Since June is National Safety Month, we thought it would be the perfect time to brush up on our gun safety. We all know how dangerous guns can be when not handled properly.
To keep you and your fellow shooters safe, we brought you a few gun safety tips to be etched into your mind on all your hunts from here on out:
The Safety Tips
1.
Always treat the gun as if it could fire at any time. Even if you have the safety on. You never know when the mechanism may malfunction. You may think you have the safety on but actually don’t. For your own safety and those around you, always act as if your gun is loaded and ready to fire.
2.
Keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction. A safe direction would be somewhere that if it were to go off, it wouldn’t injure anyone or cause harm to someone’s property. Just remember: never point your gun at anything you don’t intend to shoot. Keep this in mind when loading and unloading your gun. Make it a habit to know exactly where your muzzle is pointed at all times.
3.
Know what’s beyond your target. Make sure that when you fire your shot, it will not harm anyone or anything behind or around your intended target. No target is so important that you shouldn’t take the necessary precautions of knowing your target’s surroundings. Know where your shot will stop. Always be aware of the environmental setting behind your target. Choose one without rocks or water as these can cause the bullet to ricochet.
4.
Make sure your barrel is clear before shooting. Open the action before loading your gun to make sure there’s not any ammunition in the magazine or chamber. Make sure the barrel is clear of obstructions. Even a small amount of debris (dirt, snow, etc.) can increase pressure, causing the barrel to bulge or even burst when firing.
5.
Have your gun serviced periodically. Your gun is subject to wear and tear, especially after a lot of use out in the field. As a result, it’s important to have your gun regularly inspected, and if needed, adjusted. Contact your local gun store, they usually have someone on staff who can help service your gun. I take my firearms into GunRunner Arms here in Junction City to have them serviced and inspected by their experts on a regular basis. Making sure your gun is functioning correctly is one of the most important safety tips to remember about your firearm.
Try to keep these gun safety tips in mind next time you are out on a hunt or brushing up your shooting skills at the range. Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to firearms.