THE FOUR RULES OF GUN SAFETY

• Consider Every Gun as Loaded - Every gun has the potential for danger.  Accidents happen because “I thought the gun was empty”.  If you always assume that a gun is loaded, you avoid accidents.
• Never let the muzzle of a gun point at anything you do not intend to shoot - If a gun is fired accidentally, the chances of harm is avoided if it is pointed in a safe direction.  Do not let the muzzle (the hole where the bullet exits) point at people, at surface which can be penetrated and where there may be people behind.
• Keep your firearm finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire - A gun will not fire unless the trigger is deliberately pressed.  Do not touch the trigger until you have set your gun sights on a target and you are ready to shoot.
• Be sure your target and what is around it - When you have made a decision to shoot, make sure you know where the bullet will end up.  If you miss, the bullet can hit an innocent bystander or go through a wall and hit someone behind.

The Four Rules of Gun Safety provide an almost fool-proof guide to prevent any accident. As a gun owner, you must make them second nature to you. Be a responsible and safe gun owner.

FIRING RANGE SAFETY PROCEDURES

• Make sure that your firearm is unloaded when you enter a firing range.  Check for load in a safe area.
• Handle your firearm only in the firing line or safety area with the approval of the range officer. Obey your range officer.
• Load firearm only upon advice of the range official.
• Never hold your firearm if there are people in front of you or with people downrange.
• In a firing line with no barriers, the person to your right is always given priority unless stated otherwise.
• Always announce that you are “firing” before you start shooting to allow other people to prepare for your firing.
• Always wear eye and ear protectors when firing and while inside firing ranges.
• Follow the 180⁰ safety rule.  When allowed to handle your firearm, always point the muzzle of  your firearm downrange.
• Make sure that no magazine is inserted inside your pistol and keep your hammer down unless you are allowed to shoot.
• After clearing your firearm of ammunition, cock the hammer and pull the trigger with the muzzle pointing downrange to fully ensure that the firearm is cleared of any ammunition.
• Holster (if allowed) or bag firearm if firing.  If your are to place the firearm on a table, open the cylinder of the unloaded revolver or pull back and lock the slide of the pistol.
• Follow at all times the Four Rules of Gun Safet.

BASIC SAFETY TIPS WHEN TRANSPORTING FIREARMS

• Always transport your firearm in a safe unloaded condition.
• Never carry any handgun in your pocket, purse, or waistband.  Use a case or proper holster with safety flap or strap.
• Never carry a firearm with a cartridge in the chamber without the safety lever in the “SAFE”   position.
• Always carry your pistol empty and open while in a club range.
• Carry loaded pistols with the magazine inserted but with an empty chamber.
• Carry loaded revolvers with an empty chamber under the hammer.

BASIC MARKSMANSHIP GUIDES WHEN USING HANDGUNS

 I.  DEFINITION

        Marksmanship – is the skillful art of shooting and hitting a target at a given range or known distance.

 II.  PRINCIPLES OF MARKSMANSHIP

A.  Stance – the excellence of the stance is a major factor in creating conditions for maximum control. Every individual possesses a combination of individual characteristic that are peculiar to him alone. Examples of these are height, weight and proportion of body development to muscle system. Therefore there is no definite all purpose stance which applies equally to all shooters.  The shooter on the basis of his own particular configuration, must find a stance which provides the greatest degree of stability for his body.

MAIN REQUIREMENTS OF A STANCE

• Equilibrium and Stability – the greatest possible degree of equilibrium and stability in the body-weapon system occurs when there is the least possible strain on the shooter's muscles.
• Head Position – proper head position is that position which will allow the most efficient use the shooter's eyes throughout the sighting and aiming process.  The head should have a natural tilt.
• Proper Stance – the shooter should become familiar with assuming the proper stance, and practice getting the same stance each time.

1.       Position of the Feet – about the width of the shoulders with toes pointed out slightly.

2.       Legs – straight but not tense with the knee joint in  semi-lock but relaxed.

3.       Hips – should be level and in a natural position.

4.       Non-shooting Arm – (one-hand shooting only) relaxed and at the side of the body.

5.       Head and Shoulders – level, no bunching or slouching with unnatural tilt of the head.

6.       Shooting Arm – should be extended with wrist and the elbow locked without strain.

7.     Body Weight – should be on the toes and not on the heel and a little bit more on  the forward.

B.  Position – once the shooter has a comfortable and stable stance, it is necessary to align himself with his target in order to aim at the target in a natural and consistent manner.  The shooter must position himself so as to naturally point his weapon at his target.  The shooter must maintain a hold which remains in the desired area without the tendency of his shooting arm drifting away from the aiming area.

TO OBTAIN PROPER POSITION APPLY THE FOLLOWING

• Face the target at a forty-five degree angle, assuming the proper stance for one-hand shooting.  The shooter can vary his angle to the target up to 90^o if this allows him for better control.
• Face the target squarely for two-handed shooting position.
• Face the target squarely for combat-type position with the left foot stepped forward for a right handed shooter placing the feet apart for about the width of the shoulder.
• Position your head so that you look at the target with your eyes straight ahead.
• Raise the shooting arm and align it with the target.
• Close your eyes, lower and raise your arm and relax.
• Open your eyes and check position, if the sights are aligned with the target, you have a good position.
• If your arms settle to one side of the target, compensate by moving the feet right or left if necessary.  If your arms settle high or low, compensate by closing or opening the distance between your feet.

C.  Grip – the proper grip is one which provides the shoulder with the maximum control of the weapon. The most important feature of the grip is uniformity.  To maintain a natural sight alignment, the shooter must hold the weapon firmly.  He must be able to apply positive straight to the rear pressure on the trigger that will not disturb the sight alignment when the hammer falls.

PROPER GRIPPING METHODS

• Pick up the pistol with the non-shooting arm by the barrel end of the slide and keep the muzzle down range.
• Spread the index finger and the thumb of the shooting hand apart to form a “V” with the thumb held slightly lower than the index finger.  Push the web or “V” of the shooting hand directly under the tanned of the grip safety.  Do not roll them.
• Wrap the three lower fingers around the pistol and should exert equal pressure,  straight to the bottom of the “V”.  The heel of the shooting arm should be well up on the main spring housing.
• The thumb should be exerted very little pressures as tightening of the muscles controlling the thumb will cause some tightening of the muscles controlling the trigger finger.
• Placement of the trigger finger should be where it falls naturally on the trigger.  This is usually between the tip and the first joint.  Regardless of hand size and finger length, the shooter should always apply pressure straight to the rear.
• The correct pressure on the grip is when the shooter can hold without a tremble or free action on the trigger.  A good method for obtaining pressure is to squeeze with the entire hand until pistol and hand starts to tremble, then gradually relax the grip until trembling ceases.

D. Breath Control - Correct breathing while shooting is essential to proper body functions.  A complete respiratory cycle last for 4-5 seconds (inhaling and exhaling) and between each cycle, there is a pause of 2-3 seconds.  This pause can be extended up to 10 seconds without any special labor or unpleasant sensations.  It is during this pause between breaths that the shooter should fire the shot.  The reason is that during the respiratory pause, the breathing muscles are relaxed thus the shooter avoids strain from the diaphragm.  Also, his concentration is into broken by thinking of the need to breath.  If the holding of the breath is not sufficient to allow the shot to be fired within the required time, hold fire, release the trigger, resumes normal breathing and repeat the process.

E. Sight Alignment – is the relationship between the rear sight and front sight with respect to the eye.  The front sight is centered in the rear sight notch and the top of the blade is even with the top of the rear sight.

F.  Sight Picture – is the relationship between the rear sight and the front sight to the target with the respect to the eye.  This differs from sight alignment only by adding the bullseye or aiming points to the front slight blade.

AIMING POINTS COMMONLY USED:                        

• Six O-clock Hold
• Center Hold

G. Trigger Control – is the method used to apply pressure on the trigger so that the shot can be fired with the least amount of disturbance to sight alignment.  It is the independent action of the trigger with uniform increasing straight to the rear after the slack has been taken.

GUIDELINES FOR PROPER TRIGGER CONTROL

• The trigger finger is placed where it falls naturally on the trigger.  This varies from every person.  The shooter will have to find the spot of his finger which suits him best.  What is important is the uniformity of this placement and the ability to apply pressure straight to the rear.
• The slack or free play in the trigger is taken up first.
• Apply pressure with the trigger finger only.
• Trigger finger must be in an arched position to avoid contact with the side of the pistol.

ERRORS IN TRIGGER CONTROL

• Flinching – muscular tension or reaction in anticipation of the recoil.  It is indicated by moving the head, closing the eyes, moving the shoulder to the rear or combination.
• Jerking – an attempt to make pistol fire at a certain instant by rapidly applying pressure on the trigger.

Follow Through – is the continued and physical application of the fundamentals after each round has been fired.  The shooter must not shift his position, move his head or bring down the pistol for a few seconds.

Calling the Shots – is the prediction of the shots on where the hits are on the target.