Handle a Gun

• TASK: Safely handle, fire, and clean a firearm in order to become familiar and confident with a firearm.
• CONDITIONS: Given a firearm, ammunition, a cleaning kit, a target, and a firing range.
• STANDARD: You must be able to safely handle, fire and clean a firearm.

Always treat every firearm as though it is ready to fire.

Only point a firearm at things you intend to destroy.

Your safety and the safety of those around you is ultimately your responsibility. These instructions do not encompass all scenarios or situations. You are required to exercise common sense and good decision making skills. If you see an unsafe act, call it out. If you get called out for an unsafe act, correct it.

There are many, many different kinds of firearms each with it’s own unique technical requirements, capabilities, and techniques. It’s impossible to detail them all here. Instead, we’ll focus on the practices that are common to all firearms.

Every range will have a Range Safety Officer (RSO). If the RSO gives any instructions that contradict these instructions, follow the RSO’s instructions. It’s the RSO’s job to make sure that the range is conducted safely.
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Handling

• Always keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction. Down range or at the ground is typically the safest direction.
• Keep your finger straight and off the trigger.
• Engage the safety if the firearm has one. The safety is typically a button, switch or lever that when NOT engaged (ready to fire) you see a red marking where you would otherwise not see one if the safety WAS engaged (not ready to fire).
• Unload the firearm. The method for doing this is unique to each type of firearm.
  • Semi-auto - Remove the magazine and work the action to clear the chamber.
  • Revolver - Open the cylinder and eject the ammunition.
  • Pump-action shotgun - Rack the slide to eject all the shells.
  • Breach-loaded shotgun - Open the breach and eject the shells.
  • Bolt-action rifle - Work the bolt to eject all the shells.
• Inspect the chamber to ensure that empty and remove any rounds that are present.

Firing

• Identify the RSO. The RSO is responsible for the safe conduct of the firing range and the safety of the shooters on the range.
• Each range is different, the RSO should give you a safety brief covering all the requirements and procedures governing safe conduct on the range.
• Once you have followed the RSO’s instructions and the firearm is loaded and ready to fire:
  • Assume a good, solid firing position.
  • Disengage the safety.
  • Take a breath.
  • Relax.
  • Aim at the target using the sights.
  • Squeeze the trigger.
  • Continue firing until you are out of ammunition or are instructed to cease firing.
• Once the RSO declares that the range is cold, inspect your target.

Cleaning

• After firing, there will be gunpowder residue on various parts of the firearm.
• The specific method for cleaning each firearm is different and you should consult the owner’s manual for specific instruction.
• Generally, to clean a firearm you should:
  • Field strip the firearm so that you have access to the barrel, chamber and firing mechanism.
  • Use a cloth patch attached to a cleaning rod or pull-through cable to clean the inside of the barrel. Ensure that the cloth patch travels down the barrel in the same direction as the bullets. You should do this until the cloth patch comes out free of any residue.
  • Use a toothbrush to scrub out the residue inside the chamber and the surfaces of the firing mechanism.
  • When all surfaces are free of residue, reassemble the firearm and store it in a secure location.

Sources

• National Shooting Sports Foundation
• NSSF - New Shooters