Owner’s Manual 2009

7
Mechanical “safeties” are designed to place your firearm in a safer
status, and no guarantee can be made that the firearm will not fire, even
if the “safety” is at the ‘safe’ position. Mechanical “safeties” merely aid
safe gun handling and are no excuse for pointing your firearm’s muzzle
in an unsafe direction. For more information about the operation of this
firearm’s “manual safety”, refer to § 2.2.
Remember, safe gun handling does not stop with your firearm’s
mechanical “safety” devices, it starts there. Always treat this firearm with
the respect due to a loaded, ready-to-fire firearm.
Some firearms do not have a mechanical “safety”. Many target firearms,
lever-action firearms and pistols do not have manual “safety”
mechanisms. Therefore it is critical to read and understand the Owner’s
Manual for every firearm in order to be informed about the safe
operation of the firearm.
While it is a good idea to “test” your firearm’s mechanical “safety”
periodically for proper function, never test it while your firearm is loaded
or pointed in an unsafe direction.
x Whenever you handle any firearm, or hand it to someone,
always ensure that the firearm is completely unloaded.
For the Five-seveN
®
, this is done by pulling the slide completely
rearwards and then visually checking if the chamber is empty.
If necessary, completely unload your firearm as described in § 4.7.
Ensure that the firearm does not inadvertently contain any ammunition.
Always keep the chamber empty and the manual safety at the (raised)
‘safe’ position, unless shooting is imminent.
x Always wear eye and hearing protection when shooting.
Unprotected, repeated exposure to gunfire can cause hearing damage.
Wear ear protectors (shooting earplugs or muffs) to guard against such
damage.