{"id":10752,"date":"2013-04-17T13:06:13","date_gmt":"2013-04-17T20:06:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/offgridsurvival.com\/?p=10752"},"modified":"2023-10-31T22:39:42","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T05:39:42","slug":"firearmbasics-gunsafety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/offgridsurvival.com\/firearmbasics-gunsafety\/","title":{"rendered":"Firearm Basics: Gun Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"

As firearms owners, we bear a responsibility that needs to be taken seriously; it\u2019s literally a matter of life and death. Since every gun is different, before handling any firearm you need to thoroughly familiarize yourself with that gun. Even if you consider yourself an expert, before handling a new firearm, you need to understand the particular characteristics of that gun.<\/p>\n

\"Practicing<\/p>\n

All too often, I see gun owners who let their ego get in the way of good common sense safety practices. These are guys who have been shooting for years, but are too proud – or too stupid – to ask for help. For instance, I can’t tell you how many times I\u2019ve seen someone at the range take an unfamiliar firearm from a friend, without ever asking a single question about that firearm.<\/p>\n

NEVER ASSUME YOU KNOW THE GUN!<\/h2>\n

In the situation I mentioned above, there should have been a number of things that happened before ever touching that firearm.<\/p>\n

Ask if it\u2019s Unloaded:<\/b> You should always ask if it’s unloaded before ever putting your hands on it. If the person answers yes without checking, tell them to show you.<\/p>\n

Check For Yourself:<\/b> It\u2019s your responsibility to check for yourself!<\/p>\n

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  1. Point the muzzle in a safe direction, and if the firearm has a safety make sure it\u2019s on.<\/li>\n
  2. You should then immediately check to see if it’s loaded. Just because your friend told you it was unloaded doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s unloaded. There is no such thing as being too safe!<\/li>\n
  3. Always treat every firearm as a loaded weapon. Live by the saying, “There is no such thing as an unloaded gun<\/strong>.”<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Ask for Help:<\/b> Don\u2019t be the guy that was too proud, or too stupid, to ask for help; that guy is a danger to himself and everyone around him. When taking an unfamiliar firearm, you should always ask the owner to show you the particular characteristics of that gun. They are all different; from the location of the safety to how it handles, never assume you know how it works.<\/p>\n

    Safe Firearm Handling and Practices<\/h2>\n

    When it comes to handling a firearm, there are some basic rules that should always be followed.<\/p>\n

    Always point the Muzzle in a safe direction<\/b>: If people followed this one rule, virtually all firearm accidents would be eliminated. Remember, your firearms should never be pointed at anything you don\u2019t intend on shooting.<\/p>\n

    Never Rely on your Guns Safety<\/b>: While your safety should always be on when you\u2019re not shooting, it should never be counted on to prevent the gun from firing. A safety is a mechanical device that can and will fail; it should never be 100% relied on to stop an accident.<\/p>\n

    Keep your finger off the Trigger<\/b>: If you\u2019re not in the process of firing your gun, at no time should your finger ever be inside the trigger guard. The internet is loaded with pictures of morons posing with their finger on the trigger, this practice is not only stupid, it’s likely to get someone killed.<\/p>\n

    \"Unsafely<\/p>\n

    Practice, Practice, Practice<\/b>: I recently heard a safety instructor say don\u2019t fear the man with many guns, fear the man with one. These are usually the guys who have very little experience shooting; they\u2019re the ones that you hear about on the evening news.<\/p>\n

    If you can’t remember the last time you went shooting, you\u2019re doing yourself and your family a disservice, and you\u2019re putting your lives at risk. To be a good and safe marksman, you need to practice your shooting skills. Practice not only makes you a better shooter, it also ensures your gun is in good working order when you need it. The last thing you want to find during a self-defense situation is you have a gun that’s not in condition to be fired.<\/p>\n

    Make sure you are using the Right Ammo<\/b>: Using the wrong type of ammunition can seriously damage your gun, and can cause seriously injury to yourself and those around you.<\/p>\n

    Although this seems like common sense, it\u2019s actually a very common mistake that even some seasoned hunters have made out in the field. For example, a common hunting mistake is accidentally loading a 20 gauge shell into your 12 gauge shotgun. This can be a deadly mistake that can cause the barrel of your shotgun to blow out from a lodged shell that has created an obstruction inside your barrel.<\/p>\n

    \"12<\/p>\n

    Know where you are firing, and what\u2019s beyond your target<\/b>: Once you pull that trigger, you can never get that shot back. Unless you know exactly what you\u2019re shooting at, and what lies beyond that target, you should never take the shot.<\/p>\n

    Even a small round like a .22lr bullet can travel a distance of about 1 \u00bc miles, this means you better be darn sure of what’s beyond your intended target.<\/p>\n

    THERE\u2019S NO SUCH THING AS AN UNLOADED GUN<\/b>: Drill that saying into your head, because it\u2019s probably the most important safety advice that you\u2019ll ever receive. Every firearm you touch should always be considered a loaded weapon<\/strong>; therefore, it needs to be given the respect due a loaded gun.<\/p>\n

    THERE\u2019S NO SUCH THING AS AN UNLOADED GUN<\/span><\/p>\n

    Firearm Resource:<\/h3>\n