Manual

6 7
distance between the muzzle of your firearm and any persons nearby,
as muzzle blast, debris and ejecting shells could inflict serious injury.
Always wear eye protection when disassembling and cleaning your
pistol to prevent the possibility of springs, spring-tensioned parts,
solvents or other agents from contacting your eyes.
5 KEEP ALL FIREARMS UNLOADED DURING TRANSPORT,
EVEN WHEN STORED IN A HOLSTER, GUN CASE,
SCABBARD OR OTHER CONTAINER.
For law enforcement and military personnel, refer to the procedures of
your department on carrying a loaded firearm.
6 DROPPING OR JARRING A LOADED FIREARM CAN
CAUSE AN ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE.
This can occur even with the “safety” in the on safe position or the
hammer in the decocked position. Be extremely careful while hunting
or during any shooting activity, to avoid dropping any firearm.
7 SHOOTING FROM ELEVATED SURFACES IS DANGEROUS.
Doing so may increase the risk of mishandling a firearm. The following
rules should always be observed. Always make certain that the surface
being used is safe and stable. Always make certain that your firearm
is unloaded when it is being taken up and down from the surface.
Always make certain that your firearm is not dropped from the surface,
or dropped while it is being taken up or down from the surface.
Remember, a loaded firearm may discharge when dropped, even with
the “safety” in the on safe position.
8 STORE YOUR FIREARM AND AMMUNITION SEPARATELY,
WELL BEYOND THE REACH OF CHILDREN.
Take prudent safeguards to ensure your firearm does not become
available to untrained, inexperienced or unwelcome hands. Store
all firearms in secure, locked cases or a gun safe. Keep your firearm
unloaded when not in use. At all times, comply with local and
state laws.
Remember, safe gun handling does not stop with your firearm’s
mechanical “safety” devices, it starts there. Always treat this firearm
with the respect due a loaded, ready-to-fire firearm.
Some firearms do not have a mechanical safety. Many target firearms,
lever-action firearms and pistols do not have manual “safety”
mechanisms. Therefore it is critical to read and understand the
owner’s manual for every firearm which explains the safe operation
of the firearm.
While it is a good idea to “test” your firearm’s mechanical “safety”
periodically for proper function, never test the “safety” while your
firearm is loaded or pointed in an unsafe direction.
3 WHENEVER YOU HANDLE ANY FIREARM, OR HAND IT TO
SOMEONE, ALWAYS OPEN THE ACTION IMMEDIATELY
AND VISUALLY CHECK THE FIREARM’S CHAMBER AND
MAGAZINE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE FIREARM IS
COMPLETELY UNLOADED.
Completely unload your firearm as described in Section 16.1. Make
certain the firearm does not inadvertently contain any ammunition.
Remember, merely removing the magazine does not mean the chamber
is unloaded. Always keep the chamber empty and the “safety” in the
on safe position unless shooting is imminent.
4 ALWAYS WEAR EYE AND HEARING PROTECTION
WHEN SHOOTING.
Unprotected, repeated exposure to gunfire can cause hearing damage.
Wear ear protectors (shooting earplugs or muffs) to guard against
such damage.
Wear shooting glasses to protect your eyes from flying particles. Allow
proper distance (eye relief) between a scope and your eye when firing
a scoped pistol, rifle or shotgun. Do not use unorthodox shooting
methods that could cause the rearward travel of the slide or bolt of
a firearm to contact your eyes, face or hands. Always keep a safe