MT2 Firing Range Services is recognized industry wide for being the nation’s #1 largest professional firing range lead maintenance contractor of the full scale of outdoor/indoor range environmental, maintenance and construction services.
Specializing in:
• Lead: Treatment, Screening & Reclamation to MAXIMIZE Your Lead Value!
• Environmental: EPA & OSHA Consulting, Remediation, Closure
• Maintenance: Filters/Ventilation, Rubber, Traps, Decontamination
• Construction: Renovation, Design/Build, Improvements, Dismantling
• Guidance: Environmental Stewardship Plans (ESP) & Best Management Practices (BMP)
But protecting your range employees, shooters and the community is not the only way to focus on protection in our industry! Imagine you purchase your first firearm and are now wondering, ”what next”? After reading the manufacturers manual, and purchasing the correct ammunition with your firearm, you will need to know these 5 firearm safety tips for on and off the range!
- Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction
Whether your firearm is in storage, or you are placing or removing it from a case, whether during loading or unloading, while walking with your firearm, or while it is in use, you should always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. You must always assume a firearm is loaded and take proper precautions for safety. While walking with your firearm the action should be open, the safety should be on, and the muzzle facing into the air in a safe direction. The muzzle should never point toward persons, dwellings, traffic, pets etc. Be mindful at all times that the muzzle is only ever pointed toward something you are willing to permanently destroy.
2. Your firearm should always remain unloaded when not in use.
Your firearm should always remain unloaded when not in immediate use. This means while your firearm is in storage, but it also means while you converse with other shooters, friends or family members, while taking photographs and while traveling. A loaded firearm should never be left on a shooting rest, table or bench. A loaded firearm should never be set down, leaned against a tree, vehicle or other location where it could fall and discharge. Your gun should never be left under a pillow, mattress, bed or in a drawer or a closet. Firearms should always be unloaded except when you are preparing to fire the gun.
3. Follow proper procedures
Prior to shooting your firearm make sure you understand and follow proper procedures. You should understand how to operate all the mechanisms of your firearm such as; how to open and close the receiver or action, how to operate the safety mechanism, and how to work the trigger(s). Always check your barrel from the rear to be sure it is free from obstructions such as; dirt, snow, mud, or other debris and unforeseen objects. Never look down the muzzle end of a barrel! You will also need to understand how to clean your firearm after each shooting session, as this helps prevent future misfires.
4. Always keep your finger(s) away from the trigger!
Remember while handling your firearm, always keep your fingers away from the trigger! Be sure to keep your fingers away from the trigger and outside of the trigger guard until you are aimed at the target and ready to fire your gun. Your finger should only be near the trigger or within the trigger guard area when you are safely aimed at your target with a safe backdrop behind the intended target. At a range, there should be an earthen berm, hillside, or similar backdrop. At an indoor range, there will usually be an approved composite backdrop behind the target. While hunting, a large tree behind your intended target makes a safer backdrop. Never shoot at flat surfaces such as appliances, rocks, walls, or the surface of the water which can inadvertently cause a ricochet. Ricochet causes the bullet or projectile to take an unintended path which can result in great harm.
5. Your gun should be stored in a safe location.
It is of utmost importance that your gun is stored in a safe location both while in the home, while traveling, and at the range. At home, your firearm should have a trigger lock in place. The firearm should then be stored within a locked gun cabinet or safe specifically made for storing firearms. The keys to the locked location should be kept in a different location than your firearm. While traveling your gun should be unloaded, have a trigger lock in place, and should be in a legally acceptable gun case that is also locked. The gun and case should then be stowed in the trunk or rear of the vehicle out of reach of passengers and the driver. Ammunition should be stowed in a separate location in the vehicle such as a glove compartment or other storage compartment. Never leave a firearm unattended when it is not in a locked case.
I hope you have found this list helpful and informative. It is my goal for you to enjoy many safe and fulfilling activities with your firearm. Happy shooting!
Guest Author Bio: Wesley is the owner of Gun Goals, a site dedicated to gun enthusiasts.
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