Owner's Manual

16 17
it is an advantage to confirm that
the chamber is loaded. When there
is a cartridge in the chamber, you
can look into the loaded chamber
window and visually confirm that
there is a cartridge in the chamber
(Figure 10).
INITIAL CLEANING
Various exposed metal parts
of your new firearm have been
coated at the factory with a rust preventative compound. Before firing
your pistol, clean the anti-rust compound from the inside of the barrel,
receiver and the action-chamber areas. A fine, light gun oil is ideal for
removing this compound and for giving your new firearm its first
lubrication. However, any quality firearm oil may be used. Clean the
barrel using a cleaning rod and patch as explained under “Cleaning
and Maintenance Suggestions” on pages 30-33. If your pistol is to be
stored, it is acceptable to leave the rust preventative compound on the
pistol and keep it in its original packaging.
AMMUNITION
DO NOT USE AMMUNITION OTHER THAN WHAT IS INSCRIBED ON THE
EXPOSED PORTION OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BARREL. EXAMINE EVERY
CARTRIDGE YOU PUT IN YOUR FIREARM. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE
WARNINGS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
WE DO NOT RECOMMEND FIRING OVERPRESSURE LOADS (+P OR +P+)
IN ANY HI POWER PISTOL. THESE LOADS CAN INCREASE CHAMBER
PRESSURES AND MAY ALSO ACCELERATE WEAR ON COMPONENTS SUCH AS
THE SLIDE, FRAME AND RECOIL SPRING DUE TO INCREASED RECOIL
LEVELS. OVERPRESSURE LOADS CAN ALSO AFFECT THE RELIABILITY OF
YOUR PISTOL.
rearward. This position is an additional safety measure and allows easy
inspection of the chamber.
To close the slide, be certain the “safety” lever is in the off safe position
and your fingers are away from the ejection port and trigger. With the
muzzle of the pistol pointed in a safe direction, simply depress the slide
stop located on the left side of the frame.
MAKE SURE YOUR FINGERS ARE SAFELY AWAY FROM THE CHAMBER
WHEN THE SLIDE IS RELEASED TO AVOID PINCHING THEM WHEN
THE SLIDE CLOSES. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THIS WARNING COULD
RESULT IN INJURY.
LOADED CHAMBER WINDOW
NEVER RELY ON THE LOADED CHAMBER WINDOW TO DETERMINE IF THE
CHAMBER IS LOADED OR NOT. THE LOADED CHAMBER WINDOW IS ONLY
FOR CONFIRMING THAT A CARTRIDGE IS IN THE CHAMBER WHEN
SHOOTING IS IMMINENT. IT IS NEVER A REPLACEMENT FOR CHECKING
THE LOADED STATUS OF YOUR PISTOL BY OPENING THE ACTION AND
REMOVING ALL CARTRIDGES FROM THE CHAMBER AND MAGAZINE.
WHENEVER USING THE LOADED CHAMBER WINDOW TO CONFIRM THAT
YOUR PISTOL’S CHAMBER IS LOADED, ALWAYS FIRST MAKE SURE THE
MUZZLE IS POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION AND THAT THE “SAFETY”
IS IN THE ON SAFE POSITION. DO NOT USE THE WINDOW WITH LIVE
AMMUNITION UNLESS AT AN APPROPRIATE SHOOTING LOCATION AND
WHEN ALL SAFETY RULES ARE ADHERED TO.
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE WARNINGS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS
INJURY OR DEATH.
The loaded chamber window can be used only to confirm or verify
that a cartridge is in the chamber. In any situation, to use the loaded
chamber window, (1) shooting should be imminent, (2) you have
already loaded the chamber, and (3) you are in a situation where
FIGURE 10
The loaded chamber window.