Owner's Manual

22
THE BASIC RULES OF SAFE FIREARMS HANDLING
We believe that Americans have a right to purchase and use firearms for lawful purposes.
The private ownership of firearms in America is traditional, but that ownership imposes
the responsibility on the firearm owner to use his firearm in a way which will ensure his
own safety and that of others. When firearms are used in a safe and responsible manner,
they are a great source of pleasure and satisfaction, and represent a fundamental part
of our personal liberty.
Firearms do not cause accidents! Firearms accidents are almost always found to have
been the result of carelessness, or ignorance on the part of the shooter of the basic
rules of safe firearm handling.
The following rules must be observed by firearm users at all times. Safe firearm handling
is not just desirable, it is absolutely essential to your safety, the safety of others, and the
continuation of firearm ownership and sport shooting as we know it today.
1. ALWAYS TREAT EVERY FIREARM AS IF IT WERE LOADED.
2. LEARN THE MECHANICAL AND HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
FIREARM YOU ARE USING.
Not all firearms are the same. The method of carrying and handling firearms varies in
accordance with the mechanical provisions for avoiding accidental discharge and the
various proper procedures for loading and unloading. No person should handle any
firearm without first having thoroughly familiarized himself with the particular type of
firearm he is using, and with safe firearm handling in general.
3. ALWAYS KEEP THE MUZZLE POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION.
Be sure of the bullet stop or area behind your target, even when dry-firing.
Always be sure the area beyond your target is safe. Never let the muzzle of a firearm
point at any part of your body or at another person. This is particularly important when
loading or unloading a firearm. In the event of an accidental discharge, no injury can
occur as long as the muzzle is pointing in a safe direction. A safe direction means a
direction which will not permit a discharged bullet to strike a person, or to strike an
object from which the bullet may ricochet.
A safe direction must take into account the fact that a bullet may penetrate a wall,
ceiling, floor, window, etc., and strike a person or damage property. Make it a habit to
know exactly where the muzzle of your firearm is pointing whenever you handle it, and
be sure that you are always in control of the direction in which the muzzle is pointing,
even if you fall or stumble. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
WARNING!!!! BEWARE OF “SQUIB” LOADS!!!!!
A SQUIB LOAD IS A FIREARMS MALFUNCTION IN WHICH A FIRED PROJECTILE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH
FORCE BEHIND IT TO EXIT THE BARREL, AND THUS BECOMES STUCK. THIS TYPE OF MALFUNCTION
CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AS FAILING TO NOTICE THAT THE PROJECTILE HAS BECOME STUCK IN THE BARREL
USUALLY RESULTS IN ANOTHER ROUND BEING FIRED DIRECTLY INTO THE OBSTRUCTED BARREL, RESULTING IN AN
INSTANTANEOUS AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE WEAPON’S STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND MAY CAUSE SERIOUS
INJURY TO THE SHOOTER OR BYSTANDER.
SIGNS THAT A SQUIB ROUND HAS OCCURRED INCLUDE: A MUCH QUIETER OR OTHERWISE UNUSUAL-SOUNDING
DISCHARGE NOISE, LIGHTER OR NONEXISTENT FELT RECOIL FORCE, DISCHARGE OF SMOKE FROM THE EJECTION PORT
INSTEAD OF THE BARREL, AND A FAILURE OF THE ACTION TO CYCLE. SUBSEQUENT BULLET INTO THE OBSTRUCTED BORE
MAY DAMAGE THE RIFLE AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE SHOOTER AND THOSE NEARBY.