Firearm Safety revolves around a single and very simple premise:
Always treat the firearm as if it is loaded. Even if you know it isn’t.
To this end, there are five basic rules we use to ensure that shooting remains the safest sport in the world:
1. Never point a firearm at anyone, even in jest. Carry it muzzle-up when off the range (or better yet, in a case or slip).
2. Do not shoulder or load the firearm until the Range Conducting Officer has confirmed the range is clear and called “Start”.
3. Never offer a firearm to anyone without showing that it is clear.
4. Never accept a firearm from anyone unless they have proved clear and you have checked clear.
5. When not shooting, the firearm must have the bolt removed or a breech-flag inserted. The magazine should be removed if the firearm has one. NEVER rely on the safety catch. ALWAYS remove the bolt or use a breech flag1.
These rules are rigorously enforced. Firearm safety is very, very important. Don’t worry though, in practice it is pretty easy to get right so long as you use your common sense.
That’s the important bit out the way. Further discussion is offered below if you are so inclined.
Firearm safety falls under two main categories. State Awareness and Muzzle Discipline.
- State Awareness
- This is knowing exactly whether your firearm is loaded, loaded and cocked, cocked but unloaded, etc.
- The only time a firearm should ever be loaded is when it is on the range, shouldered, pointing down-range and you are ready to shoot.
- Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot. This prevents negligent discharges (there is no such thing as an “accidental discharge”. They only happen if you aren’t paying attention – i.e. being negligent).
- When you unload, inspect the the chamber to ensure it is clear, remove the bolt and/or insert a breech flag. Safety catches are difficult to check and are not a 100% guarantee of safety1.
- Always prove/check the firearm is clear if you are offering/receiving a firearm from someone
- Muzzle Discipline
- Always carry the rifle pointing upwards. This way it cannot be accidentally pointed at your friends and fellow shooters. Also, if you are at an outdoor meeting and drop it, you are not dropping your £1100 barrel muzzle-first into the mud, gravel or onto concrete.
- When shooting, always keep the firearm pointed downrange. This is fairly easy with long rifles, but if you are standing, or shooting pistols (outside the UK), it is very easy to twist the firearm to inspect the chamber or magazine, and realise that it is now pointed at your neighbour.
1Safety Catches
It may seem odd to say not to use a safety catch, but there are two main reasons for this.
1. The safety catch on most firearms is a small tab, and it is difficult and time-consuming for a range officer to check if it is on or not. This is not such an issue on our 4-lane range, but if you are a range officer at Bisley, responsible for 20 or 30 firing points, breech flags are much easier and faster to check.
2. Safety catches are not that good at their job. They are simply a mechanical system that usually serves to stop the trigger being depressed. If the rifle undergoes a shock or drop, then the mechanism beyond the trigger can be jolted and cause the firing pin to be released (a “slam-fire”). For this reason, it is much safer to remove the bolt, or insert a breech flag (which fits where a round would go, and stops the bolt from closing – proving the firearm to be both unloaded and unable to fire). We don’t teach people to use the safety catch because there is the risk they will then come to rely on it when they really shouldn’t.
N.B. Before anyone writes in to complain, yes – certain next-gen combat weapon safeties not only lock the trigger, but are now rigged to put a tab across the front of the firing pin, meaning that in the event of a “slam-fire”, the pin would be stopped by the tab, and not detonate the chambered round. However, this technology has not made it to target rifles yet – and is unlikely to – because breech flags are still safer (since they are a visible indicator that the rifle is not just unable to fire, but properly unloaded).
Firearm Safety revolves around a single and very simple premise:
Always treat the firearm as if it is loaded. Even if you know it isn’t.
To this end, there are five basic rules we use to ensure that shooting remains the safest sport in the world:
1. Never point a firearm at anyone, even in jest. Carry it muzzle-up when off the range (or better yet, in a case or slip).
2. Do not shoulder or load the firearm until the Range Conducting Officer has confirmed the range is clear and called “Start”.
3. Never offer a firearm to anyone without showing that it is clear.
4. Never accept a firearm from anyone unless they have proved clear and you have checked clear.
5. When not shooting, the firearm must have the bolt removed or a breech-flag inserted. The magazine should be removed if the firearm has one. NEVER rely on the safety catch. ALWAYS remove the bolt or use a breech flag1.
These rules are rigorously enforced. Firearm safety is very, very important. Don’t worry though, in practice it is pretty easy to get right so long as you use your common sense.
That’s the important bit out the way. Further discussion is offered below if you are so inclined.
Firearm safety falls under two main categories. State Awareness and Muzzle Discipline.
- State Awareness
- This is knowing exactly whether your firearm is loaded, loaded and cocked, cocked but unloaded, etc.
- The only time a firearm should ever be loaded is when it is on the range, shouldered, pointing down-range and you are ready to shoot.
- Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot. This prevents negligent discharges (there is no such thing as an “accidental discharge”. They only happen if you aren’t paying attention – i.e. being negligent).
- When you unload, inspect the the chamber to ensure it is clear, remove the bolt and/or insert a breech flag. Safety catches are difficult to check and are not a 100% guarantee of safety1.
- Always prove/check the firearm is clear if you are offering/receiving a firearm from someone
- Muzzle Discipline
- Always carry the rifle pointing upwards. This way it cannot be accidentally pointed at your friends and fellow shooters. Also, if you are at an outdoor meeting and drop it, you are not dropping your £1100 barrel muzzle-first into the mud, gravel or onto concrete.
- When shooting, always keep the firearm pointed downrange. This is fairly easy with long rifles, but if you are standing, or shooting pistols (outside the UK), it is very easy to twist the firearm to inspect the chamber or magazine, and realise that it is now pointed at your neighbour.
1Safety Catches
It may seem odd to say not to use a safety catch, but there are two main reasons for this.
1. The safety catch on most firearms is a small tab, and it is difficult and time-consuming for a range officer to check if it is on or not. This is not such an issue on our 4-lane range, but if you are a range officer at Bisley, responsible for 20 or 30 firing points, breech flags are much easier and faster to check.
2. Safety catches are not that good at their job. They are simply a mechanical system that usually serves to stop the trigger being depressed. If the rifle undergoes a shock or drop, then the mechanism beyond the trigger can be jolted and cause the firing pin to be released (a “slam-fire”). For this reason, it is much safer to remove the bolt, or insert a breech flag (which fits where a round would go, and stops the bolt from closing – proving the firearm to be both unloaded and unable to fire). We don’t teach people to use the safety catch because there is the risk they will then come to rely on it when they really shouldn’t.
N.B. Before anyone writes in to complain, yes – certain next-gen combat weapon safeties not only lock the trigger, but are now rigged to put a tab across the front of the firing pin, meaning that in the event of a “slam-fire”, the pin would be stopped by the tab, and not detonate the chambered round. However, this technology has not made it to target rifles yet – and is unlikely to – because breech flags are still safer (since they are a visible indicator that the rifle is not just unable to fire, but properly unloaded).
