Firearms Safety Rules

Adhering to these simple rules will go a long way to preventing accidents.  

• Treat EVERY gun as if it is loaded.
• NEVER point a gun at anything you are not willing to destroy or kill.
• ALWAYS know where the muzzle is pointed, make sure you have a safe backstop, and know where your bullets will go.
• Before handling a firearm, make sure you know how to safely operate it.  If in doubt, ask or read the instruction manual.  Most manufacturers in the US will provide one free of charge if you ask.
• Before you hand a gun to someone else, open the action; before you take a gun from someone else, make sure they open the action first.
• Booze and guns go together like oil and water, i.e., they don't.
• Keep your finger off of the trigger until you are on target and ready to fire.
• Use only the proper ammunition in your gun.  Just because it fits doesn't mean that it is safe to fire it.  If in doubt, ask someone more knowledgeable.
• Use only black powder, Pyrodex™,  or Black Canyon™ powder in black powder firearms.  If you use modern smokeless powder you will probably destroy the gun and severely injure or kill yourself.
• NEVER smoke around anyone shooting a black powder firearm.  You may cause an explosion.
• NEVER load a black powder gun directly from the powder can or powder horn, because then the powder container may become a bomb.  Always measure each charge individually.
• Wear eye and ear protection when shooting.
• No horseplay around guns.
• Use common sense at all times.

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