Clearing a handgun

Another key safe practice. Clear a gun anytime you handle one.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• shooting
• guns
• handguns
• pistols
• safety
• IPSC
• IDPA
• USPSA
• practical
• target
• shot
• shoot
• 1911
• beretta
• glock
• sig

[ldgrey1963]

I was trained in the Military (USAF) to leave the breech/chamber open, either by locking the slide rearward, or by not returning the cylinder to the closed position or by locking back the bolt/bolt carrier group (Bolt action/M-16/AR-15 style) the weapon can't fire. I will NEVER hand someone a weapon with the action closed and I will maintain the weapons ammo if its mine. I do not profess to be a weapons expert by NO means, just my way of thinking based on the USAF training I received in 1982.

[shootingcoach]

@ldgrey1963 There are a couple of reasons why it's better to close the action. As mentioned earlier, if I point the muzzle in a safe direction and pull the trigger, there can be virtually no doubt that the gun is empty. I have seen too many visual inspections of the chamber fail. If I dry fire a 1911 and the hammer is down, I can be reasonably certain the gun is empty. With a Glock if the trigger isn't reset, the same thing.

[shootingcoach]

@shootingcoach Also, if I hand someone a firearm with the action open, it's very fast and easy for them to drop a round into the chamber, close the action and fire. By clearing it totally, I increase the number of steps needed before the firearm can be employed. That means I have bought myself more time if the person has bad intentions.

[tpmoney85]

good advice and I'm just a novice at this stuff but isn't it bad for the weapon to let the hammer continuously strike the firing pin?

[shootingcoach]

@tpmoney85 Most modern pistols can be dry-fired without doing any harm. Any world class shooter will tell you how important dry-firing is as a form of practice. So, no it isn't bad for the gun.

[viper8red]

@shootingcoach Not exactly true. Depends on the gun. My Beretta cougar states about 5 times in the manual "DO NOT DRY FIRE THIS WEAPON" (The firing pin is very fragile and can be damaged with dry fire). They reccomend snap caps (plastic spring loaded dummy rounds) if you must dry fire a weapon. Don't dry fire a weapon unless your certain the manual states its okay, otherwise you'll be replacing your firing pin soon.

[shootingcoach]

@viper8red Of course the manual is going to say that, even some 1911 manufacturers put that in the manual. But if you are worried about it, use snap caps.

[ff1046]

thanks for the info.I just learn about a kid in my town that discharged his dad weapon while the 14 year old was showing off the handgun to his friends thinking it was unloaded,he pointed the gun to his head as a joke he fired the weapon and it caused him his life! Please people follow this mans basic advise at all times!

[BARREDA1976]

follow the rules men, and add this one never clear a gun when youre tired. I had an accident with a gun but i point it to a safe position, and to an objetct that could stop or slow down the bullet in my case it was the mattres of my bed, some othersp say to point at big flower pots can do the job. thanks god the mattres helped stop the shot. Also I pointed the gun 45 degrees down. But friends always treat a gun as it is loaded, no game remember we are humans and can make mistakes

[bobbert890]

mosty parents wouldent buy there kid a 12 guage untill they where 18 but my parents bought me a remington 870 for my 15th birthday and most gun control advocates would say that becuase of my age i'm irresponseible but infact i'm more responable than most adults 1. i always check the gun to make sure it's not loaded

2. i never point the gun at any human or domesticated animals

uless the domestic animal or human is threatening my life

3. i always but a triggerlock on all of my firearms

[XGCScrappy]

Thanks for a back to the basics, Mr Coach. I'm gonna tell you people drill drill drill. I got handed a firearm from another operator. We were talking the trigger group he had in it. Sweet crisp seer, still it was loaded when it was handed to me. Drill safety into your head.

Doesn't mean that you cannot know your weapon and be ready to employ. Just be safe about it.

[viper8red]

@shootingcoach Not all manuals say that though. Any manual that's extremely specific about it I wouldn't shine it on. Do you red-line your car when the manual says not to? I tend to use things how they are intended. I don't like to replace damaged parts and soak up the expense.

[tpmoney85]

@shootingcoach that's very interesting...I learn stuff everyday

[ldgrey1963]

@shootingcoach... I guess anything is possible. I hope I gave an alternate view and not a dispute to your safety practices. I do not intend to hand a weapon to someone I do not trust, I have had people hand me a loaded weapon of which I promptly unloaded and made safe. I will try to instill in the person on the reasons for weapon safety. There are many methods to rendering the weapon safe and after all that is what it is all about.