Manual

17
PREPARATION
FOR FIRING
WARNING:THE FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE FIREARM
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS WILL CAUSE SERIOUS PER-
SONAL INJURY OR DEATH TO YOU OR OTHERS.
• ALWAYS TREAT ALL FIREARMS AS IF THEY WERE
LOADED.
• ALWAYS WEAR ADEQUATE AND PROPER EAR PROTEC-
TORS SPECIFIED FOR FIREARM USE to prevent perma-
nent damage to your hearing. Make sure others who are near-
by are wearing ear protection as well.
• ALWAYS WEAR PROPER CLOTHING WHEN FIRING A
MUZZLELOADER wearing long sleeves is recommended to
protect arms from debris that may be ejected during firing.
• ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES SPECIFIED FOR
FIREARM USE, whether indoors or out. Safety glasses
should protect your eyes from the firing flash and particles
associated with the discharge of a muzzleloader. Failure to do
so creates a risk of personal injury from particle or debris spit-
ting or ricochets. Make sure others who are nearby are wear-
ing eye protection as well.
• ALWAYS BE ALERT AND ALWAYS FOLLOW THE SAFETY
INSTRUCTIONS OF THE RANGE OFFICER. Never shoot if
you are tired, cold or impaired in any way.
• AL
WAYS BE AWARE OF OTHER PEOPLE
so that persons
cannot accidentally walk into the line of fire.
• THE SHOOTER (AND ALL OTHERS IN THE SHOOTING
AREA) MUST
ALWAYS BE IN A POSITION THAT IS OUT
OF THE LINE OF FIRE and are not within an area where they
may be struck by ricochets, particles spitting from a firearm.
• NEVER SHOOT AT HARD SURFACES,WATER OR RAN-
DOMLY INTO THE SKY. Always select a place to shoot that
has a safe backstop and is free from obstructions and water
surfaces which cause ricochets.
• NEVER USE
ALCOHOL OR DRUGS BEFORE OR WHILE
SHOOTING OR
HANDLING
ANY FIREARM.
• NEVER SMOKE WHILE SHOOTING OR
HANDLING A MUZ-
ZLELOADING FIREARM.
• AL
WAYS KEEP LOADING COMPONENTS AND LOADING
RESERVES WELL AWAY FROM THE MUZZLELOADER
WHEN
FIRING.