolt action rifle I would want the bolt open. I dont have a auto loading rifle but I assume it would be the same as auto pistol

 

[12131]

Isn't it the same as following the cardinal rules of firearm handling?

 

[Hoppy590]

remove magazines, clear the weapon, lock the action open if possible, hand the weapon over stock or grip first, preferably while avoiding pointing the weapon at yourself.

 

[Lumpy76]

Agree with all. I will open my revolvers and show them it is clear. Then I close them because I don't want people to do the wrist flick to close them. Someone always wants to.

 

[RPCVYemen]

remove magazines, clear the weapon, lock the action open if possible, hand the weapon over stock or grip first, preferably while avoiding pointing the weapon at yourself.

That's the way I was raised.

Mike

 

[Treo]

As an addition there are 4 guns in my home that are never unloaded, there's no question.

As such they are not for display, I don't hand them to people for inspection. Every other gun I own resides in the safe and is cleared going into and coming out of the safe.

 

[sturmgewehr667]

By type:

Autoloading Pistol- remove magazine, lock back slide and hand it to person pointed in a safe direction

Revolver- swing out cylinder or whatever is required to make sure it is clear, check all the chambers and hand it to the person pointed in a safe direction

Bolt Action Rifle- open bolt, put my finger in chamber to make sure it is unloaded, remove magazine if it has one and hand it to the person pointed in a safe direction

Autoloading Rifle- remove magazine if required. lock back bolt if it has a bolt hold open, check chamber to see it is unloaded, hand it to person while pointed in a safe direction

 

[UMB]

In addition...

We've always told our kids that if they don't know how to clear a weapon, even if they've been shown it's empty, then they don't take it from some one.

 

[pith43]

Autoloading Pistol- remove magazine, lock back slide and hand it to person pointed in a safe direction

Revolver- swing out cylinder or whatever is required to make sure it is clear, check all the chambers and hand it to the person pointed in a safe direction

Bolt Action Rifle- open bolt, put my finger in chamber to make sure it is unloaded, remove magazine if it has one and hand it to the person pointed in a safe direction

Autoloading Rifle- remove magazine if required. lock back bolt if it has a bolt hold open, check chamber to see it is unloaded, hand it to person while pointed in a safe direction

Excellent post. Another thing that I was always taught, was that if the gun is handed to me, I should also check the firearm.

On a semi related topic, I was also taught that if I am stopped by a LEO, and he asks for my gun, I should ask him if I should clear it first or does he want to. (If it's a dicey situation, he won't ask, he'll be pretty clear about what he wants you to do.)

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

Whenever when any firearm passes from one person to another. clear the firearm. Show the action as cleared. Finger in the chamber because the eyes can deceive you. when you hand the firearm back do the same. Even it you only had it for a second.