Helpful Hints, More coming soon.
The primary purpose of this page is to help you handle firearms, with safety being the foremost goal.
Almost any firearms, weapons, defensive tools, or self defense topic could end up on this page.
Please put "Hints" in the Subject line.
This page was last modified on Sunday, December 11, 2011
Any advise, hints, suggestions, tips, and/or other information, given by me, is meant to help you be safe.
If you are not able to safely do anything that I may mention, don't do it.
Firearms must be handled in a safe manner at all times. This website is for informational purposes only.
Seek out the advice of others also.
There is not one method of doing anything, that is best for everyone.
Most of the methods that I describe are used by me. It is my opinion that they should work well for most people.
If you need professional help, seek it out. Contact me or another instructor to help you in person.
I can not and will not, be held responsible for your safety if you attempt to do any of the things that I describe, suggest, or recommend.
You should understand that firearms can be dangerous, and as such, you take full responsibility for your own actions.
If you don't accept full responsibility don't read or use my advise, hints, suggestions, tips, and/or other information.
If you do not understand that I am not responsible for your actions, do not read and/or try to do anything that I have said, written or otherwise. You are responsible for yourself. Safety First!
If you unload and reload your semi-auto frequently, you should rotate the cartridge that was in the chamber,
with those still in the magazine. Why should you do this ?
When loading a semi-auto, the top cartridge in the magazine is pushed forward into the feed ramp, then up the ramp into the chamber.
If the same cartridge is constantly reloaded, every time the bullet hits the feed ramp it begins to be slightly pushed into the cartridge causing the powder to become compressed. When the powder becomes compressed, it can cause extremely dangerous high pressures when fired. These high pressures can not only damage your firearm, but can actually destroy it and cause great bodily harm.
The holiday shopping season is almost here!
Criminals like this time of year.
Don't let yourself become a victum of evildoers.
Stay Alert and Aware of your surroundings !
Park in well lighted areas.
Do not flash your cash. (Be descrete with your cash and credit cards.)
Women, Don't leave your purse unattended in shopping carts.
Consider going shopping with bare minimum;
no purse, keys, cell phone, I.D., 1 credit card, & minimum cash in separate front pockets.
Don't leave valuables visible in vehicles.
Have your keys in your hand before you go to your vehicle.
Keep your phone handy and charged.
Stay Alert and Aware of your surroundings !
Always be familar with the firearm that you are going to use, before using it with live ammunition.
Always wear eye and ear protection when shooting.
While shooting, if you have a misfire or malfunction, keep the firearm pointed downrange for at least 20 to 30 seconds. (in case of a hangfire)
If you heard a small pop, (squib load) keep the firearm pointed downrange for at least 20 to 30 seconds, then, remove the magazine, or open the cylinder, unload the firearm, double, and triple check the chamber to make sure it is empty. Then with the chamber open, check inside the bore (barrel) to make sure that a bullet has not lodged inside.
If it has, this must be removed. If you are not competent to remove it yourself, take the unloaded firearm to someone that is. Do Not fire any firearm if there is any kind of obstruction in the barrel!
When selecting a holster make sure it fits the pistol properly and the trigger is fully covered.
When begining to learn to use, and draw, from a holster, always remember to make safety your first priority.
Start out practicing with an unloaded gun.
Remove all live ammunition from the room you will be practicing in.
Remove all live ammunition from the room you will be practicing in.
Remove all live ammunition from the room you will be practicing in. ( It's too easy to become distracted by a phone call or something else and accidently load live ammo.)
Practice your draw only with an unloaded handgun until you build confidence.
Check the weapon to make sure it is unloaded.
Check the weapon again to make sure it is unloaded.
Check the weapon again to make sure it is unloaded. ( This is not a typo! Safety first! )
When you grip your weapon to draw from the holster, your first finger should lay along the frame of the pistol, parallel to the barrel. While raising the firearm, do not allow the muzzle to cross your own body, or the body of anyone else.
(I have see some really nasty pictures of feet and legs with bullet holes in them.)
(Don't practice poor firearm handling techniques. Body parts do not grow back. Never forget, Safety First! )
Remember to keep your finger off of the trigger until you are on target and ready to fire.
Remember to keep your finger off of the trigger until you are on target and ready to fire.
Remember to keep your finger off of the trigger until you are on target and ready to fire.
That is one of the most frequent safety errors that I see people do. I will say it again.
Remember to keep your finger off of the trigger until you are on target and ready to fire.
Then, after your finished firing, remove your finger from the trigger, and place it along the frame of the pistol, parallel to the barrel. Return to ready position or reholster.
Do not practice with a loaded gun until you have enough confidence in your ability, to do so safely.
If you need professional help, seek it out. Contact me or another instructor to help you in person.
Always remember to keep your firearms clean. Even the best of them will become unreliable if they are dirty.
If you carry your pistol in a pocket, try using a quality pocket holster. You will get less lint and other dirt in your weapon, with the added benifit of the pocket holster, helping to hide the outline of the weapon.
While I am on the subject of pocket carry, please remember not to put anything else in the same pocket with your weapon. That applies to purse pockets also.
Remember, Safety First! Safety First! Safety First!
More to come.
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